Stuck in LA with a Check Engine Light... need dealer recommendation

hi all,

Sorry for the all points bulletin... in a bit of a pickle on vacation with the fam.

Check engine light came on halfway through our family trip from SF to LA. Truck felt solid so we powered through. We made it fine, but I’d like to get it checked out ASAP.

We’re staying in West Hollywood, but truck is operable so I can head just about anywhere. Does anyone have a solid recommendation for a service department in the area? Preferably somewhere that provides loaners and isn’t afraid of a few mods.

Here’s the backstory: Check engine light first surfaced over the weekend, paired with a friend’s observation that I had liquid coming out of the tailpipe. Managed to check code myself (P0030-12-E8, oxygen sensor) and my dealer in SF confirmed same and replaced the sensor Tuesday/yesterday. We packed up and started our vacay a day late, only to get the check engine light all over again on our drive. My googling is bring up a blown head gasket. Fucc(!).

Anyway, if anyone has dealer recs or mechanical ideas let me know.

Pretty pissed... not even at 3k miles on this ‘18.

 

Don’t rule out a head gasket yet. Check the oil. Is it a milky light color ?

 

Water coming out of the tail pipe is fine it’s condensation. Exhaust gets hot the cools off. It creates water. Is there white smoke pouring out of the tailpipe ? That’s a usual sign that coolant is entering the combustion chamnber

 

Yeah head gasket and truck not run well. Eventually would fail with overheating.

The water out of tail pipe is created with the catalytic converter. Why its there actually.

Catalyst in converter turns harmful exhaust into h2O (water vapor). Usually its steam but cold start sometimes water and on heavy excel will/can be water as well.

Check engine light could be anything.... if its running good likely its not serious or the truck would be in limp mode. Bad gas maybe??

Edit: you vacation in West LA??

 

Visiting inlaws... “vacation” is probably not the best word for it

 

No white smoke. Thanks for the input - appreciated.

 

Will check...

 

Man I'd be shocked (and pissed) if I blew a head gasket in a 2018. I would think it's very unlikely. https://youtu.be/5zpNjYmmiYY

From reading 4runner forums often a cylinder misfire code is usually most associated with blown gasket blown.

 

Ok thx! No misfire code... just the o2 sensor so far. Headed to Cabe Toyota in Longbeach per rec from socaltacomas to diagnose. Thx everyone

 

I'm going with a loose gas cap. Damn "O2 sensor" codes are usually due to some other issue. Good luck.

 

Hahaha don’t I wish! Been dealing with this for a week and every new service person I see hits me with the gas cap concept. I’m not above it (20years ago I even drove away with the hose and nozel once).

Unfortunately it looks like the gas cap isn’t the culprit...

 

Maybe the O2 sensor they replaced has a bad connection or wire got damaged somehow. Shit I herd the mice like the taste of insulation on our trucks. Gonna be sumptin simple.

Should get you outta West LA for a few. Could head down to the beach and hang or have a taco could also go the the Queen Mary for lunch or a snack and beer dont forget beer.

 

Can’t forget beer! Wish I could... got a full family dance card while we’re here

 

Update:

Back on the road thanx to @SoCalTacomas and Ken at Cabe Toyota in longbeach.

Running fine and no check engine light after wiring check for the o2 sensor. Have a hunch I’m not at the bottom of this yet but Ken assured truck is running fine so if light comes back on again I’ll just bring it back to my dealer in Norcal and have them run it to ground once we’re home.

Thx guys.

Oh... and got to see @Yota_McFly s rig there in person. Been drooling at that thing for months!

 

Phewwww... thought we were going to ask for a refund/money back.

Good job, now get back to the in laws and beer. Nothing goes with in-laws like several cold beers.

 

... aaaand the check engine light is back on. Fam safely back home, so not as urgent. At this point the sensor has been replaced and the wiring has been (re)checked by two separate dealers.

Here’s the pattern: dealer clears the code, test drives for a few minutes without a code, then hands the truck back to me. The engine light then comes back on after about 30 minutes on the road.

Code is P0030-12-E8

If anyone’s a pro mechanic out there and has any ideas, I’d love to hear them! Thanks in advance.

 

I have no earthly idea what I am talking about, but my guess is it's the catalytic converter and they are avoiding making that diagnosis because it is expensive to fix.

 

Hopefully they’ll fix it if I keep showing up every day!

 

good luck...three tries and your out

 

Huh?