Got the ole ''Check engine'' light on

sometimes you have to power it up a few times and it goes away, other times you need a code reader to delete it.

 

As one thing that hasn't been mentioned yet is to read the codes, use them to actually find what the problem is, and fix it, I thought I'd just throw that out there as one more option.

-Chap

 

yep, going to the dealer is even harder than getting up in the morning.

 

Guess you know Autozone will do a free "basic" scan to give you a heads up...before you go to the Dealership.

 

I don't know why people come on here looking for solutions for a car that's under warranty. I much rather have someone else fix the problem for free than to do it myself.

 

Possibly just to share and communicate with the Prius group?

 

Yes I can see that as a reason, but if I didn't know how to fix it, it would go to the dealer, one of the very few times it'll be free

If this were my car, I would just delete the code and see if it returns. If not, problem fixed.

 

Trouble is, their "basic" scan will probably be with a "basic" scanner, and may tell you something like "no codes found" just because there weren't any in the, oh, one or two computers it actually talks to out of the ten or so in the car.

You mean "if not, problem ignored." Without reading the codes first, you don't even know what you've chosen to ignore.

Because there are hundreds of problems the computers check for, and only a few lights on the dash, talking about the lights on the dash isn't remotely like identifying the problem. The dash lights are your car saying "we. need. to. talk." and you have that talk with a code reader.

All the suggestions so often seen here about disconnecting the battery for a few, or cycling the ignition, or using the 'clear' function on a scantool ... they are all ways of saying "sure, honey, right after the World Series" as a response to "we. need. to. talk."
Oops.

And then from time to time you see the posts on PriusChat where someone is now facing an expensive repair and somewhere in the back story is "but, for the last six months it never came back right away when I cleared it!"

If I could give one piece of advice to all new PriusChatters: get a code reader, one that reads Prius-specific info. Have it in the car. If a warning light comes on while driving, take the next convenient turnoff and ask your car what's up. Then you can look it up and decide whether it's a "schedule repair some time this year" issue, or "drive home but make appointment for this week", or "drive home gently", or "call for a tow."

Sometimes it truly will be an issue that you can safely leave until it's convenient. If you checked the code at the time and confirmed that, you'll have the peace of mind that goes with that.

But one last thing, if the dash lights come on again while you're waiting to deal with it, don't get in the habit of just assuming it's for the same problem you already know about. Without reading the codes each time, that's a really easy way to miss a different developing issue that could be more urgent.

-Chap

 

You are correct and that's the reason I typed "basic". The way some perceive Dealership Service Departments in general is that they are less than forthright when problems occur. While the fault may be covered by warranty, foreknowledge in general can sometimes alleviate anxiety during the wait for Monday morning. I never suggest anything other than for a heads up...and would never delete a code while still covered under warranty.

 

I'm not a fan of deleting codes without knowing what they are. But since this is a check engine light, which is usually emissions related, it would probably be what the dealer would do while the car is at 28k miles. If the problem comes back, then they would address it.....but they would at least log the code before clearing it.

This happened right after getting gas, I can't see what else the dealer would do for them but clear the code

 

So they need the check engine light to come on again with the same gas cap problem before they'll give you a new cap?

 

I believe it. I had a problem with a bad 12v on my new plug in, they charged it back up and said it has to leave me stranded 1 more time before I get a new one. go figure

 

Doesn't hurt to be more knowledgeable. We all know dealer service departments are hit or miss when it comes to a level of service or actual expertise. It is even more important when some dealers try to charge you if you didn't correctly identify a warranty issue.