P0345, P0500, P0500 P Code Inquiry

Let me start by saying that I am not the actual owner of this 2008 Tacoma 4x4 - it belongs to my son and he was just stationed in Yokota, Japan with the USAF. I will be caring for his truck while he is gone for the next four years.

I drove it home from Seattle to Portland on Sept. 22nd without an issue. I parked it in the driveway, went to drive it today and noticed the CEL was illuminated. I immediately returned home, read the codes as posted in the title. The truck seemed to run just fine for the 1/4 mile I may have gone. I did notice that I was unable to turn the volume down or up on the aftermarket stereo. My immediate thought was that the battery was a little weak after sitting for 10 days. He had an alarm with remote start installed just a few days before departing. After I cleared the codes, I started the truck and was able to adjust the volume on the audio.

Any help here is appreciated. I've sent him a note asking if this has happened before but have not gotten a response back yet.

 

Yes, I knew this much (and should have indicated that). I am more concerned about what is causing either. He has it lifted and has other mods - winch, bumpers, and the stereo and alarm as mentioned. It's got about 85k miles, it's never seen a salt covered road and he's meticulous in keeping it in good condition.

 

Don't know about the stereo install but Car Toys installed the alarm on Sept. 20th.

 

Yes, this has happened ONCE while in my possession but as mentioned, I drove it to Portland from Seattle 10 days ago and then again today for the first time. I am 100% certain that the CEL was not illuminated when I got in it in Seattle and that the CEL did NOT come on during the drive home.

Alarm was installed this September.

 

My bad - alarm was installed on August 19/20th of this year. He had to go back the next day as the FOB that came with the alarm would not unlock the doors, only lock them. I was also thinking it was a fluke, perhaps due to a weak battery.

I so appreciate the very quick responses I am getting. Last thing I want is for my kid to be fretting over his truck for the next four years.

 

I would tend to agree here as I am certain the codes never appeared before the alarm install as he would have mentioned it.

 

So I think it was a fluke due to a weakened battery. I just went for a short drive and the CEL did NOT come on, the speedo works fine and it appears all is well. I guess I'll just have to drive it at least once a week from here on out.

 

Drove it again today with no issues or codes.

 

Drove it today, it threw a P0500. It has a chip to compensate for the big tires and my kid said sometimes the Speedometer does not work and you need to smack the dash. I can't say whether the speedo was working as I did not look at it, just noticed the CEL.