sferrett

Hey folks,

My check engine light (CEL) came on today - about 40 miles into a new tank of gas. Made sure my gas cap wasn't loose etc.

Does anyone know of a way that a "normal user" such as myself can pull the check codes from the system without taking it to the dealer?

On my Jeep you can turn the key on-off-on-off-on and it puts the stored codes in the odometer part of the dash, does anyone know if there's a similar trick for Mazdas?

Just curious to know what might have thrown the code before I take it in to the dealer...

The light just came on right after I started the car to go get lunch today... it's not running any differently so hopefully it's something relatively benign.

Simon.

snap-on

With the CAN system in the Mz3,Mz6 and the Rx8 the tester has to be digital.

If the problem is not seen for 2 drive cycles it will clear itself.

No way to "self test" that I know of.

sferrett

That's the thing - the Jeep (an '01 TJ) is digital bus also, and OBD-II - the codes it puts in the ODO are text codes (eg: P0401 and "done" when it's finished cyling through) it's not just blinking some light... So I was kinda hoping with the fancy dash in the 8 that it might be able to do some similar kind of trick.

Oh well - I'll just take it in for a look-see, or if it goes out just keep it up my sleeve until next time it gets serviced. It's probably something pretty boring like evap or something like that.

Cheers,
Simon.

snap-on

When was your last update?

You may have a P0128 or a P0420 that wa fixed way back in the 29.2 update.

The 01 Jeep was CAN? don't confuse OBD-II and CAN

G8rboy

Not that it will help you right this instant, but I bought one of these last week- It's the cheapest diag tool I'd ever seen ($140):
http://www.ghg.net/dharrison/

Not only does it pull CEL's and let you clear them, it can also pull pending codes if the CEL hasn't lit yet. The real cool thing is it pulls snapshot and realtime data (RPM, Speed, Cat Temp, Coolant temp, A/F ratio, Air Flow, Air temp, etc, and dozens more) while driving, and lets you log to your laptop or palm pilot.

What sold the deal for me was the guy that builds these owns an RX8, so you know it's going to work and will be updated in a timely fashion. I had mine it 48 hours after ordering... very happy customer.

sferrett

Well I don't know if the jeep is CAN or not, but I have the TSM and it's definately some kind of single-wire digital bus type of system... (ruffling pages sounds) It doesn't mention CAN, it does mention SAE J1850 standard and that the bus runs at 10.5kB/s - so from reading a bit on it (it's quite detailed in the manual decribing the dataframes sent etc.) it's probably some custom GM protocol/system rather than CAN... It's definately a digital system though.

My '8 has the "L" calibration on it (done at 10k miles, I have 12.2k at this time) so I don't think it's one of the older false issues. It is an early build vehicle though (05/03)

Spin9k

Wow this is amazing, what I've been looking for, just ordered, this guy should be a sponsor on this site! He'd get some biz for sure! :D

mmmdowning

I'm ordering today. Thanks for the info.

sferrett

OK - so my code was P0442 - which I believe is a "small evap system leak" which probably means I didn't screw the gas cap on tight enough or something like that.

So I'm gonna ignore it (and the MIL has subsequently gone off)

The good news is now I have a CAN tool and it's got some very interesting information and datalogging which is cool.

If anyone in the San Diego region needs to pull codes etc let me know, if you don't want to buy one of these tools.

91vert

SWEET!!! Just ordered too! Can't wait to play with this.

What a handy thing this will be to have when the car gets older and goes out of warranty. Will most likely pay for itself a few years from now by saving labor costs on diagnosing problems with the car ourselves.

Omicron

Veeeeery cool indeed! But it looks like it costs $195 for the Palm... am I missing something? How did you get the Palm version for $140?

G8rboy

I don't have the Palm version... I have a dedicated laptop I keep under my passenger seat. And yes- it's a pretty slick device for the money.

rx8miami

where have you guys bought your can tools?

G8rboy

Scroll up for URL and details

snap-on

Quick question for those that have already purchased a CAN capable scanner.

My Snap-on 2500 will indentify the update and calibration level as outlined in the "L" and "M" TSB..

When I request the calibration level it shows the same reading as the WDS at the dealer. The 6th digit is "M" Similar to page 4 of the bulletin.

Please post all ye with scan tools.

This screen should come up directly after the boot-up and communication is established..

zoom44

and don't forget, all of you who have scan tools, when you do pull the code with your new scanner you can check the list(thanks to a freind of mine) to see what the code is for.

r0tor

iTrader: (1)

there is some strange cryptic diagnostic mode you can get into if you fiddle with the odometer reset button and the key position... i've done it once but could make heads or tails out of it so i forgot how to do it. The post is somewhere on here on how to do it.

sferrett

If you hold the trip reset in when you turn the key on, and hold it in for a couple of seconds the dash goes into test mode. I don't think it's doing anything funny with the ecu, it's more of a test of the dash and gauges on the dash. AFAICT, the test is strictly to do with the stuff the dashboard cares about and is not an ECU test mode...

snap-on

That is strictly the digital instrument cluster(DIC) info.

The Pcm Cal level will be a Diagnostic connector function (Via the PCM)

The DIC is a CAN module but it is not the PCM.

I really just wanted the members with scanners to check the menu's on their equipment to tell if they can check their update level.

91vert

DAMN!! Just got my CanSCAN today, but I dropped my car off at the dealership after work to have the new brake pads put on it tomorrow.

I can't play with it until tomorrow evening.

I'll let you know tomorrow whether it shows the update level or not.

G8rboy

This particular tool does not, at least not with the software it came with. I'm going to contact the developer of the tool- since he has an RX8, I'm sure it won't be a big deal for him to find out how to retrieve the calibration level.

snap-on

Thanks for the feedback guys..I think you know where I'm going with this..

sferrett

The website also has protocol documentation for sending queries, etc. directly into the CAN system so feasibly you could also write your own frontend to the system for displaying and querying stuff independent of the software that is shipped with it.

snap-on

The chassis for my old snap-on 2500 was released in the 80's. Every year you had to determine which update "cartridges" you wanted to buy. It got real pricey after 10 yrs of buying and seldom using the cartridges you purchased.
This year they released a CAN cartridge update and I bought it. It can be used on all standard and CAN vehicles also.
I know if the old tech in this thing will tell me the update level. You tech-heads can do it with the new systems.

G8rboy

The developer of my scan tool just replied to me- he said he can add PCM calibration data once he knows what address to query. He also looking at adding other RX8 specific features, including mileage calculations.