flashing check engine, tract light, stabili lock, and more please help, - Camaro5 Chevy Camaro Forum / Camaro ZL1, SS and V6 Forums

tuki3388 · 07-15-2014, 07:25 PM

Hi guys I have had my 2012 v6 for just almsot 3 years now. Bought it brand new with 7 miles on it when I was 18 and been paying for it ever since.(myself) I am have an issue where when i'm stopped and I accelerate to 70 mph my check engine light beging to flash around 62mph and about 2k rpm. It will only flash for about 15-20 times then go off. This is the normal thing it does. When it wants to scare me it will throw the check engine light flashing 3 other lights (stabililock, t/c, and one more light) come on with the flashing check engine as well as a warning sign of service stabililock comes on the digital screen where the mph is normally at.

I have no idea whats going on and dealer is not helping much. Please anyone else with this issue?

Rcfiddy1 · 07-15-2014, 07:39 PM

There's a shock the dealer is not helping.
They don't know how to use a scan tool? Or is it you have to actually drive the car slightly above 55 mph and they won't do it?
Could be a loose connection somewhere. Hard to say with all these sensors and computers. Tune issue maybe or bad sensor but need scan tool to be sure.
You say around 2k rpms, if you hold it in 1st gear at 2k rpm does it do it? Or does it have to be 62mph?

tuki3388 · 07-15-2014, 07:43 PM

I took it in for a normal oil change and this started happening right after I left like 10 min down the road. I use a gmc dealer cause the chevy one in town are more clueless than the gmc place. No they say it just wires and I havent been able to make an appointment yet. They say the cel is just a pinched wire in the air flow sensor since i got my service. I checked plugs filters air and oil as well as oil plug all is fine and i cleaned air filter box out and re attached sensor after I cleaned it out. I got a service adviser and they sent me to quick service cause they had no idea. ( the appointment problem is i work 6 days a week 10-12 hrs a day) and last time something like this happened they said there were no codes cause lights wouldnt come on and stay on.

tuki3388 · 07-15-2014, 07:51 PM

and as I have tested it some it has to be at 60mph or faster it seems rpm does not matter in this instance. and yes since its above the speed limit on the high way I make the tech ride with me.

DJ A · 07-15-2014, 09:16 PM

Blinking check engine along with stabilitrak lights on usually means a misfire. Can you feel the car shaking at all when accelerating? You should check spark plugs and plug wires and make sure they click when you put them on. Could Also be a clogged injector. Hopefully it's something with what I mentions above and not something inside the engine.

Tampa Tuning · 07-15-2014, 09:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DJ A

Blinking check engine along with stabilitrak lights on usually means a misfire. Can you feel the car shaking at all when accelerating? You should check spark plugs and plug wires and make sure they click when you put them on. Could Also be a clogged injector. Hopefully it's something with what I mentions above and not something inside the engine.

Yes what DJ said.

A flashing CEL is usually a random misfire

tuki3388 · 07-15-2014, 09:37 PM

no the car does not shake or anything abnormal that at least i can tell and thanks, ill be calling dealership in morning. I will go out now and check them. I just dont understand how this can arise form an oil change.

tuki3388 · 07-15-2014, 09:40 PM

Again thank you all for help I just feel like my baby is sick and I can't do anything.

TommyTheCat · 07-15-2014, 10:00 PM

A flashing check engine light is ALWAYS a misfire. To be more specific, it is a misfire that is bad enough the computer has deemed it worthy to actually flash instead of stay illuminated, and it is warning you to pull over and turn off the engine because you are going to melt your catalytic converters.

By the way, GM is not going to warranty those catalytic converters if they do melt down. It will be your fault for continuing to drive with a misfire that bad.

Why is the dealership not helping you? Just because their prices are too high and you are out of warranty by mileage? Then take it to any shop. This isn't something you should ignore, it will cost you a lot of money later on if you keep letting the car run that way.

TommyTheCat · 07-15-2014, 10:05 PM

Oh and I just read a few of the replies,

do NOT tell the dealer you cleaned your mass air flow sensor. If it's to blame they will void its warranty just for that. Then that MAF will be outta your pocket and it's not too cheap.

Seems weird it happened just after oil change. You didn't take it back immediately?

If it really is the MAF sensor you can try disconnecting the sensor when the problem is there. If it's still showing the problem while disconnected, then it wasn't part of the problem.
DON'T do that if you're going to let a professional work on it. It'll leave a code and just make them want to replace it.

tuki3388 · 07-16-2014, 11:11 AM

I called them back just after I left and the issue arose. The service advisor sent me to the quick lane department where they do oil changes cause she thought they would know more than her. The oil change guy who I've known for years said it was probably a pinched wire or something and that it should be fine. So I trusted him. Now that the issue came back and much more frequent in intervals I got worried. I didn't tell them anything about me cleaning things up some. My car is still under warranty I'm at 28k miles and I'm under the 3 year mark. I didn't know that when the cel flashes it is always a misfire I just know it was the worst idiot light I could have and to pull over which is what I did but when the dealer said it was fine I didn't worry until I found out the info they gave was wrong. Also my dealership has high turn over on service advisors and they don't know much except what's on all data which isn't much.

firestone_ss · 07-16-2014, 11:30 AM

so your getting the dealer to diag then? If its flashing don't drive the car.

tuki3388 · 07-16-2014, 12:15 PM

They have it now and my other car is down right now also so I'm gunna hope for a rental but I have had my car in shop for 4 days before and got no rental. So I'm at a loss right now. And I'm worried with all the misfire comments that it might be something bad.

TommyTheCat · 07-16-2014, 12:32 PM

If they told you it was fine tell them they better extend warranty on your catalytic converters because they are making you cause damage to them and it wasn't your fault.

07-15-2014, 07:25 PM	#1
tuki3388 Drives: 2012 Camaro 2Ls Join Date: May 2013 Location: Lafayette Indiana Posts: 35 View My Garage	flashing check engine, tract light, stabili lock, and more please help, Hi guys I have had my 2012 v6 for just almsot 3 years now. Bought it brand new with 7 miles on it when I was 18 and been paying for it ever since.(myself) I am have an issue where when i'm stopped and I accelerate to 70 mph my check engine light beging to flash around 62mph and about 2k rpm. It will only flash for about 15-20 times then go off. This is the normal thing it does. When it wants to scare me it will throw the check engine light flashing 3 other lights (stabililock, t/c, and one more light) come on with the flashing check engine as well as a warning sign of service stabililock comes on the digital screen where the mph is normally at. I have no idea whats going on and dealer is not helping much. Please anyone else with this issue?

07-15-2014, 07:39 PM	#2
Rcfiddy1 Sold car... Drives: 2010 Rally Yellow 2SS/RS #37115 Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Manalapan, New Jersey Posts: 2,019 View My Garage	There's a shock the dealer is not helping. They don't know how to use a scan tool? Or is it you have to actually drive the car slightly above 55 mph and they won't do it? Could be a loose connection somewhere. Hard to say with all these sensors and computers. Tune issue maybe or bad sensor but need scan tool to be sure. You say around 2k rpms, if you hold it in 1st gear at 2k rpm does it do it? Or does it have to be 62mph? __________________ Build Thread ECS Novi 1500 Supercharged, LS3 conversion, Small blower cam, Alky Meth injection, 3:45 rear, BMR Suspension parts, 1LE Sways, Billy Boat ZL1 dual mode exhaust.

07-15-2014, 09:16 PM	#5
DJ A Drives: Cammed 2010 SS Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: Albuquerque Posts: 390	Blinking check engine along with stabilitrak lights on usually means a misfire. Can you feel the car shaking at all when accelerating? You should check spark plugs and plug wires and make sure they click when you put them on. Could Also be a clogged injector. Hopefully it's something with what I mentions above and not something inside the engine. __________________ 2010 Camaro 2SS/RS LS3 - 450rwhp and 425tq - TSP 231/236 Cam, Dynatech 1 7/8" LT Headers, Dynatech Cat Delete, CAI Intake, BMR 1.4" Drop Springs, Hurst Short Throw Shifter, Magnaflow Street Series Axle-Back w/X-pipe - Tuned by Ivan @ SouthwestSpeed

07-15-2014, 07:43 PM	#3
tuki3388 Drives: 2012 Camaro 2Ls Join Date: May 2013 Location: Lafayette Indiana Posts: 35 View My Garage	I took it in for a normal oil change and this started happening right after I left like 10 min down the road. I use a gmc dealer cause the chevy one in town are more clueless than the gmc place. No they say it just wires and I havent been able to make an appointment yet. They say the cel is just a pinched wire in the air flow sensor since i got my service. I checked plugs filters air and oil as well as oil plug all is fine and i cleaned air filter box out and re attached sensor after I cleaned it out. I got a service adviser and they sent me to quick service cause they had no idea. ( the appointment problem is i work 6 days a week 10-12 hrs a day) and last time something like this happened they said there were no codes cause lights wouldnt come on and stay on.

07-15-2014, 07:51 PM	#4
tuki3388 Drives: 2012 Camaro 2Ls Join Date: May 2013 Location: Lafayette Indiana Posts: 35 View My Garage	and as I have tested it some it has to be at 60mph or faster it seems rpm does not matter in this instance. and yes since its above the speed limit on the high way I make the tech ride with me.

07-15-2014, 09:37 PM	#7
tuki3388 Drives: 2012 Camaro 2Ls Join Date: May 2013 Location: Lafayette Indiana Posts: 35 View My Garage	no the car does not shake or anything abnormal that at least i can tell and thanks, ill be calling dealership in morning. I will go out now and check them. I just dont understand how this can arise form an oil change.

07-15-2014, 09:40 PM	#8
tuki3388 Drives: 2012 Camaro 2Ls Join Date: May 2013 Location: Lafayette Indiana Posts: 35 View My Garage	Again thank you all for help I just feel like my baby is sick and I can't do anything.

07-15-2014, 10:00 PM	#9
TommyTheCat SHKE BKE Drives: 2013 Camaro Join Date: May 2014 Location: SoCal Posts: 3,105	A flashing check engine light is ALWAYS a misfire. To be more specific, it is a misfire that is bad enough the computer has deemed it worthy to actually flash instead of stay illuminated, and it is warning you to pull over and turn off the engine because you are going to melt your catalytic converters. By the way, GM is not going to warranty those catalytic converters if they do melt down. It will be your fault for continuing to drive with a misfire that bad. Why is the dealership not helping you? Just because their prices are too high and you are out of warranty by mileage? Then take it to any shop. This isn't something you should ignore, it will cost you a lot of money later on if you keep letting the car run that way.

07-15-2014, 10:05 PM	#10
TommyTheCat SHKE BKE Drives: 2013 Camaro Join Date: May 2014 Location: SoCal Posts: 3,105	Oh and I just read a few of the replies, do NOT tell the dealer you cleaned your mass air flow sensor. If it's to blame they will void its warranty just for that. Then that MAF will be outta your pocket and it's not too cheap. Seems weird it happened just after oil change. You didn't take it back immediately? If it really is the MAF sensor you can try disconnecting the sensor when the problem is there. If it's still showing the problem while disconnected, then it wasn't part of the problem. DON'T do that if you're going to let a professional work on it. It'll leave a code and just make them want to replace it.

07-16-2014, 11:11 AM	#11
tuki3388 Drives: 2012 Camaro 2Ls Join Date: May 2013 Location: Lafayette Indiana Posts: 35 View My Garage	I called them back just after I left and the issue arose. The service advisor sent me to the quick lane department where they do oil changes cause she thought they would know more than her. The oil change guy who I've known for years said it was probably a pinched wire or something and that it should be fine. So I trusted him. Now that the issue came back and much more frequent in intervals I got worried. I didn't tell them anything about me cleaning things up some. My car is still under warranty I'm at 28k miles and I'm under the 3 year mark. I didn't know that when the cel flashes it is always a misfire I just know it was the worst idiot light I could have and to pull over which is what I did but when the dealer said it was fine I didn't worry until I found out the info they gave was wrong. Also my dealership has high turn over on service advisors and they don't know much except what's on all data which isn't much.

07-16-2014, 11:30 AM	#12
firestone_ss Drives: 2010 camaro ss Join Date: May 2009 Location: Tacoma WA Posts: 779	so your getting the dealer to diag then? If its flashing don't drive the car.

07-16-2014, 12:15 PM	#13
tuki3388 Drives: 2012 Camaro 2Ls Join Date: May 2013 Location: Lafayette Indiana Posts: 35 View My Garage	They have it now and my other car is down right now also so I'm gunna hope for a rental but I have had my car in shop for 4 days before and got no rental. So I'm at a loss right now. And I'm worried with all the misfire comments that it might be something bad.

07-16-2014, 12:32 PM	#14
TommyTheCat SHKE BKE Drives: 2013 Camaro Join Date: May 2014 Location: SoCal Posts: 3,105	If they told you it was fine tell them they better extend warranty on your catalytic converters because they are making you cause damage to them and it wasn't your fault.