Flashing Check Engine Light
Thread Starter
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 25,015
Likes: 2,709
From: Far NW 'burbs of Chicago
St. Jude Donor '13
Flashing Check Engine Light
We’re on a road trip in a semi boondocks area. Yesterday we’d been driving for a couple of hours, going eabout 45 mph on a country road. Suddenly I noticed the Check Engine light was on. A couple of seconds later it started flashing. Flashed for about 10 seconds, then went out. We drove about 15 minutes more to the hotel without any problems. Lots of driving planned for the next 4 days. No dealer nearby.
All engine readings were normal and the car felt perfectly normal while the light was flashing and afterwards for the remaining 15 minutes. Car has never done anything like this before.
Car is a 2017 Z51 A8. Totally stock, 42k miles.
Predictions?
All engine readings were normal and the car felt perfectly normal while the light was flashing and afterwards for the remaining 15 minutes. Car has never done anything like this before.
Car is a 2017 Z51 A8. Totally stock, 42k miles.
Predictions?
Thread Starter
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 25,015
Likes: 2,709
From: Far NW 'burbs of Chicago
St. Jude Donor '13
^^^
Going to a shop or dealer will take us out of our schedule enough to ruin the trip. I’m inclined to keep going so long as it’s running normally.
Going to a shop or dealer will take us out of our schedule enough to ruin the trip. I’m inclined to keep going so long as it’s running normally.
Racer
Joined: Apr 2021
Posts: 361
Likes: 392
Usually a flashing CEL is the worst, and suggests that there is a misfire as someone already stated or some other major problem. The fact that it went away, hasn't come back and your car is operating normally are all good signs. I guess worst case scenario, in this day of cell phones and roadside service, if your car should have some sort of catastrophic failure, at least you can get to safety pretty quickly. I would imagine that you're taking all paved roads and highways, so this isn't some "overlanding" trip out in the woods.
Thread Starter
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 25,015
Likes: 2,709
From: Far NW 'burbs of Chicago
St. Jude Donor '13
We don’t have the Onstar subscription, could we still get the info ?
We will be on paved roads, not sure of cell service but another vette traveling with us so they could go get help.
We will be on paved roads, not sure of cell service but another vette traveling with us so they could go get help.
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Racer
Joined: Apr 2021
Posts: 361
Likes: 392
This is a good suggestion. I know OP stated that detouring to a dealership would be too far out of the way and ruin the trip, but surely he isn't so remote that a Walmart won't be somewhere less than 30 minutes out of the way. I would need the peace of mind to pull the codes in order to be comfortable if it were me. Being nervous driving along some super remote stretches of highway with a car that had a flashing CEL would ruin my trip a lot quicker than detouring a few miles out of my way to find a code reader.
Advanced
Joined: Dec 2017
Posts: 86
Likes: 85
From: Houston and Hong Kong
I also recommend getting an OBDII reader. If that's not possible, any semi-modern car repair service shop will have an OBD reader. They can pull the codes for free or no more than a small charge. You can look up the meaning of the codes on any internet connection.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2014
Posts: 8,673
Likes: 2,727
From: Atlanta GA
a flashing Check Engine light is bad
Dave
Pro
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 732
Likes: 138
From: Allen (DFW) Texas
With the engine running, raise the hood and listen for a slight "ticking" sound. If you hear that, stop your trip immediately and take the car to the closest Chevy dealer.
Just had a very similar experience with wife's Suburban, CEL would flash, then stop. She ignored it for awhile before telling me, when I looked at the truck I could hear a slight ticking at idle. Had to do with a failure in the Active Fuel Management/AFM/DOD system. Resulting repairs were close to $4,000 (fortunately covered under extended warranty).
I've attached the GM Service Bulletin describing the symptoms, in-progress failure and corrective action that was done on the Suburban, and you'll note that the Corvette is included in the bulletin.
Just had a very similar experience with wife's Suburban, CEL would flash, then stop. She ignored it for awhile before telling me, when I looked at the truck I could hear a slight ticking at idle. Had to do with a failure in the Active Fuel Management/AFM/DOD system. Resulting repairs were close to $4,000 (fortunately covered under extended warranty).
I've attached the GM Service Bulletin describing the symptoms, in-progress failure and corrective action that was done on the Suburban, and you'll note that the Corvette is included in the bulletin.
Banned Scam/Spammer
Joined: Jan 2019
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OP;
"Why is my check engine light on?"
"Step 1- Obtain codes.
Step 2-Check your gas and gas cap. Remove the gas cap and put it back on, turning it until it clicks three times, then wait 24 hours to see if the code resets. A loose radiator cap can also trigger the check engine light.
Step3-Check the oxygen sensor. They are the most common causes of check engine lights coming on. Many owners have reported this problem popping up after they have an aftermarket exhaust installed."
Source- By Brett Foot- February 23, 2015
Many thanks,
Ray
"Why is my check engine light on?"
"Step 1- Obtain codes.
Step 2-Check your gas and gas cap. Remove the gas cap and put it back on, turning it until it clicks three times, then wait 24 hours to see if the code resets. A loose radiator cap can also trigger the check engine light.
Step3-Check the oxygen sensor. They are the most common causes of check engine lights coming on. Many owners have reported this problem popping up after they have an aftermarket exhaust installed."
Source- By Brett Foot- February 23, 2015
Many thanks,
Ray
Last edited by Rayland; Oct 14, 2021 at 05:49 PM. Reason: Quotation marks
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Thanks for the service bulletin and the other suggestions for solving this problem. OP - hope you get it identified and resolved soon and continue to enjoy your trip.
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2000
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From: Texas
The fact that it went out suggests a loose connection. Check the plug wires at the coils and the plugs. Sorry to say getting to the 4 plugs on the passenger side will be next to impossible due to the fuse box, but at least you can check the wires at the coils on that side.
Thread Starter
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 25,015
Likes: 2,709
From: Far NW 'burbs of Chicago
St. Jude Donor '13
We're home now.
Since the light appeared/disappeared, we put about another 700 miles on the car at a wide range of speeds and throttle. The light has not come back, and the car continues to run perfectly.
Tomorrow I'll call the dealership and see if they want me to bring it in now, or wait until my oil change appointment next week.
Thanks for all the comments.
Since the light appeared/disappeared, we put about another 700 miles on the car at a wide range of speeds and throttle. The light has not come back, and the car continues to run perfectly.
Tomorrow I'll call the dealership and see if they want me to bring it in now, or wait until my oil change appointment next week.
Thanks for all the comments.
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OP;
"Why is my check engine light on?"
Step 1- Obtain codes.
Step 2-Check your gas and gas cap. Remove the gas cap and put it back on, turning it until it clicks three times, then wait 24 hours to see if the code resets. A loose radiator cap can also trigger the check engine light.
Step3-Check the oxygen sensor. They are the most common causes of check engine lights coming on. Many owners have reported this problem popping up after they have an aftermarket exhaust installed.
Source- By Brett Foot- February 23, 2015
Many thanks,
Ray
"Why is my check engine light on?"
Step 1- Obtain codes.
Step 2-Check your gas and gas cap. Remove the gas cap and put it back on, turning it until it clicks three times, then wait 24 hours to see if the code resets. A loose radiator cap can also trigger the check engine light.
Step3-Check the oxygen sensor. They are the most common causes of check engine lights coming on. Many owners have reported this problem popping up after they have an aftermarket exhaust installed.
Source- By Brett Foot- February 23, 2015
Many thanks,
Ray
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2015
Posts: 2,256
Likes: 781
From: Nashville TN
We're home now.
Since the light appeared/disappeared, we put about another 700 miles on the car at a wide range of speeds and throttle. The light has not come back, and the car continues to run perfectly.
Tomorrow I'll call the dealership and see if they want me to bring it in now, or wait until my oil change appointment next week.
Thanks for all the comments.
Since the light appeared/disappeared, we put about another 700 miles on the car at a wide range of speeds and throttle. The light has not come back, and the car continues to run perfectly.
Tomorrow I'll call the dealership and see if they want me to bring it in now, or wait until my oil change appointment next week.
Thanks for all the comments.