Check engine light came on

The simple ones will just read codes that are displayed and you'll likely have to Google the code. The more sophisticated ones can show real time data, let you clear codes, show pending codes, and even read historical stored codes.

 

These codes are fun to diag. Understanding the code is the hard part. A lean code on bank one, or bank two would point to the left or right side...easy, it's a V6. Then understand that fuel is "typical" for "both sides because the fuel rail provides to "both" sides, so fuel might not be the issue because it would be a problem on "both" sides. So what makes a motor "lean" is too much "air" and not enough "fuel". The most common cause is a leaking intake on one side or another. Finding it is sometimes hard but using water is the safest. The brave would spray brake clean or starting fluid in the area of the intake gasket, on each side, and wait for the engine rpm raise. If it did, that is where the leak was "sucking air" into the cylinder, and causing the lean condition or a F/A ratio to be lean (fuel/air). Water is safer, not as effective, but the engine will not run well on water, and the motor would try to stall. Of course the brave would sometimes set the motor on fire, and then run like hell. I hope they use water. LMAO...
Of course no one will know until the Senior, Master, ASE, Shop Foreman and all round biggest tool box dude calls it.
My money is on a quick warranty fix (maybe fuel pump) so he gets the flat rate hours, moves the repair in minutes less than hours, and makes bank, because that's how shit is done at a dealership. Get them out the door, milk on the table for momma, and a $100k tax return in February.
Good luck Sir.
Zim

 

I bought a OBII reader years back for an 06 tundra...in a book that came with it...it listed all the codes and what they meant, but after i read the book it claimed it was only good for vehicles till 2010. Yeah, it was under $75, but it worked great on that truck picking exactly what bank O2 sensor heaters were open.

 

Yeah, as systems become more complex they have to add new codes. I believe the code reader would still be able to read them (especially anything common that triggers the light), but the reference itself may become out of date at that time. Google helps with this a lot. But it never hurts to update your technology. But, OBDII itself hasn't changed much since 1996.

 

That's exactly what I was thinking.

 

UPDATE: Just got it back. My understanding of the whole thing is that a hose came off the Air Box and triggered the light. I've never even been by that box so they are thinking it came loose after the last service it got 2 months ago. Still going to look into a OBD reader.

 

I know our Autel TPMS Programmers come with life time updates once you buy and register them. I'll have to check on the other.

 

well I'm heading back to the dealership for another issue. Sounds like a bearing or tensioner is going bad. Rev up the RPMS and it sounds nasty.

 

There was a thread on here recently where an Autel consumer unit wouldn’t work on a 2019 Tacoma because firmware only had up to 2017, and even basic / standard ODBII functionality was locked out. (Dates may be wrong but you get the idea). No good having lifetime updates if they aren’t available for that specific unit.

 

That's what I have, an Autel

 

Actually came down to a Hose that was disconnected off the Air Box. But you are correct about dealerships.

 

Yep, lean. Sucking air.
Zim

 

Figured it was something simple. Had same code on one of my vehicles checked the filter cover and one clip was not fully closed. Closed it cleared the code myself and was on my way. No stealership... I mean dealership trip. Car never triggered the code again.