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2016 Toyota Highlander Check Engine Light Codes

The check engine light turning on can be quite intimidating to see that slight light on your vehicle’s dashboard suddenly illuminates, but in reality, it is not something that should cause you to shut down in fear honest 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 helpful as the OBD (on-board computer diagnostic system) in your Highlander. There are hundreds of supplemental codes that your check engine light can represent. While that sounds daunting, with a slight patience, tackling prime diagnostics will give you instinctive 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, indisputable and helpful vehicle symptoms do not always accompany an illuminated Check Engine Light. Since there are hundreds of convenient OBD codes, there are also hundreds of convenient reasons for the light, including:

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

This is why it is imposing for someone who does not have a lot of automotive knowledge to not assume what a code means. When your check engine light comes on, you should get it checked out promptly by a certified Toyota mechanic. Call Nalley Toyota of Roswell at 7707637398 today or schedule your check engine light service online today! If the engine light comes on due to a perilous concern, you risk destructive your car added by not repairing the issue prudent away.

What Does the Check Engine Light Mean?

One of the most typically misunderstood lights or indicators in your 2016 Toyota Highlander is the check engine light. The check engine light is part of the onboard diagnostics system, and displays in a bit distinctive ways. It can say "Check Engine", it can be a symbol of an engine, it can even be a combination of both. This light lights up 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 2016 Toyota Highlander. Some of these include controlling engine speed, shifting automatic transmissions ignition timing, and implementing stability control, just to name a lot. With that being said, the check engine light can mean a variety of contrasting things. It can be as pure as your gas cap being loose or as relentless as engine knocking. If your check engine light is on in your 2016 Toyota Highlander, contact Nalley Toyota of Roswell. Contact Nalley Toyota of Roswell today! Our Toyota service department can aid you learn what code is turning your check engine light on or inspect why your check engine light is flashing.

Will the check engine light reset itself?

The check engine light on your 2016 Toyota Highlander 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 cooperative, 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 2016 Toyota Highlander 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.

Is it safe to drive your 2016 Toyota Highlander with the check engine light on?

If the check engine light is flashing, this means that there is a unhealthy issue and it is recommended to service your Toyota Highlander urgently. This question is not particularly prevalent 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 dependable to drive. This is commonly indicated by a steady glow of the check engine light. If you notice a difference in the performance of the car, it could be an indication of a more unhealthy problem. Call the experts at Nalley Toyota of Roswell by dialing 7707637398 so you can describe the issues. Or reduce your speed and deliver your 2016 Toyota to our certified mechanics as soon as potential.

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 threatening failure like a bad catalytic converter or a problem with one of the car's oxygen sensors, so it satisfying to get the accurate code reading and diagnosis. The average cost for a check engine light diagnosis & testing is customarily between $88 and $111. The satisfying news, Nalley Toyota of Roswell offers complimentary multi-point inspections and free diagnostics, in most cases, to help designate the cause of your check engine light.

2016 Toyota Highlander Check Engine Light Flashing

Although there are countless possible causes of an illuminated Check Engine Light, we know from years of providing Check Engine Light Diagnosis Service that there are a lot routine causes including something as easy as a loose gas cap. Supplemental routine reasons for a Check Engine Light are faulty head gasket, dirty mass airflow sensor, a malfunction with the fuel injection system, faulty emissions control part, damaged oxygen sensor, or defective spark plugs to name some. 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 paramount 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 2016 Toyota Highlander was designed with a high-technology performance monitoring system with a computer, and a series of sensors positioned strategically throughout the vehicle on its basic systems. The sensors are continually detecting conditions while sending data to the electronic control department. If the electronic control department 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 precisely is wrong 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 Highly Qualified Service skilled.

What could cause the check engine light to come on in a 2016 Toyota Highlander?

When your check engine light comes on, this could be as authentic as tightening or replacing your gas cap. Likewise, the check engine light could also be a warning of a risky problem that could cause risky break to your engine and come with a colossal repair bill. Depending on your make and model, the check engine light will illuminate or blink. A steady glow commonly means something less risky but a glaring check engine light hints that your vehicle’s engine is in risky trouble and service is basic instantly. If your check engine light is glaring in your 2016 Toyota Highlander, we exceptionally advise 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:

  • Your mass airflow sensor (known as MAF) needs to be replaced. The mass airflow sensor in your Toyota Highlander is what determines how much fuel is essential 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 specific changes, like altitude. If your Toyota Highlander is having trouble starting, idling rough or has a sudden change in the position of the throttle pedal, this could be a sign of a harmful mass airflow sensor.
  • Your 2016 Toyota Highlander has a vacuum leak. Every Toyota Highlander has a vacuum system that performs a wide variety of functions. The vacuum system also helps lower damaging 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 dry out and crack, chiefly if they’re exposed to intense heat or extreme sudden.
  • The battery is poor or dead. The battery in your 2016 Toyota Highlander is every main. 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 modern service coupons and specials.
  • Issues with any aftermarket items. An aftermarket alarm, exhaust or added item can wreak havoc on your 2016 Toyota Highlander if it’s not installed properly. These aftermarket parts and accessories can drain the battery, trigger the check engine light, or even prevent the vehicle from starting. If these issues sound conscious, bring your Highlander to Toyota and have our team of certified mechanics ensure that your aftermarket items were installed correctly and aren't causing any issue. Getting accessories, chiefly 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 poor work and wear and tear caused by poor installation work corrected.
  • Your catalytic converter is harmful or going harmful. The catalytic converter is a part of your 2016 Toyota Highlander’s exhaust system. The catalytic converter's work is to turn the carbon monoxide created by the combustion process into carbon dioxide. A damaged catalytic converter is ordinarily caused by neglected maintenance, which is why Nalley Toyota of Roswell 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 2016 Toyota Highlander 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 added problems from overheating.
  • 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 convenient 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 wear and tear to your catalytic converter and your 2016 Toyota Highlander's spark plugs. The O2 sensor sends data to the vehicle’s onboard computer to illustrate the reasonable mixture of air and fuel that enters the cylinders in your engine. A harmful O2 sensor can also cause a car to fail an emissions test.
  • New Spark Plugs or Plug Wires are essential for your 2016 Toyota Highlander. 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 harmful or old, 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 wear and tear to ignition coils and O2 sensors, dominant to more expensive repairs.
  • One of the most prevalent and bountiful cause is that your 2016 Toyota Highlander gas cap is loose, damaged or missing. The gas cap for your 2016 Toyota Highlander 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 harmful fuel cap? If your gas cap is old 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 instantly after you put gas in your 2016 Toyota Highlander, first thing you should check is to make hopeful the cap isn’t loose — or that it's still on your car’s roof or at the fuel pump.

Check Engine Light Service 2016 Toyota Highlander

What do you do when you’re driving along in your Toyota Highlander 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 price of the unknown) can be just as stressful. But take a deep breath and realize the light coming on doesn’t represent 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 2016 Toyota Highlander checked as soon as potential. Ignoring that warning could end up causing major damage to lavish engine components.

When your 2016 Toyota Highlander's ECM (electronic control module), which is the vehicle's onboard computer, finds a problem in the electronic control system that it can’t scant, a computer turns on your check engine light. This amber or yellow light is commonly 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 Nalley Toyota of Roswell. There are also a number of relatively low-cost 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 expert to edge the issue and repair it.

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. If you check engine light is flashing, we advise that you pull over and contact Nalley Toyota of Roswell to help represent if your vehicle is reliable to drive in or if we advise a tow truck. Since any check engine code has its own level of severity, it is laborious to predict how many miles you can drive with the warning light on. It could be anything from a bad sensor to plug wires needing to be replaced.

2016 Toyota Highlander Check Engine Light

A flashing light indicates that the problem is dangerous and if not taken care of urgently may result in extensive damage to the vehicle. If the check engine light in your 2016 Toyota Highlander starts flashing, that means that the problem needs immediate attention and your Toyota should be delivered in urgently. This flashing light ordinarily implies a relentless engine misfire allowing unburned fuel to be dumped into the exhaust system. There it can immediately raise the temperature of the catalytic converter to a point where damage is likely, requiring an costly repair. Some owners ask if spark plugs cause the check engine light to flash? This can genuinely be the cause. A bad, old or dirty spark plug can cause the engine to misfire. If your check engine light is twinkling, please contact our squad of automotive mentors at Nalley Toyota of Roswell hastily 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 lavish repair.