Check Engine light and Auto LSD light at 1500 miles

agreed, but I dont know how so I didnt offer advice to him about the proper resetting. All I know is that my 05 doesnt have all this computerized stuff that can get reset, manual tranny ftw. Plus if my radio resets its no biggie, and I keep track of when to change my oil.

 

jschloss, what I am going to type here is not in direct relation to your specific truck. I am going to try to give you some thoughts that may help you understand why we run into these types of things from time to time. It is not a Toyota issue (this specific example with your truck is) but more about how integrated vehicle systems are becoming.

Different features on our vehicles can use information and control capability from other systems to make them work. In the case of Auto LSD, it can be accomplished by using the brake system to control wheel slip. You can have a module that will take information from other modules on the system to help make control decisions about the system. As an example, the current engine rpm, torque output, throttle position and so forth could be important information. If the module that provides that data has detected a problem, it may not only illuminate its own telltale on the dash if the problem could cause an issue for another system. It may also broadcast a message on the network to inform other modules that the data is not trustworthy. The modules that need that data to work correctly will now also illuminate telltales to inform you that certain systems may not work correctly or are "offline" at this time. That is why something like a weak alternator can cause a multitude of systems to set off flags and they will all have a "code" for low power supply. That points you to where to start testing.

OK, so now there is a truck in the shop with a couple of lights on. We have a primary cause and a secondary effect. We check to current operation of the system and everything is currently operating normally. We clear the codes and operate the vehicle and cannot reproduce the problem. Now what do we do? The problem could be electrical, mechanical, electronic (programming) or even some combination. If you cannot duplicate the concern you are at a tough spot. Some of these "faults" can have VERY short detection windows in the computer. (a matter of seconds or even a fraction of a second depending on what we are talking about) So you put the vehicle back in service and see if it happens again. You track it, share the information with your peers and up the technical ladder. People try to find the conditions, common items between vehicles that show this condition or anything that would lead to a smaller window of cause for the next time you see the issue.

It sounds like the current thought (this is supposition here) is that there are some valve timing mechanisms that are a little tight on tolerance. If they have even a small delay in activation or release they can cause a very intermittent fault from time to time. The current thought may be that as they wear in, the chance of a "hang up" goes down and the fault does not occur again. It sounds like there is a pending TSB on the issue. Please share whatever information they give you as it may help make the picture a little clearer.

I hope this explanation helps with what a tech can be up against with modern vehicles. There are just so many combinations of events that can line up that duplicating them can be difficult.

For your part, paying attention to how, hot or cold the vehicle was, the weather conditions and so on can all be clues to the root cause of the problem.

No, I do not work for Toyota and I am not a fan-boy. Just hoping to help.

 

I have confidence that Toyota is smart enough to find out the cause and fix it now or give him a loaner until they do.

I am smart enough to know that telling a customer to just come back some other day for the problem is not good customer service.

I don't have to know the cause and neither do you.
That's why I bought a Toyota in the first place and I trust the vehicle and the mechanics that take care of it.

I don't need to know dentistry or brain surgery for similar reasons.

See? I already told you how to get it fixed right away.

 

All this computer stuff is just making it funnerer and funnerer, eh? Yeah, I have been a MT driver for a long time but went auto with this last truck.

FRED is everywhere now. Freakin Ridiculous Electronic Devices! Only getting to be more every year.

Peace

 

Thanks, that helps a great deal. I will post whatever service documentation they send in the mail here as a reply to this thread.

I'm honestly pretty impressed with all the input and help others were ready to offer on this forum. I'll be sure to return often.

Thanks!

 

This just happen to me today

 

So just asking did the battery thing work

 

What ever came of this?

 

I am not a Toyota tech, but I have been around these systems for long enough to know a lot of the basics. The VVTi engine uses oil pressure to actuate the camshafts for the VVTi. It is possible that the engine, being such a low amount of mileage, may be having issues with the initial break in and wear of the engine. It is possible that the VVTi system is much more sensitive to oil viscosity and breakdown. (Again this is an assumption based on what I have heard/read in this thread, and knowledge of the VVTi system) A fresh oil change could help by having fresh oil, at the proper viscosity for proper VVTi operation. This is the only explanation I can think of for them saying an oil change could fix this. Side note: Many CEL codes will cause the traction control system to go into default, as proper engine operation is required for proper TC operation.

You can't get a lemon law buyback on one failure in 1500 miles. Doesn't happen.

VERY well said!!

No problem. Make sure to let us know what you hear, and what the end result is.

 

They blame mine on my intake as soon as they open the hood and saw it so never found out what it was cuz it turn off already

 

This just happened to my 09 with 115k, but the OBD code was P0456 (Evaporative Emissions System - Small Leak Detected). The LSD light came on also. Before I start it after work I'm going to fiddle with the gas tank cap and maybe disconnect the battery when I get home...

The person at Advanced Auto Parts said sometimes the check engine light can cause other indicator lights to come on, too..

 

This just happened to my 09 with 117k miles on it. Did anything work for you?

 

On modern vehicles with drive by wire emission fault codes can deactivate other systems. One way of traction control is to control the amount of throttle input/power. Remember what your foot is doing is only a suggestion not an absolute like with a cable throttle.
Your evap leak was probably a loose or leaking gas cap, it needs to click a few times. Also check your gas cap seal for tears.
The correct way to clear a check engine light is to use a scan tool of some kind. The basic ones can be really cheap like $20 or less. They go up from there depending on the features you want or need. Some just use your smart phone and a Bluetooth obdii plug. Basic codes are the same for all manufacturers and generally deal with emissions. The will start with P0***. Some will have P1***, these have a meaning specific to a manufacturer like gm or Toyota. Your cheaper scan tools may not tell you what a code means, just use the Google. But they all will have the ability to clear basic codes.
As stated before disconnecting the negative side of the battery will also work, but you loose all the learning your engine and tranny had.

 

I've just run into the same situation on my 2010 Tacoma at around 120k miles. I was running it hard through the mountains on I-40 from NC back to Knoxville, when we pulled in to get a bite to eat. No lights, truck was running like a top with plenty of power through those hills. When we came back out after dinner and started it back up, my check engine light and Auto LSD lights were on. I checked the oil, temp, gas cap.......everything looked good and the truck was still running great. I decided to drive it on home to Central KY and took it to AutoZone the following day. Code thrown was was a bad OVC valve on bank 1.......$122.99. AZone told me they can't reset codes anymore, so I've gone to Walmart and bought a reader to clear myself. Will see if it comes back on! From what I'm reading everywhere, this is a false code? Fingers crossed

 

I'm assuming this new truck is a 3rd gen. I believe There's a recall out for 3rd gens for a bad batch of camshaft sensors. Maybe your truck has one of the faulty units.

 

After reading in this forum about the CEL & LSD warning lights showing up simultaneously. I disconnected the battery, and then went to put some o-ring lube on my gas cap gasket since a loose gas cap was mentioned as a possible cause by one of the members in the forum. I opened fuel door, and saw that my gas cap was missing. I had filled up the tank 24hrs prior in a state of exhaustion and forgot to reinstall the locking gas cap. I installed the original gas cap, and the CEL & LSD warning lights disappeared. Thanks to whoever took the time to put the loose gas cap as a possible cause in the forum.