check engine warning light

[harveyc]

Hi can anyone help please?

I have a Toyota Auris 2009.

One of the warning lights came on yesterday, its a picture of the engine and the words 'check engine'
What should i be checking regarding the engine? Its not oil or water as they are fine.

I would rather not if I can help it go to a garage because they charge a fair bit to check the Car diagnostics with their machine.


Any ideas please?

[Gary C]

it could be a 1001 things, the computer in the car has detected a fault and it needs a laptop with a dongle able to connect to it to read the code.

You can get a simple ELM chipped one of ebay that will read the basic OBDII codes that might put you on the right track, but for more specific codes, you will need the manufacturer equipment.

is it doing anything odd, is anything not working ?

Really, go to a garage or get a code reader, or ask someone on here or on a web fforum for that car/manufacturer if they can come round and help

[harveyc]

Thanks for that Gary,

just to add, no the car isn't doing or acting strange. It drives normally with no problem.

[Gary C]

might be worth mentioning where you are, someone on here maybe able to help ?

[DuraAce]

harveyc said:

I would rather not if I can help it go to a garage because they charge a fair bit to check the Car diagnostics with their machine.


Any ideas please?

Buy a code reader.

Borrow a code reader.

Go to a garage.

They are your options. You need to know where the problem is and you are in the dark without the codes to start your diagnosis.
You'll need it sorting before your mot.

[harveyc]

Gary C said:

might be worth mentioning where you are, someone on here maybe able to help ?

Im in Clacton On Sea Essex


Thanks for all the advice, I think ill go and buy a code reader!

[sploosh]

AA / RAC will come out to you if you are a member.

Code readers are not expensive. Usually points you in the right direction and can reset.

Local backstreet garage will probably do a code check for you for beer money if they're not busy.

[harveyc]

sploosh said:

AA / RAC will come out to you if you are a member.

Code readers are not expensive. Usually points you in the right direction and can reset.

Local backstreet garage will probably do a code check for you for beer money if they're not busy.

thanks splosh, most helpful

[Gary C]

harveyc said:

Gary C said:

might be worth mentioning where you are, someone on here maybe able to help ?

Im in Clacton On Sea Essex


Thanks for all the advice, I think ill go and buy a code reader!

Ah, too far from Lancaster for me to help out

[harveyc]

Gary C said:

Ah, too far from Lancaster for me to help out

thanks anyway!

[harveyc]

Well I got my hands on a friends code reader and have found the fault.
Its code P0138 O2 sensor circuit high volts (bank 1 sensor 2)

I am in no way mechanically minded so maybe someone could tell me if its ok to drive around with this fault 9which I have been for a week now) or is it something serious that needs sorting asap?
Or is it something I can ignore?

My car will be at the garage in February for its MOT so can it wait until then?

Thanks

[Gary C]

harveyc said:

Well I got my hands on a friends code reader and have found the fault.
Its code P0138 O2 sensor circuit high volts (bank 1 sensor 2)

I am in no way mechanically minded so maybe someone could tell me if its ok to drive around with this fault 9which I have been for a week now) or is it something serious that needs sorting asap?
Or is it something I can ignore?

My car will be at the garage in February for its MOT so can it wait until then?

Thanks

Think thats the Lambda sensor after the Cat, use to check on cat performance rather than the upstream wideband sensor used for regulation.

as such its not going to cause a fuelling problem or a problem with the cat. Fortunately they are also the cheaper sensor but I think its an MOT fail.

Have you tried to clear the fault with the reader ?, often they will clear long enough to get an MOT done (been doing this for years with a 2003 Polo)

[harveyc]

Gary C said:

Have you tried to clear the fault with the reader ?, often they will clear long enough to get an MOT done (been doing this for years with a 2003 Polo)

I'll do that, thanks for the advice!

[rigga]

I have had the same code on my mini, generally only ever in very cold weather for some reason, clear it and it stays off, best to try this in case its an intermittent fault which is not present at all times, easy fix if it clears.