Got a winning blue RX8 that I've owned for 48 hours. 100 miles on it and the check engine light comes on and stays on. The only thing I've done is wash it. Yes, the gas cap has been put on with 4-5 "clicks". Should I have the dealer "flat bed" it back?

Manual says only to let the dealer know that it's happening. I don't know when I can get back to the dealer.

Thoughts?

Did you check oil level?

Checked oil level....it's full. Oil pressure guage is normal....no oil level light comes on.

Just got back from my dealer after having my car checked out because my "check engine light" came on yesterday. Code said it was the thermostat not opening/closing correctly. They checked it out and it looked to be working fine, but they replaced it anyway. I drove it about 90 miles after it was on (the rest of the way to work and back home, and then to the dealer). I did call my service dept. first, and they said as long as the car was running ok (no loss of power, temps normal, etc.) it shouldn't be any problem to drive for a while. I was a little worried they wouldn't have parts in stock yet, but they fixed me right up.

Lightning yellow, MT package

I got the check engine light too. I have an appointment next Monday to take it in to the dealer. Since my oil pressure and water temp are fine, I'm not worried. It still runs great.

This is the first car I've ever owned equipped with OBD. Now I know how everyone else feels when the light comes on.

I'll let everyone know what the problem was when they check it out.

Well, my check engine light was caused by the thermostat sticking open. The dealer took a few hours to fix it and I'm very happy with the results. I'm glad to get the RX-8 back in place of the Neon loaner!

They ended up replacing the EVAP unit.

Everything is great, now!

my check engine came on and I took car in and two days later they told me it was becuase I added subs and neon lights under the passenger and driver side. how does that make sense. The subs ran off battery and neons inside car ran off dome light fuse.

Maybe they are setting you up to get out of warranty work because of your subwoofers, hehe. Glad it was a simple fix on the CEL. Just make sure to always try to figure out what it is before driving the car to much more because CEL can mean death!!

Your servicing dealer is an idiot if they expect you to believe that. Find another dealer to do your service.

Originally posted by mikeb
my check engine came on and I took car in and two days later they told me it was becuase I added subs and neon lights under the passenger and driver side. how does that make sense. The subs ran off battery and neons inside car ran off dome light fuse.

Don't you hate it when dealer do that to avoid any warranty claim :confused: The only thing that I can think of that cause a malfunction is the sub/neon cause a surge in the electric system, which I hightly doubt Mazda had implement such an advance electric monitor system that trigger the CEL.

The worst a sub or neons can do are blow fuses or short circuit some devices.

On a side note, maybe the safety device such as seat belt or air bag was affected by the wiring, which I'm sure you would not touch those. Then again, it should trigger the SRS light not CEL.

When I got my CEL about 900 miles back they said it was the gas cap...

:P Wasn't me. I think it was the dealer when he filled it up and didn't get it tight. Hasn't returned though. Kinda blows that I had to take it to the dealer just to clear the light.

well I'm going to pick the car up today. They told me the cel light is off now and if it comes back on they think its due to the subs and lights. BS

There is another CEL thread in the Tech garage section for those interested in posting there. Thanks

My check engine light has also come on twice. I took it to the dealer the first time and they blamed it on overfueling (topping off). This is horsesh!t. A week later its on again. Is this a thermostat problem? What should be my course of action??

Actually if you top off new cars, gas will get into a runoff tube in the gas tank and there will be an airpocket so you can't add anymore gas (just like NASCAR cars), it will also throw a CEL. I worked at a dodge dealer and somone brought their car in because they topped it off and weren't suppose to, it threw a CEL. I climbed under the car opened the tube the gas drained it out, reset CEL and I was done. Cost them 1/2 hour for diagnostic, and 1/2 hour for maintenace and it took me 5 minutes to fix, just for topping off their tank.

Oh yeah, I also heard their was a bug in the ECU that would throw a thermostat stuck code when it actually wasn't.

Originally posted by CodyNF
Oh yeah, I also heard their was a bug in the ECU that would throw a thermostat stuck code when it actually wasn't.

Makes sense since the thermostat obviously shouldn't become defective that quickly in a new car but yet I've heard people say the dealer replaced the thermostat instead of checking the ECU.

I got my car back from my dealer last week after it's second trip in for CEL coming on. First time they said it was a thermostat code, replaced it, even though they said the thermostat seemed to be working fine. The second time I had it in they called Mazda. Mazda said they've had 12 or 15 cars with the same trouble; CEL comes on, shows thermostat code, but thermostat is fine. Seems there is a problem in the car's computer that they're working on. My service manager called me a few days ago asking specific questions about my driving habits, conditions, etc, so he could report back to Mazda. He said that if it came on again not to worry about it (as long as pressures are OK), and that Mazda expected to have an update disk sent to dealers shortly that would correct the problem after bringing the car in and downloading the new info into the car's computer. A bit of a hassle with the trips to the dealer, but they've been great at getting me in--both times they told me to bring in right in and had me in and out in a few hours the same day I called.

My car finally arrived at the dealer. I can't pick it up until Tuesday because the don't have anyone in to do the prep work this weekend.

The salesman let me sit in it and pull the car into the garage. As soon as I started the car the CEL came on. Could this be just from them not doing the pdi yet, or should I be warry of buying the car.

He let me pull it into their service garage and it should stay there until the mechanics arrive Tuesday morning.

I've been waiting for 2 months. My first car was wrecked in a train derailment. Now this. I sure hope its nothing serious.

... just a question...

how many check engine lights do we have?

My Probe has a yellow check engine light which is related to emissions systems and a red check engine light meaning your screwed. Do RX8s have the same thing?

Does anyone have any information regarding how to interogate the cause of/reset the CEL...

In the Imported Lexus SC400 which I nearly bought 2 years ago you could short 2 pins on the diag socket and it would display the code on the digital display...

Of the 3 times I test drove the vehicle, the check engine light came on all 3.

Mine was the EVAP unit....part of emmisssions control computer. They replaced it, no trouble since.

I just took mine into the dealer on Friday because the CEL came on Friday morning and stayed on. Got a call and they said it was due to the gas cap not being seated correctly. I had read that in the manual and of course checked it and it seemed to be fine. Anyway, they told me that it doesn't sense it very often so it takes a while to go off.

But, I told them that I had issues with flashing oil check light and had to put 1/2 gal of oil into it. So, they're ordering me a new type oil pan and will be downloading new software into the computer.

I drove into work, shut down the car and everything was perfect. My friend asked me to drive him to the gas station about an hour later and as soon as I turned on the car the CEL was on. I just remembered that if the gas cap is lose it'll trigger the CEL. I went and checked it an sure enough it was lose. I'll post back later if this was the problem or not.

My CEL is also on. It came on after about 1700 miles. The dealer says it's a false alarm about a thermostat and he would have to wait for an update to the ECU from Mazda to correct it.

A coworker just bought an RX-8 as well, and his came on at 50 miles. The day after he drove it off the lot. :D

Originally posted by Superbone
But, I told them that I had issues with flashing oil check light and had to put 1/2 gal of oil into it. So, they're ordering me a new type oil pan and will be downloading new software into the computer.
Holy cow - 1/2 gallon?!? That's pretty damn low! ;)

Alright! 1/2 quart. You know what I meant. ;)

Damn, mine just came on. I thought I was one of the lucky ones..

2618 miles and no apparent reason. Although it did have a harder time starting than usual.. I almost thought I had a dead battery for a second there. She hesistantly cranked over after a couple seconds longer turning the key than normal.. then BAM Check Engine Light... ARRGH..

Now I'm going to the dealer this Monday.. hmm.. what a pain.

i went to my dealer last week for cel light theys said it was a losing pressure so they cleared it and took the gas cap on and put it back on. well yesterday i turned on the car boom its on again. i have appointment on tuesday.

well, it's not the oil.. just checked it, it was fine.. argh. Hope it's not too bad.. Will post back after my dealer visit.

I dont care what brand new car you buy, the CEL should not be coming on so dang soon.. sheeesh.

Originally posted by RX-Nut
well, it's not the oil.. just checked it, it was fine.. argh. Hope it's not too bad.. Will post back after my dealer visit.

I dont care what brand new car you buy, the CEL should not be coming on so dang soon.. sheeesh.

no it should not.

WTH?!.. I drop her off in the morn then later in the day they call me and tell me the Gas cap wasnt tight.

SHEEESH.. I checked that!! Made sure it was tight as could be...

That can't be!!


I wonder if Mazda programmed the ECU to do this so that they can get the car back for "some adjustment"

its a conspiracy theory

Originally posted by Superbone
I just took mine into the dealer on Friday because the CEL came on Friday morning and stayed on. Got a call and they said it was due to the gas cap not being seated correctly. I had read that in the manual and of course checked it and it seemed to be fine. Anyway, they told me that it doesn't sense it very often so it takes a while to go off.computer.

My CEL went off twice due to the gascap. The gascap does not fit properly. Had it replaced once.

Does anyone know how to reset the CEL?

you can reset it by taking negative on battery off for ten minutes then putting it back on .

I have had two CEL's for the thermostat issue (dealer replaced the thermostat the first time, even though I told him about the software update), and one Saturday that was diagnosed today as "too long at WOT".

I asked what that meant, and the foreman explained that the car (apparently) detected an extended period of time with the throttle wide open (WOT - wide open throttle) and thought it needed "looked at". He spent all day on the phone with Mazda technical support who told him to check the electronic throttle, all of the butterfly valves, etc. and if everything checked good (it did), reset the light and go on.

I attended the first and second autocrosses with it over the weekend, with two drivers - and the light came on on the way home Saturday.

Anyone else?

Know this is coming in late but my engine light also came on- mechanic replaced the thermostat and no everything is fine. He found a small piece of something stuck that kept the thermostat open. Now I am having two new sensor issues. My low tire sensor goes off and on and my little genie oil light comes on when I go above 60. I guess its back to the dealer and I still am waiting for my tags.

NO NEED TO WORRY ABOUT MIL ON, JUST TELLING YOU SOMETHING NEEDS ATTENTION, IF LIGHT IS FLASHING!, THEN YOU NEED TO STOP AND HAVE IT HAULED TO THE DEALER, FLASHING BASICALLY MEANS THAT THERE IS SOMETHING CAUSING SOME SORT OF MISFIRE WHICH COULD RESULT IN DAMAGE TO THE
CONVERTER. BIG EPA NO NO = FLASHING!