Flashing check engine light.

I have a flashing check engine light comes on then goes away while accelerating in 2nd or 3rd gear. P0301 is the bad code. I have changed Spark plug, wire and fuel injector on cylinder 1. I will replace my distributor cap this week. I do not have a catalytic converter. I have also seafoamed the truck twice with no luck.. truck is running rich and I have loss of power. it started last week 7/26/16 and I have been taking it easy while driving. What else can I check and/or replace to fix this issue?

My car has 185000 miles.
My car has an automatic transmission.

Experienced mechanics share their insights in answering this question :
If you keep having code P0301 come back, and you have replaced the injector, plug, and wire, then you may have excessive carbon build up on the valves or you have low compression in the cylinder. Since you had the engine sea foamed twice, it may have cleaned some carbon off the valves but not enough. You may need to do a compression test and have an engine decarbonized by flooding the engine with combustion chamber cleaner and shutting off the engine. Let it sit for thirty minutes and then start and run the engine by revving it several times and then hold engine at 2500 to clear the engine of carbon. If you want to have this checked out, a certified technician from YourMechanic can come to your car’s location to diagnose the vehicle’s loss of power and let you know what needs to be done.

How to Identify and Fix Common car Problems ?

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

A steady glow typically means something less serious but a flashing check engine light indicates that your vehicle`s engine is in serious trouble and service is needed immediately. If your check engine light is flashing in your Ram 1500, we highly recommend not to drive the vehicle and schedule Ram service today.
A flashing check engine light indicates a much more serious issue. Most often it means that the engine is misfiring and unburned fuel is getting into the exhaust system. This raises the temperature of the catalytic converter and can cause critical damage.
Flashing Check Engine Light: If your check engine light is flashing, stop driving your Ram 1500 and have it towed to your nearest mechanic – a blinking check engine light means you probably have a very serious problem with your car and you risk ruining your engine by driving it.
Faulty spark plugs and ignition coils are the most common reason for a running rough engine that causes shaking and a flashing check engine light. The shaking is usually from a misfire, and it`s common for the check engine light to flash for ignition-related codes. You might also notice a reduction in power.
If the check engine light in your Dodge starts flashing, that means that the problem needs attention swiftly and your Dodge should be brought in instantly. This blinking light normally signifies a severe engine misfire allowing unburned fuel to be dumped into the exhaust system.
A check engine light flashing– as opposed to a continuously illuminated check engine light – should never be ignored. A flashing CEL indicates a severe problem, one that requires immediate car repair. In other words, if your check engine light is flashing, pull over and call a tow service.
The answer is – yes! Worn spark plugs can cause your vehicle`s check engine light to illuminate, indicating an issue. It may even be a flashing check engine light. This is because bad spark plugs can cause your engine to misfire, which will trigger the check engine light to turn on.
The problem is that a flashing check engine light means you have a catalytic converter damaging misfire. This could mean you have one cylinder that just isn`t firing at all or every cylinder is missing a lot.
When your check engine light begins flashing, it is most often caused by a charging system misfire. The fuel, oxygen, and spark in your vehicle must operate in a specific order to power it properly. Unfortunately, if one of these three cylinders malfunctions, the entire system will suffer.
Misfires don`t simply go away – they need to be addressed immediately. Even if they don`t get worse, they certainly won`t get any better unless you take the car to a mechanic.
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.
If the check engine light is flashing on your Ram, you need to pull over immediately and turn off your car, especially if accompanied by oil or temperature warning lights. A flashing check engine light spells trouble. If you continue to drive you`ll risk serious – and expensive — damage to your engine.
The rule of thumb is that if the check engine light is flashing, you can`t keep driving the car. It`s an emergency. Often it indicates an engine misfire. If you keep driving, you will likely cause irreversible damage, mostly to the (expensive) catalytic converter.
A failed O2 sensor is the most common cause of a flashing check engine light. The O2 sensor is a critical part of the exhaust system, monitoring how much unburned oxygen is exiting the engine in the exhaust. The sensor sends messages back to the engine to adjust the mix of oxygen and fuel being used.
Traffic control signals that normally operate red, green, and yellow may be set to “flashing” mode for various reasons. If there is construction or a broken signal, for example, flashing lights may be used to indicate a change in traffic flow.
The most common signs of bad spark plugs include start-up trouble, rough idling, sluggish acceleration, declining fuel economy, engine misfiring, and engine knocking.
A clogged or failed exhaust gas recirculation or crankcase ventilation valve or faulty oxygen sensor can send the wrong signals to the computer and cause misfires.
Dirty or Old Spark Plugs

If your engine is misfiring, you may be able to fix the problem easily by replacing your spark plugs. Spark plugs are relatively easy to remove from engines and inspect for damage, and at less than $25 a piece, they are relatively cheap to replace, too.

The problem is that a flashing check engine light means you have a catalytic converter damaging misfire. This could mean you have one cylinder that just isn`t firing at all or every cylinder is missing a lot.
Flickering or blinking lights are usually caused by one of the following: Problem with the bulb (not in tight enough, lightbulbs are incompatible with your dimmers) Loose light plug. Faulty switch or dimmer.
Yes. While the damage may seem small initially, the longer you drive with a bad oxygen sensor, the worse the damage will become. Eventually, you may experience rough idling, poor acceleration, engine misfires, an illuminated check engine light, and failed emission tests.
Crank the Ignition and Inspect for Spark Have someone turn the ignition so that you can inspect the plug. Make sure the spark is strong and blue in color. If the spark is weak and dull orange, it`s likely that it`s not strong enough to ignite the engine`s air and fuel mixture.

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Read Full Q/A … : Flashing check engine light.