Check Engine Light Still On. Help me TN :(

[bootcamper]

I posted this problem earlier.

2 weeks before Engine light came on. Dealership service center in my city made me change my fuel cap. $45 bucks.

Last week engine light came on again, I didn't get time to see what caused the problem right away, and then I ran down my battery one night which required me to get a jump for my car. The jump turned off the engine check light, but still suspicious that something's wrong with my car, I took my car to again to Toyota service station in San Diego and they took it in, and told me that my car's 'vacuum control valve and hose' needs to be replaced, apparently its torn open. Which they did. Parts and labor together cost me $100 bucks.

New updates. The Engine light came on again. (crap!) I took it back to Toyota San Diego, and they said, 2 of my front motor mounts are broken. Got them fix me new motor mounts. BAM!! $577+tax++new trunk clips+previous works= $755 (sigh!)

Drove my baby out from Toyota SanDiego two days ago. and today the Engine light came back on Again!!

I lost all faith in my local dealership service center. What is wrong with my car ? wish i had a computer to check the error code myself

Help me TN.

[Mike Gerber]

First of all, $45 for a gas cap is outrageous. I hope you got dinner first.

Second, the front motor mounts will have nothing to do with the check engine light. If the dealership told you it did, it's time to find another dealership.

Third, no one here can help you until you find out what the code(s) are and report back here with the codes. Call around to auto parts stores in your area and ask if they retrieve the codes from your check engine light (also referred to as the MIL light by some places) for free. Find one that does. Go there and get the codes read. Write down the codes and then report the code(s) back here. Autozone usually offers this free service, but I have heard some say that they will not do this in California, so call around first.

Mike

[bdy0003]

Which dealership was this? I want to know so I can avoid them like the plague.

Originally Posted by bootcamper

I posted this problem earlier.

I lost all faith in my local dealership service center. What is wrong with my car ? wish i had a computer to check the error code myself

[hill8570]

Well, your dealership certainly has you pegged for a sucker -- especially the last job (the engine mounts), which would never had had anything to do with a CEL.

OK, if you're tired of being a victim, hit a auto parts store for a cheap OBD2 code reader (roughly $50), and at least be able to read your own codes. Better yet, for about 3 times that, you can pick up a Scan Gauge II, which would allow you to do a lot of diagnostic work after you read the codes. Pays for itself after one avoided trip to the stealership.

[JohnGD]

From your description I think you need to find a new dealership. EVAP hose torn open? I kinda doubt that. Your service writer sees you as a big dollar sign walking in. Bet he had a big smile on his face seeing you.

If your local Autozone or other parts stores don't read codes for free, you can easily get one for <$50 when on sale. We TN members can tell you what those codes mean. I think the HF one went for $30-40 (??) at one time when on sale.

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/cta...emnumber=98568

If they had to change the gas cap my guess is it's the common P044x code for gas tank pressure leak. But the problem was really the faulty Toyota EVAP system design of that generation, not the gas cap.

Originally Posted by bootcamper

I posted this problem earlier.

2 weeks before Engine light came on. Dealership service center in my city made me change my fuel cap. $45 bucks.

Last week engine light came on again, I didn't get time to see what caused the problem right away, and then I ran down my battery one night which required me to get a jump for my car. The jump turned off the engine check light, but still suspicious that something's wrong with my car, I took my car to again to Toyota service station in San Diego and they took it in, and told me that my car's 'vacuum control valve and hose' needs to be replaced, apparently its torn open. Which they did. Parts and labor together cost me $100 bucks.

New updates. The Engine light came on again. (crap!) I took it back to Toyota San Diego, and they said, 2 of my front motor mounts are broken. Got them fix me new motor mounts. BAM!! $577+tax++new trunk clips+previous works= $755 (sigh!)

Drove my baby out from Toyota SanDiego two days ago. and today the Engine light came back on Again!!

I lost all faith in my local dealership service center. What is wrong with my car ? wish i had a computer to check the error code myself

Help me TN.

[TCam01]

dude seriously fuck your dealership i hate people like that your mounts really.... i would bitch slapped the fuck out of that man find a decent place aka not your dealership and buy a (car md)!!!! it tells you the code then on your comp tells you what the code means i had one its great and really easy to use be smart man dont pay anymore before you know the truth.... scum bags

[Mike Gerber]

bootcamper,

Do any of the receipts you received from that dealership say what the code was that was scanned?

Mike