buying 2010 r3 but engine light is on
 

Hey im new to the forms im in the prosses of getting an rx8 r3. Drove the car it was perfect however i notice the chekc engine light was on. Dealer said it is due to a custum exhaust what are your thoughts on this.
thanks for your feed back I really am looking foward to becoming a RX owner

Does it have a custom exhaust on it? Is the factory cat converter gone? If so, then yes it will have a CEL. If not then you want to get the code read to see what it is.

Take a code reader with next time - if it's 'because of custom exhaust' it prolly has no cat, an expensive-to-fix problem.

If it's at a Mazda dealer, tell em you want a cat fitted as part of the deal (retail is $2000+!)

Custom exhaust my ass!

thanks ill let them know and ill let you guys know the results

It must not be a California dealer, since the seller is required to get the car to pass a smog test before selling it.

Bring a code reader next time. Even if the light is off, make sure that all the test cycles have completed. They could clear the codes to make the light go off, without fixing anything. The light would come back on at some later time when the test cycle is finished. If it's at a dealer I would insist that they fix it unless you're getting a screaming deal.

If you're getting a screaming deal, have an independent mechanic who knows rotary engines inspect it...

There are LOTS of R3s at dealers around southern California. More than there are Sports, apparently. There's even a dealer in San Diego advertising a Sport which is actually an R3...for around the book value of a Sport. Assuming it's still there.

I believe that is a Federal law.

Dealer must sell the car with a working catalytic converter if it came with one from the factory.

Must not be a credible dealer if cars are being sold like that.

Make sure you get that compression test....

With that dealer's example so far, I'd be worried.

OP, where are you located?

its a mazda dealer in AZ but im from California the car only has 11xxx miles

When I test drove an s2 the cel was on and the dealer said it was due to them putting cheap gas in. I dont know if that would trigger a cel though.

Def get a code reader. if it doesnt have a cat then make sure they get a oem mazda rx8 cat. Generic cats only last a few thousand miles.

There are quite a few solid owners in AZ, including BHR, one of our most reputable vendors.

I'd seriously recommend that if you have a concern regarding it, leverage some local help to check over the car and make sure you aren't getting scammed on anything, and everything is as it should be.

I wouldn't say LOTS - unless you're talking independent dealers. Even then, there's not many. I've been scouring cars.com, autotrader, and dealership web sites to find an R3 in the greater L.A. area.

Did see one for sale a little while back in N. San Diego County.

OC Mazda in Tustin is selling former Mazda corporate RX-8 GT's - but asking more than R3 prices.

Why would anyone even consider a reasonably new model car that has a CEL lit up in the first place?

BC.

Love at first sight? Lust? ...there are a lot of reasons.

Like when you meet a hot girl at the bar with daddy issues. You want to take her home but know she has problems. :lol:

I am concidering it because I was abel to make a good deal because of it but if its not the exhaust and sothing elss then i wont get it. Thanks for the info this is so helpful.

^^^^^^ and yes I fell in love with it at first sight haha

This part is redundant.

Although the reason is entirely accurate.

Bummer. In April/early May, there were probably 4 of them with low miles for sale in the area. One was a blue one with 3,xxx miles in Santa Clarita.

It looks like all those are gone. There's a red one in Santa Barbara.

Which dealership is it. I've been to all of them.

Have had mine for just over a year with no problems at all.
Just make them fix everything 1st or walk away

Check out autotrader.com. Its at Perry Ford Mazda. Only 3 hours from me... :dammit:

Oh I thought he said it was at a dealer in AZ...

Oops. Sorry - I thought your post was in response to my off-topic post about R3's in SoCal. The car the OP is looking at is in AZ, though I'm not sure where.

Im from cali but the car is in AZ ive been looking around for a good deal and so far the R3 from Az is wininng I called the dealr for the code# but they said they will give me the full info on Monday

What is the dealerships name...