CEL Thrown today, truck doesnt even have 5000 miles yet

[TJay74]

 

Then GM is bucking the standard... For as long as there have been CELs, that's the way that I've always been taught to interpret them. CEL -ON- = something needs attention, check it out. CEL -FLASHING- = serious issue, shut the motor off ASAP.

 

 

Flashing CEL has been the industry norm for engine misfire since the OBDII system came out, GM's has been this way the entire time as well.

[ember1205]

 

 

Flashing CEL has been the industry norm for engine misfire since the OBDII system came out, GM's has been this way the entire time as well.

 

Then there's misunderstanding of whether a misfire is considered serious enough to shut the vehicle down or not. Misfires are generally going to be related to unburnt fuel being dumped into the exhaust where they will likely then be ignited. This will cause a quick and significant increase in exhaust temps which will almost certainly cause damage to the exhaust, especially the cat.

 

If a flashing CEL isn't seen as a "pull over and turn off the engine" enough warning because of all of this, I don't know what would be.

[TJay74]

Misfire warning has never been a "pull over and shut off warning", it is merely to tell you that one was detected. If the ECM thinks it is more severe then it will turn into a hard code and set the CEL light on.

 

What are you going to do, pull over and call a tow truck because of a misfire light? How long are you going to wait before you start driving again? I have seen misfires in the past due to bad gas or condensation in the gas, never caused any harm other than loss of power for a moment. You can also get a misfire from the issues GM had with the spark plug wires.

 

Unless the misfire was continuous it will not cause any issues or harm.

[ember1205]

Misfire warning has never been a "pull over and shut off warning", it is merely to tell you that one was detected. If the ECM thinks it is more severe then it will turn into a hard code and set the CEL light on.

 

What are you going to do, pull over and call a tow truck because of a misfire light? How long are you going to wait before you start driving again? I have seen misfires in the past due to bad gas or condensation in the gas, never caused any harm other than loss of power for a moment. You can also get a misfire from the issues GM had with the spark plug wires.

 

Unless the misfire was continuous it will not cause any issues or harm.

 

Plenty of advice to the contrary of what you're saying.

 

http://blog.carmd.com/flashingcheckenginelight/

http://www.autoblog.com/2012/01/31/techsplanation-check-engine-light/

http://www.cargurus.com/Cars/Discussion-t11011_ds598634

 

To be clear, the specific condition that I am referring to is that of a -continuously- flashing CEL. A single flash is not such a major issue. But, if it flashes constantly, that's an indication of a potentially serious condition and you can do significant damage to the vehicle if you continue to drive it under those conditions. Period.