check engine light
02-27-2008, 08:24 PM
#1
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check engine light
got a 97 t4r, been having a check engine light come on and off every now and then the past week or so. before i take it to the stealership what should i look at? seems to be running perfectly fine. just got oil changed as well, light is still on. any way to reset it? thanks
chris
chris
02-28-2008, 04:21 AM
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yeah take it to advance auto or auto zone they will pull the codes for you.. then come back here and post what you found. lots of helpful fellas on this board. oh and try to do a search first lol.. (whistling) ....
02-28-2008, 05:12 AM
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02-28-2008, 05:27 AM
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i know nothing about scans. so what are we looking for in a scantool? what is CAN capable etc etc.. how much do they run? yes i want one that can scan different vehicles not just toyotas. also dont they need to be updated periodically as cars change over time?? sorry for all the questions
02-28-2008, 05:30 AM
#9
The CAN-OBD 2 scan tools will pull and usually erase codes on any car sold in the US from 1996 to date, no updates necessary so far. Harbor Freight usually has the base model no frills scanners for $30-$40. E-bay would be a good resource too. Otherwise, Vato zone or others will scan vehicle codes for free.
Last edited by zlathim; 02-28-2008 at 05:32 AM.
02-28-2008, 05:34 AM
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after looking on ebay the 30$ scanners have to have a computer near by bc you have to plug the scanner to the computer AND the car at the SAME TIME.. that sucks bc i dont have a laptop
02-28-2008, 05:38 AM
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A company called Actron sels scanners at major retailers like Walmart Auto zone, etc, I have 2. One was $99 and pulls and clears codes ans also tells you the verbage of what is wrong (like "cylinder 2 misfire") well worth the $99, my other one is smaller and was $69 but only pulls and erases codes, but it came with a book to translate codes to verbage. Both are good deals and less than a 3/8 snapon ratchet.
02-28-2008, 05:50 AM
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A company called Actron sels scanners at major retailers like Walmart Auto zone, etc, I have 2. One was $99 and pulls and clears codes ans also tells you the verbage of what is wrong (like "cylinder 2 misfire") well worth the $99, my other one is smaller and was $69 but only pulls and erases codes, but it came with a book to translate codes to verbage. Both are good deals and less than a 3/8 snapon ratchet.
02-28-2008, 07:35 AM
#13
it reads all obd II codes and can reset them, and also read I/M status.
it is all you need. if you want to run actual numbers and percentages you need a hundred dollar tool with pc software.
I use this and it gives me obd II and toyota codes. I look up the toyota codes on the internets
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ENHAN...spagenameZWDVW
the particular seller mattandleah will email you 5 times a day if you
have a problem. they kick ass !
turn key off, plug this in under dash, turn key on, read codes. great little tool
and it is only 40 bucks shipped to your door. it doesn't do CAN so check the year
of your vehicle and what scanner you buy
you don't need a scanner than can tell you verbally what the code is as long
as you have an internet connection you can find that info.
Last edited by edzo; 02-28-2008 at 07:38 AM.
03-01-2008, 11:56 PM
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I just had mine done at the dealership. It was the o2 sensor. $300 and i was out the door..not happy but i was out the door.. $130 for the part the rest was labor..
03-02-2008, 07:18 AM
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the only thing they "pulled" was me. I was actually at the dealership once before on a diffrent matter, i asked con'd them in pulling the codes the first time(light was out but the code was still there in memory i guess) theTech did say it was the sensor. I did not have time/money fix it then. I had them fix it this time. I guess they had to re check to make sure it was throwing the same code. it was. it was all labor.They pull nothing for nothing.
thanks for the reply.
thanks for the reply.
03-04-2008, 10:53 PM
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hmm... so it sat all weekend as i was driving my old 91 4runner home to seattle. came back and drove the 97 around for awhile, had check engine light when it started... but awhile later it went off, and its still off.. for now? wierd?
03-05-2008, 05:04 AM
#19
codes can come and go. it could be temporary bad fuel, or signs of impending doom. the ecu does some math and if things go back to normal percentages and don't come back it clears the engine light.
sensors on their way out will flip the engine light back and forth until they finally decide to stay in bad condition
just try to get the code next time it happens, it can be over 50 different things causing it to light up. if it comes
and goes it is a good sign it is one single sensor you may be able to change on your own. the most simple yet
most likely cause would be the MAF needs cleaning with MAF specific cleaner. it won't kill you to clean it anyway.
this is the only sensor that commonly can be cleaned and it is good as new, yet will blow codes every 40,000
miles on a perfect vehicle. after that the next most simple and yet common sensor are the air fuel or o2 sensors.
but you absolutely need the actual codes or you may waste a lot of time
sensors on their way out will flip the engine light back and forth until they finally decide to stay in bad condition
just try to get the code next time it happens, it can be over 50 different things causing it to light up. if it comes
and goes it is a good sign it is one single sensor you may be able to change on your own. the most simple yet
most likely cause would be the MAF needs cleaning with MAF specific cleaner. it won't kill you to clean it anyway.
this is the only sensor that commonly can be cleaned and it is good as new, yet will blow codes every 40,000
miles on a perfect vehicle. after that the next most simple and yet common sensor are the air fuel or o2 sensors.
but you absolutely need the actual codes or you may waste a lot of time
Last edited by edzo; 03-05-2008 at 05:07 AM.
03-05-2008, 07:39 AM
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Originally Posted by Toyota FSM
Most DTC use 2 trip detection logic* to prevent erroneous detection, and ensure thorough malfunction detection...
*2 trip detection logic:
When a malfunction is 1st detected, the malfunction is temporarily stored in the ECM memory. (1st trip) If the same malfunction is detected again during the second drive test, this second detection causes the MIL to light up. (2nd trip) (However, the ignition switch must be turned OFF between the 1st trip and 2nd trip.).
*2 trip detection logic:
When a malfunction is 1st detected, the malfunction is temporarily stored in the ECM memory. (1st trip) If the same malfunction is detected again during the second drive test, this second detection causes the MIL to light up. (2nd trip) (However, the ignition switch must be turned OFF between the 1st trip and 2nd trip.).
