Check engine light disabled

I just purchased a 2001 Tacoma Prerunner that has been converted to a 4wd. The seller misrepresented the vehicle and did not disclose the 4wd conversion. My bad and failure for not doing my homework on what I was buying. I had no idea that that a prerunner was a 2wd model. Now time to fix the problems. The first thing is the check engine light has somehow been disconnected on purpose. I don't know if he cut a wire somewhere, maybe pulled a fuse, or just simply disconnected the light at the back of the speedometer gauge cluster. I was hoping someone might have some suggestions about wiring or fuses to look at before I have to actually pull the cluster out of the dash. I want the light to be functional when something is wrong. There are codes currently popping up so the light should be on. It also does not come on when the key is turned to the on position. Any help would be appreciated.

 

i would really start by pulling the cluster-- many times people take the easy way out, either clipping a wire directly on the back, or pulling the bulb itself. both of which are easier to diagnose with the cluster out.

but i would also warn you that depending on how many owners the trucks been through, the seller you got it from might have always thought the same thing you did, and the 4wd conversion was done before his time with it. it's always the issue with multiple-owner vehicles. everyone's got a different level of technical abilities, and there's no telling what one might find!

 

How recently did you purchase it, and would you rather fix it or return it?

The 4x4 conversion is no biggie, but the CEL disabling is a non roadworthy vehicle or it's fraud, depending on how thorough your annual inspection is. For example, in my county they do check that light and they also are required to pull the OBD data. It's an automatic fail if the light is non functional, if there's a trouble code, and/or if it shows a recent code clearing event. If one were to pull the dash and find a cut wire, it's a big deal around here. Your locality may vary; I am not a law talkin' guy.

You can take it back to the seller (provided you really did just buy it) and agree to an informal amicable solution. Maybe they'll help you fix it, maybe they'll tell you how to plug the light back in, maybe they'll buy it back. Probably. Most people will play nice if you imply the "hey, I'm a cool guy, let's be reasonable before legal expenses get involved" approach.

 

I just bought it 2 days ago. The seller is a con man and has shown that he has no integrity or honesty. So, I am stuck with it and want to fix the issues it has starting with the CEL. I live in MT so we do not have any communistic annual vehicle inspections like other states. Hoping to easily find the wire he either cut or disconnected.....again, maybe without having to first pull the dash cluster.

 

The vehicle was traded in to the person I bought it from two weeks ago. I was able to contact the guy who traded it in and he did the conversion. He gave me complete disclosure of the entire build. Said he knew the check engine light was on when he sold it to this person because the front O2 sensor wires had been damaged during the transmission install and he didn't get a chance to repair the issue prior to having to sell it for a financial emergency he was going through. He knew the guy was shady and did not want to sell it to him but needed money fast.