Hey I'm a new 8 owner and new to the site it's GREAT! But I have a problem I got my 8 three weeks ago and the day after I got it I got a cel. I took in to see what the problem was they said I needed a new cataletic converter. once it was replaced the cel went away. The next morning it came back on. Both times it came on right in the morning when I started the car, so I think it has something to do with car being cold or something. any insights?

 

Secondary AIR system fault?
(It only operates when the car is cold).

It would help if we knew what the trouble code is. You'll have to take it to a dealer to find that out.

 

Take it to your dealer. It's free

 

Same thing happened to me at 4 weeks - "unstable coolant temperature" - It's okay now, but I had to pilot a rental car for a couple days, which Hertz charged to my Mastercard ($178.00 for two friggin' days - give me a break!) Said they knew Mazda was gonna pay the rental but they needed the card number in case of "damages". I'll show 'em damages. We'll see what happens when I refuse the charges......

 

cel code please

 

I had a cold start that caused the CEL to come on. They told me it had something to do with the air pump during cold starting. Like in smog pump? I am still waiting for the shop receipt and hopefully it will say what the CEL code was. They had to reflash the computer which was the first time for that. The car has a July 04 production date on the drivers door. Since last week the CEL has stayed off so far.

 

The secondary air pump pumps air into the exhaust manifolds to combust with unburnt fuel and rapidly heat up the catalytic converter (only when the engine is cold). If it is not working, or the desired effect (better catalytic converter performance) is not detected by the Powertrain Control Module, an error code will be set.

 

They Told Me It Could Be The Secondary Air Pump. I Have Taken It In Two Times Now, I Told Them If You Changed The Converter And That Was Not The Problem Then Change Out The Air Pump. They Told Me That All The Test Show That It Works Fine. They Have Been On The Phone With The Engineers At Mazda Because The Code That My Car Gave They Have Never Seen Before. They Have To Mail Me The Work Order So I Don't Have The Code Yet.

 

There is a new flash available for the PCM that was just released:

https://www.rx8club.com/series-i-trouble-shooting-95/new-flash-available-50321/

Read the above post and then contact the dealer to arrange a flash. Make sure he updates his WDS to the version/level mentioned in that thread before he attempts a reflash. That may correct the CEL you are getting.

 

I was just going to say, that's kinda scary they don't recognize the code but Go48 may have just nailed it!

 

I just got my first check engine light after getting in the car to go home for the day last night.

We've just gone from below freezing weather to >5 degrees above freezing, getting in the car, I fired it up, and the CEL was on right away. It was not on when I stopped the car in the morning getting to work. I drove it home, seemed fine, then this morning, stopped for gas on the way to work, and the gascap was very loose. Fueled up, gas cap tightened, light still on. Will book appt with Service department today.

 

If It Was Your Gas Cap That Gave You The Cel It Might Take A Few Days For The
Light To Shut Off

 

it takes something like 30 duty cycles without the problem re-occuring for the light to go off. cancel the appointment unless you are just want to make sure of the code.

 

Oh that's good info... so starting and shutting off the car 30 times will clear the CEL if it was the gas cap? Obviously I wouldn't go out and do that, but I figure I'll have done that 6 times by the time I get home tonight.