Toyota Tacoma Check engine light

[UncleJoe]

Not sure where to post this so here it is.

My fathers little pickup had the check engine light come on. He took it to the dealer for the annual inspection. They said the codes told them it was the gas cap. They replaced the cap, passed inspection and sent him on his way.

2 months later, he does not drive this truck much, the light comes on and he ignores it. The next time he needs inspection I take it to a different independent shop with an excellent reputation. They tell me the same thing about the fuel cap, replace and pass inspection.

Now the light is on again. Any thoughts on what is going on. When the inspection station has to run codes during a North Carolina State inspection it gets expensive and you can not just reset the codes by pulling the battery as they are not allowed to pass it that way.

I googled and everything says replace the gas cap but we have done that twice.

 

[chadster1]

You probably have a small leak in the evap system or when you fill the truck up with gas, the cap is not getting tightened all the way. It does not take much to throw an evap code on the newer vehicles. The proper way to test for a leak in the evap system is with a smoke machine.

 

[ricleh]

Go to www.ttora.com and search that site for this problem.

 

[Mr.Nutcase]

Have the codes pulled.........

 

[Stogies]

I have had several cars kick the check engine from just not tightening the cap. Here you can take it to an Auto zone or Advance Auto Parts and they will reset it for free.

I like to try the cheap and simple solutions first. Reset the light and double check the cap every time you get gas and see what happens.

 

[mixxmstrmike]

If you can get the codes pulled from the CEL, google the code along with the year of your Tacoma. I've done this and have several message boards pop up in the results with people experiencing the exact same error codes.

Hope this helps,
Mike

 

[SnailMechanic]

You probably have a small leak in the evap system or when you fill the truck up with gas, the cap is not getting tightened all the way. It does not take much to throw an evap code on the newer vehicles. The proper way to test for a leak in the evap system is with a smoke machine.

This is most likely what it is. My mothers Tacoma does the same thing. Due to its age and mileage I just reset and get it to pass emissions before the next inspection.

I have replaced the gas cap and other sensors and it still continues to go on periodically. It will even go off by itself too.

 

[mech.reclined]

Since the repair was done at a dealership first,there is usually a 12mnth,12,000mile warranty on their work.Sinnce the same codes have come up,there is probably a small leak elsewhere in the system that was missed or is intermittent.I would press the service advisor politely to see if they will cover this.Take your receipts with you.Because this is a FEDERAL emission standard,maybe even see if they will cover it under goodwill.Either way, you have already paid for them to repair this.

 

[Mickey O]

Since the repair was done at a dealership first,there is usually a 12mnth,12,000mile warranty on their work.Sinnce the same codes have come up,there is probably a small leak elsewhere in the system that was missed or is intermittent.I would press the service advisor politely to see if they will cover this.Take your receipts with you.Because this is a FEDERAL emission standard,maybe even see if they will cover it under goodwill.Either way, you have already paid for them to repair this.

Aren't emission items cover longer than the car itself? I thought they were but I'm not sure.

 

[Brandon_K]

Aren't emission items cover longer than the car itself? I thought they were but I'm not sure.

Yes. Federally mandated. 8yr/80k mile

 

[c_mccann]

Take it to an autozone and have them pull the codes.

 

[Mr.Nutcase]

Yes. Federally mandated. 8yr/80k mile

Some parts like cat.......

 

[RbrtAWhyt]

Take the bulb out of it...

 

[TheGrooveking]

Take the bulb out of it...

NEVER DO THAT! If your insurance company finds out that something has been done, they believe that someone is not honest and start a fraud investigation. Take the bulb out and connect it to 110 volts AC, that'll burn the filament, then put it back in. That way it just looks like it burnt out...

TheGrooveking

 

[SnailMechanic]

NEVER DO THAT! If your insurance company finds out that something has been done, they believe that someone is not honest and start a fraud investigation. Take the bulb out and connect it to 110 volts AC, that'll burn the filament, then put it back in. That way it just looks like it burnt out...

TheGrooveking

But when going for emission won't the ECU still inform the smog computers that the check engine light should be active.

 

[vette-kid]

would invest in a code reader that can reset the light. Just reset the light before you go for inspection. Other than that, as others have said, make sure you are closing the gas cap tight. And check the evap system. ttora.com is a good site to check, I prefer yotatech.com

 

[TheGrooveking]

But when going for emission won't the ECU still inform the smog computers that the check engine light should be active.

Yes, but then you have the excuse the bulb burnt out, the other way they wonder what happened to the bulb?

TheGrooveking

 

[lynam]

Reset the light and make sure you keep the tank above 80% fuel. Most OBDII systems wont check the evap system with that much fuel in it. When inspection time comes.

What i do to fix the problem is cut out a little square of black electrical tape and apply on cluster to remove engine light.

 

[lynam]

You can buy a globe OBDII 1996+ reader and deleter for about 100 bucks.

 

[chadster1]

But when going for emission won't the ECU still inform the smog computers that the check engine light should be active.

You are correct.

Just reset the light before you go for inspection.

The vehicle will need to be driven through what is called a "drive cycle" to reset the monitors in the computer. If the monitors are not ready, the vehicle cannot be inspected.

Yes, but then you have the excuse the bulb burnt out, the other way they wonder what happened to the bulb?

TheGrooveking

The state inspectors will not care if the bulb is burned out or missing or if there is a piece of tape over the display. If the computer says that there is an emissions problem, its not passing inspection.

 

[garfunkle24]

Have the codes pulled.........

This. Of course.

 

[jethro29]

first of all there is not a code that will tell you that the gas cap is bad.evap codes only signify small or large leaks or malfunctioning solonoids in some cases.the system needs to be properly diagnosed by a person trained to do so with use of a smoke machine.

 

[autopts71045]

My Check Engine light has been on in my 1995 Tacoma ever since I put on a cheap converter. Now that I don't have to have it tested, it doesn't bother me. I leave it on.

 

[poprockcrusher]

Since the repair was done at a dealership first,there is usually a 12mnth,12,000mile warranty on their work.Sinnce the same codes have come up,there is probably a small leak elsewhere in the system that was missed or is intermittent.I would press the service advisor politely to see if they will cover this.Take your receipts with you.Because this is a FEDERAL emission standard,maybe even see if they will cover it under goodwill.Either way, you have already paid for them to repair this.

90 days or 4000 miles is the industry standard

it's hardly ever the gas cap