lillexrx

Hi,

Could someone please tell me if you can get a reading from a diagnostic tool if the Check Engine Light is not flashing yet? I don't know whether to take my RX into a shop yet or to wait until the engine light flashes.

I've had intermittent problems for the past two weeks. My RX runs fine and then it will "act up" for about 3-5 minutes -- misfiring, losing power, etc. I am "almost" certain it is another Coil Pack. I don't know whether or not to go ahead and take it to a mechanic or to wait and hope it will hang on for a while longer (it has once before for about 2 months with a CP issue)...

Thanks so much!!

salimshah

The on board computer monitors various sensors and accumulates the condition. One first occurrence, the error is stored and is called a "pending code". After a few more occurrences [don't know how many], the pending code becomes active code and the CEL is lit up.

Similarly the automatic clearing of codes takes a while to accumulate enough good readings.

Flashing [on and off] cel is something I dont know much about.

The pending codes can be read read by obdII readers.

Salim

lillexrx

Thanks Salim. Sounds as if the mechanics would be able to diagnose to issue already.

code58

One thing you could do if it's missing that bad, if you can catch it when it's missing, is to pull the plug in for the COP off 1 by 1 and see which 1 doesn't have much affect. Not very scientific but at least you won't have to wait for a CEL.