Flashing CEL

[mofolicious]

So I'm on the highway coming home today, and I get stuck behind a farmer doing 30kmph. I was stuck behind him for a little, and when I finally got an opportunity to pass, I got a little heavy on the gas. I got up to about 120kmph, and rather quickly. My CEL started flashing, but then stopped.

I wasn't far from home, and all my instrumentation was normal, with no other dummy lights. Gave it a quick check over, and all seems well. I don't have a code reader, and there is no Saturn dealer in my city.... just a shady GM dealer that I don't trust.

Is a flashing CEL normal? Usually something specific? Is the Vue's comp standard GM OBDII? Would a Honda dealership be able to help me out?

I'm guessing it's a soft code...But I've never ever seen a CEL flash, nevermind go away without shutting down the car...

It's an 04 vue redline. awd v6.

[froggy81500]

A flashing CEL always means an active misfire is being detected. The danger, and reason why it flashes for that, is the potential for a fire hazard.

[BobbyP]

So I'm on the highway coming home today, and I get stuck behind a farmer doing 30kmph. I was stuck behind him for a little, and when I finally got an opportunity to pass, I got a little heavy on the gas. I got up to about 120kmph, and rather quickly. My CEL started flashing, but then stopped.

I wasn't far from home, and all my instrumentation was normal, with no other dummy lights. Gave it a quick check over, and all seems well. I don't have a code reader, and there is no Saturn dealer in my city.... just a shady GM dealer that I don't trust.

Is a flashing CEL normal? Usually something specific? Is the Vue's comp standard GM OBDII? Would a Honda dealership be able to help me out?

I'm guessing it's a soft code...But I've never ever seen a CEL flash, nevermind go away without shutting down the car...

It's an 04 vue redline. awd v6.

How many miles do you have on your VUE? I'd check your air filter and the spark plugs.

[mofolicious]

There are 57,000 Km's on the clock. Working on getting a record of past service from the dealer. I got a look at it when we were purchasing, but they decided not to give it to me when the deal was done. Now they're treating it as some sort of classified information.:hmpf:

Thanks for the info. I really need to find out what kind of service I need done by a tech and what I can do myself without voiding warranty.

[ssicarman]

Kilomters means you are Canadian. This means that your Saturn Store is bound by Canadian privacy laws which means tha6t they can not release the service history to you.

The SES light flashing indicates a cat converter damageing event is happening. If it is a continuous thing you will kill the converter so you would want to find out what is causing the problem. If it was just the one time and it never happens again you don't need to worry about it.

Honda will not be able to read the GM system in your car unless they have a generic scan tool.

[newbievueowner]

I had my check engine light come on the day I bought my Vue last week and was passing a slow poke as well. It flashed for about 5-7 seconds after I passed and let off the throttle and then went out. Could have had something to do with the 1 to 1.5 liters of extra oil the dealership added to the engine. What a bunch of donkeys. :dizzy: I drained to the max fill line and have not seen it since. At least that's what I hope the cause for the flashing CEL light was!