Engine Management Light Intermittent

[Gelly]

Hi all, I'm hoping you can help? We're toyota fans and both my Dad and I have owned 6 Toyotas between us in 8 years! We're both in Yaris' at the moment however whilst I've been fortunate enough not to have any problems, my Dads one has been a bit of a pain....

He drives very few miles a year (only approx 3-4K per annum) however, whenever he does any sort of mileage over 20 miles, the engine management light comes on and stays on for approx 1 day. We took it to a local non-Toyota dealer who popped it on their diagnostic machine but it couldn't find a fault. There never appears to be any obvious fault with the car other than the warning light.

Can anyone shed any light on this problem?

Many thanks

Gelly

[jay13]

hey there, if the engine managementvlight is on the a code will be stored or displayed. get toyota to hook it up to their IT2 and check, most dealerships won't charge just to read a code, sounds like your air flow meter is a bit gumed up, these tend to suffer this problem, you can inspect it yourself. B)

[Blue84]

He drives very few miles a year (only approx 3-4K per annum) however, whenever he does any sort of mileage over 20 miles, the engine management light comes on and stays on for approx 1 day. We took it to a local non-Toyota dealer who popped it on their diagnostic machine but it couldn't find a fault. There never appears to be any obvious fault with the car other than the warning light.

Can anyone shed any light on this problem?

Many thanks

Gelly

hey there, if the engine managementvlight is on the a code will be stored or displayed. get toyota to hook it up to their IT2 and check, most dealerships won't charge just to read a code, sounds like your air flow meter is a bit gumed up, these tend to suffer this problem, you can inspect it yourself. B)

Hmm, sounds like Gelly's dealer did that Jay - going on the bits I have highlighted in bold.

We used to have a Yaris T-Sport and the engine management light was on a lot but it was just an air sensor (it was definately some sort of sensor, just not 100% sure what type) but the car was fine, it never ran differently at all - it could be something as minor as that to be honest.

Either that, or as it's doing it over 20 mile trips it's not used to being used for that long distances the Yaris does benefit from 'being driven like it's stolen' occasionally to give it a bit of a clear out too.

[Gelly]

Thanks Jay13 & Blue84 - your help is much appreciated. It's funny that Dad drives so little mileage - typical pensioner really ;) When he bought the car, it was 2 years old and had only done 1800 miles from new! It's a 51 plate and has just got to 18K....if only mine had mileage that low.

If anybody else has any suggestions on what it might be, please let me know.

Thanks again.

Gelly

[Phatman]

If the lights on then there will be an error code, sounds like you need to take somewhere with the right equipment and properly trained staff. The engine light seems to trigger really easily just one odd bad signal will do it. If it drives normally then I wouldn't worry.

Thanks Jay13 & Blue84 - your help is much appreciated. It's funny that Dad drives so little mileage - typical pensioner really ;) When he bought the car, it was 2 years old and had only done 1800 miles from new! It's a 51 plate and has just got to 18K....if only mine had mileage that low.

If anybody else has any suggestions on what it might be, please let me know.

Thanks again.

Gelly

[CheeseDog]

Hmm had a similar problem today. (99 Yaris 1.0)

Just pulled onto a motorway and the light came on. Car felt exactly the same. Pulled off at the next exit turned engine off and back on and light stays on

Did the 40-50 miles back home without a problem disconnected the Battery to reset the ECU. Which has cleared the light.

Anyone know if this will also have erased the error code if it's hooked up to a diagnostic machine now? Slightly tempted to have it checked anyway

Done a few miles since then for the ECU to calibrate. First few miles felt like it had severe turbo lag and the idle seems lower than usuaul at the moment.

Just driving round now paranoid it will come back on I will be at the garage should it re-surface.

[jay13]

He drives very few miles a year (only approx 3-4K per annum) however, whenever he does any sort of mileage over 20 miles, the engine management light comes on and stays on for approx 1 day. We took it to a local non-Toyota dealer who popped it on their diagnostic machine but it couldn't find a fault. There never appears to be any obvious fault with the car other than the warning light.

Can anyone shed any light on this problem?

Many thanks

Gelly

hey there, if the engine managementvlight is on the a code will be stored or displayed. get toyota to hook it up to their IT2 and check, most dealerships won't charge just to read a code, sounds like your air flow meter is a bit gumed up, these tend to suffer this problem, you can inspect it yourself. B)

Hmm, sounds like Gelly's dealer did that Jay - going on the bits I have highlighted in bold.

the non-toyota dealership will only have basic code readers, you need the IT2 to properly read, diagnose and inspect freeze frame data

[dan83590`]

Can you a buy code reader for this problem?

[CheeseDog]

Light has come back on here on an A road crusing along at 60mph.

Will be at the garage tomorrow

[CheeseDog]

Right it's apparently a P0171 code (System too lean)

Toyota have investigated and cleared the error for £39.95 and told me if it reappears it's fine to drive around on as it's not serious

A new sensor fitted is around £340

so I think I'll try this first.

[stripey]

I have a Yaris Verso - great car, but the Engine Management light has been coming on and off for the last ten months. Had it in and out of various garages, and have had the whole of the exhuast system replaced, but it's still there. Car is running fine, but I'm worrked that there's something hidden. Getting another new CAT on Friday and will let you know.

[Gelly]

Update - well Dad bit the bullet and took his Yaris to the local Toyota main dealer who hooked it up to their diagnostic machine.....bad news apparently.

The fault code it's recorded is P1349 - vvt malfunction and they've quoted £700 to replace it - apparently it's got 4 hours labour.

Has anyone heard of something so serious and so expensive when the car appears to be running fine! It seems so much money for something so small.

I've suggested that if he does get it repaired, he should shop around the dealerships to find who'll do it for the best price as labour rates appear to vary from garage to garage.

One of my worries is that if he does have it replaced, forks out all that money and it's not the fault, would they refund him? That's alot of money for anyone to find!

Any thoughts and ideas warmly welcomed.

Gelly

[Phatman]

@Gelly - I'm sure the VVT-i works off oil pressure, maybe it's a blocked oil way? If the car runs fine I certainly wouldn't pay £700.00 out. Sounds like it needs a good blast down the motorway from time to time! The car will let you know when something is wrong, that engine light is a pain, IMO just a ploy to get owners to pay out!

@CheeseDog - I have the exact same problem on my '99 1.0 In my case I think it's a leaky exhaust manifold that's fooling the o2 sensor. To clear the fault code just disconnect the Battery for 30mins (or pull the fuse for ECU), car will run rough for 20 miles until the ECU adjusts but as you found out the light will reappear when a bad signal happens again (it took 2 weeks for mine to come back on). Sensors are about £150 and just screw in, I've heard you can get cheaper 'universal' ones for £35.00 but they don't work properly on Toyotas. BTW there are two sensors, one before and one after the catalyst.

Update - well Dad bit the bullet and took his Yaris to the local Toyota main dealer who hooked it up to their diagnostic machine.....bad news apparently.

The fault code it's recorded is P1349 - vvt malfunction and they've quoted £700 to replace it - apparently it's got 4 hours labour.

Has anyone heard of something so serious and so expensive when the car appears to be running fine! It seems so much money for something so small.

I've suggested that if he does get it repaired, he should shop around the dealerships to find who'll do it for the best price as labour rates appear to vary from garage to garage.

One of my worries is that if he does have it replaced, forks out all that money and it's not the fault, would they refund him? That's alot of money for anyone to find!

Any thoughts and ideas warmly welcomed.

Gelly

[CheeseDog]

Still no light yet.

Had a look at a Haynes manual and once I've replaced/cleaned the sensor I should also replace the O ring to prevent any other problems.

Anyone got any ideas where to get one from or what exactly to ask for?

Also heard to steer well clear of the universal sensors

[Phatman]

Depends on the condition of the 'O' ring, mine looked pretty much like new so I just put it back in there. If you need one you will have to get it (like most things to do with the Yaris) from a Toyota dealer. I guess it's just called a MAF rubber 'O' ring?

Still no light yet.

Had a look at a Haynes manual and once I've replaced/cleaned the sensor I should also replace the O ring to prevent any other problems.

Anyone got any ideas where to get one from or what exactly to ask for?

Also heard to steer well clear of the universal sensors

[Matt_70]

I have a '99 Yaris VVti. 4 days ago the exhaust went and I needed the centre and rear replacing which I got done at a local garage for £170. Used the car briefly a couple of times since but yesterday had it out for a bit of a run and the engine management light came on. The Toyota garage are saying the O2 sensor might be damaged but would need to run the diagnostic test to know for sure which will cost £60 + VAT. If it needs a new O2 sensor a further £230. After reading this thread I've taken it out for a spin today and the performance does not seem to be affected at all so I'm considering taking the risk and just leaving it. Even the Toyota garage said it may go off in time anyway.

[cHinGy]

Today whilst I was driving, the malfunction indicator lamp came on. When I got home, I found my filter had come off my air induction kit. Once I've finished putting the filter back on, the light still persist. Any idea what it could be? Dirt on the senor? If I need to take it to Toyota dealer, would I need to fit the old air filter back on, or could i just the induction kit on?

[CheeseDog]

Sensor has finally been cleaned.

Didn't look that dirty will give it a month before I'm sure this has fixed the problem

[stripey]

Update on the Verso.

Bxxxxx light came back on 500 miles after fitting the new Cat and front Lambda. These were non-Toyota parts as Toyota charge an arm and leg for theirs, but it may prove to be a false economy.

I can reset the light thanks to tips from these forums, and it stays off for about 100 miles, so it can't be too bad inside the cat. Local garage code says the Cat is malfunctioning, and they will fit another one within warranty.

Will let you know, but may have to bite the bullet and extend the mortgge to fit Toyota parts.

:(

[CheeseDog]

Sensor has finally been cleaned.

Didn't look that dirty will give it a month before I'm sure this has fixed the problem

Well it's a month by my reckoning not sure how many miles but more than 500 for sure.

Light still not on :)