Another check engine light thread!

I've scanned through a number of the threads regarding check engine lights in my 98 MPV, but haven't come across my exact situation, so I thought I would post it and see if anyone has any further advice for me.

A couple of months ago, I lost my gas cap. As expected, the check engine light came on. I drove the car with this light on for a few weeks, and had a mechanic tell me to buy a new gas cap, then disconnect the battery and see if that takes care of the light.

Well, I started out on the wrong foot. I went to Autozone and tried to buy a gascap. Turns out it wasn't the correct one, and didn't fit well. Eventually, I made my way to a Mazda dealer and bought an official cap. The light went out in moments. About 200 miles later, the light came back on. I checked to be sure that the cap was on tight, and it was. So I tried to unplug the battery. The light went out again...and came back on again. It's still on, but the car is running fine.

1. Is there anything I can do short of taking the car into the dealership to ensure that this is more of a problem then the sensor needing to be reset?

2. Is it dangerous to run the car at highway speeds with this light on (as the manual states)?

3. Should I try leaving the battery unplugged for a longer timeframe? Does the sensor need more time to reset?

4. Is there a chance the sensor will reset by itself?


Thanks for all of your help!

how many miles on it did you go over 80k they have an emission light that comes on about that milage you have to pull speedo to fix and swap a screw from one to another very secret

[How about telling us the "secret" light out thing?

5. Does this model have OBDll diagnostics? If "yes", why not get the code read at AutoZone? If "no", which emission control system is it?

1. Is there anything I can do short of taking the car into the dealership to ensure that this is more of a problem then the sensor needing to be reset?

YOU CAN GET A DTC READER OR HAVE THE CODE READ SOMEWHERE ELSE... BUT FOR $80 OR SO A DEALERSHIP WILL NOT ONLY TELL YOU THE CODE BUT WILL TELL YOU EXACTLY WHAT'S CAUSING THE CODE. DEALERSHIP'S AREN'T PURE EVIL.



2. Is it dangerous to run the car at highway speeds with this light on (as the manual states)?

AS LONG AS IT'S NOT FLASHING, YOU'RE OK FOR A BIT. NEVER LET THESE THINGS GO FOR A LONG TIME THOUGH.



3. Should I try leaving the battery unplugged for a longer timeframe? Does the sensor need more time to reset?

SHOULDN'T MATTER. NO.



4. Is there a chance the sensor will reset by itself?

YES. IF THERE IS NOT A PROBLEM AFTER SEVERAL CONSECUTIVE DRIVE CYCLES WITHOUT A PROBLEM THE LIGHT MAY GO OUT. HOWEVER, I DON'T THINK I'VE EVER SEEN A CAR FIX ITSELF.