i know that the CEL flashing could be potentially a pretty bad problem on the horizon but it started flashing right after i put a new battery on. With the old battery, the CEL stayed on but never flashed. Cant really find any answers by searching but any ideas? plug wires are fine, no distributor ticking, there are some visegrips as part of my positive battery connection but its not touching my hood or any other metal. I havent tried disconnecting the batt as of yet because the weather is ************ at the moment but thats going to be my next step......

Go get the code read free at autozone/ advance auto

 

flashing means it can damage the catalytic converter does the car feel like it misses?

 

Did you happen to change the spark plugs?

Flashing means there is a constant misfire.

 

Get the codes read.

 

When was the last time this car had a tune-up?

needs new plugs. cant hear or feel a misfire, but like i said, its time for the spring tune. does oreilly do that? i just like them a bit better? i guess a simple call would answer that. thanks again everyone

Go by what the manual says for plugs.. DON'T use Bosch platinum plugs!

We can make some recommendations if we knew what year, model, and engine you have.

Oreiley around here does not scan codes.

what does the flashing CEL mean?

it just means the catatlytic converter could be damaged, is that it?

 

what all can cause it - any kind of mis-fires, anything else?

 

test drove an H6 the other day with a friend and that's the first time i've ever seen a Subaru CEL flash.

Flashing CE light indicates a misfire condition, that is occurring at that point in time.

i'm prety sure the owner's manual for my 98 outback said that a flashing CEL indicated a condition that COULD harm the cats. a misfire , or maybe more correctly, multiple cylinders misfiring, could be that condition since dumping raw fuel into the cats can damage them.