CHECK indicator lights up on Corolla--why?

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Arthur - 16 Jul 2006 23:04 GMT

For the first time, on my Corolla 2000, starting at about 24500 miles,the
CHECK indicator light now stays ON. The manual says I should take my car to
the dealer.

The car is routinely serviced and has no problems (that I can detect).
What's the meaning of this CHECK indicator?

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Elmo P. Shagnasty - 16 Jul 2006 23:12 GMT

> For the first time, on my Corolla 2000, starting at about 24500 miles,the
> CHECK indicator light now stays ON. The manual says I should take my car to
> the dealer.
>
> The car is routinely serviced and has no problems (that I can detect).
> What's the meaning of this CHECK indicator?

Gee, what does your owner's manual say?

(I love it when people spend thousands of dollars on a complex piece of
machinery and never bother to open the owner's manual. "I know how to
drive a car!" they say.)

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Arthur - 16 Jul 2006 23:41 GMT

Elmo does not read what is in front of him. The 2nd sentence says what the
owner's manual states. Elmo is not only nasty, he is a bit foolish.
Moreover, he doesn't answer the question. We want to know what action or
event "triggers" the CHECK indicator.

>> For the first time, on my Corolla 2000, starting at about 24500 miles,the
>> CHECK indicator light now stays ON. The manual says I should take my car
[quoted text clipped - 9 lines]
> machinery and never bother to open the owner's manual. "I know how to
> drive a car!" they say.)

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Realto Margarino - 17 Jul 2006 00:16 GMT

Elmo P. Shagnasty <elmop@nastydesigns.com> trolled:

> > For the first time, on my Corolla 2000, starting at about 24500
> > miles,the CHECK indicator light now stays ON. The manual says I
> > should take my car to the dealer.

> > The car is routinely serviced and has no problems (that I can
> > detect). What's the meaning of this CHECK indicator?

> Gee, what does your owner's manual say?

As he noted above, his manual says he should take the car to his
dealer.

> (I love it when people spend thousands of dollars on a complex
> piece of machinery and never bother to open the owner's manual.
> "I know how to drive a car!" they say.)

We love it when people spend thousands of dollars on a computer and
then don't even read the messages they respond to.

cordially, as always,

rm

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dbu. - 17 Jul 2006 00:34 GMT

> Elmo P. Shagnasty <elmop@nastydesigns.com> trolled:
>
[quoted text clipped - 20 lines]
>
> rm

You have not posted anything worth reading. Now I put u back in the
dumper bin. Good bye.
--

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Wolfgang - 17 Jul 2006 00:25 GMT

The dealer will read the car's computer codes and determine what's wrong.
Sometines is\ts as simple as the gas cap is not seated properly.

> For the first time, on my Corolla 2000, starting at about 24500 miles,the
> CHECK indicator light now stays ON. The manual says I should take my car
> to the dealer.
>
> The car is routinely serviced and has no problems (that I can detect).
> What's the meaning of this CHECK indicator?

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Ray O - 17 Jul 2006 02:27 GMT

The check indicator is called a malfunction indicator light (MIL). The
powertrain electronic control unit (ECU) will illuminate the MIL when it
detects an emissions problem and the ECU has stored a trouble code.

The most common reason the MIL comes on is because the gas cap was not
tightened enough after refueling. To prevent this, the gas cap should be
tightened until you hear it clicking. If a loose gas cap is the reason the
MIL came on, it will go off by itself after a few trips.

You can take the car to the dealership to have the codes checked, or there
are several auto parts stores that will either scan the codes for you or let
you borrow a code scanner. I know that AutoZone will let you borrow a code
scanner. If you use a code scanner, note the trouble codes and you can
report back her with the codes.

Signature

Ray O
(correct punctuation to reply)

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Arthur - 17 Jul 2006 17:16 GMT

Thanks to you (Ray O) and to Wolfgang for the information. It's just what I
wanted to know about the Check Engine light.

Arthur

>> For the first time, on my Corolla 2000, starting at about 24500 miles,the
>> CHECK indicator light now stays ON. The manual says I should take my car
[quoted text clipped - 17 lines]
> code scanner. If you use a code scanner, note the trouble codes and you
> can report back her with the codes.

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Jeff Strickland - 17 Jul 2006 20:03 GMT

The Check light can come on for any of literally hundreds of reasons. The
engine management computer keeps track of pretty much everything on your
car, and if anything is thought by the computer to not be right, the light
will be turned on and a Code will be stored.

You can go to AutoZone parts stores and they will plug in the Scan Tool for
free and pull the codes for you, then sell you the most likely repair parts.
If you are in Calif., then they will not do this for you, but they will
gladly give you the tool and you can do the task yourself. You will find the
data port along the bottom edge of the dashboard in the vicinity of where
your left knee rests while you are driving your car. The directions onthe
Scan Tool are VERY easy to follow, and there is no reason you can not do
this task on your own.

If the code is in the range of P0440 to P0459, then the trouble is related
to the Evaporative Emissions Control System, and the most common fault point
is a gas cap related issue.

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