Check Engine Light On Briefly...

Thai · #1 (**permalink**) 04-01-2005, 09:43 AM

Yesterday after work, while leaving, the Check Engine Light came on. I was fairly low in gas but have been before and it never came on. After a stop or two with the engine completely shut off and keys out of the ignition, it was still on.

Then I went and got gas and only then it went off. Strange 'cause my fuel light wasn't on, I wasn't that low on gas. I did accellerate a little harder than usual when I was leaving work with that low of gas but still... Any ideas?

Maybe when I was accellerating, the gas got pushed back and the fuel pump had to work extra harder than normal? It ran fine at the time and still does.

Any ideas? It hasn't come on since and hope to never see it again.

ibleedblue · #2 (**permalink**) 04-01-2005, 10:34 AM

Was the fuel cap tight? A lose fuel cap will cause the check engine light to come on and it's one of the few things that will actually reset the light on it's own. If it were anything major the light would have stayed on.

Thai · #3 (**permalink**) 04-01-2005, 10:41 AM

I'm pretty sure the fuel cap was on tight.

Any other causes that would allow it reset on it's own?

TAHOEtoSLOtaco · #4 (**permalink**) 04-01-2005, 12:12 PM

What is your mileage? because mine started blinking when I got close to 5000 because it automatically counts out 5000 for an oil change. It would blink when I started up my truck for a little bit and then would stop after a while.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Thai

I'm pretty sure the fuel cap was on tight.

Any other causes that would allow it reset on it's own?

Thai · #5 (**permalink**) 04-01-2005, 12:19 PM

It has about 33K miles on it now. It doesn't blink or anything... probably do an oil change this weekend 'cause I don't know when it was changed last when I bought it used from the dealership about 3 weeks ago.

Thai · #6 (**permalink**) 04-10-2005, 11:34 AM

Yesterday it did it again. Came on for a good part of the day. Then went off again. Both times it came on, I didn't let the truck warm up much... maybe 20 seconds.

I'm starting to think that something needs to warm up before I drive away or else it gives a false signal or something. Any ideas?

Also, If I go and buy a reader, where does it plug in?

Thanks.

imjin · #7 (**permalink**) 04-10-2005, 11:41 AM

You could try buying one of the OBD-II scanners and get a read on what it's trying to tell you. Here's a couple of links to some.

http://obddiagnostics.com/

http://www.myscantool.com/order.html

The connector looks like this...

OBD-II Connector

Thai · #8 (**permalink**) 04-13-2005, 08:55 PM

I just thought of something... The first time my Engine Light came on, it would have recorded the DTC Code. Then after a bit it went off. Then the 2nd time it went back on, does that mean that it's a NEW code it's reporting? Or maybe the same one? If so, then holy crap, I'm looking at 3 or 4 different codes so far!

It's going to the dealer tomorrow for the diagnostics, this is bothering me to much to wait for a 2 week delivery time on something purchased online. And I'm not ready to pay $250 CDN for a OBD II Reader from Canadian Tire that costs literally 1/2 that on ebay.

ibleedblue · #9 (**permalink**) 04-13-2005, 09:01 PM

I doubt it's different codes tripping the light. I think taking it to the dealer and having them hook up the OBD is the best option. It'll probably cost you a few bucks, but at least you'll have some peace of mind. Post back when they tell you what the problem is!

mustang67408 · #10 (**permalink**) 04-14-2005, 12:38 AM

Check your air cleaner box. On the side of the air cleaner box is a Vacuum switching valve (CCV-VSV). most people when they have the oil changed, whomever changes the oil usually looks at the air filter. When they open the air ceaner box to look at the filter inside, they usually knock the hose off of the CCV VSV that is bolted to the side of the aircleaner. Re-attatch it and the light should go out soon, or go to an autoparts store and ask them to READ the code (record it) and then clear it. That hose usually throws a P0441/p0442/p0446.
Lets us know

mustang67408 · #11 (**permalink**) 04-14-2005, 12:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TAHOEtoSLOtaco

What is your mileage? because mine started blinking when I got close to 5000 because it automatically counts out 5000 for an oil change. It would blink when I started up my truck for a little bit and then would stop after a while.

The engine light wont flash when you near 5000 miles. Your "MAINT" light flashes to remind you of that.

Thai · #12 (**permalink**) 04-14-2005, 09:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mustang67408

Check your air cleaner box. On the side of the air cleaner box is a Vacuum switching valve (CCV-VSV). most people when they have the oil changed, whomever changes the oil usually looks at the air filter. When they open the air ceaner box to look at the filter inside, they usually knock the hose off of the CCV VSV that is bolted to the side of the aircleaner. Re-attatch it and the light should go out soon, or go to an autoparts store and ask them to READ the code (record it) and then clear it. That hose usually throws a P0441/p0442/p0446.
Lets us know

I actually decided to explore under the hood this morning, before reading this post and low and behold, the oil change guy had inadvertedly disconnected the vacuum hose from the airbox. I reconnected it and it's still on, will probably go off later.

I still have my appointment with Toyota later this evening. Still gonna have them see what else it's been recording 'cause the light had gone on before the oil change as well.

mustang67408 · #13 (**permalink**) 04-14-2005, 11:57 AM

Please let us know what they find, I am curious

Thai · #14 (**permalink**) 04-14-2005, 09:37 PM

Just got back from Toyota. The code showing is P0441. They think it may be related to one of the campaigns that has not been yet performed on my truck so I have an appointment for that next Wed. In the meantime, they reseted the light and we'll see from there.

Worst case scenerio, they told me it'd be the charcoal canister which would run about $700!

Fingers crossed it's just the one campaign.