Check Engine Light Flashing Then Stops When Accelerating (Causes and Solutions)

Does your check engine light flash and then stop every time you accelerate? Do you want to know what causes this issue and how to fix it? If yes, you have come to the right place.

Check engine light flashing then stops when accelerating is a sign of a cylinder misfiring due to a fuel delivery system issue such as a bad fuel injector, dirty fuel pump, and a clogged fuel filter or fuel line.

This article will give you more in-depth info on why your engine light blinks and then stops every time you accelerate and you can fix this issue and stop the light from coming on again.

Why check engine flashes and then stop when accelerating

If your check engine flashes and then stops when you’re accelerating your car, it means your engine is experiencing a misfire. It also means that you should stop driving your car immediately.

If you keep driving with a misfire, it will cause bigger problems like damaging the catalytic converter which can be expensive to repair or replace.

There are many causes of a misfire but in this case, the most likely culprit is the fuel delivery system. When you accelerate, more fuel is required to increase the combustion rate.

If this fuel isn’t made available, then an engine misfire will happen—prompting the check engine light to come on.

Some potential issues that may cause the fuel system not to deliver the needed fuel include a worn fuel injector or a clogged fuel filter or fuel line.

The check engine flashing and then stopping during acceleration could also be a sign of a failing idle air control valve.

When this valve is faulty, the amount of air that enters the engine will be affected, and this can make the engine misfire or stall. This is another reason for the check engine light to come on.

How to fix check engine light flashing then stops when accelerating?

Whenever the check engine comes flashing during episodes of acceleration, it means there’s a serious fault that requires immediate repair.

Having said that the check engine light coming on and off is due to misfiring, then you need to start working on fixing the issue immediately.

This is because engine misfires are notorious for causing catalytic converter damage which can cost you much more in repairs and part replacements.

The best place to start when fixing the check engine light flashing then stops when accelerating is by getting the error codes from your car computer.

You’ll need to use an OBD code scanner to help you retrieve the codes that triggered the CEL to come on. These will enable you to find the exact issue that caused the check engine light to come on.

It would be much better if you have your mechanic do the check engine light diagnostic test for you so they can easily find the problem and recommend the necessary repairs to fix the engine light coming on whenever you step on the gas.

What if check engine light blinks then stops when going uphill?

Check engine light flashing and then going away when accelerating uphill is also caused by a cylinder misfire. The fact that the engine light went off doesn’t mean you’re in the clear and you should continue operating your car.

As we said earlier, misfires could have been caused by a variety of issues including bad coil fealty spark plugs, and worn-out plug wires, to name but a few.

Flashing check engine light means you should stop driving immediately to prevent engine damage. After you pull over, use a code scanner to find out what triggered the engine light.

If you don’t have a scanner nearby, get your car to a local parts store and they’ll pull the codes for you for free.

Note that in some instances, there might be no code stored in the computer memory. The most likely explanation for this scenario is that your car computer may have cleared the code after it could no longer detect the initial problem.

Nonetheless, you should still have your mechanic inspect your car to find out what caused the engine light to flash and then go away.

Only then can you fix the problem and ensure it doesn’t show up again when you try accelerating uphill.

What does it mean when check engine light flashes and car shakes when accelerating?

If the check engine light flashes and your car shakes when accelerating, the most likely cause is an engine misfire or a faulty idle air control valve.

As you already know, engine misfires can be a result of a variety of problems ranging from bad spark plugs to engine sensor issues, and faulty coil packs, to name but a few.

If your car starts shaking during acceleration, we advise you to cut the engine immediately to prevent further damage.

Next, you should have a professional mechanic run a diagnostic check on your car to see what error codes it presents and what they mean.

The mechanic will also do a physical examination of the engine to further help in establishing the source of the problem and recommend the best repairs possible.

Why is your check engine flashing then stops after hard acceleration?

Flashing engine light after heavy acceleration indicates a misfire that’s likely to cause bigger problems if you continue driving your car.

But if you must drive, do it as little as possible, do it slowly, and avoid hard accelerations.

Misfiring cylinders in this case could be a faulty fuel injector, a bad spark plug, or any other issue.

For instance, let’s say your car has bad spark plugs. The high revs or loads of throttle during hard acceleration may have asked the plugs to fire more than they’re capable of, causing a misfire.

Another instance is when you have a leaky/faulty injector. It may have leaked or stuttered too much and you noticed it because you asked for too much of the car.

If the issue was the mass airflow sensor, it may have been slow to react and the cylinder(s) failed to get enough air.

These are just a few common instances that will result in a misfire during hard acceleration.

Before jumping into assumptions that any of these issues is the cause, get the codes scanned.

This will help you rule out what problems caused the light to come on. You’ll easily uncover what kind of problem you’re dealing with and how to repair it.

Is it safe to drive your car if check engine light flashes then stop when accelerating?

It is not safe to drive your car if the check engine light flashes and then stops when you hit the gas.

A flashing engine light is usually an indicator that your car computer has detected a problem with the car engine management system which has the potential to harm the emissions system.

Thus, if you continue driving your car with the flashing CEL, you put the emission system components such as the catalytic converter at risk of damage. The more severe the damage, the more you’ll have to pay for repairs.

As we said earlier, there are many likely causes of the engine light to flash during acceleration. These include issues with the ignition, fuel, engine management system, etc.

The best thing is to stop driving your car and have it towed to a mechanic for a diagnostic check. The stored trouble codes will give the repair shop some insights into what issue your car engine might be experiencing.

If your car’s acceleration suddenly stops and the check engine light is flashing, it could be a sign of a problem with your car’s engine, transmission system, or fuel system. In some cases, this issue could also be associated with other common problems, such as check engine light when accelerating or issues after gas runs out. To learn more about these potential causes and what you can do to fix them, check out our articles on check engine light when accelerating and check engine light after gas runs out. These articles provide helpful tips and insights on how to troubleshoot and solve these issues, so you can ensure the safety and reliability of your vehicle and prevent any further damage.

Frequently Asked Questions

Final Verdict

Whenever the check engine light flashes and then stops when accelerating, it’s trying to communicate with you that something is wrong with your car engine system. It could be an engine misfire arising from issues with the engine delivery system, or it could be a faulty idle air control valve. If the engine light is lashing on and off the car is shaking during acceleration, a misfire is also the likely culprit.

When you find yourself in this situation, we recommend you stop driving your car right away to avoid causing further damage to the catalytic converter and other engine components that may cost you more in repairs. Have a mechanic do a check engine light diagnostic test on your car to find out what issue your car engine is facing.