Generally...

So today while I was trying to get on the freeway I had to accelerate hard in 4th gear on the on-ramp because it didn't look like a driver in a honda civic was going to let me merge. The check engine light starts flashing for 1-2 minutes then goes off. What does that mean?

... it's a misfire.
Maybe a badly connected coil pack.
Have the OBD-II error code read to see exactly which cylinder misfired.
When the CEL is flashing you should immediately shut down the engine.
Failure to do so may cause engine damage.
Happy Boxstering
Pedro

Pedro Bonilla
1998 Boxster 986 - 311,000+ miles: [www.PedrosGarage.com]
PCA National Club Racing Scrutineer - PCA National HPDE Instructor - PCA Technical Committee (Boxster/Cayman)

---

Racecar spelled backwards is Racecar

"Racing is life. Anything before or after is just waiting" ... Steve McQueen as Michael Delaney in "LeMans"

"If you wait, all that happens is that you get older"... Mario Andretti

"Being second is to be the first of the ones who lose" ... Ayrton Senna

Yeah I was really nervous of the flashing CEL, but I was on the freeway and the car was running perfectly, and it did stop flashing after a minute. Since it's no longer flashing or on, is it still possible to get a reading from a OBD reader?

... have them read and it will tell you where and how severe the misfire was.
Happy Boxstering,
Pedro

Pedro Bonilla
1998 Boxster 986 - 311,000+ miles: [www.PedrosGarage.com]
PCA National Club Racing Scrutineer - PCA National HPDE Instructor - PCA Technical Committee (Boxster/Cayman)

---

Racecar spelled backwards is Racecar

"Racing is life. Anything before or after is just waiting" ... Steve McQueen as Michael Delaney in "LeMans"

"If you wait, all that happens is that you get older"... Mario Andretti

"Being second is to be the first of the ones who lose" ... Ayrton Senna