check engine light 2000 4runner 3RZ-FE

[PossumJenkins]

Yesterday out of no where I had a check engine light pop up. I have checked all of the obvious things that can trigger the message i.e gas cap, vacuum lines, leaking fluids, holes in catalytic converter and nothing seems out of place. Any suggestions....or thoughts....?

 

[techno]

There are many causes for CEL's. The best way to trouble shoot this is to get the OBDII scan code. Go to your nearest auto parts store and they will be able to plug a scanner in to your ECM and that will give you a code (This won't cost you anything). The code will start with the letter 'P' and have four numbers (eg: P0140).

Post the code on here and everyone should be able to help, or you can search for other threads with that code in them and perhaps find a solution.

 

[PossumJenkins]

Thanks!

 

[mistaj0hnny]

I'm not sure if it's just the '01 or not...but when I had the CEL, my gas cap wasn't tightened. The light turned off about a week later

 

[RR90]

Could be the MAF Sensor

I have a '00 also & had the same problem around 100k. Check Engine light would come on periodically... After several trips back to my mechanic, they ended up just replacing it - I think I paid a couple hundred, the sensor itself is a spendy little part. After more research, it seems to be one of the very few design flaws the T4R has. Now at 178k, it's just starting to come back on again... but engine runs great so I might just ignore this time around.

 

[PossumJenkins]

Oddly enough I went to a local shop and had them run a scan and it turned out to be a #2 cylinder misfire on a cold start.... strange because I only have 64k on it and its only a 2000. The guy at the shop said it may be a bad injector but I dont necessarily agree with that because it is running like a champ and since it happened on a cold start I am leaning towards a bad spark plug or wire. I had them reset the system so I can see if it happens again. So far so good got in it this morning and nothing came up.

 

[RR90]

Sounds similar...

Oddly enough I went to a local shop and had them run a scan and it turned out to be a #2 cylinder misfire on a cold start.... strange because I only have 64k on it and its only a 2000. The guy at the shop said it may be a bad injector but I dont necessarily agree with that because it is running like a champ and since it happened on a cold start I am leaning towards a bad spark plug or wire. I had them reset the system so I can see if it happens again. So far so good got in it this morning and nothing came up.

That sounds similar to what I went through. The shop ran multiple scans (on different trips) and the results gave "vague" multiple possibilities. I remember discussing with them about hot vs cold times I saw the chk eng light trying to diagnose. Like yours, mine was also running great with no noticeable problems. I'm by no means any expert - just suggesting you look at the MAF sensor as a possible cause for your engine light.

There're several posts about cleaning the MAF here (and online) it sounds very farily simple to do & easy to get to - so that's what I'll try on this second go-around at 180k (mine starting to "occassionally" light up again). Good luck and please post what you find out.

 

[ambush]

Also Check

you MAF. I thought mine was the O2 sensor according to the scan but i kept thinking you know if may be the MAF.
Take that bad boy out and CLEAN it!

Light went off and has been off since.

Thanks

 

[PossumJenkins]

So far so good....its been two days now and it hasnt come back on. I have noticed very recenlty that when idling its shaking more than usual and making a bit more noise than normal for this motor. I am somewhat contributing this to living in Phoenix and having shitty gas and really hot dry weather. I have always used Chevron gas since I bought it 2 1/2 years ago with 16k miles, but we get the worst gas you can imagine out here and its basically watered down 87 octance. This weekend I am going to pull my plugs and check my wires and distributor for a any problems. Will let you know if I find anything or if it is something other than what I am thinking it is.

 

[Shahman]

Is it possible that the CEL comes on due to low Oil? I just changed the oil and the light is still on. Is there a way to reset the CEL? Like on newer Toyotas?!?

 

[techno]

You can reset the CEL by disconnecting the battery for a minute or two. Or you can fix the problem. You need to get the error code from the ECM and go from there.

Oil levels won't trip the CEL, but low oil pressure will trip the oil pressure warning light on the dash.