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Last updated: October 14, 2008

This page will list all the Check Engine Light questions and answers asked of us pertaining to Toyota vehicles. Some Toyota vehicles include Camry, Corolla, Celica, Tacoma, Yaris, and more. If you have a car repair question for us, ask right now, it's free!

2004 Toyota CarQuestion: Ihave a 2004 toyota car i put 41000m on it but know i got engine problem thn i find out some code p0442 have to fix that. but if took that car to dealer its going to cost a lot. can you tell me can i fix it my self? is it easyor not can you please tell me what should i do? - Rempy, October 2008

Answer: Hi Rempy. A P0442 code is Evaporative Emission Control System Leak Detected (small leak). I found a great article on P0442 (click here). If you want to try to save some money, you can replace the gas cap with a genuine Toyota part. Also, get underneath and visually inspect all EVAP hoses/connections to see if there's an obvious problem. If the problem persists then your best bet is to find a trusted, qualified technician to do a proper diagnosis, they have access to things like a smoke machine, etc. Good luck.

2003 Toyota TacomaQuestion: I have an 03 Toyoyta Tacoma, the check engine light has been on for some time so today I took it to Auto Zone and they scaned it the guy told me it was running lean on bank one but he didnt have a clue what the problem is. I think it is the oxygen sensor but there is one before the catalitic converter and one after how would I know which one to replace. Any help would be great Thanks. - Tony, September 2008

Answer: Hi Tony. The actual OBD-II diagnostic trouble code is P0171 - System Too Lean (Bank 1). The P0171 code is a pretty common one, rather than type it all out here, I'll refer you to this article at OBD-Codes.com - [P0171] and these search results [P0171]. Basically you should first clean your mass airflow sensor and check for vacuum leaks. Good luck!

2000 Toyota CamryQuestion: How can I reset the check engine light of my Toyota Camry 2000 2.4L? My car overheated because of a bad water pump now that I have changed it, the check engine light stayed on. Please help. - George, September 2008

Answer: Hi George, this article will help you out - [Reset Check Engine Light]

2002 Toyota Highlander Check Engine LightQuestion: Dear Sirs, my 02 Highlander with 100300 miles. I stareded it this morning and the ABS brake light and the Check Eng light came on and stayed on. I drove it for about 5 miles, turned it off, then restarted it. The ABS light went out, but the Check Eng light stayerd on. What should I do? Thanks - Jake, September 2008

Answer: Hi Jake. If the check engine light stays on you need to have the vehicle's trouble codes scanned. You can buy a code reader, take it to the shop, or AutoZone will read it for free. Take a look at this article - [My check engine light is on, what should I do?].

2005 Toyota CorollaQuestion: 2005 Toyota Corolla Automatic Have trouble code P0741 for torque converter clutch solenoid performance. Engine light keep on and off for the last 40,000 miles (now the odo is 102,873 miles). Is this trans or ECU problems? It looks like ecu? because if this is a trans problem, my corolla trans will be dead by now. What happened if I did not do/fix anything? thanks. - Lehert, September 2008

Answer: Hi Lehert. If the Check Engine Light is coming on and off and there seems to be no symptoms then it leads me to believe it's an intermittent fault. Now diagnosing whether it's a problem inside the transmission or electrical isn't something we can do over the Internet :-) However with that said, it's not necessarily true to say the tranny would have been dead by now. If there is an internal problem you may have still shortened the transmission's lifespan even though it hasn't died. Have you checked the transmission fluid level? When was the fluid changed last? If you haven't taken the vehicle in to get the trouble code looked at I suspect you may not be keeping up with the transmission service levels as well. Regardless, if you decide to not fix the problem, the transmission may last a week, a year, or a decade. It's too hard to tell without physically diagnosing the problem. If you'd like to do a bit of work yourself, then start with the easy stuff, grab a repair manual, check the fluid level, and check all the wiring & connectors to/from the transmission for starters. My personal recommendation to you is to take it to a qualified transmission specialist (or the dealer) and pay the 1 or 2 hour diagnosis charge. In the long run it might save you money. Good luck!

1996 Toyota CamryQuestion: My check engine light is on after a minor accident involving jumping a curb.. My car seems to be stalling out when its idling at stop lights.. also shaking while driving on the freeway.. Theres a plastic piece hanging under the radiator and it doesnt seem to be leaking any fluids. What could it be? i have a 1996 toyota camry - Crystal, September 2008

Answer: Hi Crystal. You definitely need to get that situation checked out by a qualified, trusted technician. The shaking on the highway could involve critical suspension parts that could fail and cause you to lose control of the vehicle. Definitely get it looked at as soon as possible. Also, for us to help with the check engine light, we'd need to know what the stored trouble codes are. Your safety should be your first priority, make sure the car is in good driveable condition before you worry about the stalling and idling. Good luck!

2000 Toyota Celica GT-SQuestion: Hi I have a 2000 Toyota Celica GTS. And I have a check engine light. My reader read the code p1693 undefined and I looked it up online and it says that the code mean oil control valve close malfunction... If you have any ideas what needs to be done please let me know. I tried to take it to my local toyota but they were taking to long and I wasted time and money renting a car because they said they couldnt get the check engine light to come on so i picked up my car which the light WAS on when I picked it up and I would like to take it to someone else who knows what they are doing. Please let me know thank you. - Barbara, September 2008

Answer: Hi Barbara. The code P1693 is a Toyota-specific code described as OCV Closed Malfunction. The code indicates a problem with the oil control valve (OCV) for the variable valve timing (VVT) system. The problem likely lies with the valve itself, the wiring/connectors leading to it, or the oil pressure switch in the system. The best way to verify it's operation is using a scantool to control the valve using the active test method. I'm surprised the dealer couldn't fix the problem, perhaps try them again now that the code is back. This is good reading as well for the P1693 code - [NewCelica.org]. Good luck, thanks for the question.

2003 Toyota CamryQuestion: I have a 2003 Toyota camry 4 cyl approximately 94000 miles. Recently, the Check Engine Light came on and stays on. I went to Auto Zone and had a reading of code 1442. What exactly does this mean? Celeste - September, 2008

Answer: Hi Celeste, thanks for contacting us. The code actually has another character in front of it, most likely a P (Powertrain) code as they're most common, although it could also be a B (Body) or C (Chassis) code. So it's likely P1442 and it's description is Evaporative Emission Control System Leak Detected. That code is specific to Toyota vehicles, although it seems nearly identical to the generic code P0442. This error pertains to the emissions system in the car. You now have the choice of either taking the car to a qualified technician or you can try a few troubleshooting steps yourself. If you're not mechanically inclined, I would recommend you change the gas cap to a brand new Toyota one (not a cheap aftermarket one), reset the code and see if it comes back. If the code returns there are additional steps you can take. Take a look at this P0442 article for other ideas.

2000 Toyota TacomaQuestion: I have a 2000 Toyota Tacoma reg 4 cyl. I have about 289000 miles on it now. My problem is the check engine light. it is on constantly even after i put a new o2 cen on it goes out then a few weeks later comes back on. then a few weeks later it goes out for couple of days or weeks,then it comes back on. is there something that is causing the o2 bad reading - Robert, August 2008

Answer: Hi Robert, thanks for the question. Since the check engine light (CEL) illuminates due to a variety of reasons, it's entirely possible the o2 sensor replacement did fix one problem and a new one has popped up. Or, it's possible there is a problem with the new oxygen sensor (or wiring). It's not uncommon for cheap aftermarket sensors to fail soon after being replaced. That's one area where it's a good idea to replace with a quality OEM (Toyota) part. The next step is to get the OBD-II code(s) read from the vehicle. That will give you some direction. Good luck!

1999 Toyota Camry SolaraQuestion: The check engine light is on a solora camry car. the car is a 1999 year, the mileage is 159,000. the size engine is 6 cylinder. this car is surpose to have a new engine with 59,000 miles on it. I have no symptons so far. I just noticed the engine light. - Robin, August 2008

Answer: Hi Connie, thanks for contacting us. The check engine light comes on and stays on to indicate there is a problem with the vehicle. Your Camry needs attention. For more information on what to do next, read this article. Since you have no symptoms it's likely a minor issue, however it's a good idea to keep the car well maintained and in good running condition, so I'd get that checked out if I was you. Good luck!