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Engine check light is coming up intermittantly

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Old 05-08-2012, 11:21 AM
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Engine check light is coming up intermittantly

Hello all,
need help. My 04 RX8 was very low on oil when i was returning home 2 days back, i somehow drove it till my house parked the car and next day went to firestone and got the oil change, (the car was jerking and not running smoothly all this while due to lack of any oil - which is understandable). since the oil refill was done, the engine check light was ON for one day but the car was running very smooth without any jerks. last 2 days the engine check light went off but today morning the engine check light came ON again and the engine started jerking too, not running smoothly. not sure what is the issue.
please help if someone has already encountered this problem earlier. (this all started because of driving with almost no oil in the engine in the first place)
Old 05-08-2012, 11:27 AM
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Get the code read and post it up.
Old 05-08-2012, 11:31 AM
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Originally Posted by AB9
Hello all,
need help. My 04 RX8 was very low on oil when i was returning home 2 days back, i somehow drove it till my house parked the car and next day went to firestone and got the oil change, (the car was jerking and not running smoothly all this while due to lack of any oil - which is understandable). since the oil refill was done, the engine check light was ON for one day but the car was running very smooth without any jerks. last 2 days the engine check light went off but today morning the engine check light came ON again and the engine started jerking too, not running smoothly. not sure what is the issue.
please help if someone has already encountered this problem earlier. (this all started because of driving with almost no oil in the engine in the first place)
Sigh.

I want to facepalm and shout "oh my god!" at the same time.

Are you aware that your engine intentionally uses oil? That there is an entire system that is rather expensive designed to deliberately inject oil into the engine?

This means that you need to stay on top of your oil level. This means CARRYING OIL WITH YOU! Even if you forgot to check it, the moment the oil light even flickered, you should have pulled over and added oil. End of story.

Running it low on oil, (or even out, god forbid) is a HUGE problem. Bearing wear, bearing failure, etc... It's entirely possible that you severely damaged your engine by not carrying oil with you and keeping it topped off with regular checks.


Get the code and post it up, but all bets are off from driving it around without oil...
Old 05-08-2012, 12:03 PM
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the bucking and jerking has almost nothing to do with oil level. it is from a bad/failing coil(s) or loose plug wires.
Old 05-08-2012, 12:04 PM
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what is "almost no oil" how much is that?
Old 05-08-2012, 12:09 PM
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Agreed Zoom, ignition is probably shot. But it's probably small potatoes at this point compared to the 'driving around with the oil light on'.
Old 05-08-2012, 12:40 PM
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i dont know he hasnt told us how long is long. it could have been a 10 minute drive home or an 8 hour drive home.
Old 05-08-2012, 04:27 PM
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That was just for 15 min without oil and not more than that. i also have one more question - how to obtain a code (defect code for engine failure) which you all are asking me to post here.
Old 05-08-2012, 05:24 PM
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what does "without oil" mean. did you check the level when the light came on?

go to a parts store or a repair place and asked them read the CEL code with a OBDii CAN Scanner
Old 05-08-2012, 05:40 PM
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15 minutes without oil? Or 15 minutes with the low oil light on?
Old 05-08-2012, 06:47 PM
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15 minutes without oil the engine was not willing to push and i was revving just to reach the firestone service centre, the guy at the service centre told me the car has no oil at all. BTW my engine oil light was ON for almost 2 months, i mean it keeps on coming on and off everytime because last time when i checked my car (for a wierd warning light whihc looks like a bird cage) the person at firestone told me the sensor is wrong and oil levels are good, so i ignored that light for almost 2 months till the car started giving trouble indicating engine check and low oil. i realised then the oil is gone and needs a refil, so i would say my worst stage driving would be not more than 15 miles. but not sure how much impact that light caused in the past 2 months i wish i knew all this before, but the other warning light gave me an impression that the sensor is malfunctioning and not the oil.
Old 05-08-2012, 06:55 PM
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you are in nashville. i have at least 3 friends in nashville. if you'd like im sure one of them will lend you a gun to put a bullet through the engine.
Old 05-08-2012, 06:56 PM
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btw thats not a birdcage. its a radiator. id tell you to get a manual and read it but its too late.
Old 05-08-2012, 07:07 PM
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LOLOLOLOLOLOL i knw what u mean sorry to frustrate u so much.
Old 05-08-2012, 07:38 PM
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Fail
Old 05-08-2012, 07:50 PM
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When you get your new car, make sure you learn how to check the oil dipstick yourself. The low oil light is only a backup warning. With the fact that the light was "broken", you should have been checking the dipstick everytime you filled up with gas.

Oil isn't just something that's nice to have, it's like blood to your engine. Level too low, and it dies.
Old 05-09-2012, 01:14 AM
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Agreed. now can someone tell me how to get the code about whats wrong with the engine?
Old 05-09-2012, 02:18 AM
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Originally Posted by AB9
Agreed. now can someone tell me how to get the code about whats wrong with the engine?
Originally Posted by zoom44
go to a parts store or a repair place and asked them read the CEL code with a OBDii CAN Scanner
Read.

Originally Posted by zoom44
you are in nashville. i have at least 3 friends in nashville. if you'd like im sure one of them will lend you a gun to put a bullet through the engine.


Ill tell you what, after you have to replace youre engine, youll never forget to check youre oil. Very expensive learning experience.
Old 05-09-2012, 01:21 PM
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Originally Posted by EricB
Read.





Ill tell you what, after you have to replace youre engine, youll never forget to check youre oil. Very expensive learning experience.
i know but i hope its not so bad, guess some small part is malfunctioning, i am a person with postive attitude when it comes to moeny :p
Old 05-09-2012, 02:21 PM
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just go to the dealer and bring a tube of Vaseline with you..they will take care of it and teach you a valuable lesson..
Old 05-09-2012, 03:36 PM
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Sure now that you made a mistake get ready to pay the price, no option.
Old 05-10-2012, 08:08 PM
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Guys finally took it to dealer, waiting for the quote will keep you posted about the details thanks a lot though for all your help and some interesting advices :p
Old 07-09-2012, 02:22 PM
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got it all done, its in perfect condition now running very smoothly, btw the culprit (for engine not pushing) was short wire and nothing to dow tih oil. i got screwed up thgh the bill was high but m very happy car is back and running like never befiore
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