Dealer Told me this was normal

[TJPittbull]

From my experience, a flashing CEL will not necessarily report a code, but if the CEL stays lit after flashing a code is recorded

[SSGUNNER]

Im not a rocket scientist but i do know this aint normal.

[SNSSTR]

Originally Posted by SSGUNNER

Im not a rocket scientist but i do know this aint normal.

I don't work at the dealership, but I did stay at a holiday inn express last night, and I know a CEL coming on ain't normal!

[HollyVenus]

Originally Posted by meissen

I would seriously consider using a new dealership from now on.

+1

[camaro-dreamer]

Hmm, normal or problem is a very relative thing. Here is some info from an SRX forum: http://www.srxforum.net/index.php?topic=5643.5;wap2

[maddoggyusa]

when did it occur? when you started it up? when you were accelerating?

given your low temps and the comments, I'm sure it's temp related and there was some sort of momentary electrical issue. could you feel the engine missing? if not and the CEL is out, I'd not worry about it again unless it keeps occuring. A misfire just means the air/fuel in that cylinder wasn't ignited... it won't harm anything if it occurs once in a great while. you are afraid of what you don't understand.

it's not normal, but it's not a big deal if you know cars and the codes. if I'm driving a car and it comes On and it's driving normal, I'm not too worried about it. 90% of the time it's some emission system... or running in open loop due to a sensor not working properly. if it keeps occuring, they'll have to start replacing the ignition system (plugs, coils, etc)... or sometimes they'll reprogram the ECM to widen values so the CEL doesn't come on again for this condition... but to fix that GM will have to come up with a software fix which will take some time.

[Fred 6528]

Dealer

[AKA-22]

Originally Posted by Rohdeo16

I don't work at the dealership, but I did stay at a holiday inn express last night, and I know a CEL coming on ain't normal!

Now that's funny...

[AKA-22]

Remember a flashing check engine and went off not a full blown CEL

[maddoggyusa]

from what I saw in other forums... flashing CEL is usually a misfire... which in another thread she posted her codes and it was misfire cylinder #3.

as long as your engine has oil pressure and not overheating, it's very difficult to damage an engine.

I try to keep my Camaro out of the dealership if I can help it... I figure those guys will just joyride and do burnouts! haha

[PQ]

Originally Posted by maddoggyusa

as long as your engine has oil pressure and not overheating, it's very difficult to damage an engine.

I agree with this as long as we say stock engine. Even a modded engine tuned correctly falls into this category but a gradual drop in oil pressure from unforseen problems can cause intermitent flashing lights that come and go where there is something seriously wrong.

The new info sure does change the tone though. hahaha

I'm sure the dealer acknowledged that there was something that caused the incident but realizes that it's extremely cold and that it is not uncommon for it to happen.

I think the OP has a good handle on things.

[AKA-22]

ok here is what i found today from another dealer in my area....The Tech guy i talked today said it is not normal for you to have flashing CEL however for the conditions that has occurred in this area with temps in minus category for more than 9 days it has become the normal for this dealership to deal with this same kind of problem in all kinds of cars...tech guy said its the weirdest stuff he has ever seen and they cant explain why... my car sat in my garage for 9 days in ave temps of about 15 degrees or less for those days...Started car to move it out to the driveway ,no problems, no weird start or CEL, left it out in cold for about two hours while i cleaned the garage....Went to pull car back into garage notice a ghost like cam sound from the exhaust, move into garage and noticed the CEL blinking ...immediately turn car off and let set for about 45 seconds,, started again and blinking light went away ..went out that day and put water out gas treatment in the fuel and to date have not had anymore problems.. Tech said that was his first guess that you might of developed a little condensation in the fuel siting so long and that second start finally got some moisture up to where it needed to be to cause the problem.....No recorded codes where found on ECU...But if it happens again to bring it back A.S.A.P....Funny thing happened when i went into the second dealer to have this checked out , the first dealer i delt with was in the service room looking right at me,,,awkward to say the least!!!!

[PQ]

All a guessing game if there are no codes logged and it has not done it again. They will only be able to guess and check the relevant systems for anything abnormal. It is not even sure that the cold weather had something to do with it. Good chance it did but can't be sure.

At this point just keep an eye on it.

I'd buy an OBDII reader to maybe get a code before it clears it's self.

[usmc-ashton]

time to hit a new dealer....fast...mine did that, they got right on it the day after and figured it was the timing chain was messed up...it was ready 2 days later...you should get it checked out at another dealership