Check Engine Light
 

I have 850 miles on my RX-8 and I went to lunch today and the CEL came on when I started it. I called my friend that works for Mazda Service and asked him if hes had any in there. He said not yet but there are a couple of factory recalls on them. And the CEL is one of them. Has this happened to anyone else?






2004 Mazda RX-8
Lighting Yellow GT

thought there was another thread concerning that. someone didn't completely put the gas cap on or something, so the CEL activated and it takes 10 power cycles of the ignition (with the gas cap properly seated) to reset the CEL. It could always be something else of course, but I would check the gas cap and the 10 "reboots" to see if it clears before you inquire about factory recalls.

just my 2 cents..


ps: did he happen to tell you what the other factory recalls were for?

I did reseal the gas cap but didn't retry ten times. Just did it twice, didn't know about the ten times thing. And he was pretty busy so he didn't get into detail. I can find out and let you know though.

I read in this thread at nopistons.com ...
http://www.nopistons.com/forums/inde...howtopic=23358

...that the recalls/problems were the check engine light, a problem with the "evap system" and that there's a problem with the dual oil cooler lines leaking oil.

Have no idea how accurate this info is, but he was right on with the engine light issue.

Here's that thread concerning resetting the CEL:

http://www.rx8forum.com/showthread.p...&highlight=CEL

CEL
 

Hey thanks guys. I got an appointment Friday.LOL. just like the other thread. It will probably go off but I'm still gonna bring it in and see what those recall issues are. It runs great anyways so I'm not that worried. Plus with 100,000 mile worried who has to worry. I'll see what they say and let you guys know.

Add me in too, My check engine light came on at 940miles. I was about to stall on a hill when I reved a bit more than I should have to get it in gear, the CEL threw on right after that --- I hope it is just the same problem that others have experienced. I have turned it on twice since then, I will do it 8 more times and then drop it off at the dealership if it does not work.

After over 10 restarts, I still have the trouble, I will get it looked at the week I get back from vacation . . . anyone out there got it totally fixed and know exactlly what is the deal with this then?

CEL
 

Ok first of all there are no recalls on the RX-8 yet. Or they don't know about any at the dealership I went to. My friend was misinformed. My CEL code gave back a "Misfire" It happened one time and I was not moving when it happened. I didn't know the codes got so detailed. The tech reset the code and said its runs fine. He said what might have happened is that while before starting the car my foot could have hit the gas before I started it causing a misfire. I don't think I did that but I do have size 12 canoes so maybe. I have notice sometimes at a stop light my foot accidently hits the gas, so maybe. Well thats all I have about the CEL. Could you guys let me know what yours turns out to be.

Just to throw in some more tech info, there are cyl (rotor?) specific codes and a random misfire code. The OBDII generic misfire are P3XX where the XX is the cyl # and P300 is random if I remember this right. Anyway, the misfire CEL being on will reset if you do 2 driving cycles with the same conditions of rpm and load and no misfire happens.

just got my check light on and not even 700 miles on it..whats going on with the -relibility- issue? i am taking it in since there are so many cases..

This is really weird, the TSX had the same problem with their initial release. The check engine light kept coming on after a few hundred miles. They were commenting about another car was displaying the same problem (can't remember the badge).

Is this an issue where the CEL come on at the slightest problem? Then in that case why don't they use the display screen (the one that says Mazda when you turn it on) to display what is wrong instead of just turning on the idiot light? That way the driver could be told "Pull over immediately", "Please check your fuel cap" or "Take your car to the dealer at the first opportunity".

Ok now I'm getting mad. Everything was fine since Friday. This morning I started up the car to go to work and it sounded horrible on startup. Kinda like it was missing or something. The CEL started flashing! So I got nervous and turned it off. Then I restarted it and everything sounded fine. Back to normal but the CEL is back on. WTF. Anyone else find anything out on there cars.

Shawn, the flashing CEL is for a serious engine / cat-con problem. In this case misfire and raw gas going down the cat-con. The spark plug unfouled itself and then the engine ran fine on restart. Be sure to mention to the dealer the CEL was flashing. If they check codes and tell you to just keep driving it, try some safe mountain or hill climbing driving with the revs up to 6 or 7K in 2nd or 3rd gear. This is better than just continous high speed highway driving for unfouling plugs. Also try another gas brand. For example, Shell uses a friction reducing additive that may not have been tested in Mazda wankels for plug fouling.

Hey thanks for the info I appreciate it. I am gonna try and bring it to the dealer tomorrow morning. I'll tell them it was flashing too. I havn't used Shell gas in it yet. I've been going to 76. I'll post what the dealer says this time. Guess I need to go back to the dealer anyways to pick up the shock sensor.

Shawn.....I would be worried about the explanation you got the first time you brought your RX8 in for service. Your CEL came on due to a "Misfire".....your tech told you "you might of accidently had your foot on the gas before you started it" I'm no Mazda tech ...BUT that sound like the biggest load of crap from person not willing to get to the root of the problem.
First of all you can't flood the engine by simply pressing the gas before startup. Not only is the throttle controlled by the ECU via your "Variable Input Device" (gas pedal), but all of this is non mechanical. Even a standard "cable" throttle in a fuel injected car wont flood prior to start up because the injectors are controlled by the computer.
I say that didnt happen. I do say you have a fouled plug....but not from what the "tech" said. Besides, it cleared...and then came back. You have a slightly more involved problem. Maybe a bad O2 sensor is calling for a super rich mixture on "closed loop" cold starts.....its a thought. Let us know.

Ok just got off the phone with the dealer. They are replacing the spark plugs on my car. And get this they wont be there till tomorrw. I thought they would at least stock common parts like that. Anyways the tech was asking what gas station I go to and what octane I was putting in. I don't get it I put premium gas in it, I thinks its 91 or 92 octane I'm not sure. And its union 76 gas. I thought that was a good gas station. But I can tell you I've now seen the CEL more in my RX-8 than I ever did in my FD.

well, as you know rotary plugs aren't "common", and the RX-8 ones are new. yeah, they SHOULD have them (being a dealer, the one i presume sold you your car), but i wouldn't say "common".

it was he gas
 

well my CEL just turned off, it was the gas cap. I didn't tight it enouth i guess. Well i tried to tighten up the gas top after reading the owners manual and when i talked to the tech's hey told me to let it pass 3-4 cicles for the ecu to see that there is no leak and reset the cel itself, and so it happened today. It is off so it was the was top.. but i still have the appointment, so i go still just in case?

I'm glad your went off. Wish mine was the gas cap. I don't know if you should take it in or not. You could go in and have them hook it up just to make sure the code was the gas cap. They replaced my spark plugs today and everything is fine. But it only misfired 3 times and it was all on cold starts so I will see tomorrow morning. Got my shock sensor today so that was good news. Thanks for everyones imput.

how about a SEPARATE light for the gas cap being loose?

gas cap loose = check engine!

what next? left door ajar = check engine!

wish they made more use of the LCD display in the center console - it could really have been designed to give some information concerning the health of the vehicle.

All the CEL's due to the gas cap.........My question is what do you have to do wrong....tighten fully? The cap really won't let you get it tight at all if anyones noticed. I also have a bad habit of letting the car idle while refueling......no CEL here. Those of you who had the CEL from the gas cap......was it just not torqued fully?

how many clicks does it take to get to the tootsie roll center of a tootsie pop?

2 clicks, that's what I've been doing and I have probably filled my tank 20 times already.

with no CEL interference.

as long as u turn the cap and let it click about three times u should be fine. you're bound to get a CEL if u continue to refuel while the car is running. it'll detect an evaporative system leak someday.

My car is at the dealer getting the CEL looked at. So far these are the explanations others have gotten:

1. Thermostat sticks open
2. EVAP Unit needs replacement
3. Dual Oil Cooler leaking oil
4. O2 Sensor
5. Fouled Spark Plug
6. Gas Cap too loose
7. Filling gas with car running.

I will let you know what is wrong with mine later today.