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SolaraGuy.com • View topic - Check Engine light on....
Stock talk about the Generation 1 and 1.5 Toyota Solara which were produced from 1999 to 2003.

Check Engine light on....

Postby karch » Tue Dec 10, 2002 11:34 am

Incognito... my check engine light hasn't been on since they replaced the sensor so it definatly was that sensor. Advice about the mechanic guy telling you, "It's too complicated to explain." Tell him to explain it the best he can, since your paying money for him to do it.
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Re: Check Engine Light on...

Postby incognito » Tue Dec 10, 2002 11:43 am

Karch - How many days has it been since you took it in? For me, I have to wait more than 7 days before I am convinced the light problem is gone. Frequently it stays off for 6 days but no more than that.

I did ask, and the service advisor insisted it was not a sensor problem. We'll see...Monday's the "big day".
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Postby karch » Tue Dec 10, 2002 1:03 pm

I got it replaced Friday morning... so it's 4 - 5 days now... I'm pretty confident I'm in the clear. But hey you never know....
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Re; Check Engine Light on...

Postby incognito » Mon Dec 16, 2002 5:54 pm

Just an update: My car was returned today, and the correction listed on the invoice said "Tech rewired and replaced connector for ECU to trans solenoid". So we'll see what happens.

The good news is that it didn't cost nearly as much as I expected--only $164. Maybe I shouldn't say this until I wait a while, but the dealership was actually quite courteous to me today, the technician supposedly sympathized and stayed late to fix this, and therefore I wasn't forced into getting a rental, plus I think he knocked a few dollars off the bill. Sure, maybe it's BS, but my soft side almost feels bad for ragging on them here so much. :)
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Postby cdssolara » Mon Dec 16, 2002 6:12 pm

incognito,

I'm glad to hear that you had a positive dealer experience, and that they (hopefully) resolved your problem. I have 2 questions:

1. Did they ever fully explain what was wrong? I know you said it was a wiring issue, but I don't understand exactly what the explanation on your invoice means.

2. Why didn't the warranty cover it?

Thanks. I hope this solves your problem.
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Re: Check Engine light on....

Postby incognito » Mon Dec 16, 2002 6:25 pm

cdssolara,

Thanks - to answer your questions:

1) The correction listed is inexplicable to me as well. I haven't kept to up-to-date here lately with my experience, so I'll just make a long story short, and maybe it will answer your question. They had replaced the E-shift solenoid (related to the transmission), but still didn't do the trick. I tried to get the exact code from my service rep and he couldn't (or wouldn't) tell me. So I went to Auto Zone myself to get it scanned so that I could research. Lo and behold, it was still a code for Shift Solenoid E. Today I explained to my rep that I got the code - he stated I was correct, that that was the code they found, but the problem was the wiring that connects to the solenoid, not the solenoid itself; it probably had a short in the wire. That's what he had apparently meant previously but just didn't explain it too well, IMO.

2) The E-shift solenoid was covered under Powertrain (5 yr/36K miles) but unfortunately the WIRING wasn't (only covered for 36K miles). I already have 60,500 miles on the car, so it couldn't be avoided.

Are you having check engine light problems?
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Postby cdssolara » Mon Dec 16, 2002 6:56 pm

incognito,

I'm still not sure I understand the whole E shift solenoid issue completely, but maybe the idea is to keep all but the most technically proficient in the dark! I get the main idea, though. Thanks for the explanations.

I have had an on and off problem with a check engine light, myself. In my case, when I went to Auto Zone, the code came up as a Knock Sensor problem. That made sense, because I had recently gone from a 4 psi pulley to a 5.5 psi pulley for my supercharger, in addition to adding an S-AFC and having the car dynotuned. I figured that during the dynotune, one of the knock sensors had been blown. What I couldn't understand, though, was why the check engine light would come on for a couple of days, and then go off for a week or two, and then come back on and repeat the process. My thinking was that either the knock sensor was blown, or it wasn't. How could there be something in between. I've lately come to the conclusion that if I don't wait for the engine to warm up all the way before I push it at all, the engine is running too rich of a mixture, and the knock sensor is just letting me know. I have to assume that this isn't a blown sensor, just some sort of a warning. I haven't had the issue in a month or so. Still, I'm trying to figure out triggers these messages.

By the way, are you the same guy who posts as Mr. Incognito on sc3?
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Re: Check Engine light on...

Postby incognito » Tue Dec 17, 2002 6:23 am

cdssolara,

I'm probably way off the mark here but I believe the E-shift solenoid is one of many parts of the ECT (electronically controlled transmission) and aids in controlling the ECT's electrical current that forces the shift to go up or down. But don't quote me on that. :)

I've read other people's issues where their check engine light was due to knock sensors and the underlying cause was simply a short in the circuit. Mine would also go off intermittently, so I would venture to guess your problem might just be the faulty circuit. Have you had it checked out by the dealership?

No, I'm not "Mr. Incognito"... and in fact, I'm a girl. :)
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Postby cdssolara » Tue Dec 17, 2002 11:26 am

Ms. incognito,

A faulty circuit seems like a logical explanation. Next time it happens, I'll have the dealership check it out. I just have a feeling they won't do any warranty work to fix it. They'll look at my some of my modifications and say that they void the warranty. Still, I guess it's worth a try. Thanks.
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Re: Check engine light on...

Postby incognito » Tue Dec 17, 2002 4:36 pm

cdssolara - You're probably right about that. That's the problem I had. The transmission itself was covered up until 60K miles, but the wiring only 36K miles. So it depends on what warranty you have, and how many miles on the car.
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Postby cdssolara » Tue Dec 17, 2002 6:23 pm

I have the extended warranty, although the regular warranty would still be in effect since I only have 24,000 miles on my car. The warranty being in effect isn't the problem, it's the aftermarket modifications. I recently brought my car in for them to check the front axles to determine why there is a popping sound coming from the area of my CV joints. As soon as they looked at the transmission and suspension, they said that they would take the position that any problems I now have were the result of perfornace upgrades that I had done to the car, and would not be covered by the warranty. I'm afraid that an emissions related problem, like the CE light problem I'm having, will get a similar diagnosis due to my aftermarket intake, and the fact that I have had a dynotune done with my S-AFC and supercharger pulley upgrade. Oh well, you play; you pay, I guess! :)
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Re: Check Engine light on....

Postby incognito » Wed Dec 18, 2002 7:10 am

cdssolara - You're a braver man than I. I'm afraid to even change my wiper blades without fearing I'll destroy something. :)

By the way, does anyone recommend that I call my dealership in about a week to confirm that the latest repair resolved my problem (if it does)? I was already told that they've never experienced such a recurring problem before and that this was the first time the long-time mechanic has done this type of job. Therefore, a lot of this was trial and error, and I'm not sure the mechanic is positive himself that this solved the issue. I just don't want this to happen to someone else that walks in there, and I doubt they would call me to follow-up because they would assume no news is good news. What do you think? Or should I even care?
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Postby cdssolara » Wed Dec 18, 2002 10:44 am

I would think that if the check engine light doesn't come back on with the same diagnosis code, you would be all right. Otherwise, contact the dealership and ask them if this is something that they should recheck.
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Re: Check Engine light on...

Postby incognito » Wed Dec 18, 2002 1:09 pm

I'm pretty optimistic that it won't come back on, and that they've finally fixed it. Which is why my question is, would you recommend I call them to tell them this was the correct cause of the problem. Just so they know they fixed it properly and that if someone else walks in with the same issue, that they don't take 7 visits to complete it.

Since they were somewhat respectful through all of this and I believe they made good faith attempts to fix it throughout all the visits (plus didn't charge me a lot), I thought they might appreciate hearing some good words from a customer for a change. But then again, I'm thinking, should I even care?
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Postby cdssolara » Wed Dec 18, 2002 1:19 pm

Sorry; I didn't understand what you were getting at. Yes, I think it would be very conscientious of you to let them know that their work fixed the problem, expecially since they've treated you respectfully during this process. If it was me, I would want to know for future reference. It might even grease the skids for future encounters with them. :)
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