Hi all,
Thought I'd query this which has been bothering the back of my mind for a long time, I searched the existing posts but didn't find anything exactly answering my question.
Basically when I get to motorway cruising speed (120km) at some point or another (particularly if I try to apply sudden power) the Engine management warning light will start to flash. This started a year ago when I bought the car second hand. Other than the flashing light, theres no other symptoms. Slowing down (not always an option) will eventually stop the flashing. One time about 8 months ago it annoyed me so much I kept driving it hard through the flashing and it stayed on solid then.
Brought it to a mechanic to plug it in and check. He was getting a generic reading something about a general misfire. He reset the light. He suggested it could need new plugs and HT leads but other than he couldn't be sure and it would cost me a lot of time and money to try pin down the problem.
I did both them and it still happens at high speeds. Recently I was having the brakes done by my regular mechanic and asked him to take a look at the engine light issue. He said he managed to get a flashing at low speeds too, simply by laboring the engine a bit with his foot to the floor. He also said he was getting the general misfire reading but he says its not actually misfiring it just thinks it is, meaning sensor.
He said he couldn't be sure but he thinks its either the cam shaft sensor or more likely the coils (ignition coils i assume?) but he said that either way its not doing any harm as such. Seeing as I'm only going to have the car for another year at most and there is no performance issues, i just left it.
I suppose my real question is providing I can find the power to ignore the flashing light, am I right to leave it, or in other words if I get the coils replaced and that stops the flashing, will I notice any other improvements or running differences in the engine ?
If any one has any info or can even explain the whole setup/problem I'd appreciate that as its not really something I'm fully sure about to be honest. Thanks!
Thought I'd query this which has been bothering the back of my mind for a long time, I searched the existing posts but didn't find anything exactly answering my question.
Basically when I get to motorway cruising speed (120km) at some point or another (particularly if I try to apply sudden power) the Engine management warning light will start to flash. This started a year ago when I bought the car second hand. Other than the flashing light, theres no other symptoms. Slowing down (not always an option) will eventually stop the flashing. One time about 8 months ago it annoyed me so much I kept driving it hard through the flashing and it stayed on solid then.
Brought it to a mechanic to plug it in and check. He was getting a generic reading something about a general misfire. He reset the light. He suggested it could need new plugs and HT leads but other than he couldn't be sure and it would cost me a lot of time and money to try pin down the problem.
I did both them and it still happens at high speeds. Recently I was having the brakes done by my regular mechanic and asked him to take a look at the engine light issue. He said he managed to get a flashing at low speeds too, simply by laboring the engine a bit with his foot to the floor. He also said he was getting the general misfire reading but he says its not actually misfiring it just thinks it is, meaning sensor.
He said he couldn't be sure but he thinks its either the cam shaft sensor or more likely the coils (ignition coils i assume?) but he said that either way its not doing any harm as such. Seeing as I'm only going to have the car for another year at most and there is no performance issues, i just left it.
I suppose my real question is providing I can find the power to ignore the flashing light, am I right to leave it, or in other words if I get the coils replaced and that stops the flashing, will I notice any other improvements or running differences in the engine ?
If any one has any info or can even explain the whole setup/problem I'd appreciate that as its not really something I'm fully sure about to be honest. Thanks!
