i have a 2005 and for some reason my check engine light has been popping on and off for the past month, i have ckecked all my fluids and all looks well anyone have a clue to what it may be or has also experienced this problem thanks.

 

Could be the gas cap... Make sure it's tight.

 

A little more info would help, when exactly does it happen?

 

it happens randomly its popped on like 3 times in the past month, it seems to only stay on for like a day then is off when i start up my car the following day

 

What code is it?

 

i had an '05 RX8 and had that issue of the check engine light popping on and off. I checked and tightened the gas cap. Light came on again. I finally took it to the dealer and found that there was carbon build up in the engine and had it cleaned under warranty. Find out what the fault code is and have it checked out.

 

Get the code read. Some auto parts store will read it for you. Call around...Please give us the history on your car. The service it's had parts replaced. Did you do all four coils , wires and plugs? Type of driving it gets(long commutes, short trip), fuel used(reg or prem), ever flooded. Just any thing that you can add.

 

lol @ "checking all the fluids" for a CEL

We need more info

 

+1
Places like AutoZone will read it for free and some even give you a printout of the code and what it is.
So get the code and post it.

 

Could it have anything to do with the catalytic converter? the guys at the mazda dealer told me if its starting to go bad the check engine light might come on every so often.

 

Could be... but without knowing the code we'll just be throwing darts at a board.
Bad spark plugs (or anything in the ignition system) can result in a bad cat.
Again... more detail on the issue is needed.

 

fixed it, mass airflow censor was a little loose, thanks for the info everyone didnt know that i could get the code read at autozone, prob saved me a lot of cash just fixen it myself

 

It is important to get a good seal on that "O" rig.

 

Mine just came on my 2008 with 12,486 miles. The gas cap was loose. I tightened it and the light remains on. Everything else is okay and runs normal???

 

do what i did, go to an auto store have them read the fault code then that tells you whats wrong

 

Thank you.

 

FYI - if it's the gas cap, the CEL will come on as soon as you start the car. The vacuum leak codes are the only ones that do that. That's a really useful clue.

If the condition that caused the CEL is corrected (e.g., it was the gas cap and you tightened it) it will take a few drive cycles for the code to clear and the light to go off. So you get no useful feedback if it was something simple that you corrected.

Ken

 

my check engine light goes on and off as well. the dealership told me it was carbon build up and i might need a new converter for the exhaust. from what they told me it cost around a grand.

 

it's always nice when a dealership gives your their "best guess" for what a CEL is caused by.

 

^does it flash? if it does that means youre having misfires (new coils and plugs, will get rid of that), your cat should be covered up to 80k miles and the dealership should replace it for free

 

Thanks for the advice. Everything is fine but the light persists. I am under warranty and will take it to Ocean Mazda if it persist. Leaving on a trip tomorrow to the cold country and will address the problem when I return.

 

The code must have cleared as the check engine light went off when I just went out to lunch. Must have been the loose gas cap.
Thank you,