Hi and HELP! My RX8 is 3 months old and I've had it into the dealer twice with another trip coming because the engine light keeps coming on -- steady, not blinking. In July they checked it & replaced the purge valve. The August "visit" revealed the gas cap was not on tight (I take exception to that because I'm **** and do the 5-click method) so now they're talking about replacing the cap. Trip #3 will take place next Saturday. It's unnerving but I'd be grateful for any advice. Thanks!

 

Thats not that bad. I got my engine replaced

 

Check engine light came on for me too a month ago. Same thing, gas cap. They said it was tight but it was just not keeping a good seal. They replaced it and the problem went away. Now the check engine light blinks off and on for about 5 minutes on occaisonal hard pulls to redline. Thank God this car is under warranty!

 

Seems like you have the same type of service as my dealership, the old clear it twice and replace it on the third try deal. I had a CEL that kept coming on, minor evap leak. They cleared it it came on again and was the same code. Again cleared. Each time they said it was due to gas cap not tight (like we don't know how to put one on). Third time in they said it was a evap leak (not minor), replaced the cap and no CELs since. BTW, under warranty it was replaced free but the paper work said it is a $43 part, you can get an aftermarket cap at Pep Boys for less than $15 something to keep in mind when out of warranty.

 

Hi, just resently purchased a rx 8 2004. Getting rid of a straus because of CEL problem...but guess somethings will follow you, nw have mazda with CEL light on. I to was told that it was the result of gas cap not being on tight. proble was correct and two day later the light was back on... can't be gas cap problem, none added sent cleared. This car came with aftermarket cap.. they have ordered new cap I hope this clears the problem.

 

HI, was the results of trip number three?

 

What was the fault code?

 

that is misfire and has nothing to do with your earlier CEL

 

some of the caps have leaked right thru where the cord attaches. and yes many people actually have loose caps. its not wrong of them to try tightening the cap first- its proper procedure.

 

Was the problem ever fixed? I have a similar problem on an '04. They replaced the purge valve, and the light came back on less than 100 miles later. I am taking the car back, just curious whether they found what your problem was.

 

did you get gas between the purge valve replacement and the CEL? was the CEL on when you started the car or shortly after? or while you were driving? did you get the code for this CEL?

 

For me, the purge valve was replaced at the time of the 4206 recall. They filled the car with gas and I did not get gas before the CEL came back. I checked the gas cap after the CEL came on and it seemed to be on OK.

The CEL came on while driving, pulling into a parking lot.

I do not have the code for this. Do not know how to pull code myself. The code listed on the workpapers when they did the purge valve was P0456. It said the purge control selenoid was intermittently sticking open so they replaced it. Thanks for any input.

 

its not the gas cap- the gas cap would throw the CEL when you started the car or within a minute or so. the test is done when you shut the car off. if it fails it stores the code and lights the CEL the next time you start. since yours turned on in the middle of the drive its going to be something else

 

Thanks. I was able to get the car in to the dealer today. Same code. They replaced the gas cap. I was barely off the dealer's lot when the light came on again. Took it back and the service advisor said a hose had come off the purge valve (I think). When they put it back on, it did not feel on tight, so they replaced the hose. So far so good, no more CEL today. I am wondering if the hose not being on tight could cause the CEL to come on while driving. Hope this has fixed it.

 

absolutely - i was going to suggest that something was not tightened properly after th epurge replacement. they didnt need to replace the cap i bet.

 

Bet you are riight. Forgot to say, the notes also said to tell the customer not to top off when filling the gas tank. Not sure what that was about.

 

they are saying once the nozzle clicks off stop because there may be some fuel going into the evap system by topping off which could lead to more damage and replacement of more parts.

 

haha i have the same problem wit the CEL. i had dealerships check it out at least 3 times. Each time for me has been "loose gas cap". They did some fixes forgot what and replaced my gas cap. But the CEL came back again! Let me know if you figure out how to fix it. I'll do the same.

 

To cut a long story short; I'm very frustrated with Mazda and their stance on telling me this is "user error in the way you are using the gas peddle".

The longer version;
I've had it in about 8 times since I bought the car 2nd hand in April.
11K miles on the clock. 2005 model.
Check Engine light comes on in 3rd on high RPMs.
Mazda say its when I come off the gas and go straight back on it again. For example I've noticed it when I double de-clutch.
They say there isn't a problem in the engine. Rather a problem with the computer.
Yet said they can't fix it... But claim they won't do anything about it.
I have a meeting with Mazda next week to try drive some resolution. I plan on writing to them as well.

I'm very frustrated... right now it seems like Mazda are saying "tough cookies" as if this is OK for a virtualy new car.

 

OK - So I had the meeting

The dealership have tried everything to fix this, replacing a dozen components. The tech guy, Brett, for Nor-Cal is claiming something about the computer not being able to keep up with me when I'm "on and off the gas". e.g. Double declutching. P.S> I work in computers, computers were invented because they can work/calculate many many times faster than humans. Unless there is a PROBLEM, this is BS.

Well after a good long day of driving ~300 miles I had the CEL come on in 4th I believe, at about 6k rev, going smooth, not much load.

Whatever the argument in this case, its a sports car. The manual say "buzz it". I'm not whacking the crap out of it when it happens. I have a few times, whacked it that is, but the problem doesn't even happen then!

It seems like various arguments are being used with us on this issue. Computer faults, injectors, gas caps... and a few others called out in this thread. Ultimately I think there is something seriously flawed in this car, either with a sensor or the computer.

FYI This is a P300 error - Rotor Missfire

Have you seen fight club? Where the car company decides to do a recall only if the cost of litigation due to death etc. out weighs the cost of doing the recall? I suspect a similar case as far as this is concerned. It is in frequent enough for it to be solved by a few visits to dealerships... or so they think. My car does it more frequently as time moves on. This could be a compounding problem. And might be put off long enough to get everyone through the warranty period...

I've had the CEL come on about 12 times in 6 months. Its got 11,600 miles on the clock now. That is not appropriate. And I have to take it in EVERY TIME the CEL comes on, otherwise I'll void my warranty... if I unplug the battery to reset the code and some other mysterious problem tripped the CEL then the engine might even end up dying.

Right now I've told Mazda I want a FAIR solution to this. But a car that cost the best part of $34K new (inc. tax et al)... well I should be compensated fairly, and not ripped off with $20k in our pocket after all this crap, 1/4 the time without the car we are paying for (As its in the shop)!

Other postings included the following info you can use to complain to Mazda about this. I'd recommend we start doing so to shake up Mazda and either get them to fix the problem or compensate us... and the former for those people who want to buy 8's moving forwards.

mazdavisitors@mazdausa.com
jbarnes5@mazdausa.com

Mazda North American Operations
P.O. Box 19734
Irvine, CA 92623-9734
ATTN: Jim O'Sullivan

Jim phone: 949-727-6844

Brian Colliani "responsible for trying to improve your Dealership experince"

His boss is the VP Jay Amestoy

As for me, I'm just trying to work with Mazda on a fair way to get the hell out of my car. I have loved the 8 but that love has gone now... its too much hassle and costs me too much to spend 1/4 of my time in a rental car.

 

i dont know what they are telling you- but misfire happens sometimes. there are many different reasons for it and most of the time its just a glitch that there is no fix for 'casue nothing is really wrong. you get alight for it because too many misfires can effect the emissions systems. chronic misfire can be caused by - fouled plugs, bad coils , bad wires, dirty hall sensor. dirty wire connectors etc etc.

 

How long will the check engine light stay on, after you have retightened the gas cap? I filled up Wednesday morning the 15th, and the light came on a few hours later. I checked the cap, and I hadn't tightened it correctly. The light is still on, will it take some time to correct itself?

Thanks.

 

Several drive cycles. Just drive it and the light will eventually go off if that was the problem.

 

well last month I purchased a 04 Rx-8 and just this morning the check engine light came on as soon as I turned the ignition. I got out of the car and retightened the gas cap hoping that this might solve my problem. Well it didn't, so I drove the car for about a 7 mile stretch going about 45 mph and I didn't notice any odd noises or any other thing different with the car. I turned the car off and let it sit for a few minutes so that I could check the oil level. I took out the dipstick and the oil level was just a little bit between the halfway mark. I decided to add 1/4 of oil to the engine. As soon as I did add the oil I went back to turn on the car and the check engine light was gone. --oh and before I added the oil I made sure to check the oil gauge in the instrument panel and it was marking between half and full. Could the light have been on because the car needed oil?

 

Quick update; Mazda are doing a buy back. I'm fed up. Dealer fed up with dealing with me, and same reset every time...

Gonna get into a 2007 Mazdaspeed 6 I think... grow up a little... something a little more utilitarian would be good ;-) If I can get over the clutch concerns... to be honest it feels similar to the 8 with clutch release.