Toyota Check Engine Light Issues Fixed

If the check engine light on your Toyota vehicle suddenly comes up while you are driving, this is a warning signal from your car’s computer signal that has detected an issue in your vehicle. A Toyota check engine light may come up due to a computer glitch. Although this doesn’t happen very often, we can’t rule out the possibility of a computer glitch occurring in your Toyota vehicle.

If you are faced with your Toyota check engine light flashing issue, this is a more serious problem and should be checked by your mechanic right away. A blinking check engine light should be scanned to derive the appropriate Toyota check engine light codes that would help you fix this issue. This issue can range from a loose gas cap to a damaged catalytic converter.

Here in this article, we would briefly discuss how to fix the Toyota check engine light.

How To Fix Honda Check Engine Light

Whether you drive a Toyota car, SUV, Crossover, Sedan, Hatchback, Minivan, or Truck. We would now list the various ways that you can follow to help you fix your Toyota check engine light when it comes up.

Replace Gas Cap

Toyota Check Engine Light Gas Cap

The most common reason your Toyota check engine light stays on is often due to a loose, broken, or missing gas cap. A loose gas would lead to fuel evaporation which may affect your vehicle emission system or engine. Make sure you tighten a loose gas cap or replace a damaged gas cap as required.

Replace Spark Plug

The function of the spark plug is to create a spark that is enough to start the car engine. Overheating and carbon build-up decrease the lifespan of a spark plug and this can trigger the check engine light to come on your dashboard, A damaged spark plug often leads to your car engine taking too long to respond, a decreased acceleration, and engine misfire. Therefore ensure to check and replace a damaged spark plug.

Faulty Ignition Coils

The Ignition Coil is part of your vehicle ignition system. It converts the voltage from the car battery to the required amount of volts enough to trigger the spark plug which ignites the engine air-fuel mixture.

The check engine light will turn on, whenever your car detects a faulty ignition system, You can use a multi meter to test the ignition coils of your car or use a spark tester to check the ignition coil.

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Replace Oxygen Sensor

A faulty oxygen sensor is one the most common reason your Toyota check engine light is on your dashboard. The oxygen sensor measures the concentration of oxygen in the exhaust gas and it sends this information to the electronic control unit The oxygen sensor also adjusts the air-fuel ratio when required and it determines the performance of the catalytic converters.

The oxygen sensor often gets damaged due to its exposure to the hot air coming from the exhaust gas. A faulty oxygen sensor would trigger the check engine light to turn on, as it would fail to send information to the electronic control system and this could lead to increased fuel consumption, emission failures, rough engine sounds, overheating engine, and poor gas mileage.

Replace Mass Airflow Sensors

The mass airflow sensor measures the quantity of air that enters the engine cylinder. It is usually installed between the air filter and the intake manifold of your engine. A faulty airflow sensor will increase emissions and can cause the car to stall out. Ensure you replace the air filter and a damaged airflow sensor,

A faulty mass airflow sensor can lead to your car engine running on too much fuel and less air or too much air and less fuel. Which will trigger the check engine light to turn on due to your Toyota car engine failing to operate on a balanced air-fuel ratio.

Replace Catalytic Converter

A catalytic converter is part of the engine exhaust system and serves as an exhaust emission control device. Its function is to convert toxic gases and pollutants coming from your engine into less-toxic pollutants.

The catalytic converter of your vehicle can get clogged with material, a failed or clogged catalytic converter would affect fuel economy and the performance of your vehicle.

Toyota Check Engine Light Oil Change

Modern Toyota vehicles are equipped with an oil pressure switch they have an oil pressure gauge on their dashboard that illuminates your Toyota vehicle dashboard at low oil pressure.

You can have a low oil pressure due to low oil level, high/low viscosity, faulty oil switch, faulty oil pump, clogged oil filter, or oil leakages. Whenever the low oil pressure warning light comes on, you should change or top up your engine oil. If the engine oil level is normal and your engine runs smoothly it’s likely to have a faulty oil pressure switch.

Toyota Check Engine Light Reset

You can reset your Toyota check engine light by using an OBD-II scanner. Follow these steps to reset your Toyota check engine light:

• Locate the OBD-II diagnostic connector port in your Toyota vehicle. You can locate the connector close to the steering wheels under the driver-side dashboard.
• Firmly connect the OBD 2 dongle with the connector port.
• Turn the ignition key to the on position but ensure you don’t start the engine of your Toyota vehicle. The led light on the OBD II dongle should now begin to blink.
  Launch the diagnostic software then choose between the Bluetooth, WiFi, or USB connection options.
• Press the “read” button on the OBD II scanner to access the check engine light codes. These codes will be a series of letters and numbers and make all the necessary repairs to your Toyota vehicle.
• Navigate to diagnostic trouble codes and Freezer frame to get more detailed information, this may defer depending on the software or diagnostic tool.
• Depending on your OBD II software device. Click on clear the diagnostic trouble codes button in the trouble codes view or click the reset trouble codes and MIL button.
• The reset command will be sent to your vehicle and your Toyota check engine light will be cleared.

You can also manually reset your Toyota check engine light by simply disconnecting the negative battery cable. Follow these steps on Toyota engine reset:

• First, turn off the ignition.
• Then differentiate between the negative and positive terminals of your car battery. The negative terminal has a negative (–) sign and a black cap. While the positive terminal has a positive (+) sign and a red cap.
• Now loosen the nut on the negative terminal with a wrench and pull the negative connector away from the battery.\
• Leave it out for 30 to 60 seconds.
• Finally, reconnect and tighten the negative terminal using a wrench.
• Your Toyota check engine light should be finally reset.

Toyota Check Engine Light Flashing

If you experience your Toyota check engine light flashing on your dashboard, it signifies more severe damage to the engine and has been detected by the ECU. Your vehicle should be quickly taken to a mechanic’s workshop for serious diagnosis and engine repair.

Toyota Check Engine Light And Trac Off

The Track off indicator light is an indication that traction control is off and the Track control system in your Toyota vehicle helps in preventing loss of traction or motion. When the tires of your vehicle lose traction this causes the wheels to spin and can lead to the driver losing control of the tires. The track control system has a lot of functions that aid smooth driving.

Toyota Check Engine Light VSC TRAC Off

The vehicle stability control (VSC)and traction control (TRAC) operate for your vehicle to regain traction. Sometimes you may find the VSC Off and Trac Off indicator light constantly illuminating on the dashboard of your Toyota vehicle. If the VSC/TRAC stays on there could be an issue in the TRAC/VSC control system and this is commonly due to a faulty 02 sensor or gas cap. Ensure you diagnose your Toyota vehicle for a better analysis.