Check Engine Light Flashing and Car Won’t Accelerate
What Does It Mean?
When the check engine light flashes and your car won’t accelerate, it means that there is a serious problem with your engine. The flashing light indicates that the engine is misfiring, which can cause a loss of power and acceleration. This is a potentially dangerous situation, so it’s important to pull over and stop the car as soon as possible.
What Causes It?
There are a number of potential causes for a flashing check engine light and loss of acceleration, including:
- Spark plug wires that are loose or damaged
- A faulty ignition coil
- A bad fuel injector
- A clogged fuel filter
- A problem with the engine’s timing belt or chain
What Should You Do?
If you see the check engine light flashing and your car won’t accelerate, the first thing you should do is pull over and stop the car. Once the car is stopped, you can try to restart the engine. If the car restarts and runs normally, you may be able to continue driving. However, it’s important to have the car checked by a mechanic as soon as possible to determine the cause of the problem and make sure it doesn’t happen again.
If the car doesn’t restart or if it continues to run poorly, you should call a tow truck to have the car towed to a mechanic. Driving a car with a flashing check engine light and loss of acceleration is dangerous, so it’s important to get the problem fixed as soon as possible.
How to Prevent It
There are a few things you can do to help prevent a flashing check engine light and loss of acceleration, including:
- Regularly maintain your car according to the manufacturer’s recommendations
- Replace spark plugs and spark plug wires as needed
- Keep the fuel filter clean
- Have the engine’s timing belt or chain checked and replaced as needed
By following these tips, you can help keep your car running smoothly and avoid the potential dangers of a flashing check engine light and loss of acceleration.
