Car sounds like a lawn mower--- Solid/Blinking check engine light -NOW WITH CODES?

Took the car to the dealer to check it out last week. While I was there, they changed the fuel filter, as the dealer who did my 60k, ran out a couple months ago... Today, and 200 miles after pickup from the dealer, I go to use the car this morning and the car sounds like it going to blow up. The engine sounds like a lawn mower and the check engine light is on. At first, the light was solid, then it started blinking. I put the hazards on and slowly rolled back home, and the car was ready to stall. Futher, the car was shuddering pretty hard as well. A little more backgroud, the car was outside the last week in the heavy rain. I took off the intake, to see if there was water inside, and it was dry as a bone. I REALLY hope this is either a clogged fuel line or MAF issue. Any suggestions would be appreciated, thank you

That sucks Chris. I am sorry to hear that. Have the car flatbedded to the shop and have it checked out. A MAF failure will throw up a solid CEL and the car will run rough but I think the on board computer should adapt. Blinking CEL is not good. Good luck and keep us posted.

Check ignition coils. If you have an OBD 2 scanner you can check what made it blink. Blinking doesn't necessarily mean castotraphic. Mine(old one) had 2 ignition coils fail and sounded like crap and wanted to die. Hope that is it. Regards. Mike

This may be a long shot, but I once owned a nissan that behaved in a similar fashion when it sat in a driving rain or if I hosed the engine down to clean it. I found that adding a bottle of "dry gas" (found at most automotive stores) resolved the problem fairly quickly.

2 things need to be done: 1. Run codes 2. Flat Bed to Repair facility if no able to diagnose and fix DIY. DO NOT TAKE A BLINKING CEL FOR GRANTED!

Here are the codes from my car. Anyone have any recommendation? The system also said that fuel trim???, was way out of its normal range. P0300 Random/multiple Cylinder P0301 Cylinder 1 Misfire P0303 Cylinder 3 Misfire Thank You Chris

Check Loren's site (Renntech.org)

Hmm!! Water in the fuel sounds like a candidate. Jumping the fuel pump relay and collecting some fuel in a clear plastic containermight show two liquid phases or cloudy gasoline. Water in fuel will sink so pumping out a few gallons and then adding drygas might fix the problem, but if that is the problem then how did the water get in. Other possibilities could be ignition related. I would avoid driving it much until you diagnose the problem. Good Luck!

I had a similar recent problem with my 996. started to really chug and sound like a lawnmover. Problem sounds dissapeared after two minutes, had codes read - misfire on #3 cylinder called OPC and they said that quite possibly a gas issue - I had filled up at sams club (first time ever in my car) during the fuel crisis and they said that as levels at the gas station were getting low combined with the local torrential rain, this could have caused an issue. they suggested a fuel additive, dry gas or whatever, so I went to my usual BP, filled up with premium, put in the fuel additive and everything has been fine since (touch wood) hope its similar issue for you - good luck

Well, I would bet that might be it. To say it rained a lot this last week would be an understatement. The next question is, how did it get in??? I checked the gas cap, and it was tight. What I discovered yesterday night, was a little disconcerting. I keep part of the owners packet in the drivers side storage bin (in the door), When I pulled it out, I noticed it was wet! So, apparently water is getting in somehow. This has never been a problem in the past, so this is a little disconcerting.

Never ever ever ever ever drive the car when the check engine light is blinking!!!!!!!!! Flat bed it immediately!

So yesterday, I finally had time to have the car flat bedded to the dealer. The dealer says there is nothing wrong. He cleared the codes and has not been able to replicate the faults on test drives. This is all a little surprising, after the car was shuddering and almost not drivable last weekend. Says that maybe a wire got wet and caused a short! Now that seems a little odd? Wouldn't that constitute a problem? They however, don't seem really concerned or motivated to do anything about this. Oh, one last thing. Do many dealers read these sites? Can they tell when you run codes on your car? He seemed very aware that I checked the codes on my own, before I said anything. Thanks CJ

I bet it was the same as my issue dodgy gas/water etc - to clarify, i was ****TING MY pants - it was running (if you can call it that) so badly

It records each session it is scanned.

NOT this crap again. Picked up the car last Saturday and drove out to Watermill. Put 250 miles on the car and no problem. I even worked through an entire tank of gas. On Sunday, I fill up the car and leave it for the week. Today, I turn it on and everything sounds good. Then, about 5 miles into the drive, GUESS what, its back. Solid CEL followed by blinking CEL light. I have had it with this. The dealer said "it's not a HARDCODE error" so they didn't do anything but look at it. Do you think two times will be the charm. Net net, ever since my car has been to this dealer, its spends more time on the shop than on the road.

I just couldn't take, so it looks like I fixed it myself. I think some water or something got into the gas. As someone suggest in the begining, try some of the dry gas additive. Well, I did that and yesterday after a nice long hard drive, the CEL went away!!!! It was a solid CEL. Sorry about the rant, just cannot take the car being out of service for two weekends in a row. Also, it looks like I am having a conversation with my self. I just wanted to clear things up, as there seem to be a ton of new owners on the board.

Its a long shot but how old is your battery? I had engine hesitation in the morning and check engine light for O2 sensor for the last 2 months. Everything is ok after I changed my battery two weeks ago. The car don't hesitate any more and on check engine lights.

you filled up again and the same problem? how could water get into he gas again ? it seems like you eliminated the original water/rain issue but there must be a different source for your problem.

Since it's impossible to run the tank completely dry (without stranding yourself) he probably still had some residual fuel/water mixed with the new fill up. I'm glad the drygas solved the problem.

yea you are probably correct. does not take much bad gas to mess it up.

Sorry, was out of touch for a day. Yes, I am hoping that was exactly it Ubermensch. Not only do I have "dry gas", I also have the cleanest fuel injections system out there, after running all the injector cleaner stuff through it. I know its all in my mind, but I think the car pulls better now, than it ever has.

I worked at a gas station back in high school. There is always a certain amount of water in the tanks. Anyone here besides me remember water paste and sticking tanks? The company had canned statements they used to keep customers at bay who complained about getting a tank full of water. To reduce your chances of getting water in your gas... Keep your tank at least half full Don't buy gas if you see the tanker sitting in the lot. The new load stirs the tanks. Wait a day after you see the tanker before you fill up.

I thought I would update everyone on the end of this little sage. For a few weeks, I was ready to throw in the towel, and just sell the car. Yesterday, I got the best birthday present. I recieved a call from my new service/dealer, that they found the problem. This is after sending it to one service/dealer two times and not having the problem fixed. In the end, it was a bad coil and resulting two fouled plugs. The last dealer was "shocked" that the first dealer didn't find the problem. I guess some of you have had the pleasure of incompetent dealers, here is one more example and one more reason not to always trust your dealer. While I am happy that the car is better, I am still a little irked that I missed all the nice weather in the car. Now that its 10 degrees out and snowy, its just not the same....

Glad it worked out, next time you swing by your new dealer, we'll grab a beer.

What dealer did you take your car to the first time?

Riad: The one you suggested! Not bitter or anything. They are really nice, just not that quick on the fix.

That's extremely surprising, I wonder if they changed some people. I always go there for my maintenance, and my 2001 had been there numerous times without a problem. Hey, **** happens, sorry it happened to you.