Help! 96 Mazda Check Engine Light

My 96 Mazda Protege (89,000 miles) has a new idiot light to go with the
always-on rear defroster light. It says "Check" and the little manual
calls it a "Malfunction Indicator Light" "Problem with engine
electrical system--consult Dealer." Does anyone know if this is a
dealer-only fix and how extensive. Thanks for any illumination...
Les

On 12 Jun 2006 12:35:18 -0700, "desertnymph" >
wrote:

>My 96 Mazda Protege (89,000 miles) has a new idiot light to go with the
>always-on rear defroster light. It says "Check" and the little manual
>calls it a "Malfunction Indicator Light" "Problem with engine
>electrical system--consult Dealer." Does anyone know if this is a
>dealer-only fix

Not at all. Any well-equiped shop with a good scan tool and the
AllDAta or Mitchell technical database can work on it. We work on
such all the time.

>and how extensive.

No way to know until the engine control system fault is diagnosed.
Could be anything from a loose gas cap to a failed catalytic
convertor. In most cases simply pulling a code is NOT a real
diagnosis.

> Thanks for any illumination...

You are wellcome

Don
www.donsautomotive.com

>Les
>

How did you get over with the problem. I am getting the same error now.
What should be the solution. Or do I need to really go to the MAZDA
showroom for a checkup or can any other small tim shops do it like
Sullivan tires or Monroe brakes.......!!
Please help.


desertnymph wrote:
> My 96 Mazda Protege (89,000 miles) has a new idiot light to go with the
> always-on rear defroster light. It says "Check" and the little manual
> calls it a "Malfunction Indicator Light" "Problem with engine
> electrical system--consult Dealer." Does anyone know if this is a
> dealer-only fix and how extensive. Thanks for any illumination...
> Les

Sorry I took so long to reply, you've probably already done something.
All I did was go to a smog check place, where they used a hand-held
meter to say that it was an evaporative hose leak. Then the guy turned
off the check engine light and told me that it may not come on again.
That was 1,000 miles ago, and it hasn't come on. So no, you don't have
to go to a dealer. I was told that the gas cap may not have been on
all the way. If you can get someone to turn off that light, you may be
okay.

das123 wrote:
> How did you get over with the problem. I am getting the same error now.
> What should be the solution. Or do I need to really go to the MAZDA
> showroom for a checkup or can any other small tim shops do it like
> Sullivan tires or Monroe brakes.......!!
> Please help.
>
>
> desertnymph wrote:
> > My 96 Mazda Protege (89,000 miles) has a new idiot light to go with the
> > always-on rear defroster light. It says "Check" and the little manual
> > calls it a "Malfunction Indicator Light" "Problem with engine
> > electrical system--consult Dealer." Does anyone know if this is a
> > dealer-only fix and how extensive. Thanks for any illumination...
> > Les

Sorry I took so long to reply, you've probably already done something.
All I did was go to a smog check place, where they used a hand-held
meter to say that it was an evaporative hose leak. Then the guy turned
off the check engine light and told me that it may not come on again.
That was 1,000 miles ago, and it hasn't come on. So no, you don't have
to go to a dealer. I was told that the gas cap may not have been on
all the way. If you can get someone to turn off that light, you may be
okay.

das123 wrote:
> How did you get over with the problem. I am getting the same error now.
> What should be the solution. Or do I need to really go to the MAZDA
> showroom for a checkup or can any other small tim shops do it like
> Sullivan tires or Monroe brakes.......!!
> Please help.
>
>
> desertnymph wrote:
> > My 96 Mazda Protege (89,000 miles) has a new idiot light to go with the
> > always-on rear defroster light. It says "Check" and the little manual
> > calls it a "Malfunction Indicator Light" "Problem with engine
> > electrical system--consult Dealer." Does anyone know if this is a
> > dealer-only fix and how extensive. Thanks for any illumination...
> > Les

Sorry I took so long to reply, you've probably already done something.
All I did was go to a smog check place, where they used a hand-held
meter to say that it was an evaporative hose leak. Then the guy turned
off the check engine light and told me that it may not come on again.
That was 1,000 miles ago, and it hasn't come on. So no, you don't have
to go to a dealer. I was told that the gas cap may not have been on
all the way. If you can get someone to turn off that light, you may be
okay.

das123 wrote:
> How did you get over with the problem. I am getting the same error now.
> What should be the solution. Or do I need to really go to the MAZDA
> showroom for a checkup or can any other small tim shops do it like
> Sullivan tires or Monroe brakes.......!!
> Please help.
>
>
> desertnymph wrote:
> > My 96 Mazda Protege (89,000 miles) has a new idiot light to go with the
> > always-on rear defroster light. It says "Check" and the little manual
> > calls it a "Malfunction Indicator Light" "Problem with engine
> > electrical system--consult Dealer." Does anyone know if this is a
> > dealer-only fix and how extensive. Thanks for any illumination...
> > Les