CEL not illuminating during start up?

[TN4Runner07]

Here's something new! LONG story short, I was trying a new mechanic out for a idle problem. The CEL kept coming on and I was unable to trouble shoot it. I kept taking it back and he kept telling me the O2 sensor was bad. Sensor was replaced. CEL came back on. I would reset it. The mechanic also "reset" it. This cycle took place approx 4 times.

On the last visit, he stated that "it should not come on anymore". Now, during start up the CEL will not illuminate. I have checked the fuses on the box in the interior which all appear to be in good working order. I live outside Nashville and we have to have emissions so I do need this fixed!

The computer is issuing codes, however the CEL is not lighting up.

I assume he did not take the bulb out as I think that this would be pretty time consuming to pull the dash out to get to the bulb? Any thoughts?

 

[MStudt]

You turn your key to the start position, and the light doesn't come on? Sounds a little fishy to me. I'd check the bulb to see if it's there.

 

[TN4Runner07]

Exactly. I can turn the key to the "on" position w/o starting and no illum. Weird. I guess the only solution is to pull the cluster and see if the bulb is in there or not.

 

[animator]

It takes all of maybe 5 minutes to pull the cluster. If that's what the mechanic did, it's time to find a new one.


Or, coincidentally, the bulb could have simply burned out. I had a bad sensor that I let go long enough that the bulb burned out. Having it on for a year in a long-commuter vehicle will apparently do that. I let that go until inspection was due, and had to replace it... and then fix the sensor...

 

[MandAtaco]

Sounds fishy to me, if he did pull the bulb, I'd turn him in to the BBB and demand a refund for the work he did.

Take your runner to an auto parts store and see if the code is still there. If he didn't fix the issue, the code will still show up.

 

[jeremyc74]

Sounds like he pulled the bulb, and I'd have his ass for it. :50cal:

 

[LittleCaesar]

Why the need for a new mechanic? What was the actual CEL code?

If he pulled the bulb, he'd never pick up a wrench again.