ford97

hey all, just bought an 89 toyota extended cab 4x4 with the 22re. truck runs great and all but isnt there supposed to be a check engine light that comes on when the key is in the on position? Im new to these toyotas and there is a space on the dash between two other lights that i think is supposed to be the check engine light, but not sure. could the bulb just be burnt out or something? tried to do a search on this but couldnt get what I was looking for. can i still pull codes even if the light is burnt out?

ford97

nevermind, forgot this is an obd I and have to count blinks.

ford97

and i found out that the light is supposed to be by the fuel guage,

justin_4runner

it should light up when u go to start the truck i think. it might be burned out.

ford97

yea im thinkin it is burned out, because it starts up and runs great. just no light lol. i know that the guy that i bought it from removed the catalytic converter (which isnt a really big deal in southeast GA) and the light probrobly stayed on and eventually burned out. same thing happened to my dads f150.

Kiroshu

The check engine light along with many other indicator lights does come on "Key on/Engine off"

If its not on at this time then the bulb is more than likely blown.

Check engine light should not be on with "Key on/Engine running."

ford97

ok ive got the dash tore down all the way to the guage cluster, got the cluster unbolted but it wont pull out, like something is holding it. is it the speedometer cable or something? how can i get it loose

justin_4runner

yeah it probe is the speedo cable, see if u can reach behind it from below or something and loosen it,

bryan89

it might have been removed because a PO had a code issue and was too lazy to fix it.

if you get back there and there is no light at all i would DEFINITELY check the codes even though you think it runs pretty well. there are plenty of writeups how to do it correctly on here.

ford97

yea i got back there and there is no light at all!!!!! I took the light out of the seatbelt position and now the check engine light will come on and my truck wont start!!!! it willl turn over but wont start.

ford97

what do i do now?

bryan89

called it on the light! lol.
allright, so all you changed was the bulb from one socket to the other and now it wont start?

did you plug all of the wiring harnesses back in on the back of the instrument cluster? it might not crank up if they are not all pluged in.

ford97

yea they are all plugged in.

bryan89

did you try going back to the way it was, with no light in the engine light socket? maybe there is a short in the circuit somewhere.


if that doesnt work then there is something else that you have done somewhere not causing the truck to start.

ford97

yea i changed them back and still no start. see what i get when i try to fix something.

ford97

how does this happen

bryan89

well, for cranking with no start,
the factory service manual has the following causes:

no fuel supply to injector

• No fuel in tank

• Fuel pump not working

• Fuel filter clogged

• Fuel line clogged or leaking

EFI system problems

• lgnition problems

• lgnition coil

• Igniter

• Distributor

Spark plugs faulty


High-tension cords disconnected or
broken

Vacuum leaks

• EGR valve/PCV hoses

• Intake manifold

• Air intake chamber

• Throttle body

Pulling in air between air flow meter
and throttle body

Low compression

bryan89

make sure you didnt bump/nudge/ change anything in these areas first.

so it wont even try to start at all? (just cranking)

ford97

i know that it cant be most of these things. i mean i drove this thing every day week and this morning. all i did is pull the cluster out then hooked everything back up. it seems like the starter is sticking now also. could i have messed something up in the ignition?

ford97

yea just cranking