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Check Engine Light Flashing Cruise

152K views 18 replies 13 participants last post by  Pell  
#1 ·
Scenario:
Started car this AM, ran fine, went shopping. After shopping, started car and check engine light came on w/ flashing cruise. turned car off, let sit for 5 min or so turned back on same thing, CEL w/ flashing cruise. Drove home 50 miles straight to the dealer, car ran fine the whole way home. Got to the dealer turned the car off and went inside. They told me to come back around 1:30 because they were busy. Since I'm local I said ok and went back to my car to drive home. This time I started the car and no lights came on, car still runs fine. Got home, turned car off waited 5 min or so again and turned it back on w/ no lights coming on.

Back to normal?

I'm supposed to be going out of town this weekend...should I still bring the car in to get looked at or is it pointless since no CEL is on and the car runs fine.

2006 wrx wagon completely stock, done all regular maintenance at Subaru, 35K tune-up/oil change done 2 weeks ago.

Any of you experienced this glitch before? Thanks in advanced for any info.
 
#3 ·
The CEL flashing and the cruise flashing is a bad thing. It signals some sort of misfire or knock condition. Take the care immediately to AutoZone or some other parts store to get the code read. Just because the lights not on anymore doesn't mean that the code is gone from the computer. Once you have the trouble code, post it back up here and we'll go from there.
FYI - the cruise light flashing doesn't mean that it's disabled.
 
#4 ·
I believe he said the CEL was on but NOT flashing. A steady CEL on and flashing cruise indicates something is wrong emissions-related. Normally this is not a serious thing.

Since the light is now off I would not worry about bringing is back to the dealer.
 
#5 ·
i hope im not hijacking here guys...
anyway i have the same problem...
on saturday i drove my car changing at 5500rmp 1st to 3rd then noticed the engine light stayed on and cruise light flashing

car is going fine but those lights are bothering me.car is parked off since then:confused:
 
#7 ·
If your car is running the same keep on driving it. But definitely call the dealer. It could be a check-valve (not sure of the subie term), bad catalytic converter, etc.

My wife's car threw 3 codes but the part had to be ordered. So we had to drive her car around for 3 weeks with the annoying cruise control light flashing. :)
 
#8 ·
Thanks

Thank you all for the advice you gave. SRM is correct, the CEL is on but NOT flashing while the cruise IS flashing.

Anyhow, since the lights went off after I went to the dealer (to inquire about having them check it...They were busy) and the car seemed to be running fine I decided to take a chance and go on my Labor Day trip. Went to Napa through some twisties and the car ran fine. On my way home I stopped off at a winery to pick up a couple bottles, when I come back out and get ready to leave, I start the car and the lights come on again. Drove all the way home (70mi) and the car ran fine to redline. so tomorrow I have an apt at Subaru...hope it goes well and doesn't cost me too much.
 
#10 ·
I had same problem, CEL steady, Cruise flashing
and I'm totally stock mind you, first owner.

reset ECU and light went off (at least up until now).

btw psychobooe, does your local autozone still do free OBDII checks? I'm in cali and they say they don't anymore.
 
#14 ·
Help!!!,..

i changed the stock downpipe and midpipe on my 2007 wrx, replaced it with a single ap racing pipe it fit nice and sounds nice too,.. anyways later that night I was drving home about 80mph in 5th gear and downshifted for a sec,then back to 5th and the same thing happened the CEL turned on with the flashing cruise light,... i heard the first thing you should check is the 02 sensor,.. except i dont know how to properly check it or turn off the 02 senor or the cel or blinking cruise.. wat should I do? and i'm sure i voided the warrenty putting on the new pipe,.. so cant go to the dealer cause they'll really void it if they see it. i could take it off and place the stock back on if i must go to the dealer but i'm hoping i dont need to
 
#15 ·
Autozone does not offer the code readers anymore. My work truck had a CEL come on so i figure take it down there and read the code myslef and they said we cant offer them anymore because mechanics were saying that makes it to easy for us to fix our cars.
 
#18 ·
Had the same ECL this week and scanned the car at O'Reillly's fo free! This was the code that popped up:


I just got my O2 sensors replaced when I bought the car (from a used dealer...), but I am missing the plastic wheel arch guard in my front right wheel well. Maybe the sensor is being cooled too much since it's exposed??
 
#19 ·
Hello I have a stage 4 2006 WRX heavily modded. I did an oil change last night and went down to the shell gas station and got a full tank of premium with a bottle a injector cleaner put in as well. Now we put in 10W 30 instead of 5W 30 according to the cap for the oil don't think that would make a difference and I confirmed that with Auto zone; but the next day me and my wife where driving home and the engine light came on (solid light) and cruise started flashing??? for some reason I took it to Auto zone that same hour it came on and they plugged it in to there code scanner and it never connected or gave any info either? any suggestions? Thanks!