Why Is My Check Engine Light Blinking?
Although dreadful, upon first notice, an illuminated check engine light (CEL) is your car’s way of indicating that it needs attention. It’s there to alert you to any issues within your vehicle. Most of the time, it will appear as a solid check engine light that could be caused by various problems that don’t require immediate attention. However, if the check engine light is flashing, that is a sign of more imminent problems. If you’re experiencing a flashing CEL, take your car in to be inspected as soon as possible.
What Is a Flashing Check Engine Light
When your check engine light is blinking, it’s usually your car’s way of highlighting serious problems that require immediate attention. Your car may be experiencing a potential misfire in one of its combustion chambers, which is a serious issue that can cause irreversible damage to your engine if left unchecked. It’s important to take your vehicle in to be serviced if you notice a flashing CEL immediately.
Potential Causes of A Flashing Check Engine Light
Regardless of the cause of the flashing check engine light, it highlights serious problems that require immediate attention and should not be left unchecked.
Bad/Faulty Oxygen Sensors
Bad or faulty oxygen sensors are the most common cause of a flashing check engine light. If the sensor is unreliable and not functioning properly, it can’t let the vehicle know the right air-fuel mixture, causing the check engine light to flash.
Failing Catalytic Converter
A failing catalytic converter that isn’t able to process the gas leaving the exhaust properly may cause the check engine light to flash
A Severely Misfiring Vehicle
A severely misfiring vehicle is the most common cause of a flashing check engine light. If you’re experiencing a misfiring engine, that’s a sign of serious problems that require immediate attention and should not be left unchecked.
What Is a Misfire?
To understand why a flashing check engine light is so urgent, it helps to know what a misfire is.
Misfires commonly occur when the combustion process encounters an issue, preventing the air and fuel mixture from igniting. However, there’s a whole list of factors that can cause misfires, which all produce similar symptoms and display the same flashing CEL. Potentially signaling an issue within your vehicle that will cause irreversible damage to your engine.
With the engine struggling to produce enough power, both your fuel efficiency and performance will take a significant hit. After a misfire, your car may have a “rough” feeling when driving and feel heavily underpowered, or, in extreme cases, it may stall completely.
What Causes Misfires?
Numerous factors can cause misfires. Usually, any issue that prevents proper combustion in a cylinder can be the problem. However, some causes are seen more frequently than others. Here are some common sources of a misfire that you should be aware of.
Ignition system problems, such as worn spark plugs, bad spark plug wires, dead or weak ignition coils, and failing ignition system sensors, can potentially cause a misfire within your vehicle.
Fuel system problems can cause misfires if the incorrect amount of fuel is being transferred to the combustion chamber. Usually, problems are associated with the fuel pump or filter, fuel injectors, or contaminated gas.
Air system problems may cause a misfire if the amount of air being delivered into the engine is not accurate enough. Vacuum leaks can cause havoc with the air system, as can something as simple as a dirty engine air filter
Mechanical Misfires: within the vehicle can cause the engine to severely misfire. These mechanical misfires include bad piston rings or bad valve seals, which reduce piston or valve sealing under the hood.
Is it Safe to Drive With a Misfire?
No, it is not safe to drive with a misfire. It’s bad for your engine’s fuel economy and power, but it can also lead to serious issues if left unchecked. While engines can usually still run with a misfire, allowing it to continue can lead to permanent engine damage. The most immediate potential harm resulting from a misfire is a failed catalytic converter, which can be costly to replace.
Not only this, but misfires can cause random drops in power or lead to stalls. If this happens when you need to accelerate, it could cause permanent damage to your engine.
Check Engine Light Services in Naperville
Don’t let the check engine light linger and possibly cause further damage. Trust your vehicle diagnosis to Becker Service Center in Naperville, Illinois. Our expert technicians will diagnose and get to the cause of your check engine light and fix whatever is causing the problem. Call or schedule an appointment online with our friendly team today!