zerobio

Guys, I will search as well as post this but I need help fast because I am supposed to hit the highway tomorrow to visit family ...

I was in the right lane behind some traffic and ahead was a huge puddle which I couldn't avoid. A pile of water hit the front of my car and into the engine and intake, I'm sure. Yellow light in the shape of the engine has come on. Car still drives but feels sluggish. There wasn't a chance to avoid the water and now I'm freaking out because I'm supposed to go out of town tomorrow and of course, all dealers are closed for the next few days.

Please give me some advice as to how serious this is. The car is in my garage (not heated, but sheltered at least) with the hood up. I am not mechanical and can't remove any parts to dry them or inspect. Is there any chance that the water will just evaporate or magically disappear over time. Have I done serious damage? Oh man, I'm so depressed. I've only got 4500 km on it and this is the first bad luck. But how bad?

Please flame me if you want for not searching, I'm about to do that, but I really need to call in a favour of compassion and community ... any positive words (or just the hard truth) will be so appreciated.

~ Elliott (zerobio)

DarkBrew

Holy crap that SUCKS!!

First thing to do is to pull the codes causing the CEL (check engine light)
You'll have to find someone with a code scanner (they are not specific to the RX-8 or even to Mazda)
Once you get the code we'll be able to help you pinpoint the trouble.

Footman

iTrader: (2)

You have the CAI just like I do, don't you have the sock on? Water shouldn't go in if you did.

zerobio

Footman, I don't know if I have the sock on. Would it be visible from the outside?

DarkBrew, I don't know if I should have but I just went for a small drive. Drives fine, power feels fine, idle fine, just the light still on. Do you think there's any chance I could make the drive (London to Ottawa) if I take it easy, stop often, and once I get there, I can go to the dealer where I actually bought the car ... but that'd be in a couple days?

CTrx8

iTrader: (2)

are there any autozones in CA? if so, they'll pull the code for you for free. then you just need to figure out what that CEL means because i'm not sure how much info it gives you.

GODFATHER

you can try to take the plugs out and disconnect the fuel lines and turn it over a bit but not sure if it will work because the exhaust ports are not in the rotor housing like the rx7 they are in the side so it might not work

swoope

iTrader: (5)

ok!

beers

New Yorker

This prob won't help much, but I've read that the 'steady' CEL isn't nearly as bad as the 'blinking' CEL. If it's not blinking, I'd probably chance driving it if it were mine. Good luck.

DarkBrew

The easy answer is, if it drives fine then it's okay to drive it.
BUT you really need to get the codes to know for sure so Monday morning you should stop at a shop to get the codes pulled.

GODFATHER

to bad you live all the way in canada because i have a scanner here. but if you go somewhere and get the code i have a list of rx8 - specific codes i can tell you what it is

zerobio

Thanks for the advice. I took it out for a small drive and it all feels fine, power ok, idle ok, not rough but CEL on. I wish I had some of your skills because I really can't do any of this on my own. Don't know if I should chance a highway trip before knowing what the CEL is, mazda isn't open until Thursday. Would it be best to postpone my trip until I definitely know what the CEL is or take it easy and do the trip to Ottawa and see a dealer there. Once again, the car drives fine and other than the CEL, all *seems* ok.

Thanks a lot!

zerobio

^ DarkBrew, I was kind of thinking this too. I would definitely get the code checked in Ottawa ASAP. It does drive fine, starts fine, all seems okay but the CEL.

zerobio

^ Thanks Speedy. What I'd give now to have some of you guys around. Still, really appreciate the feedback everyone.

GODFATHER

do you have an autozone or local parts store in your area?

zerobio

Yes, New Yorker, it is steady light. Thanks pal.

zerobio

Might have an autozone, not sure. Everything is closed up for a few days. First open day would be Thursday. Crap!

DarkBrew

When are you coming through Mississauga? I have a Scan Gauge and could read your code for you....

gabeparx8

I wouldn't worry about it if it's a steady light. I recently had my engine replaced due to a faulty seal. When I picked it up, the Engine light (same one as yours) came on, in steady mode. I called the service manager and he said that this would likely go out on its own, and if the car was running ok, then I should be fine. Turns out that he was right. The car drove fine, the light went out, and have several thousand on it since then with no problems.

GODFATHER

well its only the 23 autozone should be open but your in canada and they do things weird up there but they can check the code... if you get the number send me a pm and i'll tell you what it is

zerobio

Man, I'm almost tempted to try that. I REALLY appreciate the offer. You suggested getting one of those gauges a while a go in a PM but I never looked into it. Just in case, are you around anytime tonight or anytime tomorrow? I'm sure you're pretty busy so I understand if you're not available.

zerobio

Thanks gabeparx8, appreciate it.

Footman

iTrader: (2)

Zerobio,

If you never touched the car when you got it, chances are the sock is still on. The sock prevents water from going into the intake.

I bet what you got is a P0103 or similar code which reads that the intake has had some abnormal MAF reading. When that water hit your car front, good chance a sheet of water temporarily covered your intake filter, which impeded airflow. Your engine will throw a code if it senses a huge drop in air for the MAF.

3 weeks ago, I was out driving at night, and I felt like flooring the car in 2nd gear down a straight. I got a CEL code thrown at me, I took it to the dealer and it was the P0103 code which was for "too much air". That night, it was -10, so I figure air was really dense, and it was night time too, so oxygen levels higher and all.. plus the speed of the car accelerating, there was a huge influx of fresh oxygen.

Take it to a dealer to get the code checked soon, if it drives fine, the code might clear itself after 24 hours.

DarkBrew

PM sent

zerobio

Ok guys, I'm going for another drive and lunch with my ex. I will write back with results of this drive.

I really appreciate your help.

turok4n64

I hope this gets all worked out for you.

Sometimes my CEL comes on for no reason, just go to autozone, have them read the code, and then have them erase the code. I know if there's truly a problem if the code comes back on