A few weeks ago, my mother managed to flood our 8 while we were away on vacation because she moved the car out of the garage to get something out and put it right back in and shut it off. When I got home, it took me and a couple of friends several hours of trying things to get the car restarted. After we got it started, it ran really rough for a little while but seemed to smooth out after driving it around a bit. About the time it smoothed out, the check engine light came on so I stopped into an auto parts store and got them to scan for the code. The code was for a "random cylinder misfire". We cleared the code and continued to drive the car and it seems to be running great ever since all of this happened. However, since all of that happened, my daughter reports that the CEL comes on now and then but she doesn't notice anything different in how the car runs/feels. The CEL wasn't on this weekend but I stopped into the store to see if they would scan for codes again. But they told me there would be no code if the CEL isn't on at the time.

My first question is - is that true that the CEL has to be on to get a report on any codes that have been thrown?

Second, is it likely that it just keeps getting an intermittent misfire and throwing a code because the plugs got a little fouled during the whole flood/restart scenario?

If so, can someone tell me about changing plugs in these cars? Where are the plugs, how many are there, and how hard are they to get to?

 

go to autozone and get the code pulled. without code we just guessing.
I think probably a dying cat since thats what flooding kills.

and you been here more than a year, you should know how to search about how to change plugs right?

 

I went to get the code pulled and they said they couldn't get a code unless the CEL is actually on at the time, which it currently is not. The primary reason for my post was to ask if this is actually true or is there a way to pull history and the dude at Advance Auto is just clueless?

Yes, I know how to search. And then I know how to spend forever weeding through the search results to actually find what I'm looking for. By all means, let me do that and not bother anyone to ask how many plugs the engine takes or where to even lay my eyes on them.

 

well if theres no light = no problem dont worry about it.

it only took me 5 secs to find it.
https://www.rx8club.com/showthread.p...ght=sparkplugs

 

Jason, I'm covered on the plug question - I found a DIY, thanks. I just threw that in at the end of my post while I was at it.

Back to the CEL question - so all I can really do is catch the CEL when it is on and stop in somewhere and get the code pulled then, right? And, I know we're just guessing, but your guess is the CAT and not the plugs?

 

well theoretically theres code stored in the ECU, but I doubt the guy at autozone would do it if the light is not on.

usually a sparkplug problem is flashing CEL light at high rpm indicating misfires.

 

Where in eastern nc? I'm in cary and have a PC that will read "stored codes" if you're near by.

 

Thanks - I'm actually a couple of hours away from Cary.

 

Probably not the best idea then .

 

unless the code has been cleared, it is still there whether the cel light is on or not. I work at an auto parts store. If the car was flooded, I recommend changing the plugs and oil. All that gas went somewhere. Had to go into the oil.

 

there are soft cels and hard cels. soft cels store a code but dont turn on the cel light. hard cels light the cel and store a code. if it goes off itself the code may still be theer- if you reset the cel the codes will be cleared.

doesnt matter really- if the plugs are fouled causing more misfires you'll get another light if the cat is going out because of the flooding , you'll get another light have it read then

oh- clean your plugs

 

most will be swept out of the chamber by the rotors and sent on to the cat