Lately both have been comming on for about a minute at a time, then going away. my lexus manual says to bring to the dealership but i dont have a warranty so i dont feel like paying.

Anyway i lost my gas cap and i procrastinated on getting a new one for about a week. someone told me that you need your gas cap for compression reasons. im thinking this can be a probable cause for my check engine light comming on but what about the traction control light? I do have a new gas cap now but the lights still come on. maybe i need to start the car a few more times and it will stop.

 

Pull the CEL code when the light does come on. That will tell you where to start looking.

 

I am guessing the next question will be "How do I do that."

If I recall it is TE1 and E1 but I may be wrong. What year is your car??

I have OBD2 now so mine is fast and painless.

jonny

 

this is like another language to me right now.
i have a 1992 lexus sc400.
sorry but i dont know what the CEL code is or where its located.
i dont know what TE1, E1 or OBD2 is either lol

 

CEL = Check Engine Light

OBD = On Board Diagnostics.

Pre 1996 cars were OBD1 and 96+ were OBD 2. With an OBD2 car you can go to your local autozone and they can pull your CEL codes for you.

Because your car is an OBD1 you will have to pull your own codes. To do this you will need to find your diagnostic box in your car (either at drivers kick panel or under hood), use a paper clip to insert in the hole for TE1 and put the other side in E1. Turn the car on ( don't start it) and count the amount of times your CEL flashes. This corresponds to your CEL code.

Do a search on it and you will get a step by step.

Hope this helps,
jonny

 

That helps a lot, thank you.

 

This'll help too.

http://www.troublecodes.net/Lexus/

 

common problem with my car but everytime I check it the light goes out.... Someone said on a thread that there are many things that can make those light come on together ie brakes...