Check engine light is flashing and reduces the power of the engine.

Check engine light is flashing and reduces the power of the engine. I have changed the ignition coils, but the problem is still there.

I need help.

My car has 80000 miles.
My car has an automatic transmission.

Experienced mechanics share their insights in answering this question :
If the light is flashing then the computer system should have stored codes as to why the problem is happening. I recommend having the computer scanned by a certified technician, such as one from YourMechanic, to retrieve the codes and have them diagnosed. If there is a misfire code then that cylinder should be checked for problems with fuel, spark, or compression issues by the mechanic testing the vehicle for you.

How to Identify and Fix Common car Problems ?

Our sources include academic articles, blog posts, and personal essays from experienced mechanics :

A Reduced Power light usually indicates a fairly serious problem with the throttle system. When this light illuminates the vehicle will often go into a “safe mode”, which will severely limit the speed of the car and in some cases will render the vehicle un-drivable.
If the check engine light in your Lexus starts flashing, that means that the problem needs abrupt attention and your Lexus should be brought in hastily. This shining light usually indicates a persuasive engine misfire allowing unburned fuel to be drained into the exhaust system.
A Check Engine indicator will stay solid or blink. If the indicator is blinking, the situation is usually serious, such as a severe misfiring of the engine. This would allow unburned fuel to dump into the exhaust system, pushing the temperature of your catalytic converter to the breaking point.
The check engine light can either come on and stay lit or blink, depending on the type of problem. Typically, when a check engine light flashes rapidly, it indicates a power loss in the vehicle or something even more urgent.
Faulty throttle and pedal position sensor

Any problem within the TAC system can cause the reduced engine power warning light to go on. One of the more common reasons includes one or both APP sensors in the accelerator pedal or the pair of TP sensors.

Shut off the engine, wait 10 seconds, then restart the vehicle to see if this resets the reduced engine power light—but this will only work if it`s a signal error. Avoid driving your vehicle when the reduced engine power light is on—instead, identify and repair the underlying problem that`s causing the warning light.
What a Blinking Light Means. It could be overheating or an oil pressure issue. It could also be a problem with the brakes or fuel line, belt, hoses, etc. By far, though, the most common is a misfire in the engine that can damage the catalytic converter.
A solid check engine light indicates a problem that needs to be addressed but is typically not urgent. A flashing check engine light indicates a severe problem that requires immediate attention to avoid further damage.
If your check engine light is flashing, something is wrong with your engine. You need to pull over and shut it off as soon as it`s safe to do so. The check engine light flashing when accelerating combined with white exhaust appearing and disappearing suggests a sticking fuel injector.
In order to disable these systems, you`ll want to press and hold the TRAC/VSC switch for more than three seconds while the car is stopped. The VSC OFF indicator light should then come on, and a “Traction Control Turned Off” message should be shown on the multi-information display.
Sometimes, the check engine light comes on to let you know that there`s a problem with the car`s internal diagnostic mechanism. That means the system could be “finding” a problem that doesn`t exist, or it could be that loose wire systems are creating a false positive in the system.
Worn/failed spark plugs, coil packs, or spark plug wires can trigger your check engine light to come on. In today`s cars, say Firestone Complete Auto Care technicians, if a plug starts to fail then the most obvious event should be the check engine light coming on or even flashing.
Will a bad O2 sensor cause rough idle and loss of engine power? You bet. Moreover, you may also notice poor acceleration, engine misfires, and even stalling.
Engine Power Loss

Your high-performance engine will lag if the O2 sensor is bad and tricking the engine control unit (ECU) into putting too much air in the combustion chamber. This creates a lean fuel mixture in the chamber and causes sputtering and power loss in the engine.

As the MAP sensor fails, it can cause various issues with the fuel system and vehicle performance. An inaccurate reading from the sensor will cause the computer to change the amount of fuel it sends, which can rob the engine of power or cause it to run poorly.
The most common causes of misfires are worn, improperly installed, and mishandled spark plugs, malfunctioning ignition coils, carbon tracking, faulty spark plug wires and vacuum leaks.
The most common and relevant cause of a P0300 code is spark plugs that are damaged or worn. This is also a common cause among additional codes displayed as P030X. Spark plugs are devices that ignite the compressed mixture of air and fuel in each cylinder of an internal combustion engine.
It is generally safe to drive with the “Reduced Engine Power” light on, but you should take your car to a mechanic as soon as possible to avoid further damage.
A steady check engine light indicates a non-emergency issue, such as a loose gas cap. Flashing check engine lights warn of severe situations requiring immediate attention. Standardized diagnostic codes help identify the trouble.
It is generally safe to drive with the “Reduced Engine Power” light on, but you should take your car to a mechanic as soon as possible to avoid further damage.
Expect to pay between $100 and $500, including parts and labor, to get your engine back in shape. However, a catalytic converter issue can cost over $2,000.
It is generally safe to drive with the “Reduced Engine Power” light on, but you should take your car to a mechanic as soon as possible to avoid further damage.
Expect to pay between $100 and $500, including parts and labor, to get your engine back in shape. However, a catalytic converter issue can cost over $2,000.
Reduced Engine Power signifies that the car has lost some power and isn`t performing as it should. Common cause include reduced flow of fuel and/or air to the engine, clogged catalytic converter, problem with the air intake, or a dirty mass airflow sensor.

Relevant Questions and Answers :

the most relevant questions and answers related to your specific issue

2012 equinox reduced power light engine light and traction light came on. Lost a lot of power got home and all light except engine
ANSWER : Your car has what is called a "safe mode" that will be engaged by the computer when it detects that something critical has gone wrong related to any of the major components in your engine chassis or power train. This may be related to a number of things, most of which should have been registered in the computer when the check engine light came on. I recommend having an expert from YourMechanic come to your location to inspect your check engine light and diagnose any codes registered by your vehicle’s computer.

Reduce engine power / check engine light is on
ANSWER : Hi there. Most of the time, reduced engine power is caused by a restriction of fuel, or the throttle body’s inability to efficiently mix air and fuel. This could be caused by a failing mass air flow sensor, EGR valve or other fuel system components. Since the check engine light is on, you should have a professional mechanic complete an inspection at your location to determine what codes are stored and which components require repair. This should resolve your issue.

Traction light/reduced engine power and check engine light coming on
ANSWER : Hello. From what you describe, it would appear that your vehicle may be experiencing some sort of intermittent wiring or sensor issue. If the problem occurred again after driving over a bump, then it may be possible that a damaged or loose wire is shorting or having contact issues. A common issue that can cause stalling is a faulty crank position sensor or wiring. I would carefully examine the engine for any loose or damaged wires. If the Check Engine Light comes back on, I would recommend having the trouble codes scanned before resetting the computer.

Engine malfunction light, reduced engine power, engine powered down
ANSWER : Hi there. There are a lot of things that can cause this on your 2012 BMW M5. I usually start by scanning the computer for codes to see what comes up. If there are not codes then I load test the alternator and the battery to see if they are failing. Low voltage in the electrical system will cause this. If that is fine, then it is usually caused by a failing throttle body. I have seen a lot of these fail due to the motors in them hanging up. If the problem is only happening intermittently, this can make the issue hard to duplicate, but you can still have tests done on the car. If you are going to have this fixed, consider YourMechanic, as a certified mechanic can come to your home or office to test the vehicle and diagnose the Engine Malfunction Light.

Car sometimes give me acceleration and power issues. Engine power reduced message and engine light appear intermittently.
ANSWER : It is possible that your vehicle’s PCM has failed. This is somewhat of a common problem amongst many GM vehicles. If the computer has failed, this could be one of the reasons that no trouble codes are appearing and the fact that the problem is intermittent. It is possible that the computer is somehow getting overheated and by stopping the vehicle for a short period of time, the PCM cools down allowing the vehicle to run again. I would recommend having your PCM tested for proper function by a certified technician with experience in computer diagnostics.

Check engine light refuses to go off after engine replaced
ANSWER : Hello there, you have a long series of issues going on with your 2013 Hyundai Sonata. If you keep getting a repeating oil light on than there is likely a fault in that system.

Since this fault has lasted after the engine was replaced it could be a oil pressure sensor, wiring harness fault, ECU fault, oil pump, oil strainer clogged, or low oil pressure.

To diagnose this issue properly you need a complete vehicle inspection to start from square one and identify the root cause of all this.

While driving on freeway truck goes into a limp mode, and the check engine light, abs light, parking break light, service brake
ANSWER : It is possible that you could be having an issue with your powertrain control module. This is somewhat of a common problem on many GM vehicles. I would recommend having your vehicle inspected by the dealership to determine if the powertrain control module is functioning properly. If not, a reflash of the powertrain control module may resolve the issue but often times it must be replaced.

Car started to slow down and then the check engine light, battery, and engine oil light came on. What could cause this?
ANSWER : Hi there. It is possible that the battery cable came loose or the wires to the oil pressure sensor has came loose or failed. Check the battery cables and make sure that the terminals are tight and clean. Check the wires to the oil pressure sensor and make sure that they are connected and not broken. If everything looks good, then the oil pressure sensor may have failed. Plus, check the computer for codes and see what is stored. This will lead you to the part that could have failed. I recommend replacing the oil pressure sensor then checking to see if the lights will go out. If you need further assistance troubleshooting your vehicle, then seek out a technician, such as one from Your Mechanic, that can assist you with the warning lights that came on.