Engine management light in 01 corolla

RustyBridges

Hi,

i have had a 01 corolla since Dec 2008. there is 150K miles on the clock.

shortly after i bought the car, the orange engine mgmt light has been on it.

got it checked out by my local garage (not a main dealer). it showed up as the lambda bank 1 sensor. it has never really caused a big problem.
however, the car failed the NCT in Jan last for emissions that were off the scale. the garage replaced the cat with a new one as they said it was gone. the car then failed the retest. They then replaced a few more sensors, they got at a one that was buried in the engine. i cost me a nice bit. the car then passed the NCT (2nd retest).

last week, the light came back on. they put the computer on it and the said the car is running rich.

anyone advice on what i should do next? perhaps hit a mechanic in a main dealer?

belcampprisoner

buy your own tester about 20 euros

http://www.google.com/#hl=en&sclient=psy-ab&q=corolla+engine+light+on&oq=corola+light+on&gs_l=hp.1.2.0i8i13i30l4.1483.8779.0.57140.15.15.0.0.0.0.310.2141.3j9j1j2.15.0...0.0...1c.1.11.psy-ab.shtPrHZ6d6o&pbx=1&bav=on.2,or.r_qf.&bvm=bv.45645796,d.cGE&fp=829a47f33c4a8f8d&biw=1366&bih=599

George Dalton

belcampprisoner wrote: »

buy your own tester about 20 euros

http://www.google.com/#hl=en&sclient=psy-ab&q=corolla+engine+light+on&oq=corola+light+on&gs_l=hp.1.2.0i8i13i30l4.1483.8779.0.57140.15.15.0.0.0.0.310.2141.3j9j1j2.15.0...0.0...1c.1.11.psy-ab.shtPrHZ6d6o&pbx=1&bav=on.2,or.r_qf.&bvm=bv.45645796,d.cGE&fp=829a47f33c4a8f8d&biw=1366&bih=599

And then what?

Ded_Zebra

So the EML came on in 2008 and you're only doing something about it now, Good lord :rolleyes:

The thing is you probably should have got done is the O2 sensor changed in 2008 when the light first came on and the cat would still be fine now and god knows how much fuel you would have saved if the car was running properly.

As for what you should do now, Get the fault with the sensor properly diagnosed now and fixed and your new cat will probably be OK.

Mar4ix

the garage , where you are checking car, do diagnostics with universal diagnostics... me thinks, you might shall shop around around dealers, as they are after costumers, and prices these days went good bit down, so no need afraid give them a call, and ask, how much would cost computer diagnostics , and if you call number dealers around, youll find out, that prices will be different.
Id say dealer diagnostics would be way accurate, instead running rich, they will find out , that one or two particular sensors are gone, after youll find out where is problem, ask them for quote , to get repaired , with these figures, you then shop around different garages, and see , what quote youll get, when mention found faults.

Toyotas are very sensitive to lambda sensors, if universal, generic lambda been installed, it would cause again lambda fault , which result car running rich. , there could be other reason also, that could be airflow meter also, or stuck temperature sensor.

my avensis ('98) had lambda fault, in dealers it cost 360 euro, i found out , that lambdas for tayota been made by denso factory, and i found denso parts seller in internet, and according part numbers, i got genuine denso lambda for 160 euro delivered from uk. (difference only that on original lambda , there is written " Denso for toyota ", but on mine only written "Denso" ).

But as i said, you need to do proper computer diagnostics. i do have tactrix cable , which works with genuine toyota diagnostic software (6 euro cost access code for 1 day), and do diagnostics on my car myself.
if you keen do some work yourself on car, there is available website - www.toyodiy.com , where you input your cars VIN number, and you can see your car in split, with part numbers, also in internet widely available repair manuals.

dieselbug

Hi RustyBridges

If you give your location someone may be able to recommend a reliable garage that can sort out the problem for you.
It sounds like your present garage just threw parts at it in the hope of getting it right at your expense. Running rich is a very vague diagnosis which could have many causes. Possibly something very basic.

valerossi

Best thing to do here is go to a main dealer because they have car make specific diagnostics ask them to plug her in and then ask what the issue is then ask for a quote including labour once you have a guide price ring some garages ask them for a quote don't forget to barter a fair price recession and all. But it could be a timing issues but if the dash is registering an issue its most likely sensory. But its worth changing air filter, spark plugs and cleaning out throttle body plus check the spark plugs if the ends are very black with carbon build but it will confirm a rich mixture if the end is brown tan your mixture is fine.

RustyBridges

thanks to everyone for getting back to me.
i am one of these people who is loyal to local business, but in this situation, it may have hit my pocket!
i did get the sensors checked and changed before this year but i had noticed it was heavy on petrol last yr or the yr before and had the issue with the plugs been coated in black stuff previously, but not recently.
the local mechanic did re tune the engine prior to the passing the NCT.
i am in the Waterford Area.

JohnBoy26

valerossi wrote: »

Best thing to do here is go to a main dealer because they have car make specific diagnostics ask them to plug her in and then ask what the issue is then ask for a quote including labour once you have a guide price ring some garages ask them for a quote don't forget to barter a fair price recession and all. But it could be a timing issues but if the dash is registering an issue its most likely sensory. But its worth changing air filter, spark plugs and cleaning out throttle body plus check the spark plugs if the ends are very black with carbon build but it will confirm a rich mixture if the end is brown tan your mixture is fine.

No need to go to a main dealer to diagnose a problem on a 01 Corolla. Any decent independent garage will be able to diagnose the problem cheaper and without having to change a host of items to find the problem.