As the title says, I am getting a flashing check engine light. This occurs WHILE driving and only occurs intermittently. Anyone ever experience the same thing and/or know the cause?

Does it just go off then comes back on in a few seconds or does it strobe off and on? Cuz my EGR system is removed and my CEL will go off at random then come back on in a few seconds. Sometimes it stays off all day....other times it stays on all day :shrug

No it goes on-off-on-off etc etc etc just like when you do the keydance. I have never seen this happen before.

hmm, it did that to me when my car was misfiring...but iv never had the car run perfectly fine then just start flashing cel's and having no problems. have you tried pulling a code from it?

I'm no guru, but it seems like I remember it say in the owners manual, that if your CEL blinks like that, that your cat is bad. I could be totally off, but it seems like I remember this...

Originally posted by SPEEDINRACER
I'm no guru, but it seems like I remember it say in the owners manual, that if your CEL blinks like that, that your cat is bad. I could be totally off, but it seems like I remember this...

i dunno, you could be right, iv never ran across this in my manual...but its highly unlikley. if anything, theyll tell you to shut off the car immediately and pay someone to tow you to satan so they can rape you to pull a code and rape you for the labor and parts...i see that before i see mitsu telling you why your CEL is blinking :P

The CEL will not flash if your Cat is bad. I have a test pipe currently and have yet to do the Rear O2 sensor mod. I only get the P0420 (down stream O2 sensor code) and it does not flash.

I had a 1997 Buick skylark come into my shop today that had a flashing CEL and it was due to an active misfire. The POS ended up needed plugs, wires, and 2 injectors. I believe my scanner said 'random/active misfire' for the actual description when I pulled the code.

Does your motor sound like it is missing? Pop the hood and see if the motor is hiccuping in the engine cradle. If the CEL is flashing, I think it will be pretty obvious.

Keep us posted.

it means youve activated the self-destruct mode! quick...get out of the car!!!!

get the codes read. i bet somthing important is messed up. if idiot lights stay illuminated for dumb stuff, then they flash for important stuff. before too long, our cars will have individual ringtones for CEL codes. we will see posts like "OH SHIT...i just through the dreaded "my band" code!!!"

I've had that happen too. Did it when i had a CEL from a missfire..check your codes

It's definitely a misfire. VERY bad. You're probably lean or something.

I've had it happen to me a long time ago. It was related to a bad HRC voltage clamp which was preventing my map from going to the maximum atmospheric pressure and/or maximum fueling.

In any case, I was very lean and as a result misfiring.

The check engine light flashes under heavy misfire. it also stores a code.

Anyone who tells you different is misinformed or stupid.

Well, I have a 1999 owners manual, and on page 65 in the gray warning box it states-
" If the light is flashing, severe catalytic converter damage and power loss will soon occur. Immediate service required."

But, It sounds like your having a different problem, sorry if I misguided anyone or anything like that.

Originally posted by SPEEDINRACER
severe catalytic converter damage and power loss will soon occur. Immediate service required.

...yeah... converter damage? I guess they thought some people may use their DSM for off-roading and bash their kitty on a rock? :-o

i never want my cel to flash on and off every again. that happen when my engine went bye bye. happen to my buddies 420a when his engine went bye bye also..
check the code and compression just to be safe.
Michael
99gs HRC Stage 4000+ 8-Injector Setup
2004 Honda Accord V6 (240 hp)
Car info & pictures at http://www.cardomain.com/memberpage/520269

I have had a multiple cylinder misfire code for a while now. I have changed everything related to the ignition system. I cant seems to solve that porblem. My cat is stock, I have just been saving up to get a high flow and a DP made. Maybe it is bad. I have noticed a power loss at full throttle, but not so much around partial throttle. I will pull my codes again and see what happens.

Thanks for the help, and keep the suggestions coming.

Jon

Originally posted by SPEEDINRACER
Well, I have a 1999 owners manual, and on page 65 in the gray warning box it states- "for cars equiped with a non-turbo 2.0 liter engine If the light is flashing, severe catalytic converter damage and power loss will soon occur. Immediate service required." But, It sounds like your having a different problem, sorry if I misguided anyone or anything like that.

Severely misfiring will damage the cat and emissions systems. it blinks because of the misfires, not because of the damage it could be causing. Mitsu's tech writers are dumb.