What Does It Mean When Your Check Engine Light Is Flashing?
Seeing the check engine light appear on your dashboard can be concerning, especially when the light is flashing rather than staying steadily illuminated.
Your vehicle’s check engine light is designed to alert you when the vehicle’s onboard diagnostic system detects a problem. While a steady check engine light can indicate a variety of issues, a flashing light generally deserves more immediate attention.
So, what does it mean when your check engine light is flashing, and what should you do when it happens? Here’s what drivers should know.
What Is the Check Engine Light?
The check engine light is part of your vehicle’s onboard diagnostic system. When the vehicle’s computer detects certain problems involving the engine, emissions system, or related components, it may turn on the check engine light and store a diagnostic trouble code.
That code can provide a technician with information about the system in which the problem was detected. However, a trouble code doesn’t necessarily identify the exact part that needs to be repaired.
Additional testing and inspection may be needed to determine what is actually causing the warning light.
Flashing vs. Steady Check Engine Light: What’s the
Difference?
How the check engine light appears can provide important information.
A steady check engine light means the vehicle’s computer has detected a problem that should be diagnosed. Depending on the issue, the vehicle may otherwise appear to operate normally.
A flashing check engine light generally indicates a more urgent problem that could potentially cause additional damage if the vehicle continues to be driven.
The exact cause can’t be determined from the warning light alone, which is why having the vehicle properly diagnosed is important.
Why Is My Check Engine Light Flashing?
There isn’t one single problem that causes every flashing check engine light.
One possible cause is an engine misfire. A misfire occurs when combustion isn’t happening properly in one or more cylinders. There are several reasons a vehicle can develop a misfire, so seeing a flashing check engine light doesn’t automatically tell you which component is responsible.
Potential problems may involve ignition, fuel delivery, engine operation, or other systems
depending on the vehicle. Rather than replacing a part based solely on the warning light, diagnostic testing can help determine what is actually happening.
Can I Keep Driving With a Flashing Check Engine Light?
A flashing check engine light shouldn’t be ignored.
Continuing to operate a vehicle while a serious engine problem is occurring could potentially
lead to additional damage. If the check engine light begins flashing, especially if the vehicle is
shaking, running roughly, losing power, or otherwise behaving abnormally, find a safe place to stop driving.
If you’re unsure whether the vehicle can be safely driven, consider having it evaluated before
continuing to drive it.
What If the Check Engine Light Stops Flashing?
Even if the check engine light stops flashing or turns off, it’s still worth paying attention to what happened.
Vehicle problems can sometimes be intermittent, meaning a warning light or symptom may appear and disappear. The vehicle’s computer may also retain diagnostic information related to the event.
Having the vehicle checked can help determine why the light flashed and whether additional service is needed.
How Is a Check Engine Light Diagnosed?
Diagnosing a check engine light involves more than simply reading a code. A technician can use diagnostic equipment to retrieve trouble codes stored by the vehicle’s computer. Those codes provide a starting point for determining which system needs further attention.
From there, additional inspection or testing may be necessary to identify the underlying cause. This is why a trouble code by itself shouldn’t automatically be treated as confirmation that a particular part needs replacement.
Check Engine Light Diagnosis in Vancouver, WA
If your check engine light is flashing, your vehicle is running differently than usual, or a warning light has recently appeared on your dashboard, consider having the vehicle inspected.
Hazel Dell Automotive & Exhaust provides vehicle diagnostics and repair in Vancouver, WA to
help identify the source of vehicle problems and determine what service may be appropriate.
Contact Hazel Dell Automotive & Exhaust to schedule an appointment and have your vehicle inspected.
FAQ
Is a flashing check engine light more serious than a steady check engine
light?
Generally, a flashing check engine light indicates a more urgent problem than a steady light and should not be ignored. A steady light also requires attention, but a flashing light may indicate an issue that could potentially cause additional damage if the vehicle continues to be driven.
What should I do if my check engine light starts flashing?
If your check engine light begins flashing, pay attention to how the vehicle is running. If it is
shaking, running roughly, losing power, or behaving abnormally, find a safe place to stop driving. If you are unsure whether the vehicle is safe to drive, consider having it evaluated before
continuing.
Can a misfire cause the check engine light to flash?
Yes, an engine misfire is one possible reason a check engine light may flash. However, misfires
themselves can have several different causes involving the ignition system, fuel delivery, engine operation, or other components. Diagnostic testing can help determine what is actually causing
the problem.
Why is my check engine light flashing and then stopping?
Some vehicle problems can occur intermittently, causing the check engine light to flash temporarily and then stop. Even if the light turns off or becomes steady, the vehicle’s computer may have stored diagnostic information related to the problem. Having the vehicle checked can help determine what caused the warning.
Can a diagnostic code tell me exactly what is wrong with my car?
Not necessarily. A diagnostic trouble code identifies a system or condition detected by the
vehicle’s computer, but it doesn’t always identify the exact component that needs repair. A
technician may need to perform additional testing and inspection to determine the underlying cause.
