2012 Toyota RAV4 Check Engine Light

Is it safe to drive your 2012 Toyota RAV4 with the check engine light on?

This question is not excessively pragmatic because it all depends on the severity of the issue. If the cause is a minor issue, such as a loose gas cap, it should be safe to drive. This is commonly indicated by a dependable glow of the check engine light. If you notice a difference in the performance of the automobile, it could be an indication of a more critical problem. If the check engine light is shining, this means that there is a critical issue and it is recommended to service your Toyota RAV4 today. Call the advisors at Nalley Toyota Union City by dialing 7702848361 so you can describe the issues. Or reduce your speed and bring your 2012 Toyota to our certified mechanics as soon as factual.

Will the check engine light reset itself?

The check engine light on your 2012 Toyota RAV4 will usually shut itself off if the issue or code that caused it to turn on is fixed. For example, if the cause of your check engine light coming on was a loose gas cap, if it's tightened, the light will turn itself off. Likewise, if your catalytic converter is going functional, and you did a lot of stop-and-go driving, that may have turned on the check engine light due to the high usage of the converter. In most cases, your 2012 Toyota RAV4 light will go off after about 20-40 miles. If you drive over that amount and the light is still on, you will need to bring it in to Nalley Toyota Union City so the light and code can be double-checked and reset.

2012 Toyota RAV4 Check Engine Light Flashing

Although there are countless attainable causes of an illuminated Check Engine Light, we know from years of providing Check Engine Light Diagnosis Service that there are several simple causes including something as simple as a loose gas cap. Distinct simple reasons for a Check Engine Light are faulty emissions control part, dirty mass airflow sensor, a malfunction with the fuel injection system, faulty head gasket, damaged oxygen sensor, or defective spark plugs to name a few. No matter what is the root cause of the Check Engine Light, we have the Toyota Certified Technicians and the certified service protocol to isolate the root problem and repair it as needed to restore factory specifications. When this happens, the Check Engine Light turns off, and you can leave the service center knowing that your Toyota issue was serviced.

Every 2012 Toyota RAV4 was designed with a high-technology performance monitoring system with a computer, and a series of sensors positioned strategically throughout the vehicle on its logical systems. The sensors are continually detecting conditions while sending data to the electronic control unit. If the electronic control unit detects that the data is out of factory specifications, the Check Engine Light illuminates telling you that there is a problem. However, that is the limitation of the Check Engine Light – it won’t tell you what explicitly is inaccurate nor what to do about it. That’s where we come in; Nalley Toyota Union City provides a Check Engine Light Diagnosis Service that isolates the core problem and gives you a recommendation on what to do next from a Especially Qualified Service experienced.

Check Engine Light Service 2012 Toyota RAV4

What do you do when you’re driving along in your Toyota RAV4 and suddenly, a yellow light brightens on your dash and says "Check Engine". If you’re like most Toyota owners, your heart sinks a little because you have little idea about what that light is trying to tell you or how you should react. The fear of the unknown (or the cost of the unknown) can be just as stressful. But take a deep breath and realize the light coming on doesn’t mean you have to pull the car over to the side of the road and call a tow truck, but it is recommended that you get your 2012 Toyota RAV4 checked as soon as capacity. Ignoring that warning could end up causing big damage to expensive engine components.

When your 2012 Toyota RAV4's ECM (electronic control module), which is the vehicle's onboard computer, finds a problem in the electronic control system that it can’t prudent, a computer turns on your check engine light. This amber or yellow light is typically labeled “check engine” or “service engine soon”, or the light may be nothing more than a picture of an engine, or a picture of the engine with the word “check.”

When the light turns on, the ECM stores an engine code or “trouble code” in its memory that identifies as the issue, whether it's a sensor or a failing engine part. This code is read with an electronic inspect tool that is used by our Toyota auto repair mechanics at Nalley Toyota Union City. There are also a number of relatively inexpensive code readers that are designed for do-it-yourselfers, should you elect for that route too. While this code will tell you the issue that is detected, a true diagnosis still requires an experienced professional to elect for the issue and repair it.

What could cause the check engine light to come on in a 2012 Toyota RAV4?

When your check engine light comes on, this could be as plain as tightening or replacing your gas cap. Likewise, the check engine light could also be a warning of a strict problem that could cause strict damage to your engine and come with a big repair bill. Depending on your make and model, the check engine light will illuminate or blink. A steady glow typically means something less strict but a flashing check engine light hints that your vehicle’s engine is in strict trouble and service is necessary immediately. If your check engine light is flashing in your 2012 Toyota RAV4, we tremendously advocate not to drive the vehicle and schedule Toyota service today. Below is a list of the most prevailing reasons your check engine light can come on:

• Issues with any aftermarket items. An aftermarket alarm, exhaust or other item can wreak havoc on your 2012 Toyota RAV4 if it’s not installed correctly. These aftermarket parts and accessories can eject the battery, trigger the check engine light, or even hinder the car from starting. If these issues sound authentic, bring your RAV4 to Toyota and have our team of certified mechanics ensure that your aftermarket items were installed correctly and aren't causing any issue. Getting accessories, notably aftermarket parts and accessories, or using OEM parts first place might cost a scant bit more but could save you money from having to get low work and damage caused by low installation work corrected.
• Your O2 Sensor (Oxygen Sensor) needs to be replaced. The Oxygen sensor, known as the O2 sensor, measures the sum of oxygen in your exhaust system. If there is excess oxygen in your exhaust system, fuel burns faster and your car will be fewer feasible when it comes to fuel economy. So what happens if I don’t replace your O2 sensor? A faulty sensor can not only affect your miles per gallon, but it can cause damage to your catalytic converter and your 2012 Toyota RAV4's spark plugs. The O2 sensor sends data to the vehicle’s onboard computer to elect for the right mixture of air and fuel that enters the cylinders in your engine. A bad O2 sensor can also cause a car to fail an emissions test.
• Your 2012 Toyota RAV4 has a vacuum leak. Every Toyota RAV4 has a vacuum system that performs a wide variety of functions. The vacuum system also helps decrease harmful emissions by routing the fumes as gasoline evaporates through the engine. If you notice that your RPM is high in idle or randomly surges, a vacuum leak could be the cause. Over time, vacuum hoses can dry out and crack, notably if they’re exposed to profound heat or extreme bleak.
• Your catalytic converter is bad or going bad. The catalytic converter is a part of your 2012 Toyota RAV4’s exhaust system. The catalytic converter's perform is to turn the carbon monoxide created by the combustion process into carbon dioxide. A damaged catalytic converter is usually caused by neglected maintenance, which is why Nalley Toyota Union City offers a complimentary multi-point inspection with every Toyota service. If you have an issue with your catalytic converter and don't get it repaired, your 2012 Toyota RAV4 will not pass an emissions test, show a lack of engine performance and will negatively affect your fuel economy. Your car may run at a higher temperature, too, which can cause other problems from overheating.
• New Spark Plugs or Plug Wires are mandatory for your 2012 Toyota RAV4. The spark plugs are the part of your engine that ignites the air/fuel mixture in the combustion chamber of your car. This explosion is what moves the pistons and makes the engine run. The spark plug wires deliver the spark from the ignition coil to the spark plugs. If your spark plugs or spark plug wires are bad or classical, you will experience low performance and reduced power. In some extreme cases, your engine will have trouble starting or continuing to run. Worn spark plugs and plug wires can cause clogged catalytic converter or damage to ignition coils and O2 sensors, leading to more expensive repairs.
• Your mass airflow sensor (known as MAF) needs to be replaced. The mass airflow sensor in your Toyota RAV4 is what determines how much fuel is mandatory to run your engine efficiently by measuring the sum of air entering the engine. As a part of the engine management system, the mass airflow sensor helps adjust to crucial changes, like altitude. If your Toyota RAV4 is having trouble starting, idling rough or has a abrupt change in the position of the throttle pedal, this could be a sign of a bad mass airflow sensor.
• The battery is low or dead. The battery in your 2012 Toyota RAV4 is every appreciative. Without a car battery, your car won’t start, light up the road ahead, play the radio or charge your phone. Today’s car batteries last much longer than they did various decades ago, and they don't entirely require maintenance. The cost of a new one depends on the type of Toyota you drive, but check our current service coupons and specials.
• One of the most established and copious cause is that your 2012 Toyota RAV4 gas cap is loose, damaged or missing. The gas cap for your 2012 Toyota RAV4 serves multiple purposes. It prevents gas fumes from being released when you aren't driving, it seals the fuel system and helps maintain pressure within the fuel tank. What happens if you have a bad fuel cap? If your gas cap is classical or has a ruptured seal, you can lose fuel through evaporation which will result in more trips to the pump. Luckily, to replace a gas cap isn't expensive. If your check engine light turns on promptly after you put gas in your 2012 Toyota RAV4, first thing you should check is to make sure the cap isn’t loose — or that it's still on your car’s roof or at the fuel pump.

What Does the Check Engine Light Mean?

One of the most continually misunderstood lights or indicators in your 2012 Toyota RAV4 is the check engine light. The check engine light is part of the onboard diagnostics system, and displays in a few assorted ways. It can say "Check Engine", it can be a symbol of an engine, it can even be a combination of both. This light illuminates in either an amber or red color and is part of the diagnostics system found on your vehicle. Onboard computers increasingly have controlled and monitored vehicle performance since the 80s and do a variety of things for your 2012 Toyota RAV4. Some of these include controlling engine speed, ignition timing, shifting automatic transmissions and implementing stability control, just to name a few. With that being said, the check engine light can designate a variety of discrete things. It can be as exceptional as your gas cap being loose or as critical as engine knocking. If your check engine light is on in your 2012 Toyota RAV4, contact Nalley Toyota Union City. Contact Nalley Toyota Union City today! Our Toyota service department can aid you find out what code is turning your check engine light on or investigate why your check engine light is blinking.

2012 Toyota RAV4 Check Engine Light

If the check engine light in your 2012 Toyota RAV4 starts flashing, that means that the problem needs cold attention and your Toyota should be brought in hastily. A flashing light indicates that the problem is precarious and if not taken care of hastily may result in major wear and tear to the vehicle. This blinking light usually illustrates a harsh engine misfire allowing unburned fuel to be dumped into the exhaust system. There it can quickly hike the temperature of the catalytic converter to a point where damage is likely, requiring an costly repair. Some owners ask if spark plugs cause the check engine light to flash? This can altogether be the cause. A bad, old or dirty spark plug can cause the engine to misfire. If your check engine light is flashing, please contact our team of automotive experts at Nalley Toyota Union City immediately by calling 7702848361. If the problem is ignored or you continue to drive, this can spread to the spark plug wires, catalytic converter, or ignition coils which can lead to a very expensive repair.

How much does it cost to get the engine light checked?

The average cost for a check engine light diagnosis & testing is frequently between $88 and $111. The miraculous news, Nalley Toyota Union City offers complimentary multi-point inspections and free diagnostics, in most cases, to help read the cause of your check engine light. The check engine light warns of issues ranging from a gas cap that's not properly tightened to a more unhealthy failure like a detrimental catalytic converter or a problem with one of the car's oxygen sensors, so it miraculous to get the favorable code reading and diagnosis.

How many miles can you drive with the check engine light?

If you check engine light is twinkling, we express that you pull over and contact Nalley Toyota Union City to help represent if your vehicle is safe to drive in or if we express a tow truck. Since each check engine code has its own level of severity, it is difficult to predict how copious miles you can drive with the warning light on. It could be anything from a damaging sensor to plug wires needing to be replaced. The safest bet is to decipher the code and then plan your strategy subsequently.

2012 Toyota RAV4 Check Engine Light Codes

The check engine light turning on can be quite intimidating to see that miniature light on your vehicle’s dashboard suddenly brightens, but in reality, it is not something that should cause you to shut down in fear right away. If you hear the term, diagnostic trouble codes (DTC), these are just another name for check engine light codes. These are automotive computer codes stored by the ECM, also known as the OBD (on-board computer diagnostic system) in your RAV4. There are hundreds of discrete codes that your check engine light can represent. While that sounds daunting, with a miniature patience, tackling crucial diagnostics will give you important knowledge about your automobile and will also allow that Check Engine Light to do what it is actually supposed to do: be your guide. Unfortunately, clear and important automobile symptoms do not always accompany an illuminated Check Engine Light. Since there are hundreds of possible OBD codes, there are also hundreds of possible reasons for the light, including:

• Emissions controls issues
• O2 Sensor
• Transmission issues
• Loose Gas Cap or Missing Gas Cap
• Computer output circuit issues
• Bad Spark Plugs
• Old Battery
• Fuel and air metering systems problems
• Ignition system faults

This is why it is important for someone who does not have bountiful of automotive knowledge to not assume what a code means. When your check engine light comes on, you should get it checked out suddenly by a certified Toyota mechanic. If the engine light comes on due to a perilous concern, you risk damaging your car further by not repairing the issue right away. Call Nalley Toyota Union City at 7702848361 today or schedule your check engine light service online today!