We are new owners of a 2002 SC430.
We had it two weeks in near mint condition and we believe maintained to a "t". only 67,000 mi.
After about 1,500 miles the check engine light comes on.
We hope it is nothing more than a gas cap issue I just learned of requiring 3 clicks.
Any other ideas or suggestions for one who is not a mechanic nor has the tools for a do it your self mechanic?
Thanks for help. New to this forum too.
Scott

 

Welcome to the forum! There are lots of possibilities any other clues to share? If I were you, I'd go the Lexus owners site, here: https://secure.drivers.lexus.com/lex...us/home.dop://, register your car by VIN and look up it's service history. (Service done at Lexus dealers or items entered by previous owner(s). This way you'll have a better idea of the car's service history.

 

take it to autozone, and for free they will usually scan it and tell you the problems

They usually refuse to take off the codes (so as to turn off the light).

However, if you disconnect the battery, a toyota will usually reset the light if left disconnected for a few minutes, probably same for Lexus. If the problem is more serious, the light will come back on....

Worse thing is that if you take it to a dealer, they charge you 75 to 100 to check the codes, (AND ANOTHER $70 or more to reset the codes and make it go off!!!!!) but if you go to many discount auto part places, for about 35 to 75 dollars, you can buy your own scanner and do it with a simple plug in......

Autozone used to do this for free, and would reset the light as well....but they kept getting sued, cause people would sue and claim the reset hid problems that caused major engine repair, so they quit doing the reset, but they will check the codes for free, hoping you buy a new gas cap or whatever

Be sure you get one that works on 2000 and later toyotas


Gas cap issues are very common as is the failure to properly tighten it....and it is a total rip off, because usually the light pops back on somewhere down the road, and you have to repeat the dance


wrose problem is that some unethical folks will want to charge much money and do all sorts of wrok when not necessary....wife has toyota, had this problem, took it to dealer who told here that it neeeded a rebuild of the fuel line and some other emission equipment for a mere 1900.....

I TOLD HER NO WAY, and thenon the way home she runs over this massive chunk of concrete and rips the plastic gas tank....and puls loose fuel lines and all.

Insurance fixes it all, with a 500 deductible, and the other toyota dealer resets the light...without fixing the emmision stuff........6 months later, light back on and I take it to autozone who tells me it needs a new cap, which i buy for about ten dollars but then refuses to reset the code because of the legal issues, but the dude does tell me the "secret" of the battery disconnect......which worked just fine w/o light coming on for last two years....

 

Thanks
I will check it out.

 

Thanks.
I will soon bring it in and may buy the scanner.