engine light flashing

[stase111]

my engine light stays on and now its flashing. any ideas out there?

[DRW1000]

If your light is flashing you need to correct the problem immediatley before further damage occurs.

The CEL flashes when a condition exists that is damaging to the catalytic converters. Often this is due to raw fuel passing into the converters.

Have the codes read ASAP

[ModMech]

Converters will NEVER be damaged by a rich condition, only LEAN will cause an overheat and melt-down. I had thought rich was the damaging condition, until a Ford engineer corrected me.

But yes, you need to get the codes read NOW. AutoZone will do it for free.

[fmac60]

Originally Posted by stase111

my engine light stays on and now its flashing. any ideas out there?

Had the same problem. Removed air intake manifold and found carbon formation on air intake. Removed and cleaned. Problem went away

[DRW1000]

I know you keep insisting that rich does not damage converters but as I pointed out in a different thread the owner's manual sees it differently and specifically states the opposite.

[wiswind]

I had a flashing CEL caused by clogged EGR ports.....
Port #4 was the only one clear....and this caused a missfire on cyl. #4.
Cleaned the ports.....and problem went away.

Clogged EGR ports in the lower intake manifold is a common issue with the 3.8L Windstar. Not real hard to clean.

[Kpete]

Originally Posted by wiswind

I had a flashing CEL caused by clogged EGR ports.....
Port #4 was the only one clear....and this caused a missfire on cyl. #4.
Cleaned the ports.....and problem went away.

Clogged EGR ports in the lower intake manifold is a common issue with the 3.8L Windstar. Not real hard to clean.

Thanks!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!
I have been trying to figure out for months what the problem was and then I found this site!! I did exactly as you suggested and Bam!!! The thing runs like a new vehicle! Thanks again

[NeilR]

Have 96 Windstar with flashing engine light (misfire on cyl 4). Tried everything plugs, wires, cleaned injectors, coil nothing helped and it was getting worse. Tried cleaning egr ports. Wow, they were clogged excwpt #4. Now 4 days and counting with no engine light and smooth running. Thanks

[Dngrsone]

Originally Posted by NeilR

Have 96 Windstar with flashing engine light (misfire on cyl 4). Tried everything plugs, wires, cleaned injectors, coil nothing helped and it was getting worse. Tried cleaning egr ports. Wow, they were clogged excwpt #4. Now 4 days and counting with no engine light and smooth running. Thanks

The EGR problem is a very common one and I don't think you will have to worry about that light reappearing for misfire for a while.

[vtails]

I have had the same problem w/96windstar cyl 4 misfire 304 code and replaced spark plugs wnd wires injector and I cleared the code and fine for a week then it came back ,it gets better-now I get 303 & 304 so I replaced coil pack ran better but it had a dead miss so read codes,No codes found (I have a fairly good reader,now its poping though tail pipe,and the plugs are wet after running the only other thing I have messed with is the MAF is there a good way to check maf the reader is not posting code's, I going to check fuel pressure ,I did check fuel pres. reg and it will hold vac all nite so I think it might be MAF checked cyls. and all are at 170+ any ideas would be helpful,Happy Thanks