On the way back home tonight the car was running rough and the CEL started flashing. I'll pull the code in the morning but I'm wondering if anyone else had this issue. The way the car ran, it felt like there was a misfire but then it smoothed out and the CEL went from flashing to solid. Then it started running rough and the CEL flashed again. This went on for several times til finally the CEL stayed solid.

Every time the car ran rough the CEL flashed but when it seemed smooth the CEL stayed solid. There seemed like there was a faint hint of plastic burning when I opened the hood but I can't say for sure that there was any plastic burning or if it was just in my mind. I also wonder if I got some bad gas. The gas at the gas station (Sunoco, 91 octane) seemed to come out unusually slow like the trigger was only half way even though it was squeezed all the way. I didn't think anything of it at first but now I wonder if there could be some connection.

I'll get the code pulled and update what I found. In the meantime, has anyone else experienced a similar issue?

 

Check your plugs and coil packs immediately. You may have a loose plug cooking a coil pack.

 

Thanks Billman, I'll check that out. BTW, what brand and model plugs are you recommending these days and what plug gap?

Update: I checked the connection at the coil packs and they were good. Also checked the tightness of all the plugs though I didn't use a torque wrench and they were all tight. It might be the plugs themselves. They were replaced at around 30k under the TSB and haven't been replaced since. I have 152k on if now.

I started it up and it missed a little but it wasn't constant. CEL was solid, not flashing. Calling around for plugs now.

 

Ok, update: It turns out it was the plugs. I had the codes pulled and it was a misfire on all cylinders. Replaced the plugs (NGK Double Platinum), reset the ECU and everything is fine. Guess I should have replaced the plugs a while ago but all's well now.

 

good to hear it was simple. coil ok????

 

Yeah, it was simple. Just needed to replace the plugs. It runs fine now. When I put the new plugs in I put a little bit of anti-seize compound around the threads. I don't need those getting stuck inside the head.