Will a Brief Flashing Check Engine Light Make An Audible Sound

[njweatherman]

I have a 2020 Mustang GT Premium, automatic, California Special Edition. If the check engine light briefly flashes and then turns off, will it also make an audible noise so I can see it was on? The reason I am asking is because when I was getting onto the highway the other day, I swore I saw something briefly flash out of the corner of my eye on the dashboard; however, when I got a chance to look down at it, nothing was there.
Thanks!

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[ORRadtech]

No, there is no Audible indicator for the CEL. It's either on or off. Although there are some conditions where it will come on and go back out on its own.
A code reader is inexpensive and can relieve your mind and/or give you information for dealing with the dealer. But again, not all codes will necessarily be logged.

 

[ice445]

Guarantee it wasn't a check engine light, if a code is set it will keep the light lit (or flashing), and it will take several drive cycles of the computer not seeing the problem for it to go away. Plus your Fordpass app will give you an alert of the code.

You probably saw the traction control light for a second if you were blasting onto the highway, which is hard not to do with these cars, lol.

 

[njweatherman]

As always, thanks guys!

 

[lacanteen]

You probably saw the traction control light for a second if you were blasting onto the highway, which is hard not to do with these cars, lol.

This ^^^

 

[The Demon]

This ^^^

Happens all the time whipping around an on ramp.

 

[drive_55_not]

Guarantee it wasn't a check engine light, if a code is set it will keep the light lit (or flashing), and it will take several drive cycles of the computer not seeing the problem for it to go away. Plus your Fordpass app will give you an alert of the code.

You probably saw the traction control light for a second if you were blasting onto the highway, which is hard not to do with these cars, lol.

Not neccessarily, A flashing CEL also means you're having Random Misfires.

I see a flashiong CEL on my idiot wife''s 2014 GT, she only runs 87 octane and and anytime I drive it and mash the gas, like when accelerating into traffic it I'll see a flashing CEL more often than not.

.

 

[Dr. Norts]

Not neccessarily, A flashing CEL also means you're having Random Misfires.

I see a flashiong CEL on my idiot wife''s 2014 GT, she only runs 87 octane and and anytime I drive it and mash the gas, like when accelerating into traffic it I'll see a flashing CEL more often than not.

.

Flashing CEL due to misfiring means that it's potentially harming the cats.

Otherwise it takes quite a few misfires to set the CEL and it will stay lit vs flashing.

 

[ice445]

Not neccessarily, A flashing CEL also means you're having Random Misfires.

I see a flashiong CEL on my idiot wife''s 2014 GT, she only runs 87 octane and and anytime I drive it and mash the gas, like when accelerating into traffic it I'll see a flashing CEL more often than not.

.

It should still set a code afterwards though, unless your tune is doing something different. IMO something is wrong with your wife's car based on what you're saying. It should run just fine on 87.

 

[Dr. Norts]

It should still set a code afterwards though, unless your tune is doing something different. IMO something is wrong with your wife's car based on what you're saying. It should run just fine on 87.

It won't throw a code until the misfire limit per drive cycle is reached. It's normally a few hundred misfires that it'll allow before it throws a solid CEL. It'll blink the CEL on any misfires that the ECU thinks are harming the cat and then the blinking CEL will vanish.

 

[Mr. Met]

It won't throw a code until the misfire limit per drive cycle is reached. It's normally a few hundred misfires that it'll allow before it throws a solid CEL. It'll blink the CEL on any misfires that the ECU thinks are harming the cat and then the blinking CEL will vanish.

I dont know about the Mustang but this is what happened on my Expedition. A bad coil was causing a misfire and the cel would blink then go out with no code.

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