The culprit:
Anything from a loose gas cap to an engine misfire can illuminate this dreaded light. Either way, it’s important that you get it checked out as soon as possible.
Worst case scenario:
A blinking check engine light usually means a severe engine misfire is allowing unburned fuel to be dumped into your exhaust system. That can raise the temperature of your car’s catalytic converter to a point where damage will most likely happen and expensive repairs could be required. Pull over and turn off your engine.
What to do:
Don’t ignore this one. Check your dashboard gauges and lights for indications of low oil pressure or overheating. These conditions mean you should pull over and shut off the engine as soon as you can find a safe place to do so, according to Motorist.org.
You can also try tightening your gas cap (sometimes that solves the problem).
If the check engine light is blinking or you notice any serious performance problems, like a loss of power, reduce your speed and try to reduce the load on the engine.
Have your car checked as soon as possible to help prevent expensive damage.