Toyota Repair: Troubleshooting, pep boys, toyota corolla

Question
Dear Mr. Ritter,

My car is doing the following:

1.  Engine light keeps flashing all the time.
2.  Car stalls in reverse.
3.  Car is shaking and rattling.  Just had the spark plugs and wiring changed yesterday because 2 of the spark plugs were rapid firing when diagnostics were run at Pep Boys.


After paying the bill there, I took the car home and it is doing the same things it did before I took it in.  Now Pep Boys says it may be transmission.  Please help.

Car is 1999 Toyota Corolla.

Thanks, Chris

Answer
I don't agree that it is the transmission, the engine light is flashing to warn you that there is a severe engine misfire which could damage the catalityc converter if the condition continues. My advice is to take the car to a toyota dealer and have them do a diagnostic check to see what trouble codes are stored in the computer and go from there.