Chip Stein wrote:
> SoCalMike <mikein562athotmail@hotmail.com> wrote in message news:<sWy0d.152872$9d6.107688@attbi_s54>...
>
>>Karen wrote:
>>
>>
>>>Hi,
>>>
>>>I've a 2001 Accord, 58k miles, 2k under used car warranty. Driving home
>>>from work yesterday, five miles from dealer, the check engine light
>>>started flashing and the car (a standard shift) started jerking when
>>>accelerating. I drove it carefully, under 55, and straight to the
>>>dealer who proceeded to give me a line about it "perhaps not being
>>>covered under the warranty". Do I have cause for concern of serious and
>>>*expensive* problems?
>>
>>depends on how honest the dealer is and what the warranty covers. might
>>not be covered... dunno.
>
>
> if it's flashing it means you have a catalyst damaging misfire.
> smells expensive huh?
> Chip

Thanks all for your replies. Because it was "flashing" along with the
car actually lurching I was pretty compelled to take it back to the
dealer which is about a mile from my house. I went pretty ballistic
over the dealer's comments about it being under the warranty. He got
angry enough, but remained "reserved" to almost break his computer
keyboard, hitting it so hard over my comments I might be an
experienced computer tech but cars leave me clueless. Final verdict?
Chip was right (I think) as it was misfiring due to a loose distributor
cap wire. Labor/diagnosis cost, $60+ not under warranty. Yes, he said
that if it was flashing it could have been bad. I've already had the
"gas cap" issue so know of that one, and earlier in the week had the
"check side air bag" light go on which wound up being my handbag and
library books on the passenger seat, the removal of which turned the
light off.

Anyway, thanks.

Karen