shanedowork

i have a 2005 and for some reason my check engine light has been popping on and off for the past month, i have ckecked all my fluids and all looks well anyone have a clue to what it may be or has also experienced this problem thanks.

Gr8Bullet

iTrader: (5)

Could be the gas cap... Make sure it's tight.

Krazed_Rx8

iTrader: (5)

A little more info would help, when exactly does it happen?

shanedowork

it happens randomly its popped on like 3 times in the past month, it seems to only stay on for like a day then is off when i start up my car the following day

jskup1

iTrader: (7)

What code is it?

jorifc

i had an '05 RX8 and had that issue of the check engine light popping on and off. I checked and tightened the gas cap. Light came on again. I finally took it to the dealer and found that there was carbon build up in the engine and had it cleaned under warranty. Find out what the fault code is and have it checked out.

Old Rotor

Get the code read. Some auto parts store will read it for you. Call around...Please give us the history on your car. The service it's had parts replaced. Did you do all four coils , wires and plugs? Type of driving it gets(long commutes, short trip), fuel used(reg or prem), ever flooded. Just any thing that you can add.

greg985

lol @ "checking all the fluids" for a CEL

We need more info

Jon316G

iTrader: (1)

+1
Places like AutoZone will read it for free and some even give you a printout of the code and what it is.
So get the code and post it.

Tweek

Could it have anything to do with the catalytic converter? the guys at the mazda dealer told me if its starting to go bad the check engine light might come on every so often.

Jon316G

iTrader: (1)

Could be... but without knowing the code we'll just be throwing darts at a board.
Bad spark plugs (or anything in the ignition system) can result in a bad cat.
Again... more detail on the issue is needed.

shanedowork

fixed it, mass airflow censor was a little loose, thanks for the info everyone didnt know that i could get the code read at autozone, prob saved me a lot of cash just fixen it myself

Old Rotor

It is important to get a good seal on that "O" rig.

PaPaBear

Mine just came on my 2008 with 12,486 miles. The gas cap was loose. I tightened it and the light remains on. Everything else is okay and runs normal???

shanedowork

do what i did, go to an auto store have them read the fault code then that tells you whats wrong

PaPaBear

Thank you.

ken-x8

FYI - if it's the gas cap, the CEL will come on as soon as you start the car. The vacuum leak codes are the only ones that do that. That's a really useful clue.

If the condition that caused the CEL is corrected (e.g., it was the gas cap and you tightened it) it will take a few drive cycles for the code to clear and the light to go off. So you get no useful feedback if it was something simple that you corrected.

Ken

BTS89

my check engine light goes on and off as well. the dealership told me it was carbon build up and i might need a new converter for the exhaust. from what they told me it cost around a grand.

laythor

it's always nice when a dealership gives your their "best guess" for what a CEL is caused by.

dozer

iTrader: (3)

^does it flash? if it does that means youre having misfires (new coils and plugs, will get rid of that), your cat should be covered up to 80k miles and the dealership should replace it for free

PaPaBear

Thanks for the advice. Everything is fine but the light persists. I am under warranty and will take it to Ocean Mazda if it persist. Leaving on a trip tomorrow to the cold country and will address the problem when I return.

PaPaBear

The code must have cleared as the check engine light went off when I just went out to lunch. Must have been the loose gas cap.
Thank you,