No, you should not drive a car that is misfiring. While the vehicle might still move, continuing to drive it is risky and can lead to severe, expensive damage. A misfire occurs when one or more of the engine's cylinders fail to ignite the fuel-air mixture correctly. This immediate problem can quickly cascade into others. The unburned fuel from the misfiring cylinder gets dumped into the exhaust system, which can overheat and destroy the catalytic converter—a repair that often costs over $1,000. Additionally, you're causing unnecessary strain on the engine and its components.
The severity of the situation often depends on the symptoms. A slight hiccup at idle might be different from a violent shaking during acceleration. Here’s a quick guide to the risks based on how the car is behaving:
| Symptom Severity | Recommended Action | Primary Risk of Continuing to Drive |
|---|
| Mild: Slight shaking at idle, minor loss of power. | Drive directly to a trusted mechanic, avoid heavy loads. | Clogging or damaging the catalytic converter over time. |
| Moderate: Noticeable shaking, strong gasoline smell, check engine light flashing. | Stop driving and have the car towed to a repair shop. | Immediate risk of catalytic converter failure; potential engine damage. |
| Severe: Violent shaking, loud banging sounds, inability to maintain speed. | Do not drive. Turn off the engine and arrange for a tow. | High risk of catastrophic engine damage or causing a road hazard. |
The flashing check engine light is a critical warning sign. It specifically indicates a misfire severe enough to risk damaging the catalytic converter. In this case, you must stop driving as soon as it is safe to do so. The safest and most cost-effective choice is to diagnose the root cause—which could be a faulty spark plug, ignition coil, fuel injector, or a deeper engine issue—before adding miles and compounding the problem.
