2001 Toyota Highlander CHECK ENGINE LIGHT FUNCTIONS?

TIGER LILLY

MEMBER
2001 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER
6 CYL
AWD
AUTOMATIC
112,000 MILES

What functions/system errors will cause the Check Engine light to come on? Initially, the light would go off and on at different times. Now it's on all the time. However, I know from the past that functions as insignificant seeming as not having the gas cap on tightly caused the light to come on. So, what other things such as that will cause the light to come on that don't have anything to do with the true function of the engine? Years ago, when the Check Engine light came on, one would stop the car immediately and not drive it until the problem was resolved. Now, I don't trust that light if it could be something as simple as not having the gas cap on tightly. Thanks for your input.

3 Replies

RASMATAZ

MECHANIC
75,992 POSTS

What you need to do here is have the computer scanned for code/s this is your starting point of diagnosis to find out what's causing the CEL to come ON.

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Sunday, March 28th, 2010 AT 9:59 PM

LEGITIMATE007

MECHANIC
5,121 POSTS

Hi, it could be a thousand things, as these vehicles are so emission compliant now that a simple gas cap being loose will trigger it, If you vehicle seems to be running fine, then mostlikely it has something to do with a misfire, or egr gas recirculation which can eventually cause problems, in the long run. But is not an immediate problem. I would just bring it to autozone for a free scan, and jot the codes down and bring them back to me to define them for you or I will send you a link of all of the definitions. Any other question please feel free.
Jody