check engine light, how to make it go away?
05-01-2008, 09:51 PM
#1
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check engine light, how to make it go away?
bet there are a lot of toyota techs in here. it might be a quick fix.
this is what I see recently when I turn on my car. any help appreciated.
this is what I see recently when I turn on my car. any help appreciated.
05-01-2008, 09:58 PM
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hit up your local auto parts store and get the cel code(s) pulled. It should be pretty cheap (maybe free). If they can't tell you what the codes mean or how to fix them, post them here and someone should be able to get you on the right track to fixing it. good luck
05-02-2008, 12:00 AM
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CEL=Check engine light.
Go to autozone or some such and say, "do you guys pull Check engine light codes?"
If they say yes they will tell you what the codes are and possibly how to fix them. If they can't tell you how to fix them, post the codes they gave you here and somebody will at least tell you where to start. If they say no, try another place.
Good luck
Go to autozone or some such and say, "do you guys pull Check engine light codes?"
If they say yes they will tell you what the codes are and possibly how to fix them. If they can't tell you how to fix them, post the codes they gave you here and somebody will at least tell you where to start. If they say no, try another place.
Good luck
05-02-2008, 03:40 AM
#7
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Make sure you get the actual number of the code, like P0420 and not just a decription or guess as to what it is. Some codes can be multible possiblites.
Last edited by mt_goat; 05-03-2008 at 04:52 AM.
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05-02-2008, 05:07 AM
#8
actually if you want to 'connect' with toyota techs....
the light is called a MIL = malfunction indicator lamp
and the codes are called DTC = diagnostic trouble codes
about 720 different conditions can cause the MIL to illuminate
a handful of 10-15 will be very common and might be guessed
based on age of vehicle and maintenance.
the rest are usually sensors that died or wiring that broke,
or the ECU is dying.
transmission probs can light it up too
....
however...there is only one thing that is the easiest to do to
try and fix the light on a wild guess without knowing the code.
and it is common enough...
get some CRC MAF cleaner (it is electrical cleaner or carb cleaner
that leaves ZERO residue. this is important. something volatile
that evaporates and leaves no lingering film whatsoever)
and spray the bejeezus out of the MAF sensor wires so they are
as clean as can be. do not touch the wires, let the solvent
blow away any grime. also spray the thermistor on the side.
stick MAF back in, unhook battery, waste 10 minutes, hook
battery back up, reset your clock and radio. and now see
if the light comes back. You may need to drive all the readiness
drive patterns to be sure it is fixed. don't worry, this just means
it may take 2 weeks of driving, and 3 fillups to be sure it will stay off,
if in fact it was simple like that.
any other actual MIL lamp fix will take more time, like any other sensor.
only the MAF is right up front in your face and easy to access AND
known to get dirty and blow codes often (30,000 miles)
the light is called a MIL = malfunction indicator lamp
and the codes are called DTC = diagnostic trouble codes
about 720 different conditions can cause the MIL to illuminate
a handful of 10-15 will be very common and might be guessed
based on age of vehicle and maintenance.
the rest are usually sensors that died or wiring that broke,
or the ECU is dying.
transmission probs can light it up too
....
however...there is only one thing that is the easiest to do to
try and fix the light on a wild guess without knowing the code.
and it is common enough...
get some CRC MAF cleaner (it is electrical cleaner or carb cleaner
that leaves ZERO residue. this is important. something volatile
that evaporates and leaves no lingering film whatsoever)
and spray the bejeezus out of the MAF sensor wires so they are
as clean as can be. do not touch the wires, let the solvent
blow away any grime. also spray the thermistor on the side.
stick MAF back in, unhook battery, waste 10 minutes, hook
battery back up, reset your clock and radio. and now see
if the light comes back. You may need to drive all the readiness
drive patterns to be sure it is fixed. don't worry, this just means
it may take 2 weeks of driving, and 3 fillups to be sure it will stay off,
if in fact it was simple like that.
any other actual MIL lamp fix will take more time, like any other sensor.
only the MAF is right up front in your face and easy to access AND
known to get dirty and blow codes often (30,000 miles)
Last edited by BigBallsMcFalls; 05-02-2008 at 05:15 AM.
05-02-2008, 10:19 AM
#9
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Alright, havent left yet. Thanks for the advice, how much is the average price to fix the problem?
Could it be possible I need an oil change? It is very close to 3000miles, prob at 2900miles right now.
Thanks
Could it be possible I need an oil change? It is very close to 3000miles, prob at 2900miles right now.
Thanks
05-02-2008, 10:25 AM
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Depends on the problem. Go to and have the codes pulled. No its not because you need an oil change. Find out the code and i am sure someone on here will know what it takes to fix it. Once you get the code search for it.
05-02-2008, 10:32 AM
#11
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P0401 Exhaust Gas Recirculation Flow Insufficient Detected
P0402 Exhaust Gas Recirculation Flow Excessive Detected
P0403 Exhaust Gas Recirculation Control Circuit
P0404 Exhaust Gas Recirculation Control Circuit Range/Performance
P0405 Exhaust Gas Recirculation Sensor "A" Circuit Low
P0406 Exhaust Gas Recirculation Sensor "A" Circuit High
P0407 Exhaust Gas Recirculation Sensor "B" Circuit Low
P0408 Exhaust Gas Recirculation Sensor "B" Circuit High
P0409 Exhaust Gas Recirculation Sensor "A" Circuit
P0410 Secondary Air Injection System
P0411 Secondary Air Injection System Incorrect Flow Detected
P0412 Secondary Air Injection System Switching Valve "A" Circuit
P0413 Secondary Air Injection System Switching Valve "A" Circuit Open
P0414 Secondary Air Injection System Switching Valve "A" Circuit Shorted
P0415 Secondary Air Injection System Switching Valve "B" Circuit
P0416 Secondary Air Injection System Switching Valve "B" Circuit Open
P0417 Secondary Air Injection System Switching Valve "B" Circuit Shorted
P0418 Secondary Air Injection System Control "A" Circuit
P0419 Secondary Air Injection System Control "B" Circuit
P0420 Catalyst System Efficiency Below Threshold Bank 1
P0421 Warm Up Catalyst Efficiency Below Threshold Bank 1
P0422 Main Catalyst Efficiency Below Threshold Bank 1
P0423 Heated Catalyst Efficiency Below Threshold Bank 1
P0424 Heated Catalyst Temperature Below Threshold Bank 1
P0425 Catalyst Temperature Sensor Bank 1
P0426 Catalyst Temperature Sensor Range/Performance Bank 1
P0427 Catalyst Temperature Sensor Low Bank 1
P0428 Catalyst Temperature Sensor High Bank 1
P0429 Catalyst Heater Control Circuit Bank 1
P0430 Catalyst System Efficiency Below Threshold Bank 2
P0431 Warm Up Catalyst Efficiency Below Threshold Bank 2
P0432 Main Catalyst Efficiency Below Threshold Bank 2
P0433 Heated Catalyst Efficiency Below Threshold Bank 2
P0434 Heated Catalyst Temperature Below Threshold Bank 2
P0435 Catalyst Temperature Sensor Bank 2
P0436 Catalyst Temperature Sensor Range/Performance Bank 2
P0437 Catalyst Temperature Sensor Low Bank 2
P0438 Catalyst Temperature Sensor High Bank 2
P0439 Catalyst Heater Control Circuit Bank 2
P0440 Evaporative Emission System
P0441 Evaporative Emission System Incorrect Purge Flow
P0442 Evaporative Emission System Leak Detected (small leak)
P0443 Evaporative Emission System Purge Control Valve Circuit
P0444 Evaporative Emission System Purge Control Valve Circuit Open
P0445 Evaporative Emission System Purge Control Valve Circuit Shorted
P0446 Evaporative Emission System Vent Control Circuit
P0447 Evaporative Emission System Vent Control Circuit Open
P0448 Evaporative Emission System Vent Control Circuit Shorted
P0449 Evaporative Emission System Vent Valve/Solenoid Circuit
P0450 Evaporative Emission System Pressure Sensor/Switch
P0451 Evaporative Emission System Pressure Sensor/Switch Range/Performance
P0452 Evaporative Emission System Pressure Sensor/Switch Low
P0453 Evaporative Emission System Pressure Sensor/Switch High
P0454 Evaporative Emission System Pressure Sensor/Switch Intermittent
P0455 Evaporative Emission System Leak Detected (large leak)
P0456 Evaporative Emission System Leak Detected (very small leak)
P0457 Evaporative Emission System Leak Detected (fuel cap loose/off)
P0458 Evaporative Emission System Purge Control Valve Circuit Low
P0459 Evaporative Emission System Purge Control Valve Circuit High
P0460 Fuel Level Sensor "A" Circuit
P0461 Fuel Level Sensor "A" Circuit Range/Performance
P0462 Fuel Level Sensor "A" Circuit Low
P0463 Fuel Level Sensor "A" Circuit High
P0464 Fuel Level Sensor "A" Circuit Intermittent
P0465 EVAP Purge Flow Sensor Circuit
P0466 EVAP Purge Flow Sensor Circuit Range/Performance
P0467 EVAP Purge Flow Sensor Circuit Low
P0468 EVAP Purge Flow Sensor Circuit High
P0469 EVAP Purge Flow Sensor Circuit Intermittent
P0470 Exhaust Pressure Sensor
P0471 Exhaust Pressure Sensor Range/Performance
P0472 Exhaust Pressure Sensor Low
P0473 Exhaust Pressure Sensor High
P0474 Exhaust Pressure Sensor Intermittent
P0475 Exhaust Pressure Control Valve
P0476 Exhaust Pressure Control Valve Range/Performance
P0477 Exhaust Pressure Control Valve Low
P0478 Exhaust Pressure Control Valve High
P0479 Exhaust Pressure Control Valve Intermittent
P0480 Fan 1 Control Circuit
P0481 Fan 2 Control Circuit
P0482 Fan 3 Control Circuit
P0483 Fan Rationality Check
P0484 Fan Circuit Over Current
P0485 Fan Power/Ground Circuit
P0486 Exhaust Gas Recirculation Sensor "B" Circuit
P0487 Exhaust Gas Recirculation Throttle Position Control Circuit
P0488 Exhaust Gas Recirculation Throttle Position Control Range/Performance
P0489 Exhaust Gas Recirculation Control Circuit Low
P0490 Exhaust Gas Recirculation Control Circuit High
P0491 Secondary Air Injection System Insufficient Flow Bank 1
P0492 Secondary Air Injection System Insufficient Flow Bank 2
P0493 Fan Overspeed
P0494 Fan Speed Low
P0495 Fan Speed High
P0496 Evaporative Emission System High Purge Flow
P0497 Evaporative Emission System Low Purge Flow
P0498 Evaporative Emission System Vent Valve Control Circuit Low
P0499 Evaporative Emission System Vent Valve Control Circuit High
P0402 Exhaust Gas Recirculation Flow Excessive Detected
P0403 Exhaust Gas Recirculation Control Circuit
P0404 Exhaust Gas Recirculation Control Circuit Range/Performance
P0405 Exhaust Gas Recirculation Sensor "A" Circuit Low
P0406 Exhaust Gas Recirculation Sensor "A" Circuit High
P0407 Exhaust Gas Recirculation Sensor "B" Circuit Low
P0408 Exhaust Gas Recirculation Sensor "B" Circuit High
P0409 Exhaust Gas Recirculation Sensor "A" Circuit
P0410 Secondary Air Injection System
P0411 Secondary Air Injection System Incorrect Flow Detected
P0412 Secondary Air Injection System Switching Valve "A" Circuit
P0413 Secondary Air Injection System Switching Valve "A" Circuit Open
P0414 Secondary Air Injection System Switching Valve "A" Circuit Shorted
P0415 Secondary Air Injection System Switching Valve "B" Circuit
P0416 Secondary Air Injection System Switching Valve "B" Circuit Open
P0417 Secondary Air Injection System Switching Valve "B" Circuit Shorted
P0418 Secondary Air Injection System Control "A" Circuit
P0419 Secondary Air Injection System Control "B" Circuit
P0420 Catalyst System Efficiency Below Threshold Bank 1
P0421 Warm Up Catalyst Efficiency Below Threshold Bank 1
P0422 Main Catalyst Efficiency Below Threshold Bank 1
P0423 Heated Catalyst Efficiency Below Threshold Bank 1
P0424 Heated Catalyst Temperature Below Threshold Bank 1
P0425 Catalyst Temperature Sensor Bank 1
P0426 Catalyst Temperature Sensor Range/Performance Bank 1
P0427 Catalyst Temperature Sensor Low Bank 1
P0428 Catalyst Temperature Sensor High Bank 1
P0429 Catalyst Heater Control Circuit Bank 1
P0430 Catalyst System Efficiency Below Threshold Bank 2
P0431 Warm Up Catalyst Efficiency Below Threshold Bank 2
P0432 Main Catalyst Efficiency Below Threshold Bank 2
P0433 Heated Catalyst Efficiency Below Threshold Bank 2
P0434 Heated Catalyst Temperature Below Threshold Bank 2
P0435 Catalyst Temperature Sensor Bank 2
P0436 Catalyst Temperature Sensor Range/Performance Bank 2
P0437 Catalyst Temperature Sensor Low Bank 2
P0438 Catalyst Temperature Sensor High Bank 2
P0439 Catalyst Heater Control Circuit Bank 2
P0440 Evaporative Emission System
P0441 Evaporative Emission System Incorrect Purge Flow
P0442 Evaporative Emission System Leak Detected (small leak)
P0443 Evaporative Emission System Purge Control Valve Circuit
P0444 Evaporative Emission System Purge Control Valve Circuit Open
P0445 Evaporative Emission System Purge Control Valve Circuit Shorted
P0446 Evaporative Emission System Vent Control Circuit
P0447 Evaporative Emission System Vent Control Circuit Open
P0448 Evaporative Emission System Vent Control Circuit Shorted
P0449 Evaporative Emission System Vent Valve/Solenoid Circuit
P0450 Evaporative Emission System Pressure Sensor/Switch
P0451 Evaporative Emission System Pressure Sensor/Switch Range/Performance
P0452 Evaporative Emission System Pressure Sensor/Switch Low
P0453 Evaporative Emission System Pressure Sensor/Switch High
P0454 Evaporative Emission System Pressure Sensor/Switch Intermittent
P0455 Evaporative Emission System Leak Detected (large leak)
P0456 Evaporative Emission System Leak Detected (very small leak)
P0457 Evaporative Emission System Leak Detected (fuel cap loose/off)
P0458 Evaporative Emission System Purge Control Valve Circuit Low
P0459 Evaporative Emission System Purge Control Valve Circuit High
P0460 Fuel Level Sensor "A" Circuit
P0461 Fuel Level Sensor "A" Circuit Range/Performance
P0462 Fuel Level Sensor "A" Circuit Low
P0463 Fuel Level Sensor "A" Circuit High
P0464 Fuel Level Sensor "A" Circuit Intermittent
P0465 EVAP Purge Flow Sensor Circuit
P0466 EVAP Purge Flow Sensor Circuit Range/Performance
P0467 EVAP Purge Flow Sensor Circuit Low
P0468 EVAP Purge Flow Sensor Circuit High
P0469 EVAP Purge Flow Sensor Circuit Intermittent
P0470 Exhaust Pressure Sensor
P0471 Exhaust Pressure Sensor Range/Performance
P0472 Exhaust Pressure Sensor Low
P0473 Exhaust Pressure Sensor High
P0474 Exhaust Pressure Sensor Intermittent
P0475 Exhaust Pressure Control Valve
P0476 Exhaust Pressure Control Valve Range/Performance
P0477 Exhaust Pressure Control Valve Low
P0478 Exhaust Pressure Control Valve High
P0479 Exhaust Pressure Control Valve Intermittent
P0480 Fan 1 Control Circuit
P0481 Fan 2 Control Circuit
P0482 Fan 3 Control Circuit
P0483 Fan Rationality Check
P0484 Fan Circuit Over Current
P0485 Fan Power/Ground Circuit
P0486 Exhaust Gas Recirculation Sensor "B" Circuit
P0487 Exhaust Gas Recirculation Throttle Position Control Circuit
P0488 Exhaust Gas Recirculation Throttle Position Control Range/Performance
P0489 Exhaust Gas Recirculation Control Circuit Low
P0490 Exhaust Gas Recirculation Control Circuit High
P0491 Secondary Air Injection System Insufficient Flow Bank 1
P0492 Secondary Air Injection System Insufficient Flow Bank 2
P0493 Fan Overspeed
P0494 Fan Speed Low
P0495 Fan Speed High
P0496 Evaporative Emission System High Purge Flow
P0497 Evaporative Emission System Low Purge Flow
P0498 Evaporative Emission System Vent Valve Control Circuit Low
P0499 Evaporative Emission System Vent Valve Control Circuit High
Last edited by mt_goat; 05-02-2008 at 10:34 AM.
05-02-2008, 10:34 AM
#12
Registered User
Well, there is an easy fix to this problem.....
Used car dealers use it ALL the time....
remove the clear plastic face on the cluster......take a straight pin and jam it right in the light. Light goes out..problem fixed...and no one knows any different
Used car dealers use it ALL the time....
remove the clear plastic face on the cluster......take a straight pin and jam it right in the light. Light goes out..problem fixed...and no one knows any different
05-02-2008, 10:38 AM
#13
Contributing Member
That reminds me of one time I was looking over a used car, the odometer said 78,000 miles, then I noticed on the timing cover that the timing belt was changed at 117,000 miles lol.
Last edited by mt_goat; 05-02-2008 at 10:50 AM.
05-02-2008, 10:50 AM
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05-02-2008, 10:54 AM
#15
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05-02-2008, 11:13 AM
#16
you want the dealer price ? average fix for a mystery light is 90 bux times two hours diagnosis, THEN a 200-300 dollar part, and labor.
so bring your checkbook. average MIL fix is 300-600 bucks.
just figure out all the codes, stored codes, and pending codes. then you'll know
so bring your checkbook. average MIL fix is 300-600 bucks.
just figure out all the codes, stored codes, and pending codes. then you'll know
05-02-2008, 11:55 AM
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alrighty guys, yall are the experts.
i will do that when I get the car home today.
just wondering, how do they pull the codes in the first place? had me thinking
I just remembered, I have a friend who works at o reilys. Can they pull codes also?
i will do that when I get the car home today.
just wondering, how do they pull the codes in the first place? had me thinking
I just remembered, I have a friend who works at o reilys. Can they pull codes also?
Last edited by yongxing; 05-02-2008 at 11:57 AM.
05-02-2008, 01:07 PM
#19
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Get one of these and a laptop and you can do it yourself:
http://www.urdusa.com/product_info.p...s_id=840100000
http://www.urdusa.com/product_info.p...s_id=840100000
05-02-2008, 09:17 PM
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ok, this is what autozone told my mom the problem was with the alternator.
the part is $142 + tax and $90 labor. Is that about right?
they didnt give my mom any CEL codes.
the part is $142 + tax and $90 labor. Is that about right?
they didnt give my mom any CEL codes.
