Folks, this is my second week of owning my RX-8. The CEL came on yesterday. I got some gas and drove around 75 miles before the CEL came on. I always make sure that I tighten the gas cap, atleast 4 or 5 clicks. I checked to see if it was intact, but the slightest anti-clockwise rotation popped it open. I closed and opened the gas cap several times and noticed that the effort required to open it varies. Sometimes it feels tight but sometimes it is popping out with the slightest anti-clockwise movement. Is this normal or is there something wrong with my gas cap? I hope it is the gas cap that kicked off the CEL

Thanks in advance...

 

I cannot speak to whether you cap is defective or not but

Yes, you can get a CEL from the cap not being on tight. This has in fact happened to me. The good new is that if that truly was the case, the CEL will clear and light go out if you complete enough start/off duty cycles WITHOUT the same loose cap failure. For me this took about one and one half weeks or so. I would not worry about it in that case.

On another note, I have had a fairly persistent CEL recently that I could not attribute to anything. Then I filled up the car with about 13.2 gallons of premium instead of the 87 octane gas – the CEL soon went off < 50 miles into that tank. I think my car needs the expensive stuff (although the 87 is probably more than acceptable as many on the board have discussed)

 

if your turning it 4-5 clicks that might be to much....i always put mine on and turn it 1 click and then im done.

Get the CEL looked at, they will 'pull' the code and tell you what is causing it at autozone for free... its all OBD2 cars, so it should work on the RX8, ive used my code puller with no problems on the 8...anyway : if it is the gas cap and it seems that your making it as tight as possible, just take it to the dealer, if it is broken they shouldnt have any problem changing it out.

 

I left the car at my dealer this morning. The service guy told me that it takes half a day "to run through the flow chart and debug". I have a feeling that it might not take that long, but will give him the benefit of doubt. Will keep my fingers crossed. If this keeps happening again and again, I will get one of those ECU diag plugs pull the codes out myself. Not too excited about leaving the car at the dealer for a whole day just to diagonise the issue.

 

I had this problem before. Took it in they clear the CEL then very next day it happen again. Turned out to be a defective cap. They replaced it and no problems since.

 

Are you pushing in on the gas cap as you tighten? I had the same problem. If so, dont use any pushing pressure. just lightly twist it on. I found that this works. I felt like a moron for taking my car in because I thought mine was broken too. It was operator eror.

 

It could be other items. I had mine go off when I tried putting medium grade gas.. The other day it went off for the second time at 25k..Took it to the dealer for recall items, they did the latest re-flash which should cover the CE problem..My previous car was a Porsche 993 and you get used to having that darn thing on all the time due to carbon buildup..The dealer will diagnose the code and fix it/ reset it.

 

I had the CEL about a week ago. Took it in, got the lasted flash, too. CEL came back on last night. Gonna have to take it back in tomorrow.

Sigh.

 

Mine turned out to be the gas cap. The dealer did the fuel tank recall too when I took it in. Did they tell you why your CEL came on?

 

I was so excited to have my car back after not having it for a night, lol. I just asked them if the car's fine and ran off. The receipt says something about a PCM reflash. Somehow...I had a feeling that there was a chance it would come on again =/

Anyway, I'm at 10150-ish miles, and my warranty lasts up to 12k I think. Is it possible to get the warranty extended? Anyone know at what cost?

 

12K? All RX-8s come with 48K mile warranty.

 

is it 48k, I always thought it was 4yrs/50k.

 

I might be wrong on this one. Don't think it is less than 48K though...

 

Errr...maybe it is 4year/50k, that's how I remember it when I bought it. The receipt just says something about 1 year/12k. I'll clear it up with the dealership, thanks anyway.

 

The part that they replaced should be warranteed for 12months/12k miles. Which is not going to be a problem as the whole car will be covered longer than that. It would matter if you were very close to going out of vehicle warranty, then if the same part failed within the 12/12 time period, they would replace it for free.

Just my $.02

 

I just had a CEL, and pulled the code and found the same problem - loose gas cap. First time for me and I'm at 34K on the OD.

P0455 EVAP system leak detected (large leak) ON 2 EVAP system