Automotive Forums

My son has a 1999 plymouth breeze with 85,000 miles on it. Yesterday it was running fine all day until on his way home he stopped at a stop light and it started running rough and the service engine light started flashing. he drove it home and the light flashed the whole way and the car acted like it wanted to stall out everytime he stopped. He lives about 3 hours away so I can't check out the car myself and I don't have a repair manual for it. Does anyone have any information on a Plymouth Breeze and what would cause it to start running rough all of the sudden and what would make the Service engine light flash? Any help would be appreciated. Thanks  

The best thing to do is have someone hook a OBD II code reader {scan tool}
to the data link connector located about 12" to the left of the steering wheel under the dash. It will tell you if any codes are stored. From these
codes you can get an idea in what system {fuel,ignition,emission}of the car the problem lies. If you can get the car to an Auto Zone they will check
for any codes for free.  

flashing MIL (check engine light) means active misfire on going. there is (are) cylinder misfire, scan it to check code and dont drive the car with MIL flashing, the misfire will ruin your catalytic converter. check sparkplugs and wires.  

HE HAD THE CODE CHECKED AND IT SAID #2 CYLINDER MISFIRE. I HAD HIM CHECK THE SPARK PLUG WIRES 1ST. HE SAID IT SEEMED LIKE THE SPARK PLUG WIRE DIDN'T SEEM VERY TIGHT ON THE SPARK PLUG LIKE THE REST OF THEM. I HAD HIM PUT A NEW SET OF WIRES ON IT AND THE CAR IS RUNNING FINE NOW.
HOW LONG BEFORE THE SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT RESETS ITSELF ON A PLYMOUTH????  

For misfire or fuel system malfunction, the MIL may be extinguished if the fault does not recur when monitored during three subsequent sequential
driving cycles in which conditions are similar to those under which the malfunction was first determined.

or you can reset it by removing battery neagative for at least 20 sec (but all obd monitors will also be reset)  

disconnecting the battery wont clear the code on OBDll, and the monitors wont reset unless you first clear the codes with KOEO then disconnect the battery, your best bet is to just take it to someone, explain your situation and have them clear it for you, meeting the criteria for a drive cycle can take quite a long time sometimes