Passed a car - Check engine blinked 12 times?????

[Bobaloo22]

I passed a car this morning, (went around) so I gunned it while I had the chance. Afterward I looked down and saw engine light flashing, scared the crap out of me but before I could do anything it stopped. Any ideas?

Thanks!

Bob

[papageoff]

Have you tried to pull any codes?  Most auto parts stores will pull the stored codes for free.  If it was a runtime code, then it may not show anything; but, it's where I'd start.

[Thomcat]

Oil level to the top? If too low, on a steep grade, etc. high revs could have sucked so much oil from the sump and pumped to the valve covers, especially if a partial blockage on the return lines,  it temporarily triggered the low oil level sensor.

[Cjmooch]

When the check engine light flashes it means the engine is misfiring

[Bobaloo22]

Oil level fine and clean. I’m at work but will check to see if any codes thrown when I get home. It’s just weird AND scary that it was so few flashes. I’ll let y’all know if there’s any codes. Thanks 

[1997SierraSLT]

Sounds like the General Motors classic P0300 random misfire

[Bobaloo22]

I did get a tank of crappy gas a few days ago. First time I've seen this so scared me a little. Thanks Guys!

[00pooterSS]

Check engine light flashing indicates a misfire.

 

Mine did it at random a couple of months ago, it had a code stored in the computer even though the light went off. Code was for number 5 cylinder. Pulled the plug and it had carbon tracing down the side of the plug. Funny thing is it was a brand new NGK plug. So I replaced it and went ahead and put on new wires at the same time. 

[davester]

Actually, a flashing CEL is defined to mean there is a current emissions related problem actively occurring, of which the engine misfiring would cause it to happen, but it's not the sole thing that can make it happen.  You need to get the codes, and then figure out why it's happening.

[00pooterSS]

5 hours ago, davester said:

Actually, a flashing CEL is defined to mean there is a current emissions related problem actively occurring, of which the engine misfiring would cause it to happen, but it's not the sole thing that can make it happen.  You need to get the codes, and then figure out why it's happening.

 

Been a tech for 20+ years, never in my career seen anything other than a misfire cause a blinking CEL. Have data streamed many cars with misfire issues and emissions issues. Only ever seen a misfire cause the blinking CEL. 

 

Have caught many emissions issues as they occurred, never seen one cause the light to blink. 

[00pooterSS]

To the best of my memory the definition of the blinking light is that emissions damage is occurring. 

 

When you have a misfire, engine damage and catalytic converter damage are occurring so I think that's what you were getting at. 

 

I've seen many catalytic converters get fried due to a misfire. Seen a few engines shit a cylinder due to misfire, but not many.

[DeePa]

I always thought flashing CEL means pull over and stop to prevent engine damage. 

[Bobaloo22]

I checked the code this weekend, it was a CO307. Number 7 misfire, only one code. This is the one and only time this has done this so I hope it was just this crappy tank of gas.

[00pooterSS]

10 hours ago, Bobaloo22 said:

I checked the code this weekend, it was a CO307. Number 7 misfire, only one code. This is the one and only time this has done this so I hope it was just this crappy tank of gas.

 

Possible, but probably not. I'm a tech and I've seen bad gas cause an issue about 5 times in my 22 year career. 

[Bobaloo22]

How do you think I should proceed. Do you think it's a bad plug, coil or injector or a combo? Call the dealer and schedule I've got 59k so not sure if drivetrain or my extended warranty will cover the charges. I forgot to add, when I punched it last night it did it again, it happens when the rpms are at about 5k never any other time and it feels like a short lag when I hit it.

 

Thanks for the info