Only just come over from the old forum so this is my first post here on the new site!
I started my MK 2.5 up this morning to find the engine check light would not go off, the car drives perfectly well so I wondered if the freezing temps may have caused a problem with the circuitry to the dashboard light rather than any actual problem with the engine itself.
If anyone, and this must be most people, has any better knowledge of engines than me and can suggest any advice or reasons I would be hugely grateful.
I’ve just scouted down a page or two and seen a similar problem on another 02 plate Mk2.5 at 45’000 miles. I wonder if this is something often found on these models of that age.
It seems, from that thread, that this isn’t a serious issue regarding an engine problem but more of some knackered wiring giving the wrong read out(??!!)
I usually take my car to a very good garage in Woodbridge but I may have to bite the bullet and get the local Mazda dealership to do this if its electrical…again, based upon the other thread
It might be worth posting a link to the other thread…
Usually check engine lights are not too serious - they are often caused by a sensor or whatever, but they can be triggered by more important things as well. Any garage (worth its name) will be able to plug an OBD tool in to get the code, and reset the light.
Or, you could buy a tool yourself off ebay - no doubt somebody can recommend one which is decent & cheap.
Keep in mind that it is on because something that should be working isn’t, and that can impact reliability, fuel economy, and other engine components…
It could just have been caused by low voltage from the battery in the cold weather causing something to give a miss-reading on startup though. How old is the battery?
Good point regarding the battery. I bought my MX5 back in April and the battery looks like the original, I suppose a new battery wouldn’t hurt even if that isn’t the main problem.
I’ll ring my garage and get them to take a look before I involve the local dealership, hopefully save a few pounds.
Thanks for putting my mind at ease regarding the severity of the engine check light, though I won’t leave it long before getting it, hopefully, resolved.
I’ve just replaced the battery, as a precaution and because it was the original battery from 2002, and the warning light has disappeared. I’ll keep an eye and get it checked when its serviced next month unless anything happens before that.