RX8 - 2003 - 231 - Check Engine Light
 

Hello Everyone,

New to the forum but hoping for someone to cast some light onto my problem.

Around 1 week ago i started the car and the check engine light came on! I tried to resetting of fault by doing the brake pedal and holding reset trip meter thing.. Also tried disconnecting the battery for 20mins (which did clear it but only for 20miles)

Anyway... I've had the car to the dealers and they have read the code and cleared it down saying they are unable to find a fault...

20 miles later the check engine light is on again so next day the dealer has it again....

Cleared down and they advised some sort of problem with the ecu unit itself and this will cost around £1600 to repair!!

Light is back on again this morning so phoned up the dealer and it's booked back in for the 2nd January for them to check the air flow and maybe replace some air control vale at a cost of £400 - £500....

I'm just wondering if theirs anything i can do to make the cost of this cheaper? i.e get a new air flow thing myself or resolve the cel light myself? Can i get a second hand ecu and get it programmed anywhere?

Thanks Guys

Get the code read and let us know (code will be like Pxxxx).
Could be anything from misfires to the gas cap.
Most automotive places (like Autozone) will read the code for free.
Or ask the dealer what the code was.

Oh... your Mazda service invoice might have the code on it (if the Techs bothered to include it in their documentation).

I tend to get a solid CEL with my car depending on the type of gas I use that points to the bank 2 O2 sensor reading too hot. Replaced the sensor to test it and it wasn't the sensor, it's just something to do with what's coming from my exhaust.

I know that may not be your problem, and I'm not condoning not worrying about CEL's, but with this car I've noticed the ECU can be picky about what it wants to see, and sometimes it's not worth the massive stroke you almost have worrying about it (and obviously reading above, I know that from experience).

I'd drive it around a little bit more before I committed to paying money for a fix and see if it goes off on it's own. Autzone will read it for free and will clear it, and sometimes it'll come back immediately even if it's a non-issue and sometimes it won't, but their readers will say what the actual code means as well, so that can give you some insight into what the real problem is and perhaps relief as well.

P0410 - Secondary Air Injection System Malfunction
 

The reported error message is P0410 which according to the mazda workshop manual is a air flow issue and this is why the dealer is saying it's either the Secondary Air Solenoid Valve or the ECU....

I've connected it to another diagnostic system and the returned code was
P0410 - Secondary Air Injection System Malfunction (CM $1)
P0410 - Secondary Air Injection System Malfunction (CM $1) - Pending

Is this the same thing as the Mass Air Flow Sensor which can be purchased for around £100 or something completly seperate?

Thanks Again and merry christmas to everyone

This is an error with you Secondary air injection....IE the Air Pump...not the MAF

The car checks the Front o2 sensor when the air pump is running and it should read leaner...if it doesn't it says there is something wrong.

First thing to check is....is the pump coming on...if not..check the relay, fuse and the solenoid. If the Pump is coming on...are there any other CEL's about the front O2 sensor??

if they are all OK..it could be the ECU.....( less likely) This isn't anything but an emissions CEL...so don't worry about it....

Thanks for the reply...

Without sounding too stupid I really don't have much idea of how to do perform these checks....

So we can safely say that the front o2 sensor is working?

You say i need to check the air pump, relay, fuse and solenoid... Have you got any easy and basic steps for how to do this?

If all these checks are okay and it does point to the ECU then what are my options? Get a new ECU, get it repaired somewhere or get a second hand one?

Thanks

The car has to be cold.....If it is..the air pump should run when the car starts.

It is on the drivers side on your car (UK) by the strut top. It should sound a bit like a hair dryer....if it doesn't work...check the fuse, and the relay...fuse is easy..check and see if it is broken. Relay...swap it with another one...and see if it works then.

You can check the air pump itself by connecting it to 12V power supply and see if it works.

The solenoid is a bit more difficult to check...but if the pump works..and the fuse and relay are \ok..then you can play with that. If it is OK..then you are left with the trigger from the \ECU. You should be able to get a used one...but it will have to be programmed at the dealer with as built data for it to work

Okay,

I'll give some of these inspections a check in the morning when the car is cold.

Do you know which fuse i need to take out and which relay to remove and swap it with? Also which number relay is it?
I'm still not on how to test the air pump properly.

If none of this works i'll have to look into either replacing the air pump or ECU. Can i buy an air pump second hand? i've looked everywhere just in case but i'm struggling...

Many Thanks for your time

air pump and ECU are both expensive... :( I would check the cheap things first...wiring, fuses etc. Check the air pump connector and see if it has a connection as well....

If you have a couple of wires you can use the battery and try and jump the air pump to test it

Fuse and Relay's are marked in the lid of the fuse box...I 'm afraid that I can't help you much on that cause I think your fuse box is different a bit than ours.

If you have a multimeter you can check and see if there is power to the fuse and relay, and power out...and you can check power to the solenoid as well...that should rule out the \ecu trigger signal. You might want to find a buddy with one if you don't have one...otherwise you are stuck with the dealer "techs" ;)

I've had a check around what i think is the air pump for the wiring etc...

Also checked the fuse and relay and they seem okay...

Haven't really got anyone else i can ask and i'm useless with a multimeter :icon_no2:

Still getting the error code and engine light coming on dash :Eyecrazy: Have you got anymore basic steps for what i might be able to do to fix my problem?

Where can I buy an air pump from? I cannot find a part number or anywhere that sells them...

I'm afraid it will be hard to help you unless you can use the multimeter....or make a jumper wire from the battery to the air pump to see if it works.

I don't mind helping if you want to PM me ........

I am currently working through some diagnostic checks on PM with dannobre but i'm just throwing out this next question.

I have the CEL light on because of error P0410 - Secondary Air Injection System Malfunction and was wondering if changing the air pump will solve this problem or do i just need to change the secondary air pump system?

If so how easy for a newbie are these to change.... do i need to both or one...

Thanks Guys

Would an issue like this be covered under emissions warranty (80k miles in the US,) or only under general powertrain?

I have my check engine light going off as well and when i took it to autozone to read the light it was the secondary air pump system.. I am not car literate as well but love the rx-8 and need to know if its easy to repair, expensive ect..

Post moved to it's own thread: https://www.rx8club.com/new-member-f...-p0172-249855/