The rule of thumb is that if the check engine light is flashing, you can’t keep driving the car. It’s an emergency. Often it indicates an engine misfire. If you keep driving, you will likely cause irreversible damage, mostly to the (expensive) catalytic converter.
Is it OK to drive with flashing check engine light?
As mentioned, a flashing check engine light signals an emergency and requires an immediate repair. The longer you drive a vehicle with a flashing CEL, the more damage you may do. If a misfire causes the flashing light, you can do severe damage to your vehicle’s catalytic converters.
How far can you go with a check engine light on?
When the Check Engine light comes on, you can still drive it for 50 to 100 miles, equivalent to 80 to 160 kilometers. It would be best if you took separate trips to help your car system assess its own status.
Why is my check engine light flashing and car shaking?
In general, if the check engine light is flashing and the car is shaking then there is a problem with one or more engine components. The problem could lie with the fuel supply, or a faulty ignition coil, bad spark plugs, or a bad engine sensor.
Can an engine misfire fix itself?
While you may be able to keep driving for a while if your car has a misfire, in the end, it’s really not a good idea. … Sometimes, a simple fix, such as replacing a spark plug, can solve the issue, so if your car is misfiring, don’t ignore the problem it it will only get worse (and more expensive).
What is the most common reason for a check engine light?
Replacing a faulty oxygen sensor — a sensor used to optimize a vehicle’s fuel-to-air mixture to increase gas mileage and reduce emissions — is the most common cause for a check engine light. With over 400,000 repairs nationwide, oxygen sensor replacements account for 8% of all check engine light repairs.
Can AutoZone clear a check engine light?
Does AutoZone Scan Check Engine Lights? AutoZone does. If your light is on, and you are wondering why, head down to your local AutoZone where one of our store associates can help diagnose the issue through our free Fix Finder service.
Will check engine light reset itself?
Your vehicle’s check engine light will will reset by itself once the issue or problem has been repaired; this is true for most models. … A vehicle cycle is when you start your vehicle and drive it till it warms up, and then you turn the car off.
How much does it cost to fix an engine misfire?
How much does a cylinder misfire repair cost?
| What May Cause the Engine Misfire | Average Estimate |
|---|---|
| Carbon or oil-fouled spark plugs | $100 to $250, depending on the costs of the plugs and local labor rates |
| Faulty ignition coil | $150 to $250 |
| Fuel injector | $275 to $400 |
| Vacuum leak | $200 to $800 |
Can bad spark plugs cause flashing engine light?
Worn spark plugs or spark plug wires can trigger your check engine light to come on. … This can cause your engine to misfire and your check engine light to pop on. A flashing engine light could mean that potentially catastrophic misfires are taking place, say our technicians.
Can low oil cause check engine light flash?
Being low on oil is a serious problem, but it will not trigger your check engine light. It will, however, cause the oil light in your dashboard to turn on. This light looks like an oil can with a drop of oil dripping from its spout. If you see this light turn on, this could indicate that your vehicle needs more oil.
Is it OK to drive with a misfire?
An engine misfire can be caused by bad spark plugs or imbalanced air/fuel mixture. Driving with a misfire isn’t safe and can damage your engine.
Can low oil cause a misfire?
You can’t drive a misfiring engine very long without causing additional damage. … If the low oil pressure warning light came on, too, there could be a connection simply because running the engine too low on oil will cause mechanical damage and thence malfunctions of all kinds.
What does an engine misfire feel like?
Technically, a misfire is the result of incomplete combustion (or zero combustion) inside one or more of an engine’s cylinders. But to you, the driver, the problem will usually feel like hesitation or shaking when the car is running. On modern vehicles, the check engine light will also pop on when there’s a misfire.