Flashing engine light
Thread Starter
Cruising
Joined: Aug 2017
Posts: 11
Likes: 1
From: Hermitage Tennessee
Flashing engine light
While driving around town today making a few stops along the way, my check engine light began flashing. I do accelerate somewhat aggressively, but not that badly.
The temperature was at 200 like about normal in city driving.
When I slowed down on my way home, the light went off.
Any ideas why it was flashing or if I have a problem. (2015 Z06 m7).
The temperature was at 200 like about normal in city driving.
When I slowed down on my way home, the light went off.
Any ideas why it was flashing or if I have a problem. (2015 Z06 m7).
Popular Reply
Oct 22, 2017, 12:04 PM
I'm Batman..
Joined: Apr 2014
Posts: 6,142
Likes: 921
From: Lehigh Acres FL
Tech Contributor
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2016
Posts: 2,762
Likes: 1,017
From: MOUNTAIN HOME Arkansas
OM says flashing CEL is a malfunction has occurred & emission control system could be damaged. Reduce speed & avoid hard acceleration & uphill grades. If light continues to flash, park, turn off vehicle,wait at least 10 secs. & restart engine. If continues to flash, see dealer ASAP. You should go to dealer to have them do a CEL malfunction scan to see if a code was thrown which would identify what happened. (Me, a '16 M7Z).
Last edited by madrob2020; Oct 21, 2017 at 11:03 PM.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 769
Likes: 91
From: Niceville Florida Panhandle
St. Jude Donor '15
While driving around town today making a few stops along the way, my check engine light began flashing. I do accelerate somewhat aggressively, but not that badly.
The temperature was at 200 like about normal in city driving.
When I slowed down on my way home, the light went off.
Any ideas why it was flashing or if I have a problem. (2015 Z06 m7).
The temperature was at 200 like about normal in city driving.
When I slowed down on my way home, the light went off.
Any ideas why it was flashing or if I have a problem. (2015 Z06 m7).
Safety Car
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 3,757
Likes: 1,215
From: Wisconsin
Safety Car
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 3,960
Likes: 1,106
A flashing CEL usually means you have a persistent misfire on one or more cylinders. Bad fuel can cause this issue but more likely it is a plug, plug wire, or coil pack problem although an injector can also cause this misfire condition.
Get it to the dealer so they can pull the stored codes. It should indicate misfire or one or more cylinders and they can take it from there.
A flashing CEL isn't used as an indicator for low oil pressure, high oil temperature, or high engine coolant temperature and these have their own warning lights and/or DIC messages. The flashing CEL is used to get driver attention and indicate an important engine code because a misfire due to lack of spark will result in dumping raw fuel into the exhaust with the potential of overheating the cats and creating a fire.
Get it to the dealer so they can pull the stored codes. It should indicate misfire or one or more cylinders and they can take it from there.
A flashing CEL isn't used as an indicator for low oil pressure, high oil temperature, or high engine coolant temperature and these have their own warning lights and/or DIC messages. The flashing CEL is used to get driver attention and indicate an important engine code because a misfire due to lack of spark will result in dumping raw fuel into the exhaust with the potential of overheating the cats and creating a fire.
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I'm Batman..
Joined: Apr 2014
Posts: 6,142
Likes: 921
From: Lehigh Acres FL
Tech Contributor
Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 2,569
Likes: 170
Flashing CEL means a current misfire. You will want to narrow it down to specific cylinder(s) and go from there. If the car is stock take it to the dealer. If it is modded work with a performance shop to figure it out. It sounds like it is an issue only at higher rpm so you may want to check out the plugs and wires.
Last edited by lt1z; Oct 22, 2017 at 02:32 PM.
Thread Starter
Cruising
Joined: Aug 2017
Posts: 11
Likes: 1
From: Hermitage Tennessee
I took it for a brief spin today. Now I get a service rear axle notification in addition to the flashing check engine light. I already have made an appointment at my local dealer.
Safety Car
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 3,960
Likes: 1,106
You will get rear axle and usually stabilitrack warnings when there is an engine power delivery issue because these systems cannot work properly when the engine isn't operating as designed. Once the CEL/misfire issue is resolved the other problem(s) will likely also go away.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 769
Likes: 91
From: Niceville Florida Panhandle
St. Jude Donor '15
You will get rear axle and usually stabilitrack warnings when there is an engine power delivery issue because these systems cannot work properly when the engine isn't operating as designed. Once the CEL/misfire issue is resolved the other problem(s) will likely also go away.
Thread Starter
Cruising
Joined: Aug 2017
Posts: 11
Likes: 1
From: Hermitage Tennessee
Flashing engine light
While driving around town today making a few stops along the way, my check engine light began flashing. I do accelerate somewhat aggressively, but not that badly.
The temperature was at 200 like about normal in city driving.
When I slowed down on my way home, the light went off.
Any ideas why it was flashing or if I have a problem. (2015 Z06 m7).
The temperature was at 200 like about normal in city driving.
When I slowed down on my way home, the light went off.
Any ideas why it was flashing or if I have a problem. (2015 Z06 m7).
I had my 15 m7 towed to a local dealership today. They replaced a faulty ignition coil that has seemed to cure all of the problems so far. At least there was no problem on the 15 mile ride home.
