Took the P Car (2000 C2 coupe, 54K miles)through a touchless car wash this AM (temp about 27F). Pulled out onto the highway and it felt like a cylinder was missing. Then a flashing CEL.

Kept the revs low for about 1/4mile and then the CEL went out and everything was fine. Drove it around a while with no ill effects.

Any guesses on what would cause that?


--Dale

 

Water getting to your coil packs - probably one of them is cracked?

You should have pulled over with a flashing CEL - it's only safe to keep driving with a static CEL lamp

 

Flashing CEL? Do NOT ignore that. Get the code read immediately. If you are close to the dealer that should have been your first stop.

 

I can assure you from experience that a flashing CEL is no bueno. Even if it is a short period of time and does not return you need to get it checked out.

 

Or Autozone to use one of their free loaner OBDII units

Or Harbor Freight to buy yourself one, as I did this week.



Of course by the time I got home, wifey reported that the CEL had gone out on the Boxster but I'm still going to check it out this weekend any way.

And at least I got a new toy while I had a valid excuse

 

Just b/c the CEL goes away doesn't mean the code is gone. It is stored until you clear it.

 

OMG, I have had a CEL for about 25000 miles, you guys must think I am crazy. As long as it has nothing to do with the vitals, I have ignored it.

 

Solid CEL? Then not nearly as bad. But still you will want to get it checked out. Why in the hell would you drive 25K miles with a CEL in the first place?

 

Tippy wants to get value for money out of the CEL bulb in his dash

 

First this then he puts 15W-50 oil in his car. Some poeple!

 

Maybe it was water making the fan belt slip.

 

Since most CELs deal with emissions and not engine vitals, I have ignored it. I read many years ago that even if a sensor gets out of it paramaters just for a split second, it trips the CEL. I had the codes read on mine and it was all emissions related so I let it go on and off as it pleases.

Call me stubborn but these cars give out CELs like they are going out of style.

 

LOL, I was hoping it would burn out.

 

Ah crap!

 

I was getting ready to pull over and then it went out. I though it strange that even if someting got better, it would have stayed solid. Weird.

The car sat all day and ran fine on my way home after work.

I'll check the codes tonight and post.