Check Engine Light Blinking while in gear??

[V8sofa]

well,
more oddness with the '85,
when stopped at say, a stop light my check engine light flickers on and off and after a while just stays on, then after I take I start driving it turns off and stays off until I come to a stop again.
then The process just repeats,
when it does this there are no misfires or any sort of stuttering or any real problems,

so does anyone have any ideas?

[DarkKnight]

Sounds like you got a wire crossed with a brake line wire to me... Buuut. Dont quote me on that. ( Ive just had it happen before.)

[Lincolnmania]

that's the replace engine light..........you probably have low oil pressure.....use thicker oil

[mrltd]

bearings, oil pump, crank, etc... all shot. Time for a new motor.

However, it'll run like that for a loooooooong time.

[gadget73]

bearings prbably worn out. next grade thicker oil and keep driving, just don't beat it mercilessly and keep the oil level where it belongs. Fords go a long time with tired bearings.

[V8sofa]

Well,
I suppose I'll drive it until it kicks it,
all the while saving my money,
Then its exploder motor time.

still didn't do bad for 300 dollars

Suppose I will pick up some 10W 40 tomorrow

[mrltd]

I had a 91 that had the light on going down the road.... Beat it for 3 months before swapping the motor. I didn't ever blow it up though. And the previous owner drove it like that for a year or two.

[V8sofa]

Would you have any oil recommendations?

[torquelover]

Castrol for dino, Mobil 1 or AMSOIL for synthetic works for me.

[85crownHPP]

at this point it doesnt really matter, Id use 4 quarts cheap oil + one quart Lucas

[1987cp]

at this point it doesnt really matter, Id use 4 quarts cheap oil + one quart Lucas

I could go with that. Actually ran some 20W50 in my old 351 (with Lucas as well) trying to keep the knocking under control until I realized that the blowby was just pretty much hopeless. And yeah, it had a flickering Check Engine light as well (that light only monitors water temp and oil pressure).

Castrol for dino, Mobil 1 or AMSOIL for synthetic works for me.

From their website, AMSOIL looks like kind of a specialty item and mega pricey. Where have you bought it in the past?

[torquelover]

From their website, AMSOIL looks like kind of a specialty item and mega pricey. Where have you bought it in the past?

Michael is a dealer :smirk:

I do agree on the cheap oil. back when the POS would require 3 quarts every fill up, I had a cheap case of Mobil in the trunk I got cheap at Sam's Club.

[85MercPark]

that's the replace engine light......

[87_crown_vic]

my 2 door had that same problem when i bought it and drove it from Chicago. 2 months later the oil pump quit on my way home from work and engine i am guessing is toast. got the car home 5 miles with 0 oil pressure. car would still start and drive but better off to get redone

[VintageBlueOval]

I had a similar issue with my 88 wagon. I adjusted the idle speed and changed the oil to a thicker grade and no more light. I thought I might be masking the problem, but it spells it out right in the owners manual... "it is normal for the engine light to flicker in idle"

So maybe it's not the death light just yet?