Blinking Check engine light - comes and goes?

[Grimlykindo]

A couple days ago I went to pass someone in my 98 AV6 Accord (stock) and when it downshifted and was at about 4500 RPMs the check engine light started blinking. I pulled over and shut my car off then back on and the check engine was still on, but not blinking. When I got to work I pulled the clock/backup fuse to reset my ECU - and now my check engine hasn't come back on for 3 days. I've started it at least a dozen times and driven at least 2 1/2 hours. I've given it heavy gas and downshifted a few times reaching over 5500RPMs with no check engine light at all.

Anybody have any idea what this could be? Should I be worried?

[honda_mental]

Originally Posted by Grimlykindo

A couple days ago I went to pass someone in my 98 AV6 Accord (stock) and when it downshifted and was at about 4500 RPMs the check engine light started blinking. I pulled over and shut my car off then back on and the check engine was still on, but not blinking. When I got to work I pulled the clock/backup fuse to reset my ECU - and now my check engine hasn't come back on for 3 days. I've started it at least a dozen times and driven at least 2 1/2 hours. I've given it heavy gas and downshifted a few times reaching over 5500RPMs with no check engine light at all.

Anybody have any idea what this could be? Should I be worried?

Nope. might be a sensor lose, just check it once it comes back on. to make sure you clean it or if its on right.

[HondatechAV6]

anytime the check engine light is blinking it is because a misfire is occuring that is bad enough to damage the catalytic converter.

[texasKA]

gotta love that "pull fuse #13" trick... i did it when mine came on b/c of the TSB on the PCM & fuel regulator.

btw, thanks HondatechAV6. +rep for you. you've helped me alot

[Grimlykindo]

Originally Posted by HondatechAV6

anytime the check engine light is blinking it is because a misfire is occuring that is bad enough to damage the catalytic converter.

So should I be worried about anything? Is is possible to temporarily misfire?

[HondatechAV6]

well, next time it happens(it probably will happen again) just do what you did before. pull over, shut the car off, wait a min or so, start it up, and if it's on steady again, don't clear it.

get the code read. hopefully it will indicate a specific cylinder misfire. then we can try and figure it out.

[Grimlykindo]

Originally Posted by HondatechAV6

well, next time it happens(it probably will happen again) just do what you did before. pull over, shut the car off, wait a min or so, start it up, and if it's on steady again, don't clear it.

get the code read. hopefully it will indicate a specific cylinder misfire. then we can try and figure it out.

You were right - It did eventually come back on. I got it pulled at autozone and it came up P0401 - (EGR). I read your reply to the other thread on this code and will be attempting your 8mm drill bit cleaning method. If it doesn't work would the next step be replacing the EGR valve?

Thanks for all your useful input in this forum!

[HondatechAV6]

you're supposed to replace the egr valve and clean the port, but you might be able to get away with just cleaning the port. if it recodes you know the valve needs replacment.

[ballahs-crew]

my check engine light use to blick (only at start up), and then after a few days of that it switched to a solid light all the time. But when i installed my headers it went away, pretty sweet, ive only heard of headers making problems.