Update: Dash lights. Is this right?

B

biskit

New member
On Saturday I posted that we had a bunch of warning lights come on (check engine, VSC off, VSC track, and uphill assist). Some of you suggested that it may be a sensor.

And it was.

But what made the sensor trip?

According to our dealership, our car told them that there was a "small gasoline vapor leak"... which means...

The gas cap wasn't fully seated.

Now, I will say, that was one of the first things I checked. When we took delivery of the car, they stressed three things.

1) Turn the car off when filling.

2) Don't overfill the tank.

3) Make sure the gas cap is all the way on.

Patty tells me that when she filled up on Friday, she turned the cap to the point of hearing 3 clicks.

So when I checked it again after the lights came on, "too late" says the service writer... ya have to bring it back to us to reset the sensor.

Okay, uhm... are we the ONLY ones this has happened to? Or is this some knida weird Toyota querk?

How odd...

Chuck(ie)
 
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I'm pretty sure I've read that if the problem was a loose gas cap, once the tightened it the trouble lights went off afterwards. Oh and the gas cap thing, you're not the ifrst ;): ;):
 
On these newer vehicles, the computer is constantly watching fuel vapor ("evaporative") emissions. It's an EPA requirement. The 4th gen 4Runner even does a proactive test once in a while, pressurizing the gas tank with a little motor, to see what happens.

So yes, something as stupid as a loose gas cap can now throw a DTC code and trigger the Check Engine Light. I don't see why it would make the other lights come on, though.

You don't need the dealership to clear the code. If the situation has been corrected, the code will clear itself after x number of times starting the engine. (I want to say "x" is something like 20 or 40.) Or, if it bugs you, you can buy an OBD II code reader that has a clear/reset capability. The code reader will also show you the stored code(s), which you can probably get more info about here on the forum. A loose gas cap will trigger a code somewhere between P0440 and P0456.
 
A loose gas cap usually just throw the check engine light. It should not shut off the VSC, traction control and uphill assist. My guess is that if the check engine, VSC off, VSC track, and uphill assist lights are on, its more than a loose gas cap.
 
Boston_Runner said:
A loose gas cap usually just throw the check engine light. It should not shut off the VSC, traction control and uphill assist. My guess is that if the check engine, VSC off, VSC track, and uphill assist lights are on, its more than a loose gas cap.
Click to expand...

:iagree: You need to find out what code is coming up to help find the problem.

Koz
 
reviving an old thread... here goes...

My 4Runner recently showed the following CEL codes:
P0441
P0455
P0456

After finding this thread, I went outside and checked the gas cap on my 4Runner. Sure enough, it was loose and not screwed on tightly. I put the cap on tightly and today went back by Checker/O'Riellys to use their code reader/deleter. Deleted the CEL codes and the CEL never came back on! (so far... drove about 20 miles since deleting the codes).

Boston_Runner said:
A loose gas cap usually just throw the check engine light. It should not shut off the VSC, traction control and uphill assist. My guess is that if the check engine, VSC off, VSC track, and uphill assist lights are on, its more than a loose gas cap.
Click to expand...

I just wanted to bring up that this did cause my VSC to turn off. 3 lights (in addition to the CEL) came on: VSC OFF, an icon depicting a car skidding, and a light that said TRAC something or another.
 
Co.Ag.2005 said:
reviving an old thread... here goes...

My 4Runner recently showed the following CEL codes:
P0441
P0455
P0456

After finding this thread, I went outside and checked the gas cap on my 4Runner. Sure enough, it was loose and not screwed on tightly. I put the cap on tightly and today went back by Checker/O'Riellys to use their code reader/deleter. Deleted the CEL codes and the CEL never came back on! (so far... drove about 20 miles since deleting the codes).



I just wanted to bring up that this did cause my VSC to turn off. 3 lights (in addition to the CEL) came on: VSC OFF, an icon depicting a car skidding, and a light that said TRAC something or another.
Click to expand...
Recently purchased an '06 Limited with the 4.0V6, really enjoying it (upgraded from an '92 SR5 Medalist) however I am also experiencing the same problem with those sensor lights coming on every so often. So I plug my OBDII reader into the DLC3 and cannot get connection saying LINKING error. Tried the reader in my wife's '07 Corolla S and worked fine.
So I'll first try to resolve the DLC3 issue so I can get some codes from the ECU to address the first issue (VSC to turn off. 3 lights (in addition to the CEL) came on: VSC OFF, an icon depicting a car skidding, and a light that said TRAC).

Anyone have this issue with DLC3 not linking up to the ECU?
 
Same problem for me just a few weeks ago.

Checked the Forum and tried this out:

Re-seated gas cap, disconnected battery for 5 minutes, then reconnected = FIXED
 
ALLEGRO said:
Same problem for me just a few weeks ago.

Checked the Forum and tried this out:

Re-seated gas cap, disconnected battery for 5 minutes, then reconnected = FIXED
Click to expand...
Thanks for the reply Allegro.
I assume that you were only referring to the autonomous sensor lights issue? or does the solution also cover the OBDII connection as well?
 
ALLEGRO said:
Same problem for me just a few weeks ago.

Checked the Forum and tried this out:

Re-seated gas cap, disconnected battery for 5 minutes, then reconnected = FIXED
Click to expand...

I had the same issue. I re-seated gas cap and disconnected battery - problem fixed....for a short while. Lights came back on several hundred miles later.

The FINAL fix: NEW Gas Cap. New gas cap from Rock Auto...$11 shipped. Switched out gas cap, started vehicle and lights are off. Have been off now for several thousand miles.

EDIT: Lights back on again:(...must not have been the new gas cap. My friend who is a tech ran it through his scanner and it is reading evaporative system problem. He said try new gas cap, and we'll track it down if that wasn't it. So, now we're on to the next potential fix. Will post when diagnosed again.
 
Last edited:
Took the runner to the dealer, and they diagnosed it as the Charcoal (carbon) Cannister. They also want me to replace the aftermarket gas cap, said sometimes they can be faulty (I feel like this is bs, the lights were on with the old stock cap also). They want just over $600 installed. Problem is, they don't sell aftermarket cannisters, so it's gotta go through the dealer. I will re-post again if this fixes the problem.
 
07 4Runner Sport - Check Engine Light p0441 and p0455

Similar issue, CEL and "VSC OFF, an icon depicting a car skidding, and a light that said TRAC" came on.

Took to Autozone and got codes p0441 and p0455.

Tightened gas cap and need to get CEL cleared. I will report back the results.

Taking a trip to Mexico next week and the last thing I need is the vehicle to break down. Actually, if this is an EVAP issue and not just the gas cap, is their danger in me waiting to get it fixed? Will I cause damage to the vehicle?

Thanks,
DD
 
After about ten starts and stops and tightening the gas cap, the cel and all other lights went off. Was clearly the gas cap. :reddance:
 
Just had the same problem with my '04 RAV 4. Took it to the dealer and they said their code indicates I needed new charcoal cannister and a valve with it. They also said that running with those warning lights would not harm anything but with the check engine light on you won't know if you have any new problems.Decided to take it home and remove battery cables, warning lights cleared. Its only been two weeks but I hope it stays cleared because I just shipped the car to N.Y. to my son when I bought my '08 4Runner and I don't need a $600. plus bill. I will post back if the warning lights come back.
 
Okay, issued solved...finally...and not happy with dealer. They diagnosed it as charcoal canister, and potentially a faulty after market gas cap. I just purchased this new gas cap from Rock Auto, but decided to buy the $25 cap from the dealer so they couldn't use that for a lame excuse if they hadn't made the correct diagnosis. They say after market caps can sometimes be faulty.

Total repair w/ cap and canister was $657.41. Canister part was $419.94. Ten miles out of the dealer lot and lights come back on. Mother Trucker. I then read this TSB that my friend who is a mechanic showed me. Technical Service Bulletin 04804. It is an evap code TSB. Here is the link:

http://www.toyotapart.com/REPAIR_MA...,_PO452,_PO453,_PO455,_&_PO456_T-EG048-04.pdf

I brought it back to the dealer and told them not to call me until it's fixed...right. At least they gave me a rental car. They call back and say it's the Evap Purge Valve (Evap VSV). For my inconvenience they will replace at cost of part: $71.12. I told them to fix it and I'd talk with the Service Manager.

This is the problem: Had they read the TSB, they would have checked the purge valve first, replaced it, then test the system. They told me the canister was also bad, and the valve worked correctly when tested. Bull S**t. My valve just decided to go bad within ten miles off the lot:rtfm: My case was they should have replaced the valve and then tested the system. If it was still throwing codes, then replace the much more expensive part.

After not taking no for an answer, I paid nothing more (except the original effing $657.41) and drove my vehicle away. But, still feel like I just paid over six bills for a part that was probably good (charcoal canister). WTF, but at least my truck is fixed now. I wrote the dealership a letter and will leave it at that.

I don't usually take the truck to the dealer, but you will not find an aftermarket charcoal cannister. I figured if I had to buy it from them, let them install it. I was thinking they would have diagnosed it correctly the first time. I thought wrong.

Not sure if this is the same as everyone, but close. I had the check engine light, VSC OFF, and TRAC Off lights on. No swerving truck light.
 
You guys are scaring me :)

My dad has an '04 4Runner and loves it. He had an accident about about 2 months ago (not in the truck) and has been hospitalized since then. I am 250 miles away taking care of their house and his precious vehicle. I like it quite a lot myself but now I'm having these VSC issues. I've read about them a bit on here and I'm seeing lots of people with bills from the dealership in the $400-$600 range.Taking a 500 mile trip every weekend means I cannot really afford a $400 car bill.

Last night, I accidentally went over a parking lot curb - thing could not have been more than an inch high, I was going about 2 mph and I only went over it with one wheel. About 2 minutes later, the VSC lights came on as well as check engine and low tire pressure. I checked the pressure; all good. Did the gas cap thing. Nothing. It seems to be driving fine but I'm afraid to drive it too much. Could it be because of the curb? I need this car to get back and forth from the hospital, the whether will get nasty soon so I will NEED 4wd, and I don't know much about cars beyond the basics. Advice on what to do would be much appreciated. I didn't know that Autozone could give you a free code, so I guess that's my first step?? TIA!
 
I'm having a similar problem with my 08 SR5. First read P0456 code. Tightened the gas cap. Lights went off. Came back on four days later.

Just got the vehicle about a month ago. I noticed that the first time I put gas in it that the fuel cap seemed very easy to come off. Seems to have a lot of play and doesn't take much force to open it.

I plan on buying a new cap. I'll post results later.

Cain
 
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