CEL is blinking due to engine actively misfiring. The misfire is most likely a bad coil . Pull each coil individually and inspect the end that plugs onto spark plug It is basically a hollow tube with a coil mounted on top. The "wire" goes through the hollow tube. Check the outside of tube at the end for a burn spot. If it has a burn spot it is firing to the inside of the galley housing instead of spark plug;hence,misfire. If you see no burn spot then run at idle and pull each coil pack up individually until you find one that doesn't affect the idle speed when you pull it up-that's your misfiring cylinder. Coil must be plugged in when you pull if up from spark plug. I would only replace the coil at fault as that engine has no history of total replacement being a necessity.
Damage can definitely be caused to a Cat while the engine is running. A misfire is detrimental to a Converter and is one of the primary culprits in converter demise. The idea that a converter can't be damaged by running the engine is ludicrous.

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Posted by Shanegolang

Denham Springs, La

Member since Sep 2015

3618 posts

Posted on 8/15/21 at 6:38 pm to windmill

I much appreciate the helpful replies. I didn't want to drive the car any more than absolutely necessary so I have decided based on my guesses and the information from you men and ladies of the O-T presented me with, to go ahead and purchase 4 new plugs and coil packs from Toyota tomorrow and install them here. I'm confident now that this will solve the problem. I assume it's probably smartest to purchase genuine OEM Toyota parts, especially for the coil packs. I guess I'll go ahead and get the plugs there too while I'm at it. Again thanks for the help.