engine check light on...HELP

[97runnerBC]

Hey everyone....I'm a very concerned student[on a budget lol] &
my check engine light came on the other day. Once I started it my 4x4 shifter began to vibrate like crazy & while I was on the road I found when I got up to 60km the engine wasn't running the same as usual. My runner has 112,000 miles* on it and I've yet to have a problem with it....my parents bought it at 75,000 miles and I have been driving it the past year & a half. My landlord took a look at it and told me it was most likely my timing belt....which he told me needs to get replaced every 100,000 clicks or so????
Anyways any feed back will be greatly appreciated......thanks.


[email protected]- aka 'The Newbie' lol

 

[97runnerBC]

P.S. I figured I'd come to you guys/girls first before taking it to the sharks at toyota hahaha any input would be GOLDEN.
I just recently got the oil changed, tranny flushed and all the fluids filled up before this problem occured.

 

[mikes4runner]

You should change the timming belt with that many miles but I am not sure that is where your problem lies. And unless you do it yourself it will cost you$$$.

If you got a CEL I would take it to Autozone or the like and have them pull the codes for you.

Could be something simple.

 

[Mark86]

I was once having a problem (not like yours) and the service manager was explaining to me how the computers in the 4Runner work. I don't know if this is your issue, but did you get gas recently and leave the engine running? He told me that if you do, the check engine light will come on and the engine will make weird noises because of just leaving the engine on while getting gas. He said there is nothing wrong and it will go off after a few days. I just thought I would throw that out there as a possibility. I don't know if it is true, it is just what I was told by my dealer.

 

[slowginjoe]

I was once having a problem (not like yours) and the service manager was explaining to me how the computers in the 4Runner work. I don't know if this is your issue, but did you get gas recently and leave the engine running? He told me that if you do, the check engine light will come on and the engine will make weird noises because of just leaving the engine on while getting gas. He said there is nothing wrong and it will go off after a few days. I just thought I would throw that out there as a possibility. I don't know if it is true, it is just what I was told by my dealer.

the same thing will happen if the gas cap is not put back on right even if the engine was off during fueling. the check engine light comes on if there is no vacuum in the fuel system. check the gas cap and make sure to turn it until it clicks. if that was the problem the check engine light will go away after a couple trips.

 

[97runnerBC]

thanks alot guys...I appreciate the help..... I believe it might've been the gas cap issue??? Today, my landlord re-set my battery and the check engine light turned off.........all of a sudden it seems my cars back to normal hmmmmmm....we'll see if the rumble/vibration goes away for good.......

 

[mikes4runner]

thanks alot guys...I appreciate the help..... I believe it might've been the gas cap issue??? Today, my landlord re-set my battery and the check engine light turned off.........all of a sudden it seems my cars back to normal hmmmmmm....we'll see if the rumble/vibration goes away for good.......

NO offense to your landlord but he almost sent you down a very $$$$$ path with the timming belt.

Glad you came here first

 

[MJB]

I hope that was the problem and it is now fixed. But I must forewarn you, I'm going through a "check engine" problem myself as we speak. Even though your engine light went out, disconnecting the battery is a quick fix, but it doesn't necessarily reset the computer. In order to reset the system, a diagnostic test needs to be done where the technician clears the codes which turns out the engine light. You have to drive several miles in order for the computer to truly reset itself. I went through this twice now and each time the light came on. The first after I drove 150 miles, then again after 250 miles. Hopefully this won't be the case in your situation. Good luck!! My situation must be more involved which brings me to post my own topic. My VSC and engine lights came on together. Maybe someone else out there had a VSC situation I can hear about....

 

[Good Times]

What year vehicle do you have?

If you have an OBDI computer, then it'll get cleared everytime you reset the battery. IF you have an OBDII computer, it won't get cleared and the problem will come back.

The only way to clear OBDII CEL's are to clear it using a scan tool.

btw, since you do have alot of miles, you might want to consider checking your timing belt along w/ all the plugs etc etc. Doesn't hurt to do a physical inspection and replace/repair any parts needed.

As for driving in 4x4, depending on what model you have it's not recommended to drive the 4x4 system on hard surface. Please consult your manual for more details.

 

[GRIMACE]

Is that miles or Kms??

Check your gas cap to make sure its on . You might have done something to the O2 sensor. I left mine off once and the light came on.

If you need a realiable person to fix your runner, try Seven Rocks on Kingsway and Slocan. Ask for Ken. He's an ex-toyota mechanic. He works on my truck all the time.

If you need to go to the dealer.Go to Regency Toyota in Burnaby. Ask for Jose. He's pretty fair too

Dave

 

[MJB]

What year vehicle do you have?

If you have an OBDI computer, then it'll get cleared everytime you reset the battery. IF you have an OBDII computer, it won't get cleared and the problem will come back.

The only way to clear OBDII CEL's are to clear it using a scan tool.

btw, since you do have alot of miles, you might want to consider checking your timing belt along w/ all the plugs etc etc. Doesn't hurt to do a physical inspection and replace/repair any parts needed.

As for driving in 4x4, depending on what model you have it's not recommended to drive the 4x4 system on hard surface. Please consult your manual for more details.

I have a 2002. I think it has an OBDII computer, but not positive. I would imagine with a newer model, it would have a more current computer. I've taken it to a Toyota dealer as well as my Toyota mechanic. Both instances the light came back on after they cleared the codes. I only have 51,000 miles and don't have the $ to have a dealer pick my 4Runner apart to find out why the light keeps coming on. It's not a gas cap issue, because I am aware of that. Just waiting to hear back from my mechanic to see if he can figure something out because the dealer doesn't have a clue what the problem is...figure that one out, they should be the experts!!!

 

[Good Times]

I have a 2002. I think it has an OBDII computer, but not positive. I would imagine with a newer model, it would have a more current computer. I've taken it to a Toyota dealer as well as my Toyota mechanic. Both instances the light came back on after they cleared the codes. I only have 51,000 miles and don't have the $ to have a dealer pick my 4Runner apart to find out why the light keeps coming on. It's not a gas cap issue, because I am aware of that. Just waiting to hear back from my mechanic to see if he can figure something out because the dealer doesn't have a clue what the problem is...figure that one out, they should be the experts!!!

You have a obdii computer. Therefore, if you keep on getting the CEL, you should be able to find out what the codes are for your problem. THis is easy to do and this is the first thing all dealers do. Once they find out what the codes are, it's relatively easy to diagnose and fix the problem.

If you don't want to deal w/ the the dealer, find a local autozone and have them pull the codes for you (free to do if they offer the service) and then tell us the codes so we can help you figure out what the problem is.

good luck

 

[MJB]

You have a obdii computer. Therefore, if you keep on getting the CEL, you should be able to find out what the codes are for your problem. THis is easy to do and this is the first thing all dealers do. Once they find out what the codes are, it's relatively easy to diagnose and fix the problem.

If you don't want to deal w/ the the dealer, find a local autozone and have them pull the codes for you (free to do if they offer the service) and then tell us the codes so we can help you figure out what the problem is.

good luck

The dealer said the code was 446 which is an evaporative emission leak. They did a smoker test and no leaks were found. My question is after the codes were cleared and the lights came back on - each time - the VSC lights come on with the engine light. VSC has nothing to do with an emission leak. Somehow I will get to the bottom of it. My truck is running fine. Maybe it's a faulty computer chip that needs to be replaced. The computer does not show that there is a bad sensor.

By the way, are you a mechanic or just know about 4Runners or just experience...?

 

[Good Times]

P0446 code is indeed a evap issue. I had the same problem and it turned out to be a bad sensor sender at the throttle body. Alot of people have had similar issues on this and seems to be a bad sensor. The computer won't be able to diagnose what is wrong outside of what the error is. All mechanics have a long list of procedures they must follow for each error code so they should be able to fix the problem as long as they are thorough. Hell I didn't trust the dealer so I just got the codes pulled and then went straight to the service manual so I can see what was wrong myself.

anway, the vsc/abs lights should go on as it is disrupting all signals into the computer thus causing errors elsewhere.

I'd let the stealers take care of this one as it can get expensive if you're outside of the warranty. Maybe you might still be able to get it fixed under the warranty if the stealers are nice too.

good luck

 

[Good Times]

experience

definitely not a mechanic by any standard

 

[MJB]

P0446 code is indeed a evap issue. I had the same problem and it turned out to be a bad sensor sender at the throttle body. Alot of people have had similar issues on this and seems to be a bad sensor. The computer won't be able to diagnose what is wrong outside of what the error is. All mechanics have a long list of procedures they must follow for each error code so they should be able to fix the problem as long as they are thorough. Hell I didn't trust the dealer so I just got the codes pulled and then went straight to the service manual so I can see what was wrong myself.

anway, the vsc/abs lights should go on as it is disrupting all signals into the computer thus causing errors elsewhere.

I'd let the stealers take care of this one as it can get expensive if you're outside of the warranty. Maybe you might still be able to get it fixed under the warranty if the stealers are nice too.

good luck

Thanks for your input. I'm going to give this info to my mechanic to see what he says/thinks. I will certainly see if this can be covered by warranty - I've always taken it to the dealer while under warranty for service. I'm a bit over the 36,000 mile warranty, but I'll give it a try.

So, how's the weather in Sunny SoCal? .....I'm a transplant from Redondo Beach 10 years ago and moved to Pennsylvania. Definitely different but a nice change.

 

[Good Times]

ahh the weather here is fabulous as usual couldn't ask for anything better.

btw rb is a nice place!

good luck on the repairs

 

[97runnerBC]

so my '97 has the odii computer? Also, I'm kind of confused.....even though my check engine lights off I should still get the codes pulled??? everything feels fine in my car....except for this one morning after the check engine light turned off; there was still that rumble/vibration in my car. However, once my car was warmed up it went away. ahhhhhhhhhhh it sucks not knowing about cars!!! thanks for the constant replies back.....L8

P.S. I checked my gas cap....it was on right.....but it was only when I turned it that I heard the 'click'.........

 

[97runnerBC]

my parents live in CA too.....the weather's flawless.....damn you! hahah just joking. Soak up in the sun for the both of us.
I live in beautiful British Columbia.....only down side is the never ending rain this time of year

 

[97runnerBC]

hey I was just reading Cincy4runna's post about his/her engine having the jitters. He/She said they replaced their fuel filter and the PCV valve to fix the problem.........does anyone think I'm in the same boat????