dashboard all lit up today - help please

[JCC]

All,

I am due for a complimentary oil change at the stealership and I noticed these lights all on this morning.



The "MAINT" light usually starts blinking when I start the vehicle and stays on when the mileage is closer to time for the scheduled oil change. Not sure if the tire pressure light is accurate, but I will check my tires to make sure they are where they need to be. I am more concerned about the check engine light, slip and traction control lights as I have not seen those on before. I will find out when I leave work this afternoon if the lights continue. It could just be a service interval thing.

 

[BlackWorksInc]

The MAINT (Maintence reminder lamp) blinks on start-up about 500-ish miles before your 5k interval and then goes solid once 5k is reached. The TPMS (Tire Pressure Monitoring System) comes on solid when there is a tire pressure issue (i.e. low tire); when the TPMS blinks for about one minute on start-up and then goes solid, there is an issue with the system and a DTC (Diagnostic Trouble Code) is stored in the TPMS module (This often is a result of a dead, broken, damaged, and/or communication issue with the sensor). On the 4th gen 4Runner equipped with TPMS, the spare tire has a Tire Pressure Sensor in the tire and often goes unchecked triggering the light.

As for the MIL (Malfunction Indicator Lamp, also commonly referred to as a "check engine light"), VSC, and TRAC lights; they all will come on together when a DTC is stored that meets OBDII criteria (i.e. an emissions related problem), they will always come on together on these vehicles as this is how Toyota decided they wanted the 4Runner and some of our other vehicles to respond to a MIL On condition.

Let us know what codes you pull, we can probably help you out.

 

[JCC]

Let us know what codes you pull, we can probably help you out.

Thank you for all of the information. Should I go to AutoZone or something and let them pull codes for me? I am not sure yet when I will be going to get my comp oil changes. I am sure they will be glad to pull codes and tell me what the damage is. I have a warranty, but have not done all of the recommended services. Not sure what that might do to my warranty coverage. I did some of the recommended services myself.

 

[BlackWorksInc]

Your warranty won't really cover much diagnostic time on the vehicle, if any; you'd need to have a service writer who is compotent in dealing with extended warranties to really benefit from it to be honest. Warranty companies (Toyota's factory warranty included) royally screw technicans on diagnostic time... as well as everything else.

I would have Autozone pull the codes and see what you have if you're really worried about it; worst case you have the dealer double check it.

 

[YotaDriver]

I have no idea if this is the problem you're having or not, but often times on this site when someone posts that they've got a check engine light and the VSC lights on, it's caused by a loosely fastened or failing gas cap.

It's happened to me twice where I started the vehicle, had the lights, and when I went back to check the gas cap it was basically just balanced on top of the spout. Check that first, it's cheap (i.e., often free).

 

[JCC]

Thanks.

 

[earthrealm]

did it turn out to be the gas tank cover?...

 

[JCC]

did it turn out to be the gas tank cover?...

Negative that. A new light came on yesterday: my gas idiot light. I filled up this morning and made sure the gas cap had plenty of clicks before closing up. The lights are still all on. I will try to get the codes read soon at AutoZone and see what they say. I am hoping it is just a service interval thing since it seems to have fallen at the same time as my oil change "MAINT" indicator. They will want me to get the 100k mile maintenance, but I am sure that is a lot of money.

 

[oljedi11950]

Probably won't matter how many times you turn it down if the gasket on the cap is gone , I just bought a new one when got the dummy light !

 

[YotaDriver]

Negative that. A new light came on yesterday: my gas idiot light. I filled up this morning and made sure the gas cap had plenty of clicks before closing up. The lights are still all on. I will try to get the codes read soon at AutoZone and see what they say. I am hoping it is just a service interval thing since it seems to have fallen at the same time as my oil change "MAINT" indicator. They will want me to get the 100k mile maintenance, but I am sure that is a lot of money.

For what it's worth, the first time I had all of those lights come on in my 4runner I brought it to AutoZone to have the code pulled. It came back as an evaporative emissions code, i.e. the loose gas cap. For whatever reason the guy said he couldn't reset the code so I had to wait for it to go out by itself. By about day three I was getting a little stressed so I ordered my own OBDII reader.

Wouldn't you know it went out on its own the next day, before my reader was delivered? What I'm saying is that just because you've tightened your cap doesn't mean the lights will go out immediately. You could always disconnect your battery for a few minutes to reset things in the meantime if you're tired of waiting.

 

[earthrealm]

ok, am a little encouraged, am out of town and wifey called to tell me about the lights, hv told her to tighten the gas cap, will use my obd tool to scan in a few days when am back.....fingers crossed

 

[earthrealm]

Mine turned out to be gas cap..i scanned and got evap emissions related codes...i erased it, and tightened the gas cap...lights are gone!.......

 

[JCC]

Thanks all! I did not think about the gas cap having to be replaced. I will see about replacing it soon. Not sure if that is strictly OEM or if there are aftermarket I can get locally. Maybe AutoZone while I am there getting codes read or O'Reilly.

 

[BlackWorksInc]

Mine turned out to be gas cap..i scanned and got evap emissions related codes...i erased it, and tightened the gas cap...lights are gone!.......

The "gas cap code" as it is colloquially referred to is a P0455 and ONLY a P0455-EVAP Gross Leak Detected and that doesn't 100% mean its a gas cap, just that the system detected a leak larger than .40

Thanks all! I did not think about the gas cap having to be replaced. I will see about replacing it soon. Not sure if that is strictly OEM or if there are aftermarket I can get locally. Maybe AutoZone while I am there getting codes read or O'Reilly.

You can get Aftermarket caps from the auto-parts store no problem, let us know what codes you get.

 

[Derek]

Last week my '07 had a similar problem. I cranked it up and found the 'Check Engine', 'VSC Trac', and the traction control lights all on. Went to Advance Auto and had them scan the codes. The codes being generated were C1201 and P0456. Did some research and saw a lot of people talking about the gas cap. Went to Toyota and picked up a new OEM gas cap for $25, disconnected the battery to reset the codes, and 3 days later the lights haven't turned back on. I've heard aftermarket gas caps can be problematic on these 4Runners so be careful if you choose to not get OEM. Good luck.

 

[Derek]

Oh and the gas cap causing my issue wasn't a huge shock because it never seemed to actually tighten since I bought this 4Runner almost 2 years ago. The new one gets MUCH tighter when I turn until it clicks.

 

[JCC]

I found an OEM cap on Ebay for a little under $20 with free shipping. The stealership wants $21.something for it plus tax I am sure. They have a parts website where they have it for $16.something, but they will not match their own website's price. Weak.

 

[JCC]

codes read at AutoZone

I finally stopped at AutoZone and got the codes read. Their system printed out the below:

"Definition
Evaporative emission control system incorrect purge flow

Probably cause
1.- Leak in EVAP system
2.- Blocked EVAP purge line
3.- Faulty purge VSV"

No, I have not yet replaced my gas cap.