My first post and I have a question, multi-leveled I'm sure, but I have an issue with my 95 4Runner, Check Engine Light has come on. I checked here for threads and I keep seeing "what is the code?" I will be honest, what the heck are you talking about? What code? What equipment do you need to find this "code"? Owners manual says electrical problem with the engine and take it to Toyota. So I need some help here. Any and all responses are appreciated. Just remember it may seem very simple to you but we all started somewhere, and we all didn't just one day have a vision and all knowledge about Toyotas was bestowed on us! Thanks

 

If you have an OBDII reader you plug it in and it gives you some letters and numbers. A code. Then you look up what it means, and it tells you the problem.

 

Actually that won't be so easy, because this truck is OBDI. There is a procedure that you have to do, which involves jumping a port and then counting how many times the CEL blinks to get the code. Then you have to find a list of codes and find your problem. If I wasn't so busy, I'd look up the procedure for you, but if you search for "find CEL" or something like that on the forums, I am confident you'll find your answer in one of the threads.

Good Luck

 

learn somethin new everyday...

 

Reading the OBD1 Code is an easy thing to do and even the dreaded chilton and haynes manuals will give you the procedure, the code description, and possible fixes for the code. Learning how to read your codes is a great thing to do as it will begin to give you some confidence and insight into how your trucks engine functions. You can save yourself thousands of dollars by reading your own codes and once you know what the problem is pull out those sockets and start wrenching. If you want to be able to repair your own truck first thing is to go down to Toyota and buy yourself a repair manual. A lot of people that I know that want to work on thier own vehicles lack the basic virtue of confidence and with a little knowledge it is easy to overcome the confidence issue and before you know it you will be doing an SAS in your front yard and wondering why you ever paid someone else to do mechanical work for you when it isnt all that difficult and is very fun and satisfying at the same time.
#1 Get a good Manual OEM is prefered but Haynes will work for the shade tree guy
#2 some tools and you dont need thousands of dollars in tools all you need to get started is a good metric socket set, good metric wrench set, Quality screw drivers never try and save money on Philips head screw drivers as you will only strip the star and not turn the screw get yourself an eletrical crimper set for repairing wiring. Some long breaker bars scrapers for gaskets etc etc.

#3 Do a tune up and change all your fluids. easy thing to do and will start to give you some confidence in pulling parts out and putting new ones in. After the tune up and you turn the engine over and hear it purring like a kitten you will feel cinfident to move on to other jobs that your truck is going to need periodicly like the timing belt, water pump and thermostat.

Pretty soon you will be dreaming of doing 2 things wheeling in the rig and wrenching on your rig. ( of course dreaming of finding the money to do all the mods that you want to do as well)

Use the search function here as there is nothing I can tell you that has not been posted or is in a tech write up here or can be linked to from here.
Number one is to get the manuals and read them and when you have read them read them again. You will start to see throughout the manuals that procedures are quite simple and with the correct tools it doesnt take an SAE certified mechanic to keep your rig purring and out of the shop.

Just a guy with a rig and a tool box
Cypresdog

 

Did some more searching on the site and found out I couldhave local parts store check it for me. Yes it is an OBD1 and the parts guy from AutoZone used a metal jumper he called his "Chevy tool" thne we checkeed the blinks. Came up with 2 blinks then one blink repeating. Said it was an O2 sensor. This is a non-california emissions vehicle too. Cost here for the sensor is $139 plus 9% sales tax anyone know a better deal and I want OEM/Denso, no Bosch. Any suggestions. And thanks for the ego build on doin it yourself, been doin that for a while but all my other vehicles have been non-computer controlled vehicles! LOL so I guess time for me to get a new education. Thanks for any and all infor ;>)

 

To add to that, OBD II was a mandate on all 1996 and later vehicles. SOME pre 1996 vehicles have it, but it's sketchy.