97 Degrees - Engine light came on - Read on please
 

Hey there guys & gals

In Southern NJ today ...... it hit almost 97 degrees in the shade and while driving I noticed the 'check engine light had come on'. I pulled over and after a quick investigation discovered that the oil was low.

I put some oil in the car {I keep some in the trunk at all times} to the right level.

BUT!! ........... The check engine light is still on. What's the deal?????

1024 miles on it ...... 07 AT.

Any help will be appreciated.

How many times have you checked the oil since you owned the car? You should check the dipstick every other fillup. As for the CEL disconnect the BATT for 5 minutes and see if it comes back. If it does go to a dealer.

I think that's bad advice Expo. Low oil causes an oil light not an engine light. Don't try to erase the code. Go to the dealer and have them pull it and fix it right.

I've been very aware of the oil consumption of the engine, thanks to reading this forum. And I have added oil at least three times since I brought it. {That's also, why I always carry two quarts in the trunk}

I would like to get a few more chime-in's before I take the disconnect battery route.

Thanks

Logically, I would agree with what you're saying. And as a matter of fact the oil light never came on. So, I'm clueless about what group of issue would cause the engine light to come on.

Thanks Guys

P.S. I just checked the car and took it for a quick spin and the engine light was out. .................. So, I'll just keep my eye on it to see if it happens again.

I go along with savedsol - read the code, don't just make it go away and hope it does not come back. New car, under warranty, why guess and/or putz around yourself? You'll get a free loaner if they need to keep it for a while, so it's not even inconvenient to go to the dealer.

Ken

My check engine light is on now...Unfortunately, the dealers around me are booked solid until next week.

is it? I might be wrong, but I was under the impression that by resetting it, if the problem went away, that the light stays off. But if the problem still exists then the light would come back on. Was this what you were thinking expo?

Yes, the starter of the thread did not indicate there was any performance problems with his 8. If it was running badly I would have said to take it to the dealer. I strongly believe one should avoid going to a dealer if you don't really have to. If his car was running fine and he reset the CEL for it never to come back problem solved.

The person has WARRANTY. Mazda will fix whats wrong with the car. If not at least the problem will have been documented for future reference when he goes back for the same problem.
If you have warranty USE IT.

Drop the car off, tell them you are worried about driving the car with the light on. If they say it's OK to drive, then have them put it in writing. If you leave the car with the dealership, you have a loaner.

For someone on their fourth engine your faith in Mazda and their techs is admirable. I have more faith in my own abilities, maybe that is one reason my original engine will hit 100,000 miles in two weeks.

Reasonable perspective, depending on the available dealer(s), but IMHO he should at least find out what the code is.

Ken

Exactly. Plus, as many have discovered, documentation is key.

Code readers are cheap and useful. Get the cheapy orange Actron. AutoZone. Then post up the code (or search for it here; there is a full list.) Bet it is 0301 or 0302.

I have faith in Mazda, not in Williams Technologies (Re-Man company). Basically what I am trying to say is to have some documentation on this issue. It helps to cover any future problems you might have. That way if you have any problems down the road you can revert back to the prior issue and the record of it.
And tell the dealer that "Hey, it has done this before".

And Expo, I'm glad to see that you are going to make it to the 100,000 mile club.
Congratulations.

I would like to add that the various engine replacements were done for different reasons and not all of them were directly related to engine damage or defect.

That's one reason I love this forum ................. A wealth of knowledge.

I called the dealer and will still have it looked at, even though the light has gone off. Better to be safe than sorry, plus the dealer is providing a loaner any time I have to leave the car ..... Part of my package deal.

Thanks much guys.

spend the $150 and get a scangauge2. Mount it in your car and use it to read and reset CELs. It will also tell you mpg, intake air temp, coolant temp, ignition timing, etc.

a temporary cel is probably nothing to be concerned about--but do get it checked as you intend to do. Some auto stores will hook up a scanner and tell you what it was for free. Could be anything.
If the car is running normally--probably nothing.
i run in 97 degree days alll the time (but I do have a manual).
olddragger

Oh one hint---run your a/c and turn the fan on to at least 3/4---that activates the radiator fans no matter what the coolant temps are(engine is warmed up of course). It can help.
olddragger

It might just be a "post engine break-in light". I recall my new 07 got a CEL after around 1000 miles. Probably something they put in to make sure it's all good. Then again who knows

I noticed that fact on that very same day. Normally I hate running the AC, {I rather have the windows down} So, now ehen it that hot I will periodically run the AC just to help cool the engine.

Interesting, this is the first time I've heard & or read anything like this and I did just brake the 1K mark.

Any other information\documentation on this ???

Thanks guys

yeah, it's BS.

Mazda made most of our gauges idiot gauges because they do not want people reporting issues that aren't really issues. Making a CEL come on for no reason would be idiotic.

therhe is no "break in CEL" thats completely false.

you probably got the CEl for small evap leak. which means gas cap not on tight. you live in Jersey where there is no self serve. so that means someone else pumps your gas and is responsible for tightening your gas cap. did you recently get gas?

Nah - they don't do that.

I did get a CEL at around 5000 miles. It was P0455, and Zoomy is in the S/N range for the gas cap thing. Knowing what it was, I reset it in comfort, and had them do the recall at the next oil change.

Would have been a pain if I had not read the code, and did not know (from this forum) what the deal was. Knowledge replaces ignorance.

Ken