1. Welcome to Tacoma World!

    You are currently viewing as a guest! To get full-access, you need to register for a FREE account.

    As a registered member, you’ll be able to:
    • Participate in all Tacoma discussion topics
    • Communicate privately with other Tacoma owners from around the world
    • Post your own photos in our Members Gallery
    • Access all special features of the site
    Quick Links: Door Lock Cylinder 5VZFE spark plugs Options for tailgate replacement. Another O2 sensor thread... need help! (2003 2.7L 3RZFE) Where the wireless Apple CarPlay headunits at? 1st gen rock light help

Check Engine Light

Discussion in '1st Gen. Tacomas (1995-2004)' started by azhnter, Sep 19, 2015.

  1. Sep 19, 2015 at 1:02 PM
    #1
    azhnter

    #1
    azhnter [OP] Member

    Joined:
    Sep 28, 2013
    Member:
    #113461
    Messages:
    7
    Gender:
    Male
    I have an 02 Dbl Cab with 78k miles on it. I recently took a trip to NM for a weekend and was running around on dirt roads. It was hot and dusty. That was about 3 weeks ago. A few days ago the check engine light came on. The truck is running fine except my MPG has taken a major hit to around 10mpg. I used to have a 99 4Runner that would experience the same thing after taking it on dusty roads when it was hot. Anybody else have this problem? Does it seem to be common in these engines? I plan on cleaning the MAF sensor as this is usually what causes the problem, but when it happened on my 4Runner it would also throw a code indicating the O2 sensor needed replaced. Any thoughts?
     
    azhnter, Sep 19, 2015
    #1
  2. Sep 19, 2015 at 1:31 PM
    #2
    devinzz1

    #2
    devinzz1 Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Jun 28, 2014
    Member:
    #132892
    Messages:
    6,567
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    devin
    lewisporte Newfoundland
    Vehicle:
    95 extended cab sr5
    cxr turbo, fic6, methanol injection, king coilovers, jba uca, skyjacker leafs, rear 12" 5125s, no-slip rear locker, 35" grabber x3, magnaflow muffler, retrofit headlights, trans cooler, bed lined exterior, etc...
    step 1: get code checked.
     
    devinzz1, Sep 19, 2015
    #2
    Caligula likes this.
  3. Sep 19, 2015 at 1:42 PM
    #3
    Dalandser

    #3
    Dalandser ¡Me Gustan Las Tacos-mas!

    Joined:
    Feb 19, 2015
    Member:
    #149090
    Messages:
    16,770
    First Name:
    Anthony
    Downey
    Vehicle:
    08 PreRunner Regular Cab / 98 4x4 Extra Cab
    Empty Wallet Mod
    Dalandser, Sep 19, 2015
    #3
  4. Sep 19, 2015 at 1:59 PM
    #4
    azhnter

    #4
    azhnter [OP] Member

    Joined:
    Sep 28, 2013
    Member:
    #113461
    Messages:
    7
    Gender:
    Male
    I'm not worried so much about the code as I am the frequency of this happening under similar circumstances on two different vehicles with the same engine, but I do plan on getting it checked.
     
    azhnter, Sep 19, 2015
    #4
  5. Sep 19, 2015 at 2:11 PM
    #5
    Holy schmidt

    #5
    Holy schmidt Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Dec 27, 2013
    Member:
    #119308
    Messages:
    3,507
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Wyatt
    Nebraska
    Never had a check engine light come on after dirt roads. Get the cel code as it might not have anything to do with that as it came on a few weeks after
     
    Holy schmidt, Sep 19, 2015
    #5
  6. Sep 19, 2015 at 3:54 PM
    #6
    Dalandser

    #6
    Dalandser ¡Me Gustan Las Tacos-mas!

    Joined:
    Feb 19, 2015
    Member:
    #149090
    Messages:
    16,770
    First Name:
    Anthony
    Downey
    Vehicle:
    08 PreRunner Regular Cab / 98 4x4 Extra Cab
    Empty Wallet Mod
    It could be a coincidence. My family used to go driving on logging roads up in Maine where we'd have to pull over each time a logging truck would drive by because we'd be blinded by a cloud of dust for a good five to ten seconds after they'd drive by. They'd leave the engine running while we waited for the dust to clear. We had a 4.0 Cherokee and a Suburban and never had a CEL right after or anything. I don't even think my parents would change the air filter after although it wouldn't have been a bad idea if they had. I'm not sure that dust has any way of affecting the engine other than through the air intake since engines are a closed system besides the intake and the exhaust.
     
    Dalandser, Sep 19, 2015
    #6
  7. Sep 19, 2015 at 11:20 PM
    #7
    2004TacomaSR5

    #7
    2004TacomaSR5 Nemesis Prime

    Joined:
    Apr 28, 2011
    Member:
    #55722
    Messages:
    5,081
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Jon
    Montana
    Vehicle:
    2004 Tacoma DCSB & 1980 Toyota Pickup 4WD
    Tacoma is stock and staying that way, Pickup is TBA as of now.
    O2 sensor is my best guess. There are 2 of them on these I think. Easy to replace but would be best to have the code read before spending any money.
     
    2004TacomaSR5, Sep 19, 2015
    #7
  8. Sep 19, 2015 at 11:27 PM
    #8
    Caligula

    #8
    Caligula Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Sep 14, 2010
    Member:
    #43228
    Messages:
    2,108
    Gender:
    Male
    Los Angeles, CA
    Vehicle:
    2000 Ext. Cab Prerunner 2.7L
    Posting on Tacomaworld is step 4 or 5. Check what code it is.
     
    Caligula, Sep 19, 2015
    #8
  9. Sep 20, 2015 at 4:49 AM
    #9
    devinzz1

    #9
    devinzz1 Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Jun 28, 2014
    Member:
    #132892
    Messages:
    6,567
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    devin
    lewisporte Newfoundland
    Vehicle:
    95 extended cab sr5
    cxr turbo, fic6, methanol injection, king coilovers, jba uca, skyjacker leafs, rear 12" 5125s, no-slip rear locker, 35" grabber x3, magnaflow muffler, retrofit headlights, trans cooler, bed lined exterior, etc...
    There may be some talent on this site but nobody can tell him why his truck randomly developed a problem a month after driving on a dirt road...
     
    devinzz1, Sep 20, 2015
    #9
  10. Sep 20, 2015 at 6:27 AM
    #10
    Caligula

    #10
    Caligula Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Sep 14, 2010
    Member:
    #43228
    Messages:
    2,108
    Gender:
    Male
    Los Angeles, CA
    Vehicle:
    2000 Ext. Cab Prerunner 2.7L


    Ohh I have an idea, it's probably a misfire related code. It's just the point of asking a fruitless question.
     
    Caligula, Sep 20, 2015
    #10

Products Discussed in

Autel MS300 OBD2 Scanner Code Reader, Turn Off Check Engine Light, Read & Erase Fault Codes, Check Emission Monitor Status CAN Diagnostic Scan Tool
$19.98
To Top