Check light on after driving with the cooling system low on fluid and the engine hot?

Tiny
ANNQUENETTE HALL
  • MEMBER
  • 1997 TOYOTA RAV4
  • 300,000 MILES
I ran my vehicle hot by accident. Then I put water back in it the next day the check engine light came on and it has not turned off. Did I blow a head gasket or something when it running it hot? I accidentally left the radiator cap off for about one hour then I noticed the needle had gone to hot.
Monday, July 11th, 2022 AT 6:25 PM

1 Reply

Tiny
JACOBANDNICKOLAS
  • MECHANIC
  • 110,119 POSTS
Hi,

Anything is possible. What I need you to do is get your hands on a scan tool so we can identify what is turning the check engine light on.

Here is a quick video showing how it is done:

https://youtu.be/b2IJGfImVvw

If you don't have a scanner, often times most parts stores will lend one to you.

Let me know.

Joe
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Monday, July 11th, 2022 AT 9:36 PM

Please login or register to post a reply.

Related Check Engine Light Content

Is it Safe to Drive Check Engine Light?
VIDEO
Is it Safe to Drive Check Engine Light?
In­struc­tional re­pair video
Check Engine Light
GUIDE
Check Engine Light
Why is my check en­gine or ser­vice en­gine soon turned on? In this guide we talk about what this is as­so­ci­ated with this no­to­ri­ous light, what it is used for and what you...
VIEW MORE