Please wait while the page loads...

What Does the Check Engine Light Mean?

One of the most typically misunderstood lights or indicators in your 2015 Toyota 4Runner is the check engine light. The check engine light is part of the onboard diagnostics system, and displays in a few diverse 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 2015 Toyota 4Runner. Some of these include ignition timing, controlling engine speed, shifting automatic transmissions and implementing stability control, just to name a few. With that being said, the check engine light can mean a range of discrete things. It can be as easy as your gas cap being loose or as relentless as engine knocking. If your check engine light is on in your 2015 Toyota 4Runner, contact Nalley Toyota of Roswell. Our Toyota service department can help you find out what code is turning your check engine light on or inspect why your check engine light is flashing. Contact Nalley Toyota of Roswell today!

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

The intermediate price for a check engine light diagnosis & testing is typically between $88 and $111. The impressive news, Nalley Toyota of Roswell offers complimentary multi-point inspections and free diagnostics, in most cases, to help pick the cause of your check engine light. The check engine light warns of issues ranging from a gas cap that's not properly tightened to a more treacherous failure like a destructive catalytic converter or a problem with one of the car's oxygen sensors, so it impressive to get the good code reading and diagnosis.

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

The safest bet is to decipher the code and then plan your strategy accordingly. It could be anything from a harmful sensor to plug wires needing to be replaced. If you check engine light is shining, we recommend that you pull over and contact Nalley Toyota of Roswell to help learn 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 difficult to predict how plentiful miles you can drive with the warning light on.

Check Engine Light Service 2015 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 indicate 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 2015 Toyota 4Runner checked as soon as achievable. Ignoring that warning could end up causing major wear and tear to expensive engine elements.

When your 2015 Toyota 4Runner's ECM (electronic control module), which is the vehicle's onboard computer, finds a problem in the electrical control system that it can’t constitutional, a computer turns on your check engine light. This amber or yellow light is generally labeled ā€œcheck engineā€ or ā€œservice engine soonā€, or the light may be nothing more than a picture of an engine, or a picture of the engine with the word ā€œcheck.ā€

When the light turns on, the ECM stores an engine code or ā€œtrouble codeā€ 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 audit tool that is used by our Toyota auto repair mechanics at Nalley Toyota of Roswell. There are also a number of comparatively inexpensive code readers that are designed for do-it-yourselfers, should you determine that route too. While this code will tell you the issue that is detected, a true diagnosis still requires an imaginative professional to mean the issue and repair it.

2015 Toyota 4Runner Check Engine Light Flashing

Although there are copious conceivable causes of an illuminated Check Engine Light, we know from years of providing Check Engine Light Diagnosis Service that there are a lot palpable causes including something as palpable as a loose gas cap. Alternative palpable reasons for a Check Engine Light are a malfunction with the fuel injection system, damaged oxygen sensor, dirty mass airflow sensor, faulty emissions control part, faulty head gasket, or defective spark plugs to name various. 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 serviced.

Every 2015 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 hard systems. The sensors are mostly 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 inaccurate nor what to do about it. That’s where we come in; Nalley Toyota of Roswell provides a Check Engine Light Diagnosis Service that isolates the core problem and gives you a recommendation on what to do next from a Particularly Qualified Service professional.

Will the check engine light reset itself?

The check engine light on your 2015 Toyota 4Runner will frequently 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 discreet, 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 2015 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 Nalley Toyota of Roswell so the light and code can be double-checked and reset.

2015 Toyota 4Runner Check Engine Light Codes

The check engine light turning on can be quite intimidating to see that miniature light on your vehicle’s dashboard suddenly illuminates, but in reality, it is not something that should cause you to shut down in fear equitable 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 established as the OBD (on-board computer diagnostic system) in your 4Runner. There are hundreds of distinctive codes that your check engine light can represent. While that sounds daunting, with a miniature patience, tackling prevailing diagnostics will give you functional knowledge about your vehicle and will also allow that Check Engine Light to do what it is surely supposed to do: be your guide. Unfortunately, clear and curious vehicle symptoms do not always accompany an illuminated Check Engine Light. Since there are hundreds of likely OBD codes, there are also hundreds of likely reasons for the light, including:

  • Emissions controls issues
  • O2 Sensor
  • Computer output circuit issues
  • Transmission issues
  • Bad Spark Plugs
  • Ignition system faults
  • Loose Gas Cap or Missing Gas Cap
  • Fuel and air metering systems problems
  • Old Battery

This is why it is basic for someone who does not have various of automotive knowledge to not assume what a code means. If the engine light comes on due to a dangerous concern, you risk damaging your car additional by not repairing the issue legitimate away. Call Nalley Toyota of Roswell at 7707637398 today or schedule your check engine light service online today! When your check engine light comes on, you should get it checked out at this moment by a certified Toyota technician.

Is it safe to drive your 2015 Toyota 4Runner with the check engine light on?

If the check engine light is flashing, this means that there is a alarming issue and it is recommended to service your Toyota 4Runner suddenly. This question is not particularly understandable 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 reliable to drive. This is continually 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 necessary problem. Call the experts at Nalley Toyota of Roswell by dialing 7707637398 so you can describe the issues. Or lower your speed and bring your 2015 Toyota to our certified mechanics as soon as achievable.

What could cause the check engine light to come on in a 2015 Toyota 4Runner?

When your check engine light comes on, this could be as apparent as tightening or replacing your gas cap. Likewise, the check engine light could also be a warning of a precarious problem that could cause precarious damage to your engine and come with a big repair bill. Depending on your make and model, the check engine light will illuminate or blink. A steady glow customarily means something fewer precarious but a flashing check engine light indicates that your vehicle’s engine is in precarious trouble and service is decisive promptly. If your check engine light is flashing in your 2015 Toyota 4Runner, we remarkably advise not to drive the automobile and schedule Toyota service today. Below is a list of the most commonplace reasons your check engine light can come on:

  • Issues with any aftermarket items. An aftermarket alarm, exhaust or extra item can wreak havoc on your 2015 Toyota 4Runner if it’s not installed properly. These aftermarket parts and accessories can drain the battery, trigger the check engine light, or even hinder the vehicle from starting. If these issues sound natural, transport your 4Runner to Toyota and have our team of certified technicians ensure that your aftermarket items were installed accurately and aren't causing any issue. Getting accessories, extraordinarily aftermarket parts and accessories, or using OEM parts first place might cost a little bit more but could save you money from having to get scanty work and damage caused by scanty installation work corrected.
  • Your catalytic converter is bad or going bad. The catalytic converter is a part of your 2015 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 commonly caused by neglected maintenance, which is why Nalley Toyota of Roswell offers a complimentary multi-point inspection with each Toyota service. If you have an issue with your catalytic converter and don't get it repaired, your 2015 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.
  • New Spark Plugs or Plug Wires are paramount for your 2015 Toyota 4Runner. The spark plugs are the part of your engine that ignites the air/fuel mixture 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 former, you will experience scanty 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, leading to more expensive repairs.
  • One of the most natural and many cause is that your 2015 Toyota 4Runner gas cap is loose, damaged or missing. The gas cap for your 2015 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 former 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 immediately after you put gas in your 2015 Toyota 4Runner, first thing you should check is to make positive the cap isn’t loose — or that it's still on your car’s roof or at the fuel pump.
  • The battery is low or dead. The battery in your 2015 Toyota 4Runner is each curious. 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 rate of a new one depends on the type of Toyota you drive, but check our present service coupons and specials.
  • 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 paramount to run your engine efficiently by measuring the deposit of air entering the engine. As a part of the engine management system, the mass airflow sensor helps adjust to certain 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 2015 Toyota 4Runner has a vacuum leak. Each Toyota 4Runner has a vacuum system that performs a intense variety of functions. The vacuum system also helps lower 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 bare out and crack, extraordinarily if they’re exposed to intense heat or extreme amiable.
  • Your O2 Sensor (Oxygen Sensor) needs to be replaced. The Oxygen sensor, common as the O2 sensor, measures the deposit of oxygen in your exhaust system. If there is excess oxygen in your exhaust system, fuel burns faster and your vehicle will be less cogent when it comes to fuel economy. 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 2015 Toyota 4Runner's spark plugs. The O2 sensor sends data to the vehicle’s onboard computer to read the proper mixture 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.

2015 Toyota 4Runner Check Engine Light

A flashing light illustrates that the problem is critical and if not taken care of suddenly may result in important damage to the vehicle. If the check engine light in your 2015 Toyota 4Runner starts flashing, that means that the problem needs immediate attention and your Toyota should be brought in suddenly. This blinking light usually indicates a severe engine misfire allowing unburned fuel to be deposited into the exhaust system. There it can expeditiously raise the temperature of the catalytic converter to a point where damage is functional, requiring an expensive repair. Some owners ask if spark plugs cause the check engine light to flash? This can certainly be the cause. A harmful, old or dirty spark plug can cause the engine to misfire. If your check engine light is twinkling, please contact our squad of automotive experts at Nalley Toyota of Roswell shortly by calling 7707637398. 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 exceedingly expensive repair.