When I was driving my CEL light started blinking for about 5 seconds then didn't come back on during the rest of the drive. From what I've read that means that it misfired. The next time I started my car the check engine light came on and stayed on. When I took it to Autozone to get the code read, they said they couldn't read it because it was locked up. I had it read about 3 weeks ago so I know that it works. They told me that the dealer is the only place that will be able to read the code. The dealer quoted me $133 just to run diagnostics which I obviously don't want to pay that much. Does anybody have any ideas on what the problem could be?

 

Go find another Autozone or some other place that will read it for free. Pep boys and even Aamco reads for free now. They probably used the wrong scanner at that Autozone. Maybe go back there and have another person read it.
It does sound like a misfire though. How many miles on the car and how many on the plugs and coils?

 

Yes get the code and....Please give us some more info...miles, model, etc.... What service and parts has the car had? How many miles on plugs,coils,wires. What mods have you got?...How long have you had it?

 

ive had the car about a year i put new plugs and wires in it about 2000 miles ago, the car has 67000 on it right now its an 04 grand touring. no mods and i don't know when the coils were changed.

 

The coils will cost you about what the dealer wanted to charge you for diagnostics......

If you don't know how old they are..might as well pony up for new ones.

If you have plans for anything in the future, or plan to keep the car longer term.....get a set of BHR coils..they are well worth it