Engine and Traction Control lights on after service

[youngdrunk23]

Hi all,

I recently purchased a 2011 Aurion AT-X with 100,000KM on the clock.

Yesterday I took it to my local Midas (Would have preferred Toyota dealer, but I was short on time and this was local) to have it's 105,000KM service.

They said everything looked good but recommended a power steering fluid flush and an induction service to be carried out soon. Apparently there is a build up of carbon which could cause issues if left unattended.

This morning the check engine and traction control lights were on. I went back to Midas so they could run a scan. They said the check engine light was due to a faulty oxygen sensor, most likely due to the carbon build up. He was somewhat surprised it happened so soon and did another scan, which showed the same result.

I asked what caused the traction control light to be on and he said 'Toyota's light up like a Christmas tree when there is a fault, so it's just related to the oxygen sensor.'

He cleared the error and said if it comes back I should get an induction service ($160) and if that doesn't work, get the oxygen sensor replaced. Both lights returned as I drove off.

Unfortunately I am a complete novice, but does this sound right? Or is he having me on? It just seems to convenient that these lights suddenly appear immediately after the service?

 

Thanks,
Jonathan

Edited July 28, 2016 by youngdrunk23

[Cam0101]

Generally speaking the 'Lights up like a Christmas tree if there is a fault' is correct in my experience.

Normally 3 or 2 lights come on, Check engine and Traction Control/VSC light. It more a Toyota's way of going of **** somethings wrong lets turn everything off so we can't break anything else 'fail-safe'

Also i have vague remembrance that the oxygen sensor can come loose or out of alignment. especially after some heavy driving or braking.

 

[campbeam]

Jonathan,

Suggest you go to an Auto shop e.g. SuperCheap, AutoBarn  buy a can of Throttle Body & Carburettor Cleaner and also a bottle of fuel injector cleaner. Personally, I have started to use “Fuel Doctor Fuel Conditioner” after doing some Google searches for cleaning fuel injectors/systems. Follow instructions on the bottle.

If you have enough DIY experience, preferred approach is to remove/dismantle the air intake, spray directly into the throttle body and clean/wipe with a rag. Any Mass Airflow [MAF] sensors are also cleaned/sprayed.

Quick easy way is to open the engine hood and spray the can contents gradually into the air intake while the engine is idling. When the engine “splutters” stop spraying until it resumes a smooth  idling. Do this for about 5 minutes. Go for a drive.

Next day or so, repeat spraying the throttle body cleaner into the air intake for about 5 minutes.

Go for a drive.

Check engine light [CEL] can be reset by disconnecting the battery for about 10 seconds.

If the CEL re-appears, take the car to a Toyota Dealer because their scan tool will provide more accurate results.

[youngdrunk23]

Thanks for the replies! 

1 hour ago, campbeam said:

Quick easy way is to open the engine hood and spray the can contents gradually into the air intake while the engine is idling. When the engine “splutters” stop spraying until it resumes a smooth  idling. Do this for about 5 minutes. Go for a drive.

Unfortunately I'm not very DIY, so the quick and easy way might be the go. I'll visit Super Cheap when they open tomorrow morning.

I really appreciate your help! 

[thedoctor]

On Friday, July 29, 2016 at 3:35 PM, campbeam said:

 

Jonathan,

Suggest you go to an Auto shop e.g. SuperCheap, AutoBarn  buy a can of Throttle Body & Carburettor Cleaner and also a bottle of fuel injector cleaner. Personally, I have started to use “Fuel Doctor Fuel Conditioner” after doing some Google searches for cleaning fuel injectors/systems. Follow instructions on the bottle.

If you have enough DIY experience, preferred approach is to remove/dismantle the air intake, spray directly into the throttle body and clean/wipe with a rag. Any Mass Airflow [MAF] sensors are also cleaned/sprayed.

Quick easy way is to open the engine hood and spray the can contents gradually into the air intake while the engine is idling. When the engine “splutters” stop spraying until it resumes a smooth  idling. Do this for about 5 minutes. Go for a drive.

Next day or so, repeat spraying the throttle body cleaner into the air intake for about 5 minutes.

Go for a drive.

Check engine light [CEL] can be reset by disconnecting the battery for about 10 seconds.

If the CEL re-appears, take the car to a Toyota Dealer because their scan tool will provide more accurate results.

Do not do this. Terrible advice. 

Throttle body / carby cleaner is not designed to be used while the throttle body is on the engine. Throttle body cleaner is an extremely harsh substance which will eat rubber seals and gaskets like they're nothing. Its a great chemical but not for spraying in to your engine.

For this purpose there is something called 'engine conditioner' or 'upper engine cleaner' which is designed specifically for spraying in to inlet manifolds and throttle bodies and is completely safe for seals/gaskets. Its an expanding foam so when you spray it in to your manifold it expands and gets in to every little crevice to remove carbon build up.

Throttle body cleaner will certainly remove carbon build up too, but it will destroy any gaskets or seals it touches in seconds