Chevrolet Flashing Check Engine Light

One of the many parts of owning a Chevy model is upkeep. You may one day get into your car, turn the key, and realize the check engine light is flashing, understandably sending you into worry mode. However, this warning light appears for countless reasons, whether inside a Chevy model or beyond. If you encounter a Chevy flashing check engine light and need answers about why this is happening, we will be here to give you further insight. Stick around; let's get this solved!

What Does the Chevy Check Engine Light Mean?

A flashing check engine light inside your Chevy model indicates something is wrong with the engine or a surrounding component that feeds into or out of the engine. Typically, a flashing check engine light is a warning symbol for drivers, who should follow up with a call to their dealership or Chevrolet-approved auto shop.

Many people will encounter the check engine light if they own a car. This is a response to your car's computers, which analyze the engine for issues like bad spark plugs, fuel delivery failure, low or poor-quality oil, ignition trouble, cooling system error, air intake malfunctions, etc. Whatever the case is, you're better off going through your local Chevy dealer when the flashing check engine light appears, as they'll know the exact cause for concern.

Common Causes for a Flashing Check Engine Light

Regarding the common causes for a Chevy flashing check engine light, this can happen for endless reasons. Common check engine light-related problems include loose gas caps, air intake issues, faulty aftermarket parts, low coolant levels, bad oil, and even EGR system issues. We'll dive deeper into these below:

• Fuel Delivery Issues: If this is the fault code that comes up during diagnostics on your engine, the PCM detects that the fuel and desired fuel pressure don't match. Leaks, defective pressure sensors, and damaged fuel injectors can cause this to trigger the check engine light.

• Ignition System Problem: If your ignition system is to blame, this indicates that there could be something wrong with its components. These include and could be spark plugs, damaged spark plug wires, or malfunctioning ignition coils.

• EGR System Issues: When your EGR system goes bad, it can trigger power reduction, reduced acceleration, and decreased fuel efficiency, often resulting in high emissions. You will notice more smoke when driving and the Chevy check engine light flashing on the dash.

• Air Intake Issues: Dirty filters are the most common cause of an air intake error. If you go too long between filter changes, your car will see a disruption in the air/fuel mixture inside the engine, which will trigger the light to flash in your Chevy.

• Coolant Levels Are Low: If your Chevy check engine light begins flashing, low coolant is an easy cause to remedy. You would need to have a fluid flush and add proper coolant levels to your vehicle to get this back to normal. It's one of the easier problems to face.

• Aftermarket Items Causing an Issue: Altering your engine or adding performance components to your vehicle can cause a check engine light to flash. Common reasons for this include adding an aftermarket exhaust kit to your car, truck, or SUV, which CAN trigger the catalytic converter code.

• Timing and Camshaft Problems: If your car's timing or camshaft components are not in sync with the rest of the engine, you will notice a flashing check engine light on your Chevy dashboard. This is inevitable if you have failed belts, gears, sheared pins or keys, or stretched/failed chains and chain hardware.

Steady vs. Flashing Chevy Check Engine Light

This is a big one to remember when comparing a steady vs. flashing Chevy check engine light. First, a steady check engine light means your car's computers have detected an issue, and you should go in for diagnostics as soon as possible. It's not necessarily an emergency, but it needs to be handled.

A flashing Chevy check engine light, however, does mean there is an emergency with one of your engine's components, and you should bring your vehicle to a  Chevrolet repair center as soon as possible. We do not recommend ignoring a flashing check engine light, whether you drive a Chevrolet or not.

What to Do If Your Check Engine Light Comes On

When your check engine light turns on, the best thing to do is to schedule an appointment with the dealership or a reputable auto repair shop. Colonial Chevrolet offers our customers premier diagnostic appointments and can help solve this check engine light dilemma in no time, so that is a good place to start. You don't want to let this type of thing go unchecked, as there could be something seriously wrong with your car's internal components.

Will the Chevy Flashing Check Engine Light Reset?

Yes, the Chevy flashing check engine light resets as soon as the issue is repaired. This should happen following your repair appointment, and if it does not, there is something else going on underneath your vehicle's hood.

Is It Safe to Drive Your Chevy?

Although we do not recommend driving with a flashing check engine light for long periods, a stable one inside your Chevrolet should be fine until you can get to the dealer if you notice engine-related problems while behind the wheel. However, this is when a walk-in service is best suited for your issue. You always want to err on the side of caution.

Again, we can help with diagnostics and comprehensive repair, so please contact Colonial Chevrolet with any concerns you may have.

Service Your Chevy at Colonial Chevrolet

The next time you notice a flashing check engine light inside your Chevy model, make sure to schedule a service appointment through  Colonial Chevrolet. Our on-site certified service center will be happy to run diagnostics on your vehicle's engine, followed by repairs.

Don't wait until it's too late, come see us today!

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