2002 Camry "Check Engine" Light - Toyota Nation Forum : Toyota Car and Truck Forums

ChristineVA · 02-19-2006, 08:53 AM

Hi everyone! Great forum here. I'm hoping someone can provide me with some quick suggestions.

I have a 2002 Camry with approximately 80,000 miles on it. Great car, never, ever any trouble with it.

Now, of course, this weekend my husband and son have decided to go to a ski resort that is 4 hours from here. Husband just calls to tell me that the "Check Engine" light has come on. Yet the car is running fine. He drove up there for 4 hours and it was fine. The light has come on since he has been there.

The only thing he can think is that it is SEVERELY cold there (it was only 6 degrees yesterday). I just had the car serviced last month and, as I was told, all fluids were flushed/replaced, etc. I'm wondering if this light is on due to the severe temps. We rarely ever get those temperatures here.

Besides this, is there anything else that comes to mind that he could check into. I have visions of the car breaking down in Pennsylvania or while they are on their way home tomorrow. Getting it towed and getting them back down here will be quite the nightmare.

I would appreciate ANY help or advice. Thank you.
Christine

BlackCamSe · 02-19-2006, 09:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ChristineVA

Hi everyone! Great forum here. I'm hoping someone can provide me with some quick suggestions.

I have a 2002 Camry with approximately 80,000 miles on it. Great car, never, ever any trouble with it.

Now, of course, this weekend my husband and son have decided to go to a ski resort that is 4 hours from here. Husband just calls to tell me that the "Check Engine" light has come on. Yet the car is running fine. He drove up there for 4 hours and it was fine. The light has come on since he has been there.

The only thing he can think is that it is SEVERELY cold there (it was only 6 degrees yesterday). I just had the car serviced last month and, as I was told, all fluids were flushed/replaced, etc. I'm wondering if this light is on due to the severe temps. We rarely ever get those temperatures here.

Besides this, is there anything else that comes to mind that he could check into. I have visions of the car breaking down in Pennsylvania or while they are on their way home tomorrow. Getting it towed and getting them back down here will be quite the nightmare.

I would appreciate ANY help or advice. Thank you.
Christine

Weather could be the cause but it is not likley. I had a 2003 before i got my 2005 and in the winter my thermostat went and caused my check engine light to come on. And dont worry the camry wont quit on them all cars have a limp-home mode if worse comes to worse they will mostlikly make it with out it brakeing down

Mike Gerber · 02-19-2006, 12:31 PM

Weather has nothing to do with it. The ECU (computer) has detected some sensor is out of range. You or your husband can take the car to Autozone and they will plug in to the OBD2 (On board diagnostics generation 2) port and they will read the code for free. (All cars manufactured for sale in the US since 1996 have this standardized port.) Then you can report the code back here and someone will be able to advise you on what to do next.

Like the poster stated above, the car should not stop running. It is just telling you that some sensor is not working properly and this should be checked out. He should make it home safely, but get it checked out as soon as possible after that.

Mike

ChristineVA · 02-19-2006, 01:55 PM

Thanks. I will give him the Autozone suggestion. He is in a very small town, so I'm not sure if they have one. He'll be back in town tomorrow though and we do have one here.
Thank you again for your suggestions.
Christine

tonyreo · 02-19-2006, 05:23 PM

Is it possible that he put gas in the car on the trip and didn't put the gas cap on properly?
This will give you a check engine light.

Mike Gerber · 02-20-2006, 05:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tonyreo

Is it possible that he put gas in the car on the trip and didn't put the gas cap on properly?
This will give you a check engine light.

tonyreo brings up a good point here. Have him check the gas cap for tightness.

Mike

Cyorke · 02-20-2006, 05:36 PM

The gas cap thing is probably the most common reason for the check engine light to come on with OBDII cars. People putgas in the car while it is running and the light will come on. Or they dont turn the gas cap til it clicks and this will cause the light to turn on. If the car is running fine then he should be ok to drive it back home. However he may notice a slight decline in fuel economy. I say he may, notice a decline but not for sure will. Like others said take it to AUtozone and have them read the codes. If it has anything to do with the gas cap they should be able to clear the codes and you can drive it to see if the light comes on again.

ChristineVA · 02-21-2006, 03:30 PM

Okay, finally got my car to the dealer. Autozone would not help.

Unfortunately, the traffic was so bad yesterday, I could not get it to my "regular" dealer for checkout and had to go to the one close to my home (I don't care for them but I was hoping this was something simple). They said that I need a new catalytic converter and a I have an oil pan leak.

This Camry has 80,500 miles on it.

I called the dealership that I normally use and they said that they might be wrong about the oil leak and that they would try to work with Toyota Corp and me on the catalytic converter because I am just over the warranty. But there is no guarantee. Hubby is on the phone now with Toyota Corp.

I'm aghast that I'm having these problems. I'm inclined to take it to my preferred dealer, but I just blew $90 and the "bad" dealer.

Any ideas here?
Christine

drunken_panda · 02-21-2006, 03:56 PM

Isn't emissions covered for 100K?

ChristineVA · 02-21-2006, 04:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by drunken_panda

Isn't emissions covered for 100K?

I was told 8 years/80K. I'm at 80,500.

JMSinMD · 02-21-2006, 04:50 PM

The light came on BEFORE 80,000 on his way up.

. I would get the code read again because Toyota catalytic converters usually don't go out so early. I wouldn't be too concerned about the 1st dealership. Service "Advisors" are paid on a commission basis, the more work they recommend and the more they charge you the more they make. I have a Toyota mechanic I trust completely and his word goes, I disregard what the service advisors say. I also go to the Toyota dealerships website's, print up coupons and then have the dealer match the prices. Good luck. Jon.

ChristineVA · 02-22-2006, 06:35 AM

Thanks.

After much haggling with this particular dealer and threatening to pull the car out, they contacted the Toyota regional manager, who has agreed to replace the part (catalytic converter) for free. I will just be charged labor.

I'm not letting them touch the oil pan. We will check that out ourselves and, worst case, get a second opinion from another mechanic.

I sure wish I could find a "trusted" Toyota mechanic. So far, no luck around here.

Mike Gerber · 02-22-2006, 02:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ChristineVA

Thanks.

After much haggling with this particular dealer and threatening to pull the car out, they contacted the Toyota regional manager, who has agreed to replace the part (catalytic converter) for free. I will just be charged labor.

I'm not letting them touch the oil pan. We will check that out ourselves and, worst case, get a second opinion from another mechanic.

I sure wish I could find a "trusted" Toyota mechanic. So far, no luck around here.

Glad it worked out for you the way it did. If the dealer didn't contact Toyota for you, I was going to recommend you do it. What JMSinMD said is true, the light came on before 80,000 miles. You were on a trip and couldn't stop at that time.

Since your car is now out of warranty, I would ask friends and neighbors for a good independent mechanic. They can do many of the things dealers can do, at slighly better prices and are usually more conveinent. If an independent mechanic can't fix something, then you can always opt to take the car to a dealer.

Mike

ShawnM · 02-22-2006, 02:59 PM

Glad to hear they at least covered part of the expense. Just out of curiousity, what kind of gas have you been using?

hooRAH · 02-22-2006, 03:11 PM

Chances are you got the code for catalyst efficiency below threshold, which can (but not necessarily) mean that the rear O2 sensor isn't functioning right. I'm suprised they offered to replace the catalytic converter so quickly. How much is labor on it? For your sake, you might hope that they're wrong. That way, you get a free new cat and they might even replace the sensor for free since they were wrong. Might.

Not to rub salt in your wounds, but you could have purchased an OBDII code reader for the 90$ you paid to take it to the dealer.