What Causes the Car Engine Light to Flash?
2 Answers
It could be due to a malfunction in one of the engine components. The car engine's fault signal light is triggered by the ECU, which controls all the electronic devices in the engine, such as the electronic throttle, fuel injectors, alternator, fuel pump, etc. If any of these systems fail, the engine fault light will illuminate. There are three possible scenarios when the engine fault light flashes: 1. The fault light is on, but there are no noticeable driving abnormalities. This might indicate a sensor malfunction. You can continue driving, but it's best to drive at low to medium speeds cautiously. 2. The engine fault light is on, and the vehicle can still be driven, but with severe shaking, lack of acceleration power, and other symptoms. In this case, roadside assistance is required. 3. The car cannot start, possibly due to a fuel pump or ignition component failure. In this situation, you should call for help immediately.
Hey, I've been driving for over a decade. When the engine light flashes, it's mostly due to sensor issues, like an aging oxygen sensor affecting the air-fuel mixture, which can trigger misfire warnings. Other causes could be cracked ignition coils or carbon-fouled spark plugs making the engine run rough. I've even encountered vacuum hose leaks triggering alarms - turned out to be minor upon inspection. Ignoring it makes things worse; the catalytic converter might get damaged and cost a fortune to fix. I always glance at the dashboard before driving and do regular maintenance like cleaning the intake system to prevent such faults. My advice: pull over safely when the light flashes, avoid highway driving to prevent engine damage, and use an OBD scanner at a repair shop to diagnose. If you're handy, you can even replace parts yourself.
