If your Honda Accord’s check engine light begins to blink, the issue requires quick attention, and your Honda should be taken in right away. Usually, a serious engine misfire that causes unburned fuel to escape into the exhaust system is indicated by this blinking light.
In This Article...
Is it safe to operate my automobile while the check engine light is on?
As a general rule, you shouldn’t continue to drive if your check engine light is blinking. It is a crisis. It frequently signifies an engine misfire.
The (expensive) catalytic converter will likely sustain the most of the irreparable damage if you continue to drive.
Avoid the cost by having your automobile hauled to a qualified mechanic.
Steady Check Engine Light
If the check engine light stays on, you can continue to drive the vehicle. But only if the vehicle’s vital components, such the brakes and lights, are working.
Watch the coolant temperature and oil pressure warning lights on your dashboard carefully.
How can a flickering check engine light be fixed?
Never disregard a check engine light that is flashing rather than one that is on all the time. A major issue that needs quick auto repair is indicated by a flashing CEL. In other words, stop and call a towing company if your check engine light is flashing.
Internal parts of your car may sustain irreparable harm if you keep driving it while the CEL is flashing. Driving a car with a blinking check engine light can lead to a blown catalytic converter, a repair that can cost $2,500 or more. Other emissions-system components, like as oxygen sensors, may potentially sustain damage from this kind of issue.
Ultimately, the most frequent reason for a flashing CEL is an engine misfire. In this brief article, we discuss the many types of misfires, their typical causes, and the repair costs associated with them.
What does a Honda engine light that is flashing mean?
A flashing check engine light shows that there may be a serious problem with your engine and that it is misfiring. The more you drive with your check engine light is on, the more harm your engine may sustain. As soon as you can, have a mechanic look at it!
While you are driving, the engine control unit keeps track of all the sensors in your car. Using this data, it determines how much fuel needs to be pumped into the engine and at what angle the ignition should be ignited.
A difficulty code will be generated if a sensor’s value is incorrect for a brief period of time. The check engine light will come on on your dashboard if the engine control unit repeatedly receives the incorrect value from the sensor.
The check engine light will begin to flicker instead if the misfire is serious. This is to let you know that there is currently an issue that could harm the catalytic converter.
How much does fixing engine misfire cost?
Misfires are never enjoyable to deal with, especially when the cost of restoring the damage is involved. Nevertheless, it is risky to drive with a damaged cylinder, so get your car checked out and fixed before you get back on the road.
Depending on the cause of the misfire, the cost of repair and replacement might range from $100 to $1000. The following is a summary of the most typical misfire reasons and their respective average estimated repair costs:
- Inefficient fuel delivery: $200 to $1,000
- Incorrect ignition coil: $150 to $250
- Valve springs broken: $450 to $650
- Oil-contaminated spark plugs: $100 to $250
- $100 to $300 for faulty spark plug wires
- $1,500 to $3,000 for damaged piston rings
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Flashing or solid check engine lights, which is worse?
A check engine light will typically illuminate steadily as a significant warning that anything is wrong with your car. But if the LED is blinking, your already-minor annoyance and worry have just increased. Get to the nearest reliable mechanic you know as soon as the check engine light starts to flicker.
Can a misfire get better on its own?
Your engine depends on three key parts for each cylinder to fire. To start burning, it needs fuel, air to help with the burn reaction, and a spark. The cylinder won’t ignite if any of those components are missing at the ideal moment. It won’t initiate the series of events that result in a smoothly operating engine.
An engine misfire fundamentally happens when the combustion reaction doesn’t go as planned and your cylinder doesn’t fire. Misfires can happen when an engine first starts up as well as when it is still idling.
Your engine may suddenly falter and possibly lose speed when a misfire occurs (RPMs). However, most misfires disappear after a moment or two, and your engine resumes its regular speed. However, even a single misfire frequently indicates that there is a larger issue and that other misfires are likely to happen in the future.
Misfires also put strain on the engine of your car. Numerous misfires can mechanically tax different engine parts, possibly presaging worse problems in the future.
Can a misfire be caused by low oil?
Oh no! I regret learning that your engine is misfiring. It’s vital to identify the cause of the incident as soon as you can because driving with a misfired engine can result in significant harm.
Low engine oil pressure can result in a misfire, and it is extremely likely that this is what caused the misfire in your car.
Three typical ways low oil can result in a misfire are as follows:
- Your engine is misfiring because less oil flow has worn out certain engine components.
- Your oil filter is broken, which reduces oil flow, results in incorrect valve timing, and causes a misfire.
- Your engine has misfired due to low oil pressure, which has led it to run out of fuel and lower the RPMS.
To prevent any additional misfires, you should have your oil levels checked right away.
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Can poor gas result in a misfire?
A misfire may result from a tank of “bad gas” (old or wrong octane fuel). The improper air/fuel ratio can be caused by weak or dirty fuel injectors that impede the flow of fuel into the cylinder. Low fuel pressure from a clogged fuel filter might also reduce fuel flow.
Why is my car trembling and my engine light blinking?
an unreliable engine
One of the numerous potential explanations for the check engine light to come on is a condition that almost always results in a rise in hydrocarbon emissions (or start to flash). The check engine light usually indicates an engine misfire when it comes on and the car is vibrating.
What causes the erratic blinking of my check engine light?
Typically, a flashing engine light indicates one or more of the following issues: engine injector. airflow sensor, oxygen sensor, or additional computer system components. spark plug wires, spark plugs, or ignition coil.
How long is a misfire acceptable while driving?
Long-distance driving with a misfiring cylinder is not recommended. By doing this, you run the risk of seriously damaging the engine and creating hazardous driving conditions.
Theoretically, a cylinder that misfires could be used to go thousands of miles. Even though you may tremble and stall near the wall (and not experience much in the way of speed or acceleration), the car will still run thanks to the other cylinders in the engine.
However, it is best to get a misfiring cylinder rectified as quickly as possible.
How may a misfire be identified?
You should watch out for the following indications that an engine is misfiring:
- The engine’s power declines.
- The engine is difficult to start.
- Fuel usage increases.
- Emissions go up.
- Engine popping noises can be heard.
- The manifold’s intake or exhaust backfires.
- The engine tremors, stalls, or jerks.
How can I tell if my spark plug is firing incorrectly?
Coil packs, worn or failing spark plugs, or damaged spark plug wires can cause your check engine light to illuminate. The most visible event in today’s vehicles, according to Firestone Complete Auto Care professionals, should be the check engine light turning on or even flashing.
Your check engine light can turn on as a result and your engine may misfire. According to our professionals, a flashing engine light could indicate catastrophic misfires.
Spark plugs should generally be changed as part of preventative maintenance in accordance with the manufacturer’s recommendations. Driving with faulty spark plugs could place undue strain on your car’s catalytic converter, which is the engine’s exhaust cleaner, costing you money in repairs.
Rough idling, uneven power when accelerating, and a rise in exhaust fumes are all signs of misfiring spark plugs.
Keep in mind that a check engine light could be brought on by more than simply a spark plug issue. For this reason, your neighborhood Firestone Complete Auto Care offers Code Scans, which identify any codes that point to a misfire brought on by a faulty spark plug. Our facilities offer comprehensive vehicle care, so our specialists are equipped with the right equipment and knowledge of sensors, on-board diagnostics, and engine management systems to conduct an advanced diagnostic and deliver a precise repair estimate.