Check engine light
 

Test drove a 2005 MT RX-8 today. I really enjoyed it and am very close to pulling the trigger. However, I was a bit discouraged to see the Check Engine light when I started the car! The saleslady said that it was a result of the car not having been started in a while.

Clearly, the dealer will take care of it, but that's not much of a confidence builder to have the car taken into the shop before it's left the lot.

Anyone think this should be reason for concern?

BTW - the dealer's internet department is offering $5000 below invoice. Apparently, this is a Mazda incentive until the end of the month.

Who knows...we would have to see the error code. But that is disconcerting. If it bothers you so much, then get another one they have instead.

As part of the normal diagnostics the PCM performs for emissions purposes, The RX-8(and otehr vehicles) perform an Evaporative Systems pressure check everytime you shut the car off. Basically this test is looking for pressure changes that could mean fuel vapor is leaking from the car. If the test fails then the next time the car is started the CEL will light. the most common cause for failing the test is a gas cap that has not been tightened properly. Second would be an actually bad sealing gas cap and third is an actual leak in the lines somewhere in the fuel system.

I would never be bothered by the CEL or concerned about the car. Turn the cap a few clicks. If the cel goes off after a couple more drive cycles then you're golden. If it doesnt then its a different issue and the code should be checked. If it goes away and comes back without refueling in between then its probably a leaky gas cap.

I would not be concerned about the CEL being on either. They will fix the problem. You also have an awesome warranty with this car so if it isn't fixed right away it will be eventually. My check engine light came on right after I bought my 8. It turned out to be a bad selenoid. Two hours in the shop and I was back on the road. Mazda is really good with their service. At least from my experience anyways.

I have had a CEL for awhile. Im taking it in tomorrow. :(

$5000 below invoice??? Hell, I'll go buy one if that's the case :lol:

mazda people need to get their shit together. seriously. everytime i log onto this forum there's always a flood, warped rotors, CELs, poor MPG or some other shit. Thankfully I have yet to experience a flood or CEL (knock on wood)

Why does everyone think that Mazda and this car are so horrible just because people have problems with their car? There are problems with EVERY manufacturer and EVERY vehicle. We don't hear about them because we don't frequent websites that talk about them. If you don't want to hear about the problems, then quit visiting the forum and live in your bubble.

AND flooding is the nature of the rotary engine and CELs are used to notify the driver that something may be wrong. Wouldn't you rather be told ahead of time that something may be wrong instead of getting stranded in the middle of no where with a broken car and no clue what to do because you didn't know there was a problem to begin with?

^^^
Thank you, very good points.

The reason this forum may at times make Mazda and this car look bad is because rarely do people come on to praise something. No one comes on here and says:
"I just took my RX-8 to XYZ Mazda and they did the oil change and brake pad TSB perfectly. Wow, I just love Mazda."
But when the dealer overfills the oil, or doesn't fix the brake pads issue, then all hell brakes loose and the venting is done on here.

Why do people just test drive cars see this kind of stuff that can be easily fixed then stumble across these forums and ask questions on it? I don't get it.
You should do your home work on the car before your purchase. And use the dam search button if your looking for info on your soon to be new purchase and not just decide to purchase a car then find out its not reliable for your needs or its falling a part. I knew the rotor got hot as hell and burned gas and use oil like TP but I made the decision to purchase on many factors not just one.

just to clarify...flooding is the nature of internal combustion engines. rotary engines are unique from piston engines only in the fact that they don't have any path for the excess fuel to eventually leak out of the engine through. in piston engines, this is down through the motor and into the oil. flooded a piston engine? let it sit for a while, and then try to crank it. if it starts up, let it run for a few mintues, then change the oil. doesn't start up? let it sit a while longer.

with the rotary engine, the fuel has no place to go, so it will sit there until it is manually flushed out.

and going to a different post, warped rotors is not a problem that i've heard about on this car. i think that person is confusing his cars :mdrmed:

and car forums are going to make any car seem worse than it is, because the members are either enthusiasts, or someone that had a problem (at least initially), so any problem is going to be blown out of proportion. its the nature of the beast. accept it for what it is, and understand that is overblown, or just stop reading the forums. it will be like that for any car manufactured out there.

wow...i kind of got on a soap box there. sorry. :hahano:

[QUOTE=Red Devil]^^^
No one comes on here and says:
"I just took my RX-8 to XYZ Mazda and they did the oil change and brake pad TSB perfectly. Wow, I just love Mazda."
QUOTE]

I just took my RX-8 to Brown's Alexandria Mazda and they did the oil change perfectly. I didn't need the brake pad TSB - or any other TSB for that matter. I have had ZERO problems with this car. Even the mileage is in the EPA ballpark.

look at it this way too, you can buy the car and enjoy and if there are lemon laws where you live you can give it back if they can't fix it. 5000 off of invoice is something you can't pass up.

!!!!!!!!

DARCARS of Silver Spring, Md says $4,000 below invoice or 0% financing (must be pocketing the extra grand).

Sold!

Picked it up this weekend. '05 GT 6MT in Winning Blue. The price was ultimately only (lol) $4000 below invoice. There was an additional $1000 incentive if one financed through Mazda credit. That incentive expired on March 31; I bought on April 1 :(

No worries. I couldn't be happier with the car. Thanks to everyone on the site for all the great posts. I was able to find answers to just about every question I had.

Now I just have to keep reminding myself to keep the RPMs down while breaking in the engine!

If anyone's interested, I'm happy to post the exact dollar amounts.

help yourself finding a lot of posts here which gives good directions (better than your dealer will) to do a good breaking in for the car.....