03 OBS sputters on first takeoff and check engine light flashes 11 times

[Chico]

Hello.

I have a 2003 OBS with 110,000kms(65,000 miles) and I have been
experiencing some sputtering.

Sequence of events:
Car starts fine, idles fine.
When I pull out of driveway and start accelerating, car sputters.
Seems like the harder I accelerate the more it sputters. Sometimes,
the check engine light flashes 11 times. Sputtering gradually goes
away over the next minute or two then everything runs fine after that.

This seems to happen when the engine is cold and the weather is wet.
Problem shows up about once or twice a week.

This started happening some time ago after I pulled out one of my spark
plug boots just to have a look. I had a hard time re-inserting it
because of the washer fluid tank. I was due for a spark plug change
anyway so a couple of days later I replaced all plugs. This problem
kept showing up every few days.

Any ideas? Does the 11 flashes of the check engine light mean
anything?

Thanks,
Chicobiker

 

[mulder]

Hello.

I have a 2003 OBS with 110,000kms(65,000 miles) and I have been
experiencing some sputtering.

Sequence of events:
Car starts fine, idles fine.
When I pull out of driveway and start accelerating, car sputters.
Seems like the harder I accelerate the more it sputters. Sometimes,
the check engine light flashes 11 times. Sputtering gradually goes
away over the next minute or two then everything runs fine after that.

This seems to happen when the engine is cold and the weather is wet.
Problem shows up about once or twice a week.

This started happening some time ago after I pulled out one of my spark
plug boots just to have a look. I had a hard time re-inserting it
because of the washer fluid tank. I was due for a spark plug change
anyway so a couple of days later I replaced all plugs. This problem
kept showing up every few days.

Any ideas? Does the 11 flashes of the check engine light mean
anything?

Thanks,
Chicobiker

A flashing CEL means there is a real-time misfire being detected. This
is a lot more urgent than a steady light which only indicates that a
code has been stored. Since this began after you messed with the wire,
that wire is probably damaged. The fix is most likely a new set of
wires.