Check Engine light on

[Bookmdano]

Hi,
My"Check Engine" light in my 95 4 runner has been on for about 10K miles.If i take it to a garage what will they actually do to reset it?Can I reset it myself?
Thanks,
Danny

[texas12]

You must fix the problem before you reset it or it will just come back on. Autozone will check the code for you for free(the O2 sensor is a common one) and some will reset it for you after you get it fix. Also, leaving your battery unhooked for about 15 minutes might also reset it.

[humanoid]

Yeah, have the code pulled to find out what the problem is before resetting it. Double check that your gas cap is screwed on tight and correctly, sometimes that is the culprit to the CEL (check engine light).

[sifegar]

Hey!!!!

My friend , few months ago I had the problem with the CEL in my 1989 4Runner 3.0 V6, the engine runs smooth and the consumption of gas was normal, the guy from the garage told me that the EGR thermal sensor was broken and the repair wll cost me 250 Dlls, a buddy from this forum gave a tip to fault the ECU and it work's, check first your EGR valve in your engine if there are something like a sensor attached by a cable to the main harness, if it is, that is a EGR thermal sensor, unplug it and make a bridge with a 4.5 KOhm’s 1/2 watt resistor, if the CEL goes off you’re done!! I did it 3 months ago and the CEL will never back to on again...

Sorry!!! it must be a 4.5 or 10 KOhm's resistor...

[Sidney]

About half of the ECU codes stored on the first & second generation EFI Toyotas don't show a constant blinking check engine light therefore you must pull the ECU codes and auto tranny computer codes to see if a fault is registered.
To pull the ECU codes:

All 1980-1995 and including 1995 EFI equipped vehicle allow you to find engine and related faults by pulling the ECU (computer) codes without the need for a handheld OBDII diagnosis scanner,the sites listed below have the fault codes needed to pull the codes and the instructions on how to do it:

http://www.off-road.com/toyota/tech/codes/index.html
http://www.geocities.com/MotorCity/...ect/Engine.html
http://www.mad-mechanic.com/toyota/...html#obtaincode
http://www.freewebs.com/th3duke/22RE-ECU.mht
http://www.troublecodes.net/Toyota/
http://members.igateway.net/~pscott/enginecodes.html
http://www.troublecodes.net/Toyota/
http://www.showmesome.info/hilux/in...TE/Page0096.htm
http://www.efisakh.narod.ru/at_toyota.htm
http://www.usatransdoctor.com/foreigntoyota.htm
http://www.autobook.co.kr/data_link...ouble_codes.htm
http://www.ecutecparts.com/ccodes/toyota.html
http://www.autoshop101.com/forms/h27.pdf
http://autorepair.about.com/library.../bl-dtcs-36.htm
http://autorepair.about.com/library.../bl-dtcs-53.htm
http://autorepair.about.com/library.../bl-dtcs-71.htm
http://autorepair.about.com/library.../bl-dtcs-90.htm

Pulling the ECU codes is the first thing I do to diagnosis a problem thereafter I reset the ECU to see if the same problems show up and if so I then take voltage measurements both with the engine running and not and compare with the factory service manual,I also close the ignition switch after a cold engine and also after a warm engine and compare them with the factory service manual.This technique will completely isolate your problem without having to do trial and error and it is the technique I use when repairing tv's,vcr's,home/car audio.

Any public library in your area would have the Factory service manual,Haynes,Chiltons,Mitchells and Toyota repair books.
There is also free AutoZone service manuals at:

http://www1.autozone.com/servlet/Ui...epair_guide.jsp

For scanned pages of factory service manuals for other engines:

http://www.brian894x4.com/Scannedmanual.html
http://www.showmesome.info/hilux/info/manuals/1KZ-TE
http://toyoefi.freeyellow.com/manual.html
http://perso.wanadoo.fr/adherence.4..._techniques.htm
http://perso.wanadoo.fr/adherence.4x4/index.htm
http://www.asatraction4x4.cl/html/
http://www.grubinski.com/grubinski/manuals.html
http://www.hotrodder.com/kwkride/tech.html
http://www.autoshop101.com
http://www.mtv411.com/sitemap.htm

Free 2003 Toyota Tacoma Factory Service Manual download:

http://www.junglecode.com/toyota/tacoma/2003_fsm/

Sidney
Repairs tv's,vcr's,home/car audio out of my home
E-mail:sidneybek(at)yahoo.com
Dartmouth,Nova Scotia
Canada
1985 Toyota 4-Runner,22R-E,W56,RN60LV-MSEK,rusted rear step/towing chrome bumper with 241 000 KM