Test drive - CEL after loss of traction?
 

Hi. I am looking at finally getting an RX-8, found an apparently well taken care of Blue 04 6-speed with 14,000 miles and went for a test drive. All was well until I was heading back to the dealership and decided to really give it some gas. I did not realize how cold it was out,in regards to driving on the stock summer performance tires in January in MA, and when I shifted into 2nd I got a ton of wheel hop from the back which took me by surprise, so I shifted into 3rd, with the RPM's coming in around 5-6K and still got a ton a wheel hop, finally letting off all the way. Well, the check engine light came on for about 15-20 seconds and the car would not rev. After that the light went off and it appeared to rev ok in 2nd, but I could not try 3rd due to traffic. I felt like a complete jackass for not thinking about the tires being hard....that wheel hop felt horrible.

So my question is, basically, do you think I hurt anything with the tranny or the engine? I thought that maybe because off the loss of traction at high RPM the engine could not really tell what was going on and put itself into safe mode for a little bit to protect itself, then when everything was calmed down, went back to normal with no damage. Does that sound right? What about all the wheel hop? Do you think that might have messed anything up? It scared the crap out of me and felt really bad....

Sorry the questions, I felt this car was one that I really wanted to get, I just feel like an ass after this situation and don't want to have hurt the car any. I have not posted on here really at all, as I have been driving WRX's for the past couple of years after my RX-7 blew an engine( no really....I know it is hard to believe, but it's true :rolleyes: ). I have been missing the rotary ever since....

Are you sure it was the CEL, and not the TCS/ASM light? (that would also override the throttle/apply some braking to keep you from killing yourself)

I highly doubt you hurt anything, but now you know, that summer tires Suck in the cold.

was probably the knock sensor.... high revs + car sitting with some crappy gas in the cold weather.

if it was the light in the center of the cluster inside the tach, thats ur DSC light tellin u the wheels r spinnin... if they spin and that light comes on that means the computer doesnt care what throttle opening u want, its applying brakes, cutting fuel, closing the throttle etc.



if it really was the check engine light, it doesnt sound strange, think about it....

its at a dealer so maybe it sits a little bit, prolly has lower octane fuel, the plugs r prolly partially fouled from bein moved about the lot and such, given the fact that u began to really open it up, it prolly started to misfire from all the carbon trying to break loose inside the engine. when u revved it up high.

its not a strange idea, i drove an 8 once that someone had just bought froma used car lot and they worshipped the thing, i test drove and once i ran it past 7k or so the check eninge light started flashin, it would resist to rev and it was blowin dark smoke out the exhaust.


once u beat it a little bit more the carbon breaks free and burns out, thats the exhaust smell/ smoke. hopefully its not WHITE smoke out the exhaust and a lack of power....but u get what i mean......

afterwards i pulled the plugs and they were BLACK. its from not bein revved up high, the person babied it too much and it nevevr saw past 3k. the car ran like shit, literally because the owner didnt abuse it.....and that wasnt the first time i saw it, and it wasnt the last time either........

Definately not the TCS/ASM, it was the little amber/yellow engine picture....Going to go back at the end of the week to drive it again and work through some numbers, if it is still there....we will see how it drives then.

sounds like car was not warmed up all the way and ecu went into the limp mode..

beers :beer:

I don't know, I made sure to drive it around for like ten minutes after letting it warm up before trying to get on it on my way back to the dealership.

Might want to try to find another 8 that's similar, or try and get that one for a steal. I'd be wary of buying into a car that was throwing a CEL (or exhibiting any other signs of "bad behavior") on the test drive.

Remember, one of the worst things you can do when buying a car is to let your excitement override your better judgment. If it bothered you enough to make a forum post about it, I'd be slowing things down and talking to them about putting you in an equivalent car. Ask for a dealer trade, perhaps?

If the light went out right away it was probably the traction control light when that kicks in it controls engine rpm and torque to prevent wheel spin.

You can't rev the 8 above 5k rpm before it's warmed up adequatey. You will get a CELL and limp mode. ECU regulated. Says so somewhere in the manual if I recall correctly. Low oil will also cause the same problem warmed up or not.

Thanks for help guys. I'm still looking around at cars, wanting to make a move before the end of January. I would definately like to be back in a rotary powered car - there is just no substitute!

Not correct.

As far as the initial post, it does sound like TCS/DSC light and not a CEL. Wheel hop can hurt the car but probably not after one time. Dont sweat that. If it DID throw a cel and go into limp mode, I would steer away from this one (no pun intended).