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

clp86rom · 11-22-2005, 10:19 PM

I have a 1998 Toyota Corolla and the check engine light came on. I do not know yet why thought?

Any ideas? Basically i can reset the computer by unpluging the power terminal from the battery for a bit but it will turn on couple days later back. it is random when it turns on but it takes couples of days after reseting the computer and check engine light. could it be the catalizer not working any more?

on my dodge srt-4 when the check engine light comes on it also gives me a set of four to five numbers on my dashboard by turning the key from off to on three times and leaving it the third time on the on position. and each code means something else and it relates to something that is wrong. does the corolla have this system? or the only way to see what is wrong is to take it to a dealer or shop? can you guys please help? thanks.

Corolla101 · 11-22-2005, 11:43 PM

Could be a lot of things but the most common, if you're not noticing any problems, is an o2 sensor

90 GP · 11-23-2005, 08:40 PM

Go to Auto Zone and have them scan for fault codes that trip the check engine light. This is a freebie and can pinpoint the cause.

tpasigueno · 01-09-2006, 11:37 PM

Hello, sorry, not to thread jack...
is there any way to check the engine through the ecu.
I own a 98 civic and we could get the codes by jumping the ecu and the check engine light blinks give the codes via blinks...at least im sure from years 93-00.
I was wondering if it could be the same for toyotas.

stubborn1 · 01-10-2006, 01:55 PM

I think the old flashing light diagnostic was for OBD-I systems (pre 1996) an would give you a two digit code by reading the "blinks". Most OBD-II vehicles (1996+) need a scanner except for a few exceptions like the SRT-4 noted above.

ShawnM · 01-10-2006, 01:57 PM

96 and newer the only way to get the codes is with a scantool.

Corollacrazy42 · 01-11-2006, 01:38 AM

haha i have the same car.. cept 98 prizm.. go figure.. anyways.. my CEL was on like this for along time. I didnt take much consideration into it until now because it didnt seem to be causing a problem, and it hasnt. I tried removing the battery terminal too and it came back a few short days later. But now, after waiting for awhile with it on, I removed the battery terminal once again because it seemed to have some corrosion around it. Fixed this problem and the car seems to have a little more juice ( lights sorta dimmed)... But like always the CEL went off. Now for some reason though, the light has continued to stay off?.. It was showing the codes p0401 and p0406... apparently common problem with this particular engine. But now it hasnt come on again in at least 2 weeks. Have no idea why but if it says off im going to assume my car is just retarded and likes to give me a bunch of bullshit lies..

idk couldnt hurt to try my method. Unless the car is having some sort of problem.. id just get the codes and repost here. Someone will know what the code is. Or if your truely concerned just take it in the shop.

ShawnM · 01-11-2006, 12:48 PM

P0401 is "Insufficient EGR flow detected"
I dont show any listing for a P0406, so maybe you car is bullshitting you.

Corollacrazy42 · 01-12-2006, 02:09 AM

yea i knew that the 401 was about the egr.. ive posted a few times on here though and no one seems to know that damn location of this beast in a 1zzfe... anyone reading this have any idea?.. my damn check engine light came on again!!!!.. AHH im gonna kill this damn car soon.. i hate it and its little pansy engine. And the fact that a deer pretty much ruined it. And its only real feature now is the cd player, and its not even the one that came in it. OO my bad forgot about the A/C

rohnstad · 01-12-2006, 11:36 AM

My story is that after the CEL came on (on my 2000 4 cyl auto Camry), a local mechanic hooked up an OBD II tester and determined that it needed a new ERG valve which I purchased from a Toyota dealer and the local mechanic installed. After 2 days, the CEL came on again. Took it back to the local mechanic and he hooked up the tester again and could find no problems. Then he drove the car with the tester hooked up with still no problems. The only thing I've been able to find as a possible cause is a poor seal on the gas cap. Any other known causes for this light to go on, but nothing showing up on the OBD II tester? TIA

***REN69*** · 01-12-2006, 05:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rohnstad

My story is that after the CEL came on (on my 2000 4 cyl auto Camry), a local mechanic hooked up an OBD II tester and determined that it needed a new ERG valve which I purchased from a Toyota dealer and the local mechanic installed. After 2 days, the CEL came on again. Took it back to the local mechanic and he hooked up the tester again and could find no problems. Then he drove the car with the tester hooked up with still no problems. The only thing I've been able to find as a possible cause is a poor seal on the gas cap. Any other known causes for this light to go on, but nothing showing up on the OBD II tester? TIA

Please post a pic of the EGR valve on your car if you know where it is.. everyone else can't seem to find it.

Nad1370 · 01-12-2006, 11:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by REN69

Please post a pic of the EGR valve on your car if you know where it is.. everyone else can't seem to find it.

^^ It doesn't have one.

He probably meant to say P0441 not 401 and P0446 not 406.

Both 441 and 446 are emission codes detecting a leak in the vapor system.

Corollacrazy42 · 01-12-2006, 11:41 PM

oo yes i believe i did make a mistake in the codes.. my bad.. well do you have any idea how i would go about fixing a leak in the vapor system?

skewe · 06-17-2006, 10:02 PM

I was looking for 401 and I saw this

coincidentally, i saw a forum/post on camry

they have a manual
The website is www.autoshop101.com. The pdfs are found under "technical articles" on the left.
http://www.autoshop101.com/forms/h61.pdf

here is the thread. hope this helps
http://toyotanation.com/forum/t141859.html