I was driving spirited, and I took a turn at like 45 50 mph (late at night with D.Sc. off) there were no cars at all. Well, after I got around the apex my engine light flickered and now its on. I checked the oil and it was in the middle of low and high mark. I also checked the gas cap and that a negative its not the gas cap. My whole problem is I cant take the car in till Thursday since IM in school on Tuesday 1-5 and weds 1-10. SO when I bring my car in I will also get my 12,000 miles check up.

 

Probably Misfire, it has happened to others

 

Now i know misfires are bad do u think it could have damaged the engine or the ecu just needs to be cleared

 

From what I know, a misfire happens when the sparkplugs fail to light the mixture. I don't think it does anything bad to the engine, it just pumps out unburned fuel. I believe that because of the super rich mixture in the high rpm range of US RX-8's (10:1), they are more prone to misfires, plug fouling and therefore flooding. You just need to get the ECU cleared and check your sparkplugs.

 

I had the cel light come on once during spirited playing on a huge empty parking lot (one they hold autocrosses on). It scared the heck out of me. I didn't count how many starts it was before it went off, but it wasn't until the next day and I was driving it often as I could so maybe 10-12 starts.

 

My CE light came on as I was doing 95 on the PA turnpike, acellerating to pass in 5th gear. It stopped pulling like it was at redline, but was nowhere close.. look down, flashing CE light.

Misfire code, plugs replaced. But I have no idea if they put in the "hot" plugs or not. Don't think I'd need them as I don't baby this car

 

Check this service bulletin off Rosenthal's site:

http://www.finishlineperformance.com.../01_027_03.htm

 

That service bulletin is for the oil pan replacement, which is related to the oil light coming on. These guys are talking about the check engine light (CEL), it's different.

 

Picked up my RX-8 today from the service department, after I threw my 1st CEL.

I don't know what code it gave them, but it suggested checking the O2 readings, connections to the catalytic converter, and the eccentric shaft sensor. After those showed OK, Mazda USA told them to reprogram the PCM.

 

I had a similar thing happen while driving somewhat quickly. It hit about 7000 and then just dropped right off. Thought I busted something but it went off after a few minutes and then read the manual and it said that if you are low in fuel, the check engine will occasionally come on and I was near empty. Don't know if this scenario is the same, but something to keep in mind anyways.

 

it went away for a day thanm came back when i took a turn at 30mph it went back on. Also my dealer said mazda will be comming out with another ecu reflash in a about a month, that will improve Mpg and fix the little bugs

 

My CEL came on last Friday while running some errands. I took it in to the dealer since I was pretty close and they had it most of the day (too many other cars needed the diagnostic computer). They gave me a rental Mazda 6 (cool) and I got the RX-8 back before they closed that night. The tech said they had to reflash the ECU and there was a fuel setting (I can't remember which one) which was supposed to be between 0 and 8 and mine was at 8.67 (or something) and that's what triggered the CEL. After the fix the reading was 0.2. My service mgr said that if the CEL comes on and stays on solid, don't panic. Bring the car in, but it's still OK to use it for a few days until you can schedule the appointment. If the CEL comes on and starts flashing, SHUT THE CAR OFF and have it TOWED.

 

My solid CEL was diagnosed as throwing a "CEL Code 420". After the 1st full day of the PCM reflash, there have been no other issues.

 

My light came on about 2 months ago, when I took it to the dealership, the technician told me that will be a problem with this cars since they have a computer upgrade. They upgraded the computer when I took it in and haven't got any problems since them.

RX8Power

 

eclps0,
How about a little more info on what the dealer said about an ECU re-program to "improve mpg and fix little things". Any more details, has anybody else heard this?

 

I guess that means you need a new engine :p

 

i hope i can get my car back for tommrow, for teh big meet at towers. they also said tehy cant fix my engine light since they are waiting for the new ecu reflash.

 

Mine came on at about 1,400 miles, while I was at 7K in second gear. It flashed at me and I immediately dropped it into sixth and cruised down the road. It then just went away, and has since to return in 600 miles of driving. I will be taking it in on Saturday to get it's first oil change and have them see which code it threw. I will post the findings when I have them.

 

Hi. Decided to delurk to report on my own problem with CELs. Mine came on Monday at exactly 600 miles. Took it to the dealer (Roger Beasley Mazda North here in Austin) and they replaced the evap pump. Three days later - today - the CEL came on again. Just called the service guy, who expressed puzzlement and said it threw only one code, that was for the pump, so that's all they dealt with. I'm taking it in again on Monday; maybe they'll fix it for good this time. Any suggestions as to what might be going on? I checked the gas cap - it's on tight - and all I can think of to say about what I was doing when the CELs came on was that I was accelerating - but not doing anything too outrageous. I assume they considered a misfire and checked the plugs, but maybe not. Is that the sort of thing that the computer would report?

 

I have had a chronic CEL since roughly 1200 miles now just above 4300. Dealer said it was an engine misfire code, but that the computer error log (what?) didn't post a corresponding engine misfire. Service guy also told me about the forthcoming ECU flash to resolve the problem (what was the problem again?) I am skeptical to say the least. I am going in for an oil change and another round of diagnostic on the CEL this weekend. Hopefully I will know something more definitive after that visit. I'll post anything I find out.

F_m

 

I am also interested in this information about improved mileage and lil' things

 

Mine was reflashed at my first oil change, service saying it was due on my car....though they never gave me the specifics. I would imagine that they don't even know. As a matter of fact, I'm pretty confident they have no idea what the reflash is about seeing as though they don't even know what grade oil goes in the RX-8 to begin with.

 

Scary!!

 

i have had three occasions now of my check engine light coming on, two of which have also come with the oil light flashing on as well. already had the oil pan replacement done on the first flash. the dealer told me when they were updating the program this time i was down a quart and a half of oil. i have read about the ce light coming on in other posts but are any of you having the oil problems i seem to be having or am i alone on this one?

 

they said there computer is down and cant fix my engine light but they replaced my oil pan. NOw with the breaks this is for everyone if you drive your car agressively and heat up teh rotors they will glaze and turn a blue tint. This happened to me and they have to replcae them ( NOT UNDER WARRENTY) i just passed the warrenty mark on breaks and rotors 47 miles. This is bullsh!t. i have past records complaining about this but now they say they found its the rotors. When before tehy said its normal. I just want my car back i will bitch at them tommrow. Just telling you guys dont heat up your rotors to much beacuse they wont fix them under warrenty!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!