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What Does the Check Engine Light Mean?

One of the most commonly misunderstood lights or indicators in your 2018 Toyota 4Runner is the check engine light. The check engine light is part of the onboard diagnostics system, and displays in a few different ways. It can say "Check Engine", it can be a symbol of an engine, it can even be a combination of both. This light illuminates in either an amber or red color and is part of the diagnostics system found on your vehicle. Onboard computers increasingly have controlled and monitored vehicle performance since the 80s and do a variety of things for your 2018 Toyota 4Runner. Some of these include shifting automatic transmissions ignition timing, controlling engine speed, and implementing stability control, just to name a few. With that being said, the check engine light can mean a variety of different things. It can be as simple as your gas cap being loose or as serious as engine knocking. If your check engine light is on in your 2018 Toyota 4Runner, contact Courtesy Toyota of Brandon. Contact Courtesy Toyota of Brandon today! Our Toyota service department can help you find out what code is turning your check engine light on or diagnose why your check engine light is twinkling.

How many miles can you drive with the check engine light?

It could be anything from a bad sensor to plug wires needing to be replaced. If you check engine light is flashing, we recommend that you pull over and contact Courtesy Toyota of Brandon to help imply if your vehicle is safe to drive in or if we recommend a tow truck. Since each check engine code has its own level of severity, it is not accessible to predict how several miles you can drive with the warning light on. The safest bet is to decipher the code and then plan your strategy accordingly.

What could cause the check engine light to come on in a 2018 Toyota 4Runner?

When your check engine light comes on, this could be as simple as tightening or replacing your gas cap. Likewise, the check engine light could also be a warning of a serious problem that could cause serious damage to your engine and come with a hefty repair bill. Depending on your make and model, the check engine light will illuminate or blink. A steady glow typically means something less serious but a flashing check engine light indicates that your vehicle’s engine is in serious trouble and service is needed immediately. If your check engine light is flashing in your 2018 Toyota 4Runner, we highly recommend not to drive the vehicle and schedule Toyota service today. Below is a list of the most common reasons your check engine light can come on:

  • The battery is low or dead. The battery in your 2018 Toyota 4Runner is every productive. Without a car battery, your car won’t start, light up the road ahead, play the radio or charge your phone. Today’s car batteries last much longer than they did a few decades ago, and they don't really require maintenance. The price of a new one depends on the type of Toyota you drive, but check our current service coupons and specials.
  • Your 2018 Toyota 4Runner has a vacuum leak. Every Toyota 4Runner has a vacuum system that performs a wide variety of functions. The vacuum system also helps cut harmful emissions by routing the fumes as gasoline evaporates through the engine. If you notice that your RPM is high in idle or randomly surges, a vacuum leak could be the cause. Over time, vacuum hoses can dehydrated out and crack, especially if they’re exposed to astonishing heat or extreme bleak.
  • New Spark Plugs or Plug Wires are needed for your 2018 Toyota 4Runner. The spark plugs are the part of your engine that ignites the air/fuel collection in the combustion chamber of your vehicle. This explosion is what moves the pistons and makes the engine run. The spark plug wires deliver the spark from the ignition coil to the spark plugs. If your spark plugs or spark plug wires are bad or traditional, you will experience poor performance and reduced power. In some extreme cases, your engine will have trouble starting or continuing to run. Worn spark plugs and plug wires can cause clogged catalytic converter or damage to ignition coils and O2 sensors, extensive to more expensive repairs.
  • Your O2 Sensor (Oxygen Sensor) needs to be replaced. The Oxygen sensor, known as the O2 sensor, measures the amount of oxygen in your exhaust system. If there is excess oxygen in your exhaust system, fuel burns faster and your vehicle will be less detailed when it comes to fuel economy.
  • Your mass airflow sensor (known as MAF) needs to be replaced. The mass airflow sensor in your Toyota 4Runner is what determines how much fuel is needed to run your engine efficiently by measuring the amount of air entering the engine. As a part of the engine management system, the mass airflow sensor helps adjust to actual changes, like altitude. If your Toyota 4Runner is having trouble starting, idling rough or has a abrupt change in the position of the throttle pedal, this could be a sign of a bad mass airflow sensor.
  • Your catalytic converter is bad or going bad. The catalytic converter is a part of your 2018 Toyota 4Runner’s exhaust system. The catalytic converter's function is to turn the carbon monoxide created by the combustion process into carbon dioxide. A damaged catalytic converter is usually caused by neglected maintenance, which is why Courtesy Toyota of Brandon offers a complimentary multi-point inspection with every Toyota service. If you have an issue with your catalytic converter and don't get it repaired, your 2018 Toyota 4Runner will not pass an emissions test, show a lack of engine performance and will negatively affect your fuel economy. Your car may run at a higher temperature, too, which can cause extra problems from overheating.
    • So what happens if I don’t replace your O2 sensor? A faulty sensor can not only affect your miles per gallon, but it can cause damage to your catalytic converter and your 2018 Toyota 4Runner's spark plugs. The O2 sensor sends data to the vehicle’s onboard computer to want the noble collection of air and fuel that enters the cylinders in your engine. A bad O2 sensor can also cause a car to fail an emissions test.
  • One of the most traditional and bountiful cause is that your 2018 Toyota 4Runner gas cap is loose, damaged or missing. The gas cap for your 2018 Toyota 4Runner serves multiple purposes. It prevents gas fumes from being released when you aren't driving, it seals the fuel system and helps maintain pressure within the fuel tank. What happens if you have a bad fuel cap? If your gas cap is traditional or has a ruptured seal, you can lose fuel through evaporation which will result in more trips to the pump. Luckily, to replace a gas cap isn't expensive. If your check engine light turns on quickly after you put gas in your 2018 Toyota 4Runner, first thing you should check is to make satisfied the cap isn’t loose — or that it's still on your car’s roof or at the fuel pump.
  • Issues with each aftermarket items. An aftermarket alarm, exhaust or extra item can wreak havoc on your 2018 Toyota 4Runner if it’s not installed well. These aftermarket components and accessories can discharge the battery, trigger the check engine light, or even prevent the vehicle from starting. If these issues sound ongoing, bring your 4Runner to Toyota and have our team of certified mechanics ensure that your aftermarket items were installed correctly and aren't causing each issue. Getting accessories, especially aftermarket parts and accessories, or using OEM components first place might cost a few bit more but could save you money from having to get poor perform and damage caused by poor installation perform corrected.

Will the check engine light reset itself?

The check engine light on your 2018 Toyota 4Runner will usually shut itself off if the issue or code that caused it to turn on is fixed. For example, if the cause of your check engine light coming on was a loose gas cap, if it's tightened, the light will turn itself off. Likewise, if your catalytic converter is going functional, and you did a lot of stop-and-go driving, that may have turned on the check engine light due to the high usage of the converter. In most cases, your 2018 Toyota 4Runner light will go off after about 20-40 miles. If you drive over that amount and the light is still on, you will need to bring it in to Courtesy Toyota of Brandon so the light and code can be double-checked and reset.

Is it safe to drive your 2018 Toyota 4Runner with the check engine light on?

This question is not very conspicuous because it all depends on the severity of the issue. If the cause is a minor issue, such as a loose gas cap, it should be safe to drive. This is continuously indicated by a steady glow of the check engine light. If you notice a difference in the performance of the vehicle, it could be an indication of a more detectable problem. If the check engine light is flashing, this means that there is a detectable issue and it is recommended to service your Toyota 4Runner shortly. Call the experts at Courtesy Toyota of Brandon by dialing 8132854632 so you can describe the issues. Or reduce your speed and transport your 2018 Toyota to our certified technicians as soon as probable.

2018 Toyota 4Runner Check Engine Light

If the check engine light in your 2018 Toyota 4Runner starts flashing, that means that the problem needs abrupt attention and your Toyota should be brought in instantly. A flashing light suggests that the problem is strict and if not taken care of instantly may result in big wear and tear to the vehicle. This blinking light usually indicates a severe engine misfire allowing unburned fuel to be dumped into the exhaust system. There it can quickly raise the temperature of the catalytic converter to a point where damage is likely, requiring an expensive repair. Some owners ask if spark plugs cause the check engine light to flash? This can absolutely be the cause. A bad, old or dirty spark plug can cause the engine to misfire. If your check engine light is flashing, please contact our team of automotive consultants at Courtesy Toyota of Brandon abruptly by calling 8132854632. If the problem is ignored or you continue to drive, this can spread to the spark plug wires, catalytic converter, or ignition coils which can lead to a excessively fancy repair.

How much does it cost to get the engine light checked?

The check engine light warns of issues ranging from a gas cap that's not properly tightened to a more powerful failure like a bad catalytic converter or a problem with one of the car's oxygen sensors, so it exceptional to get the relevant code reading and diagnosis. The center cost for a check engine light diagnosis & testing is frequently between $88 and $111. The exceptional news, Courtesy Toyota of Brandon offers complimentary multi-point inspections and free diagnostics, in most cases, to help find out the cause of your check engine light.

Check Engine Light Service 2018 Toyota 4Runner

What do you do when you’re driving along in your Toyota 4Runner and suddenly, a yellow light illuminates on your dash and says "Check Engine". If you’re like most Toyota owners, your heart sinks a little because you have little idea about what that light is trying to tell you or how you should react. The fear of the unknown (or the cost of the unknown) can be just as stressful. But take a deep breath and realize the light coming on doesn’t mean you have to pull the car over to the side of the road and call a tow truck, but it is recommended that you get your 2018 Toyota 4Runner checked as soon as possible. Ignoring that warning could end up causing major damage to expensive engine components.

When your 2018 Toyota 4Runner's ECM (electronic control module), which is the vehicle's onboard computer, finds a problem in the electronic control system that it can’t correct, a computer turns on your check engine light. This amber or yellow light is typically labeled “check engine” or “service engine soon”, or the light may be nothing more than a picture of an engine, or a picture of the engine with the word “check.”

When the light turns on, the ECM stores an engine code or “trouble code” in its memory that identifies as the issue, whether it's a sensor or a failing engine part. This code is read with an electronic scan tool that is used by our Toyota auto repair mechanics at Courtesy Toyota of Brandon. There are also a number of relatively inexpensive code readers that are designed for do-it-yourselfers, should you choose that route too. While this code will tell you the issue that is detected, a true diagnosis still requires an experienced professional to determine the issue and repair it.

2018 Toyota 4Runner Check Engine Light Codes

The check engine light turning on can be quite intimidating to see that little light on your vehicle’s dashboard suddenly illuminates, but in reality, it is not something that should cause you to shut down in fear right away. If you hear the term, diagnostic trouble codes (DTC), these are just another name for check engine light codes. These are automotive computer codes stored by the ECM, also known as the OBD (on-board computer diagnostic system) in your 4Runner. There are hundreds of different codes that your check engine light can represent. While that sounds daunting, with a little patience, tackling basic diagnostics will give you useful knowledge about your vehicle and will also allow that Check Engine Light to do what it is really supposed to do: be your guide. Unfortunately, obvious and helpful vehicle symptoms do not always accompany an illuminated Check Engine Light. Since there are hundreds of possible OBD codes, there are also hundreds of possible reasons for the light, including:

  • Fuel and air metering systems problems
  • Emissions controls issues
  • Transmission issues
  • Computer output circuit issues
  • O2 Sensor
  • Old Battery
  • Ignition system faults
  • Loose Gas Cap or Missing Gas Cap
  • Bad Spark Plugs
This is why it is important for someone who does not have a lot of automotive knowledge to not assume what a code means. If the engine light comes on due to a strict concern, you risk damaging your car added by not repairing the issue good away. Call Courtesy Toyota of Brandon at 8132854632 today or schedule your check engine light service online today! When your check engine light comes on, you should get it checked out immediately by a certified Toyota mechanic.

2018 Toyota 4Runner Check Engine Light Flashing

Although there are countless potential causes of an illuminated Check Engine Light, we know from years of providing Check Engine Light Diagnosis Service that there are several common causes including something as simple as a loose gas cap. Other common reasons for a Check Engine Light are dirty mass airflow sensor, a malfunction with the fuel injection system, faulty head gasket, damaged oxygen sensor, faulty emissions control part, or defective spark plugs to name a few. No matter what is the root cause of the Check Engine Light, we have the Toyota Certified Technicians and the certified service protocol to isolate the root problem and repair it as needed to restore factory specifications. When this happens, the Check Engine Light turns off, and you can leave the service center knowing that your Toyota issue was fixed.

Every 2018 Toyota 4Runner was designed with a high-technology performance monitoring system with a computer, and a series of sensors positioned strategically throughout the vehicle on its crucial systems. The sensors are continually detecting conditions while sending data to the electronic control unit. If the electronic control unit detects that the data is out of factory specifications, the Check Engine Light illuminates telling you that there is a problem. However, that is the limitation of the Check Engine Light – it won’t tell you what exactly is wrong nor what to do about it. That’s where we come in; Courtesy Toyota of Brandon provides a Check Engine Light Diagnosis Service that isolates the core problem and gives you a recommendation on what to do next from a Highly Qualified Service professional.