Toyota's Check Engine Scam.
- Thread starter Ralph Blake
- Start date
AgentKooper
New member
The last time my check engine light went on, I called the dealership. The service manager told me over the phone to tighten my gas cap. Problem solved, and I didn’t even have to drive to Wal-Mart and let them scam me out of $20.
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Explained very well DuffDog. Unfortunately, there are those that may not un understand and therefore discount the validity of the information. After a 43 year (just retired) career in electronics engineering, I have experienced this all too many times. "Watch Dog" code was always one of my favorite to work with.
THIS^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
I was going to post this myself, but it would have been in my own words and not nearly as thorough or eloquent. This is why the additional lights come on when there is a fault in the emissions system. I'm not crazy about it myself but it does that for a legitimate reason.... not a scam.
To the OP: You're entitled to your opinion, however, the anti skid and traction control lights come on along with the CEL because they feel that those systems can't adequately do their jobs while there is another fault occurring in the engine management system. Furthermore, Toyota is the most reputable manufacturer there is. When they find a problem with their vehicles they recall and fix them when others would just say it's not their fault. They've done several recalls on engines sludging up when in fact if the owners had done proper maintenance it never would have happened. They had a recall on the dashes of some models because they become sticky after time. Toyota has built their reputation as the most reliable vehicle manufacturer and they aren't about to scam anybody just so their dealerships can make a few extra bucks. Dealership service departments are a part of independently owned dealerships. Other than selling a few parts, having people bring their cars in for malfunction lights does nothing for Toyota Corporate. You think they would risk their reputation to help their dealer owners?
This was the best thing I’ve read in a while!! I love all the thoughtful accurate answers to his question that make 100% sense bc machines these days have a cpu that has to communicate with each other and his response was just to cry foul. I think his cpu is a nuero-net processor, a (non)learning computer.
daprotege5
Member
Least you can diagnose witht the scanner.
Direwolf82
New member
This was fantastic!! There appears to be both lowest common denominator and a much higher uncommon denominator at work here. Logic and facts, some people love them and understand, some people will always just kind of be drooling and looking around vacantly...
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Hopefully your problem is resolved with just the cap fix but note this response as I seen this before also.
Problem might pop up again later at which point maybe you will feel better about going to dealer. There could be an emission related issue
EddyTwin8z
New member
I guess nobody has mentioned that the check engine light will usually pop some combination of "trac off"/4wd/"vsc off" light or (depends on the model and trim level) whenever it comes on. It doesn't necessarily mean that there is a problem with that particular system, rather it is disabled whenever the check engine light comes on. Any shop worth their salt will know this and address the check engine light. It is not a scam. It is just the way the logic in the ECU is designed. Most Toyota models are similar in that multiple lights usually accompany the check engine light.
I feel this is a total trolling thread, but why the hell not....
A diagnostic trouble code doesn't tell you what to fix. It lets you know that the ecm has detected a fault, and the code narrows it down to the specific system. A cheap handheld scan tool is suggesting what to fix based on the odds.
Here's a picture of some info for P0445..EVAP large leak detected. Gas cap is first on the list, but there are other things to check as well. Gas cap is just the most simple thing to check, and because it gets removed/replaced often, a likely candidate to fix in order to turn off the cel.
A diagnostic trouble code doesn't tell you what to fix. It lets you know that the ecm has detected a fault, and the code narrows it down to the specific system. A cheap handheld scan tool is suggesting what to fix based on the odds.
Here's a picture of some info for P0445..EVAP large leak detected. Gas cap is first on the list, but there are other things to check as well. Gas cap is just the most simple thing to check, and because it gets removed/replaced often, a likely candidate to fix in order to turn off the cel.
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Aaaaaand....since I'm on a roll....if you are curious about the EVAP I/M monitor, here are the requirements for it to run. Where step c(1) mentions "Connect the Techstream to the DLC3, you can get a scan tool that shows all the I/M monitor status. This will show pass/fail/incomplete
3. EVAP SYSTEM MONITOR (KEY OFF TYPE)
(a) Preconditions
The monitor will not run unless:
The fuel tank is less than 90% full.
The altitude is less than 8000 ft (2450 m).
The vehicle is stationary.
The engine coolant temperature is between 4.4 and 35°C (40 and 95°F).
The intake air temperature is between 4.4 and 35°C (40 and 95°F).
Vehicle was driven in an urban area (or on a free-way) for 10 minutes or more.
(b) Monitor Conditions
(1) Turn the ignition switch OFF and wait for 6 hours.
HINT: Do not start the engine until checking Readiness Monitor status. If the engine is started, the step described above must be repeated.
(c) Monitor Status
(1) Connect the Techstream to the DLC3.
(2) Turn the ignition switch ON.
(3) Turn the tester or scan tool ON.
(4) Check the Readiness Monitor status displayed on the tester or scan tool.
If the status does not switch to Complete, restart the engine, make sure that the preconditions have been met, and then perform the Monitor Conditions again.
3. EVAP SYSTEM MONITOR (KEY OFF TYPE)
(a) Preconditions
The monitor will not run unless:
The fuel tank is less than 90% full.
The altitude is less than 8000 ft (2450 m).
The vehicle is stationary.
The engine coolant temperature is between 4.4 and 35°C (40 and 95°F).
The intake air temperature is between 4.4 and 35°C (40 and 95°F).
Vehicle was driven in an urban area (or on a free-way) for 10 minutes or more.
(b) Monitor Conditions
(1) Turn the ignition switch OFF and wait for 6 hours.
HINT: Do not start the engine until checking Readiness Monitor status. If the engine is started, the step described above must be repeated.
(c) Monitor Status
(1) Connect the Techstream to the DLC3.
(2) Turn the ignition switch ON.
(3) Turn the tester or scan tool ON.
(4) Check the Readiness Monitor status displayed on the tester or scan tool.
If the status does not switch to Complete, restart the engine, make sure that the preconditions have been met, and then perform the Monitor Conditions again.
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I don't really want to contribute to this needlessly inflammatory post but there are some simple facts missing here. These trucks disable a lot of the Traction Control and ABS systems automatically if an engine code is detected to protect it, because those systems arn't exactly gentle on the driveline. If you do have a legitimate problem it tries to protect itself.
I too had a bad gas cap cause my dashboard to light up like a Christmas tree and my OBD scan tool came out to tell me to put a Lexus gas cap on it, clear the code, and everything is fine.
The great part about our trucks is that even with a check engine light we can still put them in 4wd and get home which is more than a chevy owner can say. I was headed down the path of buying a Colorado ZR2 until I found out Chevy's disable 4wd if they have a check engine light lol.
I too had a bad gas cap cause my dashboard to light up like a Christmas tree and my OBD scan tool came out to tell me to put a Lexus gas cap on it, clear the code, and everything is fine.
The great part about our trucks is that even with a check engine light we can still put them in 4wd and get home which is more than a chevy owner can say. I was headed down the path of buying a Colorado ZR2 until I found out Chevy's disable 4wd if they have a check engine light lol.
Bluesky 07
Senior Member
Scam is a strong word but be very wary of any shop, dealer or not, where the service advisors are on commission. I was waiting at a dealer here in Cherokee County, GA recently and witnessed customer after customer being told they needed transmission flushes, PS flushes, wiper blades, whatever, none of those related to why they were there (based on overhearing the discussions). Some of that could be legit but you can tell from a mile away when an owner knows nothing about their car and could probably be persuaded to do an engine swap if pushed hard enough.
Which reminds me, they had a ‘22 Tundra on a lift that looked like an exploded view diagram. Everything was off this thing, almost like a frame swap. Still kicking myself for not taking a pic. It was undergoing an engine rebuild, had already been there a month, and was nowhere close to finished. Some kind of internal failure that caused catastrophic damage. Yikes.
Which reminds me, they had a ‘22 Tundra on a lift that looked like an exploded view diagram. Everything was off this thing, almost like a frame swap. Still kicking myself for not taking a pic. It was undergoing an engine rebuild, had already been there a month, and was nowhere close to finished. Some kind of internal failure that caused catastrophic damage. Yikes.
Gamblin4Runner
New member
Don't mess with Texas
The OP is from TX - they can do no wrong, know no wrong, and have done no wrong. :flypig:
Not sure why everyone here is piling on a guy that makes up a scenario in his head to be pissed about. (sarcasm) :flypig:
I mean we all know it's only a scam if you are too stupid to do any independent research. :flypig:
You will win an argument with a Texan when pigs fly. :flypig:
The OP is from TX - they can do no wrong, know no wrong, and have done no wrong. :flypig:
Not sure why everyone here is piling on a guy that makes up a scenario in his head to be pissed about. (sarcasm) :flypig:
I mean we all know it's only a scam if you are too stupid to do any independent research. :flypig:
You will win an argument with a Texan when pigs fly. :flypig:
