hey i'm new to this website and i'm having a problem with my 1998 dodge 1500 with the 5.9l. The engine light flashes when i'm accelerating but not any other time. any ideas on what it could be?

 

Here is a thread on flashing engine light.

https://dodgeforum.com/forum/2nd-gen...tuddering.html

I have also read that a flashing check engine light is a very bad thing. Someone else will chime in with more info.

 

thank you for the link.

 

Flashing check engine is a misfire. Universal across makes and models. It flashes to alert the driver damage may be occurring. That is supposedly how it works anyway. I really don't understand how a computer can detect a misfire. With a 5.9 magnum I wouldn't worry too much about it.

I have a friend with a turbo PT Cruiser doing this right now. Outlook is not good.

 

Need to find out why it is missing, and fix it.

 

Clogged cat.

 

the pcm monitoring of the crank position sensor can compare rotational speeds of each cycle of the engine rotation, and determine if any one or more cylinders is not equally contributing to rotation speed. pretty amazing.

could be cat, might need a tuneup, might be something horrible.
start with a tune up and maybe a compression test if you have a tester. you can rent/borrow one from most parts stores.

 

X2....

 

Thank you!
Sounds like just about anything can trip a misfire. On that turbo PT Cruiser, its a misfire on cyl. 4. Dealer says head gasket and $2500. I told the guy I would get second and third opinions. $2500 sounds way steep to swap a head gasket on a fourbanger. But what do I know.

 

Our replies were meant for the OP that drives a 2nd gen RAM, NOT a PT Cruiser. For info on that ride, I suggest posting in the PT section. As I highly doubt any info here will be of any help for PT or vise versa. Let's not make this thread confusing for anyone that happens to read it. No more PT posts please . Thank You