Performance & Maintenance Engine, forced induction, intakes, exhausts, torque converters, transmissions, etc.

weird check engine light and trac light problem.

Old 11-04-13, 09:26 PM
  #1  
CheVelleSS
Rookie
Thread Starter
iTrader: (1)
 
CheVelleSS's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Tulsa Oklahoma
Posts: 50
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default weird check engine light and trac light problem.

One day my check engine light and trac off light came on. Its never came on before on me. Well I continued driving it and the light went off. I didnt see if for a couple of days but it came back on and off every once in a while. Well It now comes on every time I start the car and slowly dims out and the trac off light just pops off when it starts to dim. Well I checked codes. 21 28 and 41 came up. SO I figured it was the TPS causing this weird light problem. Cause the light will vary with brightness with the throttle but only while its in gear, not in park or neutral. So bought new toyota tps, installed adjusted. All is good but Check engine light is still on. Only codes left are 21 and 28. I do not understand why the check eng light would vary with throttle with Oxygen sensor codes only.
Guess I will buy new upstream o2s and hope the light and code problem goes away. But for some reason im doubting it will.
Old 11-05-13, 12:28 PM
  #2  
Vrank
Lexus Test Driver
iTrader: (4)
 
Vrank's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: TX
Posts: 969
Likes: 0
Received 2 Likes on 2 Posts
Default

There's no load on the engine free revving or at idle, but there is when driving. Possible you're having charging issues too. Only reason I can think of that a light gets brighter with throttle.

The way the check engine light works is that power is supplied to the light, and fed into the ecu. When there's a problem, the ecu provides a ground. So yeah, unless your ecu is going bad which is quite possible too, I'd also go through things that'll effect charging along with figuring out the o2 stuff.
Old 11-05-13, 12:39 PM
  #3  
Ali SC3
Lexus Champion

iTrader: (10)
 
Ali SC3's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: CO
Posts: 10,755
Received 438 Likes on 368 Posts
Default

ecu sounds suspect, I would open it up and take a look.
Old 11-05-13, 06:28 PM
  #4  
CheVelleSS
Rookie
Thread Starter
iTrader: (1)
 
CheVelleSS's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Tulsa Oklahoma
Posts: 50
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default

well I ordered 2 new upstream denso oxygen sensors. I hope that fixes it. If not I will take a look at the ecu and figure out if theres any broken solder joints and any obvious damage. Any idea where to look inside the ecu? I know I had a hard time retrieving codes.
Old 11-05-13, 07:26 PM
  #5  
usoff89
Lexus Test Driver
iTrader: (2)
 
usoff89's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: florida
Posts: 1,145
Likes: 0
Received 2 Likes on 2 Posts
Default

You would be looking for leaking capacitors and any other obvious damage.
Old 11-06-13, 05:16 PM
  #6  
hoosier58
Pole Position
 
hoosier58's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: co
Posts: 243
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
Default

I can't remember where I read it (maybe the owner's manual?), but I think the CE and Track Off together indicates a limp mode, and needs to be addressed quickly.
Old 11-06-13, 05:39 PM
  #7  
Vrank
Lexus Test Driver
iTrader: (4)
 
Vrank's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: TX
Posts: 969
Likes: 0
Received 2 Likes on 2 Posts
Default

It takes 10 minutes and zero dollars to look at an ecu. How are you gonna feel if the primary o2s don't do anything? To play devils advocate, the fact that replacing the tps eliminated the tps code is a good sign. What do you mean you had trouble retrieving codes?
Old 12-14-13, 03:30 PM
  #8  
CheVelleSS
Rookie
Thread Starter
iTrader: (1)
 
CheVelleSS's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Tulsa Oklahoma
Posts: 50
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default

Well your right it ended up being the ECU. I pulled it apart and found 6 leaking capacitors. 2 Of those 6 destroyed other circuits by corroding them. after replacing them and fixing the bad circuits the engine light and trac light have not came back on. Thanks for the help.
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
mechanChic
Performance & Maintenance
8
10-17-12 10:32 PM
lexsc3
Performance & Maintenance
14
04-05-11 06:24 AM
chriswins
LS - 1st and 2nd Gen (1990-2000)
2
08-20-09 05:27 PM
Jasoneo5
LS - 1st and 2nd Gen (1990-2000)
4
03-06-04 02:55 PM
lexsc3
SC- 1st Gen (1992-2000)
4
01-03-03 01:59 PM


Thread Tools
Search this Thread
Quick Reply: weird check engine light and trac light problem.



All times are GMT -7. The time now is 08:47 AM.