Flasing Check Engine light

**mrfreez** · 10-17-2011

Hey all. It's only happened twice. I floor it accellerating on the highway and the check engine light flashes for a minute. Then it goes out and everything is normal. It sputters too when I was flooring it. My code scanner only reads codes that are current.

Now, I'm wondering if it could be the spark plugs and wires. I just got them today and I'm putting them in tomorrow. The car has a new fuel pump, gas tank, filler neck, Supercharger oil has been changed and the cat is gutted. I'm wondering if there is anything else I need to check that could cause the symptom I described.

**blueguy** · 10-17-2011

You bought new plugs and wires...but you haven't put them on yet?

Check back after you change them.

**machinegunsquid** · 10-17-2011

That sir, is common knowledge..

Flashing SES light = a misfire.

Changing the plugs/wires usually fixes it..If it doesnt then dig a little farther...might be a bad coil-pack (What happened to me) or even the ICM...

Change the plugs and wires, and be like "damn that was an easy fix"

**Iceman6669** · 10-17-2011

Originally Posted by machinegunsquid

That sir, is common knowledge..

Flashing SES light = a misfire.

Changing the plugs/wires usually fixes it..If it doesnt then dig a little farther...might be a bad coil-pack (What happened to me) or even the ICM...

Change the plugs and wires, and be like "damn that was an easy fix"

Correction.... FLASHING ses = MULTI misfires.

**Austins01GP** · 10-17-2011

i had the same problem turned out to be a bad MAF but i would def start with plugs and wires

**mrfreez** · 10-17-2011

Originally Posted by bluegtp91

You bought new plugs and wires...but you haven't put them on yet?

Check back after you change them.

Well, I picked them up after work and it's already dark out lol. Thanks for the input guys. So ICM, MAF or bad coils if the new plugs & wires doesn't fix it up.

**matt5112** · 10-17-2011

And?

Its even raining a little as well.

Get 'er done.

**mrfreez** · 10-18-2011

matt5112 are you in the Maritimes too?

**BillBoost37** · 10-18-2011

Flashing check engine doesn't mean misfire guys.

The FSM states a flashing check engine light means "Possible catalyst damaging condition". Which..yes most of the time is a serious misfire. however..technically it's not just possibly a misfire. It's a really badly running motor.

As for not changing plugs because it's dark, now you gotta do something spectacular to get our respect. Like buying a flashlight and doing the plugs tonight.

**mrfreez** · 10-18-2011

Nope! I'm off to the autoclub tonight and changing the plugs with lots of light and where it's dry too!

Maybe this will impress you? Here's my Camaro build:
My 95 Camaro 3.4 Build Thread! - Camaro Forums - Chevy Camaro Enthusiast Forum

**BillBoost37** · 10-18-2011

Cheater

**mrfreez** · 10-18-2011

Nah, I'm just extremely lucky to have a place like this I can work! This place has saved me sooo much money in car repair it's not funny! I'm re-inforcing the frame of the Camaro over the winter and rebuilding the engine so that's where the camaro will be for the duration of the winter too. I just hope I can get the bugs out of the GP so I can replace the steering shaft in my wife's 03 Grand AM!

**matt5112** · 10-18-2011

Ontario.

I think I've seen those pictures before...

**mrfreez** · 10-18-2011

Originally Posted by matt5112

Ontario.

I think I've seen those pictures before...

Right on. I lived in Kitchener for 4 yrs before moving here to NS.

**mrfreez** · 10-18-2011

Well, changed the plugs and wires tonight. Had 2 broken wires and 2 coil pack terminals rusted badly. The plugs weren't too bad. Looks like the previous owner changed the plugs but not the wires! So, I sanded the terminals and changed all the plugs and wires. Plugs are laser iridium gapped at 0.60. So far the car seems to run better but I'll give it a better test on the highway tomorrow!

Here's the old plugs:

**matt5112** · 10-18-2011

Good to hear.

**Austins01GP** · 10-18-2011

yay for easy fixes lulz

**BillBoost37** · 10-19-2011

Hopefully you didn't get the same "screw me up" plugs. If you did..pull them and crimp the ends so they don't loosen with heat cycles and cause you KR that drives you to the brink of nuts.

Not that I'd know from experience..but it's a serious ledge at that brink

**mrfreez** · 10-19-2011

Originally Posted by BillBoost37

Hopefully you didn't get the same "screw me up" plugs. If you did..pull them and crimp the ends so they don't loosen with heat cycles and cause you KR that drives you to the brink of nuts.

Not that I'd know from experience..but it's a serious ledge at that brink

Like you I picked up on that pretty quick too! A pair of needle nose pliers did the trick. NGK plugs are all the "screw me up" plugs!