Uh oh, check Engine light came on!

Raevik · 02-16-2004, 06:24 PM

Well, I didn't make it to the 600 miles. I tried to be good, I really did.

I made it to 300. (By the way, I got 19.5 mpg on that first tank)

I went out driving on a country rode and got on it, hit about 8000 rpm for a couple seconds. As I was backing off of it, my check engine light came on!!

It flickered on and flashed at me for about 5-10 seconds, then went away.

I didn't see a tech service bulletin addressing this.....anyone know what's going on?

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Elara · 02-16-2004, 07:02 PM

make sure your gas cap is on tight.

winter · 02-16-2004, 07:03 PM

Mine did the same thing a couple of times. Took it to the dealership, they couldn't pull any codes. My gas cap was tight.

Raevik · 02-16-2004, 07:14 PM

Well, as I said, I've only got 300 miles on the car. I took it to the dealer as they are putting on my spoiler that I ordered.

I mentioned to the sales rep that I had the CEL flash at me while accelerating. I watched him write a note on it....here's to hoping the message is conveyed to the Mazda techs...

I told the rep that I think I likely threw a misfire code, perhaps on the 87 octane I'm running (he personally recommended I use 87 in the winter months).

Hope the techs find the problem is small.

Monique · 02-16-2004, 07:19 PM

did u check to see if u fall into the "oil pan replacement" category? i hear it makes your engine light come on. i read about it on a thread here. (thank god for rx8club.com). luckily because i brought my 8 in for her first oil change today. i asked them to check my vin to see if it needed replacing... sure enough it did. Soooo... now my baby is sleeping at some shop instead of her garage and im driving a rental. i was so upset, but then i met the service guy (the only one that works on the rx8's at don ducote mazda) his name is david and he was VERY knowledgable and didnt mind me hanging out in the shop! i wanted to meet him so i could ask what oil they use to see if he'd say 5W20 (read about dealerships using the wrong oil on here too). he sure did. they were all helpful, knowledgable & understanding. anyway, i know im rambling on but i miss my 8!!

but really Llathos, check to see if the vin on your car is one of those that calls for the updated oil pan replacement. no one contacted me, if i would not have read about it on here and asked at the dealership i would have never known!

-monique

Raevik · 02-17-2004, 09:52 AM

Gas cap was on tight, and the oil pan service bulletin is related to the low oil light coming on when it's not low due to an oil pan seal failing, I believe.

The CEL is not related, if I understand correctly. Most people I've seen discussing it on rx8club have reported they had a misfire code...

Hmm...

khoney · 02-17-2004, 10:56 PM

I've had 6 CELs in 1500 miles. They turn off after about 5 restarts. The first one I cleared myself. When it came on again I took it to the dealer and they pulled a P0420 code (CATALYTIC INEFFICIENCY). THey cleared it and retested it, and found no problems. Well, since then, it has come on 4 times. I don't have the time to run to the dealer every time this happens. If it ain't flashing, I don't worry about it. However, I will have them check it out more thoroughly when I go in for the recall service.

Roaddemon · 02-18-2004, 08:32 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Llathos
Well, as I said, I've only got 300 miles on the car. I took it to the dealer as they are putting on my spoiler that I ordered.

I mentioned to the sales rep that I had the CEL flash at me while accelerating. I watched him write a note on it....here's to hoping the message is conveyed to the Mazda techs...

I told the rep that I think I likely threw a misfire code, perhaps on the 87 octane I'm running (he personally recommended I use 87 in the winter months).

Hope the techs find the problem is small.

According to the MY Mazda web site under car tips, they recommend the lowest octane of the approved octane range for the rx8. The owner's manual recommends 87 to 93 octane. So 87 octane is the fuel I burn. No problems. The car is actually more responsive. Mileage is the same.

family_man · 02-18-2004, 12:22 PM

I had chronic CEL problems and the code was always misfire, until I simply started running to 3500 rpm and then shutting the engine off. My situation was always at startup and never set the CEL while driving. I use this shut down procedure and I haven't seen a CEL in 3+ weeks (which is the first time I've gone this long without one since I've owned the car)

F_M

heartygrain · 02-18-2004, 03:32 PM

my rx8 is in the shop now with a steady check engine light problem at 3000 miles. they just told me they think the catalytic is blown and asked me what kind of gas i use. i've always used 93 octane...doesn't seem like any 87-93 grade gas should ruin the catalytic after 3K.

Raevik · 02-18-2004, 04:33 PM

Well, my man Dave Martin (see my thread 'Whats up DAVE MARTIN') has my RX-8 in the shop right now for the CEL.

He said he's going to flash the PCM and put in hotter plugs. Hope that takes care of it.

khoney · 02-18-2004, 08:43 PM

Took my car in today for the CEL and to see about the recall fixes. They verified additional P0420 codes and were finally able to obtain the reflash code. They said they will try that and will test it tomorrow, but I may need a new cat as well. They wanted to keep it overnight.

Raevik · 02-19-2004, 09:27 AM

Turns out it was a different code. Something-or-other shaft timing card thing error. Yeah.

I got a PCM reprogramming

heartygrain · 02-19-2004, 12:14 PM

that's what i needed as well. pcm reprogram. no cat replacement after all. getting it back today. w00t.

khoney · 02-19-2004, 11:42 PM

Got mine back today. They did the reflash and took care of both recall issues. I noticed that the KAM was not reset. Isn't that necessary after a reflash to 'relearn'?