Airbag, ABS and Engine lights flashing plus Idle fault

[JonBOY26]

Hey all. Bought myself a 2000 model celica a while ago and it's been running like a dream....until now.

Lately when I start the car, I find that the dashboard lights for the airbag, ABS and engine continue to flash the entire time the car is running (should go off after an inital check at start up). In addition, the engine is not running properly and barely idles without conking out. I've also noticed that fuel consumption has gone way up, so I suspect the VVTLi is not working.

The problem does not occur every time I start the car, it occurs about 2 out of 3 start ups.

All the other electrical components and features continue to function as normal. I've tried disconnecting the battery hoping that it might reboot the system or something but that did nothing.

Anybody seen this before in either their celica or other toyota model? I've found some other stuff on the net that detail similar situations but am yet to find the actual problem or solution. Any insight would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks

[toyomoho]

Check for engine trouble codes. The car should have some kind of diagnostic port, not sure what is used outside the USA. There should be a plug-in reader for this, the plug is under the dash near the steering console.

Then

Check under the hood for a small plastic box labeled "Diagnostic." If the box is their turn on the ign key and jump the TC and E1 terminals. If airbag codes are stored the ABS light will flash them out one numeral at a time such as 1 flash, pause, 1 flash, pause = code 11.

If no codes are store the light will just continue flashing.

Same for the ABS.

[JonBOY26]

Thanks toyomoho.

I've definitely seen the white plug that is under the dash so finding that's not a problem, but I'll have to go looking for the diagnostics box under the hood as that's not ringing any bells.

You mentioned a plug in reader for the plug under the dash, do I need to mess around with that in order to perform the tests you mentioned? as I don't have a reader to plug in, or is it just a matter of bridging the TC and E1 terminals on the diagnostics box then watching the flashing codes of the dash light? (I'm assuming we bridge the terminals of the diagnostic box because we don't have access to a reader for the other plug?)

And when you say bridge the terminals, I'm assuming you just mean to create an electrical connection between the two, so I could use anything metal that's convenient right?

Thanks for your help, greatly appreciated.

[toyomoho]

I am using info for cars sold in the USA and Canada. Non-US cars such as Europe have something similar but different. Not sure what Australian Toyota cars have, thus just a best guess.

North American cars have an ODBII system. This was an EPA mandated system to allow easy monitoring and service of the cars emissions system and engine performance (that causes emissions).

The system uses the cars computer to monitor the various systems and reports problems. A standardized reader plugs into the ODBII port to read the codes. In the US a lot of auto parts stores have these readers and will check the codes for free or loan them out.

Of course all service shops have them and they can be purchased, some for under $30 (US).

Your system may be different then ODBII. But there should be something similar to allow reading the codes via the port under the dash with a reader. Start calling around to service shops, ask auto parts stores, etc.

As to the ABS and airbag systems. You may be able be able to also read these codes with the ODBII type code reader. On US cars this is possible but I don't know where the break off year is.

The beauty with the flashing light system is you DO NOT need a code reader, the flashing light does the job.

If you have the Diagnostic box it is typically out in the open either on the passengers or drivers strut mount. The key to the terminal locations would be under the lid. The box is very small, about 1in by 2in and black in color.

Yes, jumping is just using a piece of electrical wire. Make sure you jump the correct terminals.

The OBDII system for the engine and emissions replaced a previous system where the Check Engine Light (CEL) flashed after certain terminal inside the Diagnostic box were jumped. Just like the ABS and airbag systems.

The ABS and Airbag troubleshooting systems using the flashing light appear to be left over from the previous system that used the CEL light to flash out the codes.

But again even the ABS and SRS system have been merged into the newer trouble code reading system where a plug-in code reader will check for all codes in all systems. I don't know when the transition was completed to allow this.

You may also be able to jump the terminals on the plug under the dash but you will need to find the key to what the letters are.

To answer you questions:

You may be able to use either the Diagnostic plug in the engine compartment or under the dash but not sure of the under the dash plug. Determine if the terminal letters are the same.

Yes, on USA cars it is just a matter of turning on the ign switch and connecting the two terminals, then watching the lights. If no codes are stored the light will flash at a constant rate. If a code(s) is stored it will flash out one numeral at time. If more then one code is stored they will flash in order of lowest to highest. After all code(s) are flashed they will repeat.

One more thing. It is possible the ABS light is connected to the CEL light. One may have tripped the other or visa versa.

The airbag system appears to be on its own in not tripping the CEL.

Having all these lights on at once may be the result of a common issue. Perhaps wiring or a computer problem.

Start by getting the codes then work from there.

If you have Haynes published manuals in your country specific to your countries cars design you might pick on up. They go over the code system and what the codes mean. Under $20 in the US. Or try your library that at least over here has manuals for viewing or checkout.

[JonBOY26]

Thanks for the very detailed reply Toyomoho. I decided that best course of action was to take the car to an auto electrician with all the necessary equipment to see if he could find out the codes for me.

He tells me that he plugged his computer into the vehicle and despite the lights flashing away he was unable to get any error codes from the vehicle. This has left the electrician somewhat stumped.

He said that despite the ABS light flashing away, the ABS do still actually work. I haven't actually confirmed this and am not sure if it's true because when the cruise control light also flashes as part of this problem and it certainly does NOT work the problem is occurring. I'll have to find a quiet bit of road and test the ABS I guess.

The electrician did ask about how long the body kit had been on the car, and said it is possible that the problem is due to a screw having gone into the wiring harness during the fitting of the kit. This sounds feasible (at least to me) as the problem never occurred prior to fitting of the kit. That said however, the kit has been fitted for months now and the problem has only arisen about 2 weeks ago.

I'm not really sure where to go from here. I guess I need to get under the car and check that every new screw associated with the kit has not hit a wire of some sort. However I'm not even sure where I should expect the wiring harness to be running? I'm guessing that fitment of the rear bumper wouldn't be a problem, as I cant see wiring for the ABS etc running around the rear of the car. However I'm also guessing that hitting any wire could mean a short circuit that's effectiving the functioning of the computer...yes, no?

Also, do these cars have a central box or something where the computer is housed? If so I'd like to inspect it and just check the connections for the unit. Under the bonnet toward the passenger side strut mount I've seen a black plastic box that says on it 'DO NOT OPEN' (it also says do not open in french). The box is about 20cm long by 7 cm wide. Naturally this leads me want to want t open this box but I have no idea what it is.

Any further thoughts on this issue would be greatly appreciated.

Cheers.

[JonBOY26]

Airbag, ABS and Engine lights flashing plus Idle fault........PROBLEM SOLVED!!!


Well I finally figured out the cause for this problem so thought I'd post the information for anyone else that stumbles across this thread with the same problem.

It turns out that (in the case of my vehicle at least) the problem was actually caused by oil levels! That's it!!!

I do keep a keen eye of my vehicles fluid levels and always make sure levels of oil etc do not slip to potentially problematic levels. Recently my Celica was displaying the previously mentioned problems as I was preparing to go a long drive. Since it was a long drive I was attending to fluid levels before leaving. The oil level was approximately 2/3 full (according to dipstick levels), so it was by no means at dangerously low levels. I had known that the oil level was somewhat below full for some time (but still at safe levels), however I rarely have my car parked on a surface that is level enough to be able to accurately top up the oil, and as such I hadn't gotten around it.

In preparation for the long trip I specifically found some flat ground and topped the oil up to full. The vehicle was left to stand for about an hour to fully drain into the oil pan and upon the next restart the problem was completely solved.

It appears that there are two strange things going on here. Firstly, the engine warning light is being activated despite the oil level still be what I considered fine, at 2/3 full. And secondly, when this engine warning is being activated, it's causing electrical systems to crash resulting in malfunctions of the airbag and cruise control systems.

At present my oil is exactly full and my Celica is once again purring along beautifully without a hitch. I'm not sure why the problem manifests when oil levels are still at the safe range but at least it means I'll always be alert to dipping oil levels well before levels dip so low as to potentially cause damage.

For anyone experiencing this problem with their Celica, or similar problems with any Toyota model, I suggest finding a nice flat service and checking your oil level ASAP!