Toyota Yaris - Dash lights

Monife

Hi all,

I have two questions, please excuse my ignorance, I know nothing about cars.

I have a 2010 Toyota Yaris. I got to work this morning and noticed the engine oil light came on just as I parked. I turned everything off and on again but the light was still on. Would I be ok to drive to my garage at home about 10km away (with traffic it takes about 40 mins)?

Also, the malfunction indicator lamp came on at the same time. Is this something to be worried about?

I'm hoping all I need is the oil to be filled up. What's the worst case scenario here?

Many thanks.

CJhaughey

Have you checked the oil?
Parked on level ground, lift bonnet and pull dipstick, wipe clean and then reinsert it and then pull it and see what the oil level is like.
If its low then you need to top it up, not fill it.
How many km/months since the last service? It may be due an oil change.
If the oil is very low, I'd top it up before running it 40 minutes, that length of time with no or no oil could be bad for an engine.

Monife

CJhaughey wrote: »

Have you checked the oil?
Parked on level ground, lift bonnet and pull dipstick, wipe clean and then reinsert it and then pull it and see what the oil level is like.
If its low then you need to top it up, not fill it.
How many km/months since the last service? It may be due an oil change.
If the oil is very low, I'd top it up before running it 40 minutes, that length of time with no or no oil could be bad for an engine.

I haven't checked it yet, going to wait for my lunch break. What do you mean not fill it? As in don't fill it to the top? Would every normal petrol station sell oil? Would I be ok driving 2 miles to the nearest petrol station?

My husband got his friend (not a mechanic, taxi driver) to service it last December (about 6 to 8,000km). Prior to that it was serviced every year by Toyota.

ironclaw

@Monife, I'm out and about today. WHere are you? If you are near the south side of Dublin I could swing by and give it a quick scan on my tools?

Yaris can have some issues with the O2 sensor, it can get dirty and cause the engine light to come on. This isn't serious and usually a quick clean by the mechanic see's it right. If it needs a new one, its a very cheap part.

As regards oil, which from experience I doubt is the problem:

• Open the bonnet and pull out the dip stick (Yellow handle usally on the left side)
  
• Clean it with a tissue and look carefully, there will be a top mark and bottom mark at the end of the stick (Careful if you are in work clothes, it can splash abit!)
  
• Re-dip and look where the oil is between these marks. If its over 75% to the top, no fill is need. If its below 50%, add a small bit of oil but and continuously keep dipping to ensure it does not go over the 'top' mark on the stick.

Note: Oil is specific to a car so whilst you can put in a little to get you to your mechanic (And only if its below 50%), you will need to have him drain it if you cannot find the correct oil. Any petrol station will sell it and yes, you can drive the 2 miles or so to the garage.

Monife

ironclaw wrote: »

@Monife, I'm out and about today. WHere are you? If you are near the south side of Dublin I could swing by and give it a quick scan on my tools?

Yaris can have some issues with the O2 sensor, it can get dirty and cause the engine light to come on. This isn't serious and usually a quick clean by the mechanic see's it right. If it needs a new one, its a very cheap part.

As regards oil, which from experience I doubt is the problem:

• Open the bonnet and pull out the dip stick (Yellow handle usally on the left side)
• Clean it with a tissue and look carefully, there will be a top mark and bottom mark at the end of the stick (Careful if you are in work clothes, it can splash abit!)
• Re-dip and look where the oil is between these marks. If its over 75% to the top, no fill is need. If its below 50%, add a small bit of oil but and continuously keep dipping to ensure it does not go over the 'top' mark on the stick.

Note: Oil is specific to a car so whilst you can put in a little to get you to your mechanic (And only if its below 50%), you will need to have him drain it if you cannot find the correct oil. Any petrol station will sell it and yes, you can drive the 2 miles or so to the garage.

Thank you very much, you are very kind. I'm on Lower Mount street, not sure if that is close to you.

I decided not to wait until lunch as it was playing on my mind. I enlisted a male colleague and went to a petrol station and bought 5W - 30 oil (and it said on the front it suited Toyota brands), my book said to get 0W - 20 and if I couldn't get that (they didn't have any of this type), the above would suffice.

My colleague checked the dip stick before putting in the oil and it was VERY VERY low, only at the little bit that sticks out at the end. When he put half the oil in and checked it again, it was only just under the first indicator. So he put the rest of it in and its about 1/3 (I think) of the way between the two indicators.

The lights come on when the key is turned but not when the car is running.

I could kill my husband, he's suppose to look after these things. I feel I should probably get it serviced as I am not sure I trust he's been looking after other areas now.

Special Circumstances

Monife wrote: »

..bought 5W - 30 oil

Should be fine, certainly better than running it without enough oil.

Monife wrote: »

The lights come on when the key is turned

Normal for most cars but I've never driven anything much less than 10years old.

Monife wrote: »

but not when the car is running.

Sounds like things are ok so. Or at least not very bad.

Oil is either burned, or leaks.
How long since it was serviced last?
Do you always park in a particular spot over night - any signs of a leak?

CJhaughey

Glad you are sorted, I have seen a few Yaris that burn some oil, you need to keep an eye on it and maybe change to a 5w-30 oil instead of the 0w20 oil.
0w is like water and is usually specified for energy saving on start up.
I would recommend that you do an oil check at least once a week its a good habit to get into.
From memory I think its 1.5 litres from min-max on the dipstick.

Monife

Special Circumstances wrote: »

Should be fine, certainly better than running it without enough oil.

Normal for most cars but I've never driven anything much less than 10years old.

Sounds like things are ok so. Or at least not very bad.

Oil is either burned, or leaks.
How long since it was serviced last?
Do you always park in a particular spot over night - any signs of a leak?

It was properly serviced December 2013, my husband got his friend to look over it pre-NCT last December.

Yes, always park in the same spot at home. Will check for signs of a leak when I get home.

Those lights never appeared before and stayed on with the key turned so am wondering should I still bring it to the garage if those lights are still on tomorrow?

From googling, the malfunction light could indicate to a major problem that needs to be checked so that has me worried.

Thanks everyone for your help so far

colm_mcm

it's recommended to change the oil every 12 months. or 15kkm. whichever comes first.
it's not unusual for the oil to be down a year after checking.
Checking and topping up the oil once a month woild be plenty for a newer car. and as mentoned 5w30 would be a good grade to change to if not done already.

Monife

colm_mcm wrote: »

it's recommended to change the oil every 12 months. or 15kkm. whichever comes first.
it's not unusual for the oil to be down a year after checking.
Checking and topping up the oil once a month woild be plenty for a newer car. and as mentoned 5w30 would be a good grade to change to if not done already.

Thanks. I don't know what was in it before but I put a full carton of 5w30 in it today.

From my online search, it seems the lights on my dash might be nothing to worry about as they turn off as soon as the ignition is started. Is this correct?

Atlantic Dawn

Monife wrote: »

Thanks. I don't know what was in it before but I put a full carton of 5w30 in it today.

From my online search, it seems the lights on my dash might be nothing to worry about as they turn off as soon as the ignition is started. Is this correct?

Careful putting too much oil in as it can be as bad as too little, check the oil later today to see what the level is.

All lights appear when ignition switched on, will switch off when car started unless there's a fault logged where the engine management light or oil light will show.

Monife

Atlantic Dawn wrote: »

Careful putting too much oil in as it can be as bad as too little, check the oil later today to see what the level is.

All lights appear when ignition switched on, will switch off when car started unless there's a fault logged where the engine management light or oil light will show.

There was practically no oil in it... It's not even near the full marker now.

So I should only be worried if a light comes on while driving?

Those lights worried me this morning as I had never seen them stay on with the key turned on (but engine off).

Atlantic Dawn

I wouldn't drive it until you are above the minimum point on the dipstick. Worth waiting about 15/50 minutes between adding more oil so it settles.

JohnBoy26

Monife wrote: »

Thank you very much, you are very kind. I'm on Lower Mount street, not sure if that is close to you.

I decided not to wait until lunch as it was playing on my mind. I enlisted a male colleague and went to a petrol station and bought 5W - 30 oil (and it said on the front it suited Toyota brands), my book said to get 0W - 20 and if I couldn't get that (they didn't have any of this type), the above would suffice.

My colleague checked the dip stick before putting in the oil and it was VERY VERY low, only at the little bit that sticks out at the end. When he put half the oil in and checked it again, it was only just under the first indicator. So he put the rest of it in and its about 1/3 (I think) of the way between the two indicators.

The lights come on when the key is turned but not when the car is running.

I could kill my husband, he's suppose to look after these things. I feel I should probably get it serviced as I am not sure I trust he's been looking after other areas now.

Those engines are well know to burn oil(assuming it's a 1.0). What kind of oil has been used in it by Toyota? If it's been getting 10w 40 all along and then it was changed to 5w 30 on the last service, then that could be the reason why it's gone through it quicker this time.

Monife

Update

Brought it to Atlas Garage. Didn't know it was €60 to do the diagnostic test no major problems, just really needs a service. The malfunction light came on because the oil went too low. Battery is fine

I won't be listening to the husband anymore, will be getting it serviced every year. Guy in the garage gave ne a bollocking because it's been 20,000km since last service (2 years).

Thanks for all your help.

JohnBoy26

Monife wrote: »

Update

Brought it to Atlas Garage. Didn't know it was €60 to do the diagnostic test no major problems, just really needs a service. The malfunction light came on because the oil went too low. Battery is fine

I won't be listening to the husband anymore, will be getting it serviced every year. Guy in the garage gave ne a bollocking because it's been 20,000km since last service (2 years).

Thanks for all your help.

You'll probably need to check the oil every so often too in between services. They can burn a bit of oil those.