Check Engine Light Blinking Repairs

Ever have a “Ever have a “Check Engine” light illuminate on your dashboard? What did you do? Apparently, 1 in 10 cars on the road have this light on. More than 50% of such indicators are ignored for months.

A red engine light indicates a severe situation that needs immediate attention - possibly even pulling your car over and shutting off your engine. If the indicator light is a steady yellow or amber, you are not in an emergency situation. But you should have your car checked as soon as is reasonably possible.

It is important to promptly address the “Check Engine” indicator. Delaying action is likely to lead to larger, more costly problems later.

We will resolve this issue for you in the shop. The mystery related to check engine light flashing creates some anxiety. We'll try to reduce that by describing the most frequent problems and attendant repair costs. But first, a brief history:

The Clean Air Act passed in 1977 was enacted to reduce the impact of auto emissions on air quality. For about two decades, carmakers had their own unique engine onboard diagnostic monitoring exhaust systems. However, starting with model-year 1996 all manufacturers standardized the on-board diagnostic (OBD-II) system. To make repairs more accessible to the general public, a universal connector was created to read common diagnostic trouble codes (DTC).

Here are some typical “Check Engine” light triggers:

Four inexpensive causes, typically costing $0 to $200:

• A missing or loose gas cap effectively indicates a leak in the vapor recovery system and requires tightening your gas cap or about $20 to replace a bad or missing one.
• A recent dead or replaced battery needs to be detached and reattached and allow the system to “cycle through” some moderate driving.
• Cracked vacuum hoses – parts are inexpensive, although labor needed might take more than an hour.
• Inaccurate thermostat.

Five moderate causes, typically costing $200 to $500:

• Oxygen (O2) sensor needs to be replaced.
• MAF (mass airflow) operating poorly.
• Spark plugs and wires faulty. Ignition coil compromised.
• Evaporative emission purge control or solenoid malfunctioning.
• Partially blocked fuel injector.

Two more expensive causes, typically costing $500 - $1,200:

• EGR or exhaust gas recirculation malfunction.
• Catalytic converter breakdown.

It is possible that multiple systems could breakdown simultaneously.  Failure to address these problems will reduce engine performance, increase emission or decrease gas mileage.

“Service Engine Soon” is an indication that drivers sometime confuse with the Check Engine light.  They are not the same thing. The former is more of a reminder that an oil change is needed or possibly your battery is weaker than it should be. The latter is more serious and should not be ignored.

Ultimately, a persistent “Check Engine” light will likely result in an inspection failure or worse. An untimely roadside breakdown will cost you additional time and money without avoiding the necessary emission repair work.  A check engine light blinking is your diagnostic OBD system warning "get this problem fixed". Ignoring it too long could result in a loss of power or significant engine damage. Unless you are an experienced mechanic, this is not solved by a visit to a parts store. Schedule an appointment with Fred's Auto Repair so that our ASE Certified mechanics can fix this problem quickly and accurately.