How serious is the Check light with the symbol of an Engine?

[biancoinpa]

Hi,

I'm on a trip with my 2003 Tundra (54000 miles), and all of a sudden a light has lit up in the lower left of the instrument panel with the word check and the symbol of an engine. Theowners manual says to take truck to a Toyota dealer. I'll search up a dealer come this Monday morning, but in the meantime can I use the truck without something serious happening?

Everything seems to be running okay. Oil pressure is okay. Could someone give me an idea of whether this is something I should check when I get back home (250 miles away), or drive minimally (to a dealer locally)?

Appreciate the input and answers. Thanks in advance.

Frankb

[bertbear]

There are many many things that can light it, some are very minor, some can be very major. Probably be ok if it is still running ok, though. Many auto parts stores can read the code for you for free and give you an idea how serious it is.

One of the simplest things that will light it is leaving the gas cap loose. Go out and check it, that one is easy!

Needless to say, keep your eyes and ears open. Oh, I probably would get it checked asap if you are going through a desert or some other inhospitable area with the family.

[hotrodtundra]

A check engine light that comes on and doesn't blink is like it is saying hey there is something wrong going on with me, get me checked out sometime soon. If the check engine light blinks, then you have some serious problem. Blinking check engine light means possible engine damage could occur. As long as its not blinking, I'd say you are good to make it home. I agree with bertbear about taking it to a local autoparts store and get them to give you an idea about what is going on with that check engine light and also just pay attention to the way the vehicle is running. Hope its not anything serious. Have a good trip.

[millsp]

Like Bear said the most common reason for vehicles to throw a CEL these days is for a loose gas cap. Check that first.

And as Hotrod said most all Auto-part stores will check the code for you for free. Places like Auto Zone and Pep Boys.

[Jobe]

my 03 access cab was plagued with this. i hooked up a diagnostic reader and it was an error code for some low evaporative leak. tightening the gas cap didnt work. i just ignored it cuz i didnt wanna have to pay the dealer to diagnose the issue to fix a hose with some tape. so i traded it and got an 08 double cab. problem solved. hahaha

[bertbear]

Here in Cali the vehicle won't pass the smog check if the light is lit, even for a tranny problem. And if you sell a vehicle you are responsible for it passing smog as part of the sale. It can be a real PITA. (And removing the bulb doesn't help, since they plug the smog check machine right into the computer port on the car, and the computer tattles on you) There was some advantages to noncomputerized vehicles.

[LuvMyTruck]

Originally Posted by Jobe

my 03 access cab was plagued with this. i hooked up a diagnostic reader and it was an error code for some low evaporative leak. tightening the gas cap didnt work. i just ignored it cuz i didnt wanna have to pay the dealer to diagnose the issue to fix a hose with some tape. so i traded it and got an 08 double cab. problem solved. hahaha

This was me to a T!! I didn't know what to do with the new tundra that didn't have check engine light one all the time.

[5 Speed]

The best mod you can do is buy a ScanGauge and mount it inside your Tundra. As soon as the cel comes on you can scan it and check the code and turn off the light if it was a loose cap or something that will go away when you cycle the vehicle. Of course it could throw the code again if the sensor or part is bad. I throw a p0420 CEL on my V6 every 6 months or so and that says that the cat is bad. Reset the code and it is fine. Had the vehicle smog tested and it is perfect. There could be a slight exhaust leak before the cat at the joint and that would throw the same code but it only throws the code every 6 months or so so I won't worry until I can't reset it. Most of the CEL are for the emissions but they can also be for the MAF sensor and when it goes bad the vehicle won't operate in closed loop mode and goes into default mode where some people said could cook a cat. By the way you can see if you vehicle is operating in closed or open loop too with the ScanGauge

[biancoinpa]

Hi all,
Well. I drove about 100 miles today and the truck seems to be running normally. I checked the gas cap, especially since I'd switched to a Pep Boys lockable cap. Changed back to the Tolyota variety and the light stayed on.
I phoned a local Pep Boys store and learned that they don't do any servicing on Sunday, and if I brought the truck in tomorrow, it would cost $80 to hook it up to the computer and run the diagnostic. So, I'll pay special attention, cross my fingers, and drive back home tomorrow. Thanks for all the replies. They helped.
Frankb

[socaliallstar82]

I HATE to do this...but if you goto aamco, they will read the code and tell you what it is for free. But dont let those bastards do anything else to your truck.

[MKYOTA]

my money is on p0135 or p0155 (those are the O2 sensor codes if I am not mistaken) Especially since the gas cap is not the issue and the truck is running good. There are several things it could be but if I had to put my life on it I would say one of those two. Make sure that if it is you talk to the dealership about the Tundra service bulletin about the extension of the factory warning on the O2 sensors.

[Ando140]

Auto Zone will check them out for free, I've tried several other auto parts stores, and Auto Zone is the only one that I've found that will do it. Whatever it is, even if you fix the problem, the code won't clear immediately unless you clear it with the reader. It'll take a few trips to clear it out, so if it's the gas cap, you'll have to drive for awhile (maybe a few days) before the light will go out. When I changed my O2 sensor, it took 3 days and 7 trips before it finally went out.

[Ltning/QC10nomas]

Originally Posted by bertbear

Here in Cali the vehicle won't pass the smog check if the light is lit, even for a tranny problem. And if you sell a vehicle you are responsible for it passing smog as part of the sale. It can be a real PITA. (And removing the bulb doesn't help, since they plug the smog check machine right into the computer port on the car, and the computer tattles on you) There was some advantages to noncomputerized vehicles.

I knew I did the right thing in the early 90's when I divorced her and left Rancho Cucamonga ( and CA )

If you disconnect the battery will it not go out immediately if fixed?

Autozone does it for free also.

[5 Speed]

You replaced the gas cap with an aftermarket cap - bingo. The light won't go out if you put the old one back on. The vehicle has to go through a number of use cycles and it can't throw the code for the light to go off. It will take a couple of days to get the amount of cycles. If they are going to charge you 80 bucks to hook it up... That is over 50% of the cost of a new scangauge and then you can check your codes forever. It can even be moved to different vehicles, charge your friends beer to check their vehicle. I also have a code reader that only cost about 100 dollars. It is an auto-xray and is very nice but won't give the mpg, rpms, H20 temp etc.

[gsxrsquid]

my money is on O2 sensor