Cannot read check engine code
 

Greetings!
Please don't laugh at me - I know my fate is to be a computer victim. Looks like ECM on my Protege LX 2000, 1.6L just got me. Couple of days ago my CEL came on so I headed to nearest AutoZone hoping they can read the code. They used standard OBD-2 (is that correct?) reader to no avail - the thing kept saying "cannot link". Is Mazda using some proprietary protocol which only a dealer's reader can decipher? In other words am I doomed for a dealer trip?

Thanks in advance!

Re: Cannot read check engine code
 

:laugh: :laugh: :laugh:

(just kidding)

I have never done it myself, but it should not be a problem. As I understand it, all cars after 1996 are supposed to have the same physical linkup, but there are three different protocols: one for GM, one for Ford, and one for the rest of the world (including Mazda).

Now, the guys at my AutoZone think that "Mazda is Ford", so if your guys think the same way, they may be using a Ford module when they should be using the "rest of the world" module.

I suggest trying a different AutoZone.

Thanks a lot!

I don't know what those guys (or their reader) had in mind, but same device at different AutoZone worked fine. Now the code it read was "system running too lean" - any ideas? It appears to be intermittent - check engine light sometimes is off, sometimes is on. Could it be oxygen sensor malfunction? I presume its complete failure should produce a different code.

Cheers

Re: Re: Cannot read check engine code
 

are you sure? One of the ideas behind OBDII was to have a "standard" that all manufactures followed. There are "generic codes" and "manufacture specific codes", but the same code scanner should work on all of them.

Re: Re: Re: Cannot read check engine code
 

Yes.

http://www.obdii.com/background.html#Have

I'm pretty sure deweys right. At work I have a GM tech-2 scan tool, and it won't work for any other make of vehicle without a different chip.

I had the same problem with my pro 2 weeks ago and the thing said that the car was running to rich. They erased the code talked to my mechanic and he said that the car seemed perfect. The only thing that I did notice was the the inside of the exhaust had gotten wet. I had been using 93 octane and me and my friend decided to just take the car back to 89 octane and no problems.

You have tried resetting it right? there are times when the computers read something and get it stuck in there head.

Re: Re: Re: Re: Cannot read check engine code
 

Then why do they sell OBDII scanners that "work with all american, european, and asian vehicles from 1996 on up"

Looks like I fixed it (fingers crossed)
 

Greetings and thanks so much for the responces!

Last night I have undertaken a major cleaning effort around EGR valve area of intake manifold. Someone (I think it was on mazdamedic site) mentioned that the path from EGR valve to intake inside the manifold gets sometimes clogged to the point that EGR starts malfunction. My ECM had no EGR codes recorded, but I observed a couple of other smal annoyances which made EGR a suspect. Well, aforementioned path in the intake in my case wasn't really badly clogged, but the vacuum link to the boost sensor (it is connected right next to EGR valve) was - big time! Cleaned up and lo and behold! No more "system running too lean". Go figire... Funny thing is that the annoyance that made me move in the first place (slight detonation under hard acceleration) is still there.

Beats me why this boost sensor vacuum link is made of such a narrow tubing and is attached right next to EGR system... Maybe Japanese gasoline is so clean it leaves no carbon residue?

Still it could be that simply leaving computer without power for
several hours may have vented its brains a bit :)

Cheers

Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Cannot read check engine code
 

You are correct that there are codes that are standard but there is currently 3 different protocols to link up to the ECU.

ISO protocol - Asian, European and Chrysler
VPW protocol - GM
PWM protocol - Ford

Mazda's use the ISO protocol. There are scan tools that can understand all 3 protocols but those are much more expensive than the ones that can only read one specific protocol.

Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Cannot read check engine code
 

And there are ones that can change protocols by plugging in a different cartridge. Sounds like our pals at AutoZone had this kind and plugged a non-ISO cartridge in for reading a Mazda.

Re: Looks like I fixed it (fingers crossed)
 

Check the combustion chambers for excess carbon buildup. My car (99 1.8L) had a pinging problem that developed last summer due to excess carbon inside the engine. According to the techs at my local dealers and a well-known Mazda mechanic in the area, some newer Mazdas tend to have carbon buildup problems when they're used for lots of stop-and-go driving, like mine.

I cleaned the carbon out and viola, no more pinging. I've managed to keep it away since then with regular applications of Redline SI-1 Complete Fuel System Cleaner. FWIW. :D

carbon built up cleanning
 

Hello Chris.

Can you tell me how do you cleaned the carbon buildup in the combustion chambers.
Last time i removed my spark plugs y notice like carbon inside de engine (top of pistons) is this the same?

Regards
LUIS

This one right here is great:

Nology PDA Dyno
:D

Thats cool! I recently had my check engine light on and then I got a computer test and it came back to say that my EGR valve was bad and it needed new spark plug wires. So first I got the spark plug wires and the light came off! Does that mean that the EGR valve is good}?

the computer said you needed new spark plug wires? interesting.

more than likely your EGR valve is sticking intermittantly (a commom problem) causing the light come on and off.

Well it did come on while i was racing this other protege (black like mine but a chic drivin it, I whopped her) The light came back on and I was worried... I then changed my oil and the light came off! That was so weird. But for some reason the light comes on when the key is put in the ignition. BUt when I turn it all the way it comes off.....weird....

For the detonation:

Have you "upgraded" spark plugs? In my 93 Miata (1.6L), I put in new plugs - I think they were SplitFires or something) thinking I was doing a good thing. It took about 3 weeks for the engine to start pinging under load.

Thinking something was wrong with those plugs, I replaced them again (same SplitFires) and the pinging was gone for about 3 days then came back.

Finally someone at the store gave me some good advice - get those plugs outta there - they produce excess heat and cause detonation. So I swapped back to new OEM (NKG) plugs, and all was solved - car ran perfect till the day I sold it.

Make sure you are running OEM plugs - not necessarily the brand, but make sure the specs are all the same.

After that, you *might* want to look into the dreaded timing belt. From my knowledge, they are supposed to be changed around the 75,000 mile mark, and if yours is starting to wear or has stretched, this too, can easily cause pinging due to the poor timing. If your car has more than that mileage and you have not changed the belt, it's a good idea to do so anyway. Preventative maintenance.

Good luck - let us know how it turns out.

~HH

All the dash lights come on when you put the key in and turn slightly. This is a system startup test. Notice how they all go off when the car is turned on.;)

yea but it never did that before thats why im mentioning it. But as long as its not on while im driving im happy