Engine Light

[Kyle Hamelin]

Hello all,

So today (August 8, 2011) on my way to work today my engine light decided to come on for the first time in the cars life. I have an appointment with Toyota on Wendesy 10th to do a scan to check out what is the problem.

I have 193 000km on it and it has been well maintained by me and some mechanics. Any guesses on problems that occur around that KM mark?

My driving style is mixed, some days I will drive normal (forgiving) and sometimes I just feel like putting the pedal to the metal.

[Slikk]

it could could be a regular scheduled maintenance warning or something went bad. You can take the car to a local autoparts store and have it checked for free during lunch or on the way home and maybe save yourself form wasting hours at the dealer for something simple.

[Kyle Hamelin]

So on my way to the shop today the engine light decided to turn off! All is good!

[whiskers59]

I would take your vehicle to a mechanic when the light comes on again, this is happening to my wife's car at the moment I came on here to see if anyone knew what it could be but all I can ses is that you need to have it looked at,

Don't leave it get it checked out for your own piece of mind.

[Kyle Hamelin]

Originally Posted by whiskers59

I would take your vehicle to a mechanic when the light comes on again, this is happening to my wife's car at the moment I came on here to see if anyone knew what it could be but all I can ses is that you need to have it looked at,

Don't leave it get it checked out for your own piece of mind.

Well ya if the light is on then I would bring it in. But if it's not on there is no way to find out the problem.

Also Toyota told me if the light is on and NOT blinking then just bring it in whenever you can. If it is blinking, pull over and get towed because something is seriously wrong.

[Bennie]

The ECM will store the code even if the light went off. I'd bring it in and see what triggered it in the first place. The code will be saved in the ECM until someone plugs in a scanner and clears it.

[Kyle Hamelin]

Originally Posted by Bennie

The ECM will store the code even if the light went off. I'd bring it in and see what triggered it in the first place. The code will be saved in the ECM until someone plugs in a scanner and clears it.

Hmmm interesting, the Toyota mechanic says otherwise.

[sam333]

If the malfunction that turned on the light in the first place does not reoccur in three consecutive trips, the MIL( light) will go off automatically, but the code remains in the ECM until erased ( either by using a scan tool / reader, disconnecting the battery or pulling the EFI fuse).