Flashing engine light

[Jreid1276]

Hi Guys!!

i am new here and really appreciate any and all help!
my boyfriend is deployed right now and I am driving his 2011 aveo. On the way home today, it randomly started flashing the engine light and it felt like the engine wanted to stall. I am afraid to even drive it to the gas station, I don't want to blow up and ruin the engine!

i am wondering, is it ok to drive (not far) to get it fixed and is there something I could check on my own first?
gas cap is all the way on. I don't know what else to check :/

thanks so much!

[xintersecty]

Go mail order and buy one of these. http://www.amazon.com/Panlong-Bluetooth-Diagnostic-Adapter-Android/dp/B00PJPHEBO/ref=sr_1_3?s=automotive&ie=UTF8&qid=1439427134&sr= 1-3&keywords=obd2+bluetooth

Pull the codes and look them up on the internet with your smart phone. Then go to your local mechanic and have them fix it and don't let them bull you with fancy smancy car talk just because you're a girl. At that point your a smart person and can whip your engine codes.

Check your transmission fluid level first. Check your oil level too.

[camopaint0707]

a flashing check engine light means it's a misfire. Probably not ideal to start with. I would start by checking the spark plugs.

[bdanhauer]

I'm having the same issue on my 07, put a new used motor in. Took it for a drive and the check engine light started flashing. Got the p0300, p0302, p0303. The plus are new (bosh), new plug wires and a new coil as well as a new catalytic converter and gas cap. Had the dealer look at it, the tech relearned the computer and ran the car with the, then came to me and said try different plugs, he recommended AC Delco, but I told him NGK plugs are what was in the original motor, he also said that there is no physical sign of the motor misfiring, he said he believes the computer is giving a false misfire. so I put in NGK plugs and went for a drive, check engine light still flashes. At this point I'm out of ideas of what to do

[xintersecty]

I'm having the same issue on my 07, put a new used motor in. Took it for a drive and the check engine light started flashing. Got the p0300, p0302, p0303. The plus are new (bosh), new plug wires and a new coil as well as a new catalytic converter and gas cap. Had the dealer look at it, the tech relearned the computer and ran the car with the, then came to me and said try different plugs, he recommended AC Delco, but I told him NGK plugs are what was in the original motor, he also said that there is no physical sign of the motor misfiring, he said he believes the computer is giving a false misfire. so I put in NGK plugs and went for a drive, check engine light still flashes. At this point I'm out of ideas of what to do

Are the coil wires going to the right plugs? I would check that first.

[bdanhauer]

Yes the coil wires are going to the right spark plugs, kinda hard to mix those up

[xintersecty]

My gut feel, make sure that the chassis ground and the ground wire to the coil packs are good. A faulty ground will give you heck and make it really hard to diagnose. I would use a multi-meter checking coil pack grounds. You should get a no more an a few ohms, ideally less than one.

[bdanhauer]

Well I got it fixed, found out the dealer I bought the Aveo from had done some shady electrical repair on the ignition coil harness. Now no issues after fixing the wires

[AndrewButler05]

I'm glad you got it fixed. I get so sick of #Stealerships and shops doing shady work.