check engine light blinks but ECU wont flash codes - Zilvia.net Forums | Nissan 240SX (Silvia) and Z (Fairlady) Car Forum

redsuns3838 · 10-11-2005, 12:00 AM

OK so i have a S14, with a SR20det, the ecu is the correct ecu, no problems there. wiring was done by a good shop and everything works fine, motor runs great. except once every 20 or 30 seconds at idle u can hear a hiccup, and every so often the check engine light comes on when i start he car up and wont go away until the car is turned off. the light instead of staying on, blinks like a mofo, sometimes i stays on for 2 seconds, blinks 10 times, stays on for 5 sec blinks 2 more times, etc etc. so as you can see there doesnt seem to be any ryme or reason to the blinking. ALso i check the ECU and try to throw a code and the code light doesnt come on, doesnt blink at all.

i recently did not have my knock sensor connected and someone suggested it was most likely the sensor, so i connected it up, and still, its pulling the same BS. hiccups, engine lite, throws no codes. this doesnt happene very time i turnt he car on, only maybe 1/10 and it stays on from startup till when i stop it. someimtes itll happen 2 or 3 times in a row for like 2 days strait. anyways, has anyone seen this problem before? any suggestions as to what it could be because im totally clueless.
thanks

redsuns3838 · 10-11-2005, 11:42 AM

nobody has any idea what could be causing this or what i could do to find out? =/

krustindumm · 10-11-2005, 11:49 AM

blinking CEL generally means a intermitent misfire.

*NemeGuero* · 10-11-2005, 08:45 PM

and maybe the light bulb on your ecu is burnt out.. so you really wouldn't see a code

redsuns3838 · 10-12-2005, 02:10 AM

how can i make sure its a misfire? aside from bad timing what else could cause it

redsuns3838 · 10-14-2005, 02:06 AM

nobody has an idea? am i not giving enough info or a poor discription?

breakindrifts · 10-14-2005, 02:14 AM

Maybe unplug your battery for awhile and see if the Cel still blinks after a few days of driving.

redsuns3838 · 10-14-2005, 03:56 AM

hehe thanks for the idea but i dont think that is the problem. battery has been unplugged for several days at a time while i work on my car from time to time, and this isnt fixing it. its not a recent problem.

cotbu · 10-14-2005, 04:02 AM

OK. When you set the ecu to diagnostic mode does the check engine light blink then?
If not break out the test-light, multimeter or take it back to your mechanic.
You could also get an ECU from a friend, try it document everything give it back. You'll then know where you stand.
Also disconnecting the battery for a while (in between actions) will give you a good starting point, if you cant fix it.

redsuns3838 · 10-21-2005, 04:11 PM

cotbu the check engine lite does not blink when i set it to diagnostics mode.

does anyone think there could be a prob with the compatability of my engine

Chassis is a 96 (OBDII) S14 SR engine is a 95, and the engine wiring harness is an auto Kouki harness (not sure which yr 97 or 98)

10-11-2005, 12:00 AM	#1
redsuns3838 Zilvia Addict Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: dog town Posts: 969 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	check engine light blinks but ECU wont flash codes OK so i have a S14, with a SR20det, the ecu is the correct ecu, no problems there. wiring was done by a good shop and everything works fine, motor runs great. except once every 20 or 30 seconds at idle u can hear a hiccup, and every so often the check engine light comes on when i start he car up and wont go away until the car is turned off. the light instead of staying on, blinks like a mofo, sometimes i stays on for 2 seconds, blinks 10 times, stays on for 5 sec blinks 2 more times, etc etc. so as you can see there doesnt seem to be any ryme or reason to the blinking. ALso i check the ECU and try to throw a code and the code light doesnt come on, doesnt blink at all. i recently did not have my knock sensor connected and someone suggested it was most likely the sensor, so i connected it up, and still, its pulling the same BS. hiccups, engine lite, throws no codes. this doesnt happene very time i turnt he car on, only maybe 1/10 and it stays on from startup till when i stop it. someimtes itll happen 2 or 3 times in a row for like 2 days strait. anyways, has anyone seen this problem before? any suggestions as to what it could be because im totally clueless. thanks

10-11-2005, 11:49 AM	#3
krustindumm Zilvia Junkie Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Iowa Age: 40 Posts: 473 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	blinking CEL generally means a intermitent misfire. __________________ ASE Master Technician

10-14-2005, 04:02 AM	#9
cotbu Post Whore! Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: SWFL Age: 50 Posts: 3,318 Trader Rating: (3) Feedback Score: 3 reviews	OK. When you set the ecu to diagnostic mode does the check engine light blink then? If not break out the test-light, multimeter or take it back to your mechanic. You could also get an ECU from a friend, try it document everything give it back. You'll then know where you stand. Also disconnecting the battery for a while (in between actions) will give you a good starting point, if you cant fix it. __________________ LoverTechnologies "Half Broken Things!"

10-11-2005, 11:42 AM	#2
redsuns3838 Zilvia Addict Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: dog town Posts: 969 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	nobody has any idea what could be causing this or what i could do to find out? =/

10-11-2005, 08:45 PM	#4
NemeGuero No more nissan. Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: RAIN, Washington. Age: 40 Posts: 8,132 Trader Rating: (10) Rides Gallery: NemeGuero Feedback Score: 10 reviews	and maybe the light bulb on your ecu is burnt out.. so you really wouldn't see a code

10-12-2005, 02:10 AM	#5
redsuns3838 Zilvia Addict Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: dog town Posts: 969 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	how can i make sure its a misfire? aside from bad timing what else could cause it

10-14-2005, 02:06 AM	#6
redsuns3838 Zilvia Addict Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: dog town Posts: 969 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	nobody has an idea? am i not giving enough info or a poor discription?

10-14-2005, 02:14 AM	#7
breakindrifts Zilvia FREAK! Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Agoura Hills, CA Age: 36 Posts: 1,006 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	Maybe unplug your battery for awhile and see if the Cel still blinks after a few days of driving.

10-14-2005, 03:56 AM	#8
redsuns3838 Zilvia Addict Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: dog town Posts: 969 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	hehe thanks for the idea but i dont think that is the problem. battery has been unplugged for several days at a time while i work on my car from time to time, and this isnt fixing it. its not a recent problem.

10-21-2005, 04:11 PM	#10
redsuns3838 Zilvia Addict Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: dog town Posts: 969 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	cotbu the check engine lite does not blink when i set it to diagnostics mode. does anyone think there could be a prob with the compatability of my engine Chassis is a 96 (OBDII) S14 SR engine is a 95, and the engine wiring harness is an auto Kouki harness (not sure which yr 97 or 98)