So recently my dakota has had a blinking check engine light. When i turn the key to the "on" position the check engine light flashes, and then it makes the beeping tone while it flashes. Its the same tone as the low fuel tone but its repeating. It never used to do this, but when i turn the key to start the truck the light has been shutting itself off. I went to autozone to have them see if they could pull code a from the obd, but their scanner was giving them an error message "could not connect to vehicle".

Has anyone seen this before?

 

Pretty sure it is supposed to..as long as it doesn't do that with the engine running it is nothing

 

I should have mentioned that the flashing and noise occurs separately and after the normal bulb check. Sometimes this second event of the flashing and ringing doesnt even happen every time, which is so odd. Then even stranger is that the obd all of a sudden cannot be read anymore.

 

maybe its a computer related issue..I will try to remember to turn the key on in mine and watch tomorrow

 

Personally, I'd have someone knowledgeable take a look at it - for most makes and models, a flashing CEL means the PCM has detected/analyzed a serious problem. If a diagnostic tool couldn't connect to my PCM, along with a flashing CEL and an alarm, I'd start getting concerned. I would try to connect another diagnostic tool/reader to rule out the possibility that there was a problem with the other tool.

 

If other tools at other shops cannot connect either, you are probably looking at a computer issue.

 

Check your Fuses ... I have seen many cars where the OBD it on the same circuit as the Cig lighter .. when the readers cant connect then there is a lack of power to the OBD plug

 

DO NOT DRIVE IT! (while its flashing) If the Check engine light is flashing it is missing really bad and dumping raw unburnt fuel into the cats, it can cause sirious damage and or a fire. This is a universal obd2 signal. As soon as it starts flashing it is telling for you to pull over and shut off the vehicle.

 

Huh??

 

thats weird cause mine was flashing when my truck keep sdying out, but if i can get it started i will keep driving it