Check Engine light

If there is another thread about this then I am sorry for creating this one, but I was unable to locate an answer with the search function.

My check engine light came on the other day (2002 Tacoma) I called the Toyota dealer and they said it would cost me 160 dollars to get the diagnostic run on it to figure out the problem.

Is there any other place I can take it to that is cheaper than that or any potentially easy fixes that can cause the light to go off that I can simply do on my own without wasting that money?

The truck is just over 99k miles. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

 

Drive to advanced auto ask them to check your engine code. They will tell you what it is.

They do not charge its free, they will not clear it.

They are not supposed to, unless you slip him a 5 or something lol

 

Unfortunately Advanced Auto appears to be almost solely located on the East Coast.

I am in the San Francisco California area. So I guess I will keep trying to call around and see if anyone else does it for free.

 

Autozone...

 

autozone would be another place to try,im told they do it for free. 160$ is such a rip off, you could go buy ur self a half decent code reader for that price.

 

You COULD buy yourself a decent code reader not a half decent one lol

 

Most Check engine lights are errors. I find if I'm setting in the truck with the ignition key on but the motor not running, like you might do listening to the radio, it will cause a check engine light after about 5 minutes. You can turn off and reset the check engine light by disconnecting the positive cable on the battery for about a minute then reconnect. Almost always, the check engine light will not return.

 

I am going to give this a shot, I was listening to the radio in my car the day it happened so it could certainly be this.

Also I called Auto zone and they said they had the code reader for 60 bucks but couldn't run the diagnostic for me.

 

You can pick up code reader pretty cheap. Look on Amazon and sort by bestselling. You can pick one up for around $50 and less. It is a good tool to keep around. If your strapped for cash like everyone else most big chain parts stores will read the codes for you for free. Good Luck

 

This was the problem. Thanks a lot man, saved me a bunch of money.

 

^ right on.if it comes back on,get the codes checked and hit us up with the numbers so we can figure out whats goin on.

 

Other people have helped me bigtime on these forums so I'm glad when I can give back. Glad to help.

 

All of the parts stores in my area does it for free. You could buy an ultragauge for $60 and have one yourself. www.ultragauge.com

 

Most likely just an O2 sensor. Got a good friend that's a Toyota Tech. That's the most usual check engine light according to him. Happened to me. Best of luck

 

Easiest way to reset check engine light: In the under hood fuse box, locate the 20 amp EFI fuse. Pull, count to 10 and replace. You won't lose your radio presets, etc.

 

Gonna give this a try

 

It worked hope it was just a dash error and nothing major.

 

that's what i was thinking.

 

I put a code reader from Harbor Freight under my Christmas Tree for my new '04. The exhaust shop that did my exhaust checked for me after it threw a code after repairs. It's an evap leak of some kind -- according to my reading on this forum, it's gas cap or a seal on my tank. They cleared it, but it came back. I got it through emissions in the mean time, so I have two years to fix it, and a reader to keep checking/clearing it.