Check Engine Light / Spark Plugs
 

I don't think this specific thing has been posted about, and I really need some advice on my situation now. So here it goes:

I bought my RX8 a few weeks ago, and the check engine light immediately came on, as well as flashed when I got on it. So I had the care taken in within a week. The mechanic said it was some vacuum thing (don't remember the exact name) and it had cracked and they fixed it. So I drove it home 4 days later, no check engine light, but the light still flashed when I really accelerated. I've been told that means I need new spark plugs, so I figured I'd just do that myself now.

However, as I was pulling out of my neighborhood, and slid my car in the rain (it's not often it rains in SoCal), and accelerated pretty hard, the check engine light flashed, as it usually does, then came on solid. And is still on.

So at this point, i'm pretty effing frustrated because I'm going to miss my car because it's going back into the shop AGAIN. Could the solid engine light be because of needing new spark plugs or coils? Or do you think there could be something else seriously wrong with it? The car is running fine, i feel like i'm getting worse gas mileage than usual, but that's probably just not being use to an RX8, haha. Sorry if this is a little vague, but any help would be nice.

by the way, it's a 2004 Mazda RX8, 47,000k miles.

Thanks

get some new coils and plugs while you're at it.

flashing cel is usually a misfire. check BHR for coils as they are better than OEM.

because I'm feeling generous, here is the thread: https://www.rx8club.com/series-i-aftermarket-performance-modifications-23/bhrs-ignition-system-offerings-145128/

Thanks man. $375 isn't bad. And this isn't stuff I need to go to a dealer to get installed right? My dad is pretty handy with cars, so I figure this is something he should be able to handle

I had the same problem a while back and changed the spark plugs because i was noticing a loss of power. That didn't fix it so I pulled out the coils and saw one pretty bad. Replaced it and it fixed my problems for a while. Then the light came back on so I replaced all the other coils and haven't had a problem since (been over two months).

Ok. Thanks so much. So the coils / spark plugs can cause a solid light as well as flashing?

Are you noticing a loss of power with your car? Like when you floor it it takes a while to give that initial shove (around 5k rpms)?

nope, it's easy to do. plugs are easy to get to if you remove your driver side front tire. you can see them from the fender well. the ignition comes with instructions. just a matter of unbolting old parts and bolting in new. it is tight quarters to work in, but doable.

Yeah it takes forever for the power to finally hit. And it's gradually been getting worse.

There is nothing wrong with your car!

Relax............

You just had a misfire.

Just reset your ECU and you will be fine.

When you drive like that in the rain its easy to make the cel light stay on.

The misfiring was opening before the rain too though. It seems to happen pretty often.

replace coils/wires and everyting should b good.....it's prob all original anywayi!

Your car is A- O- K

Car is OK but probably needs plugs, wires and coils. Maybe just 1 or 2 of those things.

High RPM misfires are common, but not normal. I've never had a misfire on my 07.

Cool. Thanks so much everyone, I'd probably die without this forum, haha. I'll keep you guys updated. :)

Replaced the plugs today. Still misfired going into 4th gear. And the check engine light is still on. Maybe it needs coils, that's next on my list. However, it's going into the shop tomorrow so they can diagnose the check engine light problem. Darnit, i'm gonna miss my baby :(

yeah misfire is going to b the coils....to save yourself money if out of warranty take it to your local autozone and read the CEL code(it's free) and it will prob say misfire on one of the rotors(maybe both) but ur best bet is going to b replace the coils and ur misfirewill most likely go away.

Oh ok. Didn't know about the Autozone thing. Frikken coils! haha. But the car drives so much nicer with new spark plugs, the power comes on so much earlier. They were defiantly due anyway.

The dealer gave my car to Mazda today. So i'm pretty happy about that, considering I'm not paying for all this fixing :)

I found out my dealer screwed me over with registration though! I'm an idiot for not looking at it and realizing it was due...dicks.

I just got a2004 RX8 and my engine light is staying on,,it seems to be running fine though,,the guy I bought it from said it might have a small hole in a line some where but is hard to find,,could this be true?

Do you have to take it to dealer to reset the ECU?

Go get the code read somewhere(usually free)..........anything else is a pure guess and I'm not making any. :wallbash:

No, you don't have to, you could do it yourself. Just get the code read first so that you know what it is. There are different ways to reset your ecu, but this is what I do, I just take out one of the battery cables and put it back.

That doesn't reset the ecu monchie :wallbash:

In one of your 7000+ posts have you said something remotely helpful?

I do it like that, and it never came back after that. Plus, why are you concern about my post count? I don't say anything about your post count or anybody else... :icon_no2: