My check engine light in 2015 Kia Soul started flashing o...

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If the check engine light is blinking it is telling you that your engine has an active misfire and has retained a failure code. The first step will be to get the failure code retrieved and then once we have a starting point to complete a diagnostic following the steps as outlined. I would consider returning to the shop that performed your service to see if they had accidentally dislodged something or left something loose. They should also be able to quickly connect to your engine computer and retrieve the failure code.

We will be running a code reader to get the code. My fear is that the shop will upcharge me for this. I do not know what goes into their inspection and oil change.If there is an engine misfire, is it safe to assume I should have it towed to a shop that does engine repair?

It can be driven for short distances as long as it's driving good. You could also take the vehicle to any Advance AutoParts or AutoZone and they will retrieve the code for free. The oil change should not have anything to do with this issue unless something was inadvertently dislodged or shifted. If you can provide me the code I can offer some better advice. Pulling the code only takes 30 seconds, but that only gives you a starting off point. Actually using the code to perform the diagnostics is what costs for the technicians time and equipment.

Okay, currently the car is parked elsewhere and I'm waiting on a ride to get there. We have code reader with us.

Perfect, please test and let me know. I can help guide you from there.

Code 7E9 and 7E8

$7E8 and $7E9 are not failure codes, those are sub-menus for the engine and transmission. Basically this means that your scan tool is able to communicate with the ECM (engine control module) and TCM (transmission control module). You need to click on them to see the retained codes.

First code indicates cylinder misfire and second code says first cylinder

Do you have a P0300 and P0301?

Okay. So we have a random multiple misfire (P0300) and a cylinder #1 hard misfire (P0301). Do you have the 1.6L or the 2.0L engine?

1.6L

Cylinder #1 is the cylinder closest to the belt side of the engine. Begin by checking all of the connectors that are visible. Make sure the coil is properly seated. Basic visual inspection. From there we get into more intricate tests in the attached diagnostic flow chart.

The ignition and fuel injection tests require advanced tools to determine the waveform created by the coil and fuel injector to determine failure.