2000 Mustang "service engine soon" light blinking, car shaking, trouble accelerating. Please help?

Misfired.Ignition coils are common problem on Fords.Flashing MIL is the biggest clue.Check with a scanner will pinpoint what cylinder is misfiring.

2000 Ford Mustang Engine

Your Service Engine Soon light will come on and stay on steadily when your vehicle's on-board diagnostic computer detects a problem with your vehicle. It means you need to take your vehicle to a reputable mechanic at your first available opportunity. Your Service Engine Soon light comes on and blinks when your vehicle's on-board diagnostic computer detects a problem with your vehicle that could cause damage your vehicle if you continue to drive it. In other words - stop driving immediately and have your car towed to a shop! The most common cause of a blinking Service Engine Soon light is that your vehicle's ignition system is misfiring. Spark plugs are only part of your ignition system. Depending on your year, make, and model - you could also have spark plug wires, distributor cap, rotor button, ignition coil(s), etc. Your vehicle can also misfire due to other reasons like a malfunctioning fuel injector(s), intake leaks, bad mass air flow sensor, etc. You need to take your vehicle to a reputable mechanic and have the Service Engine Soon light diagnosed. Continuing to drive your vehicle may result in severe engine damage or damage to your catalytic converter(s)...both of which are far more expensive than a diagnostic bill at your local shop. Good luck.

The service light is slaved into just about every system on the engine so second guessing it is futile. You should be able to download a trouble code with the correct key or diagnostic unit. You can often get those on loan at most package parts stores; i.e., NAPA, Autozone, Advance Auto. I'm tempted to second your guess of the catalytic converter. The symptoms you describe are typical of one that is blocked. You can get a generic universal type off the shelf for around a hundred, or go dealer and pay several times that amount but have the specific application for your car. However, you could have a dead cylinder for any of several reasons. I would do the trouble code download before doing anything.

believe now that there is something wrong with my catalytic converter.

Am I right in assuming this?

If so, any estimation on what this might cost and where a good place to get it looked at would be?

Thanks so much for any help

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Your assumption is wrong.

But, whatever is causing that misfire will destroy said cat converter in short order. So, your diagnostic skills work in reverse. Still not good.

Cost guesstimate? No way. I don't know what's wrong and causing the symptoms.

A flashing engine light means "Shut this thing down and call the tow truck".

The problem may be simple (like not enough oil in the crankcase), or maybe a miss. Both conditions will make the engine light flash. But so will several other codes that mean the engine is dying fast.

The only way to know is to read the code/s.

But for now just park it and hope it is an easy fix!

Don't bother with having a place like Autozone analyze your car. Take it to an real shop that has a reputation for honesty and good work. That is the only way you will know exactly what is wrong and how much it will cost to repair. FWIW i would say you are in need of a tune-up and some other overdue periodic maintenance

Take to local shop for proper diagnosing. Flashing light means you have a severe misfire that will damage your catalytic converter so dont drive this thing anymore and have it towed.

well its kind of like you if you had an extreme pain say in your kidney, youd go see a doctor, well the same principle applies here, one would use common sense and take it to a shop and have it checked out by someone that specializes in these kinds of things, so that is my advice use some common sense and take it to a shop and have it diagnosed