Check Engine Light: 2006 Camry 2.4L - Code P0442...I think.

[ProperElite]

The other day, I was driving in town (no more than 40-45mph) and all of a sudden my Check Engine Light came on and it concerned me. I drove over to my local Toyota dealership and their service department was closed but a salesman said that 90% of the time it is usually the gas cap. We checked it and it seemed to be alright (tightened).

Still concerned, I went to AutoZone where they took their device to diagnose the problem and the guy said it had something to do with "Emissions Leak" and said that it could be as small as a hairline crack in the gas cap and suggested replacing the gas cap. I looked on the screen and I THINK it said code P0442, I could be wrong...but I am pretty sure that is what it said. He reset the light and it came back on the next day. I took it to my Toyota dealership and they wanted $50 just to diagnose the problem, but I imagine that their computers give greater detail than the ones at AutoZone...correct?

The service adviser at the dealership said to start with replacing the gas cap and see if that does anything. So I went ahead and purchased an OEM gas cap (it was only $20). She then told me that it will take a while for the check engine light to go off, *IF* the problem was indeed the gas cap.

I just wanted to see if anybody knew how long it takes for the light to go off. I was going to take it back to AutoZone to get them to reset it again but I wanted to just let it try and work itself out naturally. What time frame do I have before anything gets "serious"?

By the way, my car is a 2006 and has just under 67,000 miles on it. Thanks in advance for the replies.

[TrailDust]

Give it a few days to reset on its own, and if it doesn't reset take it back to AutoZone and have them do it. One caveat, though, and that is some stores will not reset for liability reasons and/or they'll charge for the reset, but if memory serves stores like Advance Autoparts will reset for free.

[AlmightyCamry777]

I bought my own OBD II scanner from harbor freight for $30. It reads the code and resets the CEL. You don't have to buy anything though, to shut the CEL off. Simply disconnect the battery (negaitve cable) for 4 or 5 minutes then reattach. (With engine OFF of course).
This will shut off the CEL (unless something is still wrong in which case, it will blink back on after a while). It will also erase all your programmed radio stations and clock so you will have to reset those.

[BlackG5]

Originally Posted by ProperElite

The other day, I was driving in town (no more than 40-45mph) and all of a sudden my Check Engine Light came on and it concerned me. I drove over to my local Toyota dealership and their service department was closed but a salesman said that 90% of the time it is usually the gas cap. We checked it and it seemed to be alright (tightened).

Still concerned, I went to AutoZone where they took their device to diagnose the problem and the guy said it had something to do with "Emissions Leak" and said that it could be as small as a hairline crack in the gas cap and suggested replacing the gas cap. I looked on the screen and I THINK it said code P0442, I could be wrong...but I am pretty sure that is what it said. He reset the light and it came back on the next day. I took it to my Toyota dealership and they wanted $50 just to diagnose the problem, but I imagine that their computers give greater detail than the ones at AutoZone...correct?

The service adviser at the dealership said to start with replacing the gas cap and see if that does anything. So I went ahead and purchased an OEM gas cap (it was only $20). She then told me that it will take a while for the check engine light to go off, *IF* the problem was indeed the gas cap.

I just wanted to see if anybody knew how long it takes for the light to go off. I was going to take it back to AutoZone to get them to reset it again but I wanted to just let it try and work itself out naturally. What time frame do I have before anything gets "serious"?

By the way, my car is a 2006 and has just under 67,000 miles on it. Thanks in advance for the replies.

Take it back to Advance Auto, check the code again to be sure. Then......

GOOGLE...

I promise it'll pop up, or just go to your dealer, tell the service manager what code its showing, and ask what parts need to be replaced, and tell him you will be replacing it... *** act like you know what you're talking about, and for me, the manager printed me the actual service procedure from Toyota to replace the part. I said, "if I cant take out 3 bolts, and re-install them, shoot me.

I threw a code a lil while ago, not sure exactly the number, but went to advance, got the code number, google'd it, went to Toyota, bam, saved $250 by installing it myself..

OR, you can disconnect the negative battery terminal.... works like a charm... most of the time lol

[Aceventura9586]

People come into service depts all the time with the same issue. Usually it's after they've gotten gas, but like your situation there's a possibility of a crack. I believe it's about 50-60 miles and it'll reset. Cars nowadays have vaporleak systems that pick up on that stuff. Funny that the whole "turn it til it clicks" rule with gas caps is like the most common issue I came across when I was working in service. As to the whole 50$ diagnosis....that's just stupid. We never charged for that.