What do you guys do? Dealer or other shop?

[discharmingman]

I'm a busy guy and I don't work on cars, so I'm wondering what guys in similar shoes do when their "check engine" light goes on like mine did today.

I don't want to pay the $85 dollar inspection so they can come back and tell me it's missing a bolt somewhere.

Last time I took my car in for an oil change, they came back and asked me if I wanted to change the boot (which meant replacing the entire front left axle), because it was broken. I saw, and indeed, it was. So I approved and it turns out they ran into trouble and had to replace more parts....etc. In the end I ended up paying $1080 for what was originally supposed to be an oil change.

I just want to know if you guys take your cars to the dealer or if you know of any reliable Mazda specialist or any reliable, knowlegable shop that can check and work on my 07 speed3 (70K miles) in the Southern California area. I reside in Whittier, CA and am willing to travel a 15 mile radius.

Any help would be appreciated. Thanks,

In the meantime, is it ok to continue driving with my "check engine" light on?

 

[mndsm]

Welp, your car threw a code. All the CEL means is that the car thinks there is something wrong. First thing I would do is take it down to an Autozone or something (I have no idea what they have in CA) and get them to read it for you. Should read it for free. That will tell you what you need to do, and you can proceed accordingly.

 

[boostfreak]

Welp, your car threw a code. All the CEL means is that the car thinks there is something wrong. First thing I would do is take it down to an Autozone or something (I have no idea what they have in CA) and get them to read it for you. Should read it for free. That will tell you what you need to do, and you can proceed accordingly.

i agree 100% with him.

 

[discharmingman]

Thanks guys. I will do that and report back.

 

[bykeryder4life]

+1 read the code at autozone for free, check to make sure your gas cap is tight too-that throws a cel. If the car feels and looks normal under the hood/motor, all fluids are there, and theres no strange behavior or sounds, idle is at proper level, disconnect the battery for a little bit then plug it back in and start the motor, see if the cel comes back....

 

[discharmingman]

Well, I went to Autozone and they don't do CEL checks anymore because it was ruining business for dealers. BS!

So I had to buy the unit they used before: actron pocketscan CP9125.

It's the cheapest model, but it does the job.

One thing though, before I begin. It talks about I/M Monitor Status and MIL Status. Which should I be interested in?

 

[Darth Vader]

MIL = CEL...Malfunction Indicator Light

 

[discharmingman]

Ok, I checked it and according to the manual the device came with, it says that this is an EVAP Emmission Control System Leak (Large).

I received 2 codes: PO455 code & PO455 (pending code)

So is this major trouble?

 

[MS3 GT]

Ok, I checked it and according to the manual the device came with, it says that this is an EVAP Emmission Control System Leak (Large).

I received 2 codes: PO455 code & PO455 (pending code)

So is this major trouble?

it could be ur fuel cap isnt tight or a bad canister, these would not cost u much. do not take it to stealership if u not under warranty.

 

[discharmingman]

I checked my fuel cap and that's on pretty tight. Bad canister? I'm sorry, but where would that be located? And I am NOT under warranty, so I'm definitely not taking it there. Is that all it really could be?

Standing by.

 

[funksilver07]

Autozone, Pepboys they all suck. Don't know why they're recommended, they DON'T DO FREE ANYTHING. Most of the people working there barely have a High School education. Buy yourself a code reader (looks like you did) and do your own diagnosis. Then you can figure out where you need to go. Find a good shop that you trust, if you don't work on your car. Forget the dealer for most repairs or maintenance they SUCK and will charge an arm and a leg. Half the time they don't know what to do with the Speed 3 or what the difference is between the different models. EVAP leaks are hard to find, could be as simple as a hose with a leak that needs attention. I've been trying to find a EVAP leak in my son's SVT Focus and still looking, for several weeks. Good luck...

 

[discharmingman]

Thanks, your reply is very helpful. Is your son still driving the car with the CEL on? Is it okay to do that?

 

[funksilver07]

It's been a while and the light kept coming back, but it's driving fine and no apparent urgent problem. His car is supercharged so I think it's one of those hose's connected to the SC. Stay diligent in researching this, you will eventually find the issue.

 

[fastmazdams3]

If you can't find the EVAP leak, try to get a smoker machine. Maybe you can rent one from pep boys or whoever rents tools. Then you just take a vacuum hose off and put smoke into it. It will come out where ever the leak is. Also, EVAP problems are not a big issue. It can cause some minor MPG problems, which cost you some money in the long run. I'm not sure how your state laws are though, this would fail a car for PA inspection.

And did you clear the light to see if it comes back on? I saw you read the code but you didn't say you cleared it.

 

[MikeHTally]

For $85, you can buy a code-reader. Lotsa places will read the code and tell you what's up. Good luck.

 

[coololddude]

It could need a New fuel cap. Just cause it is tight does not mean it is not the fuel cap!!

 

[Wurf]

welp, your car threw a code. All the cel means is that the car thinks there is something wrong. First thing i would do is take it down to an autozone or something (i have no idea what they have in ca) and get them to read it for you. Should read it for free. That will tell you what you need to do, and you can proceed accordingly.

+1

 

[discharmingman]

If you can't find the EVAP leak, try to get a smoker machine. Maybe you can rent one from pep boys or whoever rents tools. Then you just take a vacuum hose off and put smoke into it. It will come out where ever the leak is. Also, EVAP problems are not a big issue. It can cause some minor MPG problems, which cost you some money in the long run. I'm not sure how your state laws are though, this would fail a car for PA inspection.

And did you clear the light to see if it comes back on? I saw you read the code but you didn't say you cleared it.

I read the code, but didn't clear it. Should I clear it? If I clear it without finding the problem and resolving it, won't I be in the same boat?

 

[discharmingman]

For $85, you can buy a code-reader. Lotsa places will read the code and tell you what's up. Good luck.

I did buy one:

actron pocketscan CP9125

It cost me about 65 bucks with 1 year warranty. It's the basic model and only tells you the code but it comes with a manual and tells you what the code indicates.

 

[fastmazdams3]

I read the code, but didn't clear it. Should I clear it? If I clear it without finding the problem and resolving it, won't I be in the same boat?

Yes, clear it, if it come back, then you can deal with it, if it doesn't come back, the leak was most likely something off with your fuel cap ( not on tight enough, seal got caught). Especially since it was a large leak, that is usually something with the cap. Other EVAP leaks are really rare but can happen, unless your car was hit in the back near the purge canister.