Why a Flashing Check Engine Light Is Different From a Solid One

There are likely more than a few car owners who’ve delayed taking their vehicle to the shop after their check engine light has turned on. But should this ever happen to you, pay attention: Is that light solid? Or is it blinking? One indicates a far more pressing concern than the other. Here’s a look at what these two possibilities mean, and how soon you should see a mechanic.

Shedding Light on Check Engine Lights

The check engine light is a warning that there’s an issue with your vehicle, regardless of whether the light is solid or blinking. That issue will almost certainly need to be assessed in the near future, and the type of light indicates how imminently that assessment needs to happen.

What a Solid Light Means

A solid light is a heads up that suggests it would be smart to see someone in the coming days or maybe weeks (though weeks might be pushing it). It’s like a person coming down with a cold — it may not be too bad right at this moment, but it’s likely to get worse if left untreated.

There are a number of nonurgent reasons your check engine light may turn solid, and they don’t necessarily have to do exclusively with the engine: The light can be a sign that something amiss elsewhere in the vehicle is affecting the engine’s performance. For instance, the light may appear because of loose fuel caps, faulty sensors, or batteries that don’t provide as much electricity as they used to, among other problems.

As long as the light remains solid and there are no issues with the handling, you can usually drive the car short distances, and even try troubleshooting yourself to see if it remedies the problem. You may be shocked to find that tightening the gas cap is all it takes to make the light disappear. 

If the light persists, however, book an appointment with a mechanic as soon as you can to get the issue assessed, as that’s the only way to know what’s amiss.

What a Blinking Light Means

A blinking check engine light is a different story: It indicates that the issue is urgent. If a solid light is metaphorically akin to the early stages of a cold, a flashing light is like an appendix about to burst — it requires imminent attention.

When a check engine light starts to flash, it could be a signal of engine misfire caused by larger issues with the vehicle that need to be fixed. The flashing light could be accompanied by issues such as rattling or shaking, smoke, odors, and even a loss of power. 

If this happens, take the car to a mechanic as soon as you can. These issues, left ignored, can lead to even worse damage and costlier repairs.

To put things as succinctly as possible, if the light is solid, keep an eye on things and go see your mechanic within a few days. But if the light is flashing, there’s an urgent issue, and you should get it resolved by a professional sooner rather than later.

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