Twitchy check engine light

elliott264 · Post by **elliott264** » January 8th, 2006, 9:18 pm

hi all

my mx3 has 272000km on it and I'm trying to squeeze every last km out of it before a swap/rebuild.
The engine is the 1.8 v6 and it burns a little tiny bit of oil but nothing too bad. I start it up no problem, drive for awhile and only when I'm at about 80 km/hour and up does the check engine light come on. The problem is that when I turn the car off and start it again, the check engine light is gone again. It always comes back during the same driving conditions, and always resets itself when the car is off.
So before I start paying to read codes on an engine with 272k on it, does anyone have a little knowledge to share?

Thanks for any help

mazdubber · Post by **mazdubber** » January 8th, 2006, 9:22 pm

What year is it? Don't pay someone to read the codes, unless you want to pay me.

Read this:

http://www.mx-3.com/phpbb2/viewtopic.php?t=34787

Juans_93_MX3 · Post by **Juans_93_MX3** » January 8th, 2006, 9:26 pm

Knock Sensor, same problem I have

elliott264 · Post by **elliott264** » January 9th, 2006, 4:23 pm

its a 92 gs. stock 1.8 v6. I have to pay a shop to read the codes 'cause I don't have a code reader. SLOWLY saving some cash for one but my kid is damn expensive (diapers and formula clean me out regularily).
Knock sensor? What do you know about it?
Something I should get checked or just drive 'till she blows up?

mazdubber · Post by **mazdubber** » January 9th, 2006, 4:42 pm

Dude, you don't need a code reader. Read FAQ link in my previous post. After you jump the TEN and GND in the diagnostic box with a paperclip you just turn the key to on and count the check engine light flashes.

Juans_93_MX3 · Post by **Juans_93_MX3** » January 9th, 2006, 5:28 pm

Or he can read this thread aswell
http://www.mx-3.com/phpbb2/viewtopic.ph ... highlight=

elliott264 · Post by **elliott264** » January 27th, 2006, 4:59 pm

ok...finally read the codes. here is what i got:

08 volume air sensor
10 intake air temperature sensor
16 egr system
23 rho2s inactivation error
24 rho2s inversion sensor

i'm fairly new to this forum so could someone direct me to a manual of some sort.
also, the guy that owned the car before me cut out the plastic air snorkel to make room for a cone type filter.
a hose that was attached to the filter housing had a plug on it.

elliott264 · Post by **elliott264** » January 27th, 2006, 5:06 pm

ok never mind about the manual...i found it

still need advice on where to start to correct the codes

thanks

lakersfan1 · Post by **lakersfan1** » January 27th, 2006, 5:51 pm

elliott264 wrote:ok...finally read the codes. here is what i got:

08 volume air sensor
10 intake air temperature sensor
16 egr system
23 rho2s inactivation error
24 rho2s inversion sensor

i'm fairly new to this forum so could someone direct me to a manual of some sort.
also, the guy that owned the car before me cut out the plastic air snorkel to make room for a cone type filter.
a hose that was attached to the filter housing had a plug on it.

8 and 10 are both from either a bad VAF, or it's not plugged in all the way. More often than not, it's usually the plug isn't pushed in all the way.

23 and 24 are both from a bad rear oxygen sensor.

I wouldn't worry about 16 until you fix the other codes.

FlyVFR · Post by **FlyVFR** » January 27th, 2006, 6:48 pm

I would clear out the ECU first. Some of those codes may no longer be a problem since there are no symptoms associated with them. And like lakersfan1 said fix whatever comes up again first. I bet (nothing

) the only thing that needs attention is the O2 sensors.

Tunes67 · Post by **Tunes67** » January 27th, 2006, 6:54 pm

the guy that owned the car before me cut out the plastic air snorkel to make room for a cone type filter.

Unless he hooked up the MAF and Air Temp Sensor correctly after he did this.. that would explain those codes. They might not be plugged in all the way or not connected at all.. you will need to check that one visually. And lakersfan1 has it nailed. Replace your o2 sensors and worst case scenario.. put in a stock air box and you will be back in business. Cheers

Tunes67

vozaday2000 · Post by **vozaday2000** » January 27th, 2006, 7:07 pm

without the vaf plugged in i don't think the car would run. i tried once by mistake and my car would idle, but when i touched the gas it would stall.

elliott264 · Post by **elliott264** » January 30th, 2006, 7:16 pm

ok
ecu has been cleared.
now the only code i get is 16 egr system
where should i start to correct this problem? i'm tempted to rip out the whole damn system or would the check engine light constantly "shine"?
i wish i had smaller hands to work on this car.....

elliott264 · Post by **elliott264** » January 31st, 2006, 12:26 pm

so now something new is going on. now everything is fine but when the cel comes on, the car idles up and down pretty bad (clutch in). i checked for cracks in the accordion and tightened all the connections. i'll go and buy some butane today and do the ol' leak test on the rest of the tubing and maybe that will shed some light on what the problem is. idling up and down in neutral is usually a vacuum leak isn't it?

besides this problem....not bad for a daily driver with 272,600km on it. Can't wait to swap though. these little 1.8L are pretty boring until you get the rpms up there...still though...

elliott264 · Post by **elliott264** » January 31st, 2006, 6:47 pm

no leaks. the same cel code keeps coming up: 16 egr system. idle is still going haywire but the cel doesn't have to go on before this happens. can anyone point me in the right direction? i'm a big fat noooooob
thanks

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Twitchy check engine light

Twitchy check engine light

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