Alright, so, I realize now that after filling up, I never heard any clicks when closing the cap. Now I made that sucker click like fifteen times. I must admit that it takes a lot more effort than my last car.
Realizing the car might need 5-10 minutes of running time to sort itself out, I'm gonna go pick up my buddy from the airport and hopefully see it clear.
If it doesn't, I'll stop by a parts store and ask them to scan/clear.
Sorry for freaking out. I read an excellent explanation written by BlackWorksInc
HERE and legitimately freaked my shit when I read the words :AK47:
transmission issue.
Thanks for the quick response guys. I'll report back with hopefully some good news soon.
Cheers!
Sorry to freak you out, it was meant as a broad stroke of what it could be. The important point in that thread I made was to get the DTCs (Diagnostic Trouble Codes) first and foremost, that way you can see what the vehicle thinks is the issue; from there you can proceed to freak out.
Its more about determining WHY the light is on, rather than stressing yourself out about "maybes" until you find out what it really is; that and most people always come on the forum going "my light is on, what's wrong with my 4Runner!" To which my typical thought is, "so... can you be more vague?
"
Right? You'd think a CEL would suffice.
The reason they did this is because OBDII (On-Board Diagnostics Generation 2) regulations dictate that an MIL (Malfunction Indicator Lamp, aka. "Check Engine Light") is to be set when an emissions related DTC is set. Typically any DTC that has to do with the powertrain will set a OBDII DTC (some transmission problems will set an OBDII DTC as well, but those are usually generic "hey I have a code stored in my factory module, use the factory scantool to find out what it is" codes), the reason this is important to realize is that all modern VSC (Vehicle Stability) and Traction Control systems work by modulating both the ABS system and de-throttling/reducing engine output to maintain stability; what this means is that the vehicle needs to know that the ABS and Powertrain controls systems are functioning properly to make VSC/TRAC function as designed. Since only a very small selection of OBDII DTCs (specifically the small range of EVAP DTCs) don't have anything to do with the engine performance some manufacturers erred on the side of caution and programmed their vehicles to respond to any OBDII DTC as an indication that the Powertrain is no longer reliable/safe to rely on for data input/output and thus disables the VSC/TRAC systems so that it will not cause improper performance that could damage the vehicle and/or driver.
For example: the computer doesn't know what DTC is set, it just knows that an OBDII DTC has been set. It could be a P2119-Throttle Body Control Malfunction in which the throttle body may have failed completely or a P0455-Gross EVAP Leak Detected (the usual "gas cap code") which will technically set the MIL on from an OBDII standard. Either way, the system is programmed to see any OBDII "generic" DTC as a possible powertrain failure and thus suspend VSC & Trac systems (you'll notice ABS should still function unless that system has also been compromised, since it does not rely on powertrain input/output values.)
I know that's a bit technical, but I hope that helps answer your questions @SolRays & [MENTION=108365]Michael M[/MENTION]
Does anyone know what the exact code is that is generated with a loose or bad gas cap?
Usually the DTCs set when a gas cap is loose is a P0455- Gross EVAP leak detected. But also any of the following may set in conjunction; P0440- EVAP System Malfunction, P0441- Incorrect EVAP Purge Flow, P0442- Leak Detected (.040" Leak), P0456- Small EVAP Leak Detected (.020" Leak)
It usually depends on when the EVAP monitor failed during the test, you're rarely going to have a .040" or .020" leak DTC set because the test will see the "Gross EVAP Leak" (far above a .040" leak) before it gets to the point of testing for itty bitty leaks (but a borderline failing gas cap could cause them), it may set the Purge Flow DTC because it doesn't detect that the system is properly sealed and purging/venting (which it would do normally if the system was sealed off, i.e. cap tight), and the P0440 is a generic EVAP Malfunction DTC that sometimes comes on.
