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PLEASE HELP! Check engine light!

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Old Mar 6, 2008 | 01:44 PM
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PLEASE HELP! Check engine light!

I started my car two weeks ago and the yellow "check engine light" has been illuminated since that. I've had the car checked out several times now but the mechanics at mazda cant fint out wahts wrong with it. They've done a search for errors on the computer and got error on all the components. The car feels like its got 40 hp and i cant get it to rev over 5000 rpm. Has enyone else had this problem or know someone who has? Please help!

The car is stock and has done 43495 miles.

Last edited by Danni; Mar 6, 2008 at 02:00 PM.
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Old Mar 6, 2008 | 01:48 PM
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sounds like your car went into Limp mode.
You went to the dealership and they couldn't pull the code???? WHAT?! That doesnt sound right.

How far is a different dealership from you? What year? How many miles?
Any significant aftermarket parts on the car?
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Old Mar 6, 2008 | 02:01 PM
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What is Limp mode?
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Old Mar 6, 2008 | 02:03 PM
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it's a safety feature on the vehicle. Basically if the car senses something is operating out of range, it only allows the vehicle to rev to a certain rpm in an attempt to protect itself from further damage.

It's not as bad as it sounds. There's probably some code (obvious by CEL) that the car is reacting to.

It could be as simple as a clogged Catalytic converter. Where are you located?
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Old Mar 6, 2008 | 02:09 PM
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I'm located in Norway.

What do you mean by clogged catalytic converter? Lambda?
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Old Mar 6, 2008 | 02:10 PM
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do you have a DIFFERENT dealership near you that you can go to? You should have them tell you what code is causing the Check Engine Light.
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Old Mar 6, 2008 | 02:17 PM
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OK. There is a different dealer I can go to. The only thing they have told me is that they get errors on all the components. They also contacted the main dealer in Norway and they have never heard of it.
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Old Mar 6, 2008 | 02:48 PM
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impossible to have "errors on all components". It sounds like the dealership you went to didn't know what they were doing.

Go to a different dealership, explain the problem and have them tell you what codes they pulled from the car. (it's usually printed on the invoice; at least here in the US it is)
Possible things to do depending on the codes:
- Check spark plugs
- Check ignition coils
- Remove Catalytic and inspect
- COMPRESSION test! (can tell you if your engine is on it's way to Rotary heaven)

Good luck Danni! Keep us posted, we'll help in any way we can
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Old Mar 6, 2008 | 03:04 PM
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Ok. Thanks alot for your replies. This really helped . I'll try another dealer.

Regards
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Old Mar 6, 2008 | 03:48 PM
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Clogged Cat...very likely

I had a similar problem about 2 yrs ago. The check engine light would stay illuminated and I couldn't get past 4 to 5,000 rpm. They told me that nothing was wrong and it was due to using 87 octane and that I needed to keep driving until the problem fixed itself. They reminded me to always put in Premium gasoline. RIIIIGGGGHHHT!

So, when trying to merge on the interstate and was passed by a Geo Metro, I knew for certain that my car was seriously in trouble. I took it in and told them that the car was dangerous to drive and that it is unnacceptable to expect me to drive it around.

About two days later, they called and said that it looked like my catalytic converter exploded. I got my car back fully detailed and problem fixed. That is the last major problem I've had.

PS. I only use Premium fuel, just in case, and I have been premixing for the last 6,000 miles.

Good luck, keep us posted.
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Old Mar 6, 2008 | 10:02 PM
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It's hard for me to believe the dealer can't find anything.
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Old Mar 7, 2008 | 10:12 AM
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i just had this happen to me. mine ended up being a little flood that the car fixed it self but still triggered the CEL to come on. so you could have the same problem. it sounds kinda wierd but thats what the dealer told me
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Old Mar 8, 2008 | 04:42 PM
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mine came on a few weeks after i first got mine... I took it out on a old runway and played with her a lil... After i messed around driving pretty hard it went off... Guess thats all it needed, however, your problem sounds like it might need more than that???
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Old Apr 2, 2008 | 01:01 PM
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Hi all.

Thanks alot for all your replies. Some turned out to be very helpfull

I took the car to an other dealer and they gave me far better service. I told them to chech the catalyst and to do a comptest. As it turned out the catalyst was clogged and burned up. This because the engine was getting to much fuel, this caused by some leaking gascets that was leaking because of to little lubrication.

So that meant that the engine in fact was on its way to "rotary heaven".

But I'm getting a new engine and catalyst from Mazda so all is just good.

Thanks again guyes!
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Old Apr 2, 2008 | 01:15 PM
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Do not return to first dealer!
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