Check Engine Light Service 2012 Toyota Tundra
What do you do when you’re driving along in your Toyota Tundra and suddenly, a yellow light illuminates on your dash and says "Check Engine". If you’re like most Toyota owners, your heart sinks drastically because you may have explicitly 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, tranquil 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 advised that you get your 2012 Toyota Tundra checked rapidly. Ignoring that warning could end up causing major, considerable damage to costly engine parts.
When your 2012 Toyota Tundra's ECM (electronic control module), which is the vehicle's onboard computer, finds a problem in the electronic control system that it can’t correct, a computer turns on your check engine light. This amber or yellow light is generally 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 can rapidly identify the issue, whether it's a sensor or a failing engine part. This code is read with an electronic scan tool that is used by our Toyota auto repair mechanics at Nalley Toyota Union City. There are again a number of relatively inexpensive code readers that are designed for do-it-yourselfers, should you pick that route too. While this code will tell you the issue that is detected, a true diagnosis still requires an experienced professional to determine the exactly correct issue and repair it.
2012 Toyota Tundra Check Engine Light Codes
The check engine light turning on can be quite intimidating, particularly to see that little light on your vehicle’s dashboard suddenly illuminate, 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 Tundra. There are hundreds of different codes that your check engine light can properly represent. While that sounds daunting, with a little patience, tackling basic diagnostics will give you useful knowledge about your car and will also allow that crucial Check Engine Light to do what it is genuinely supposed to do: be your guide. Sadly, apparent and useful car symptoms do not repeatedly accompany an illuminated Check Engine Light. Since there are hundreds of imaginable OBD codes, there are also hundreds of imaginable reasons for the light, including:
- Ignition system faults
- Loose Gas Cap or Missing Gas Cap
- Fuel and air metering systems problems
- Old Battery
- Bad Spark Plugs
- Computer output circuit issues
- Transmission issues
- O2 Sensor
- Emissions controls issues
This is why it is crucial for someone who does not have a lot of prevailing automotive knowledge to not assume what a code means. If the engine light comes on due to a serious concern, you risk damaging your vehicle further by not repairing the issue right away. When your check engine light comes on, you should get it checked out instantly by a proficient certified Toyota mechanic. Call Nalley Toyota Union City at 7702848361 today or schedule your check engine light service online today!
How much does it cost to get the engine light checked?
The average cost for a check engine light diagnosis & testing is usually between $88 and $111. The good news, Nalley Toyota Union City offers completely complimentary multi-point inspections and free diagnostics, in most cases, to help determine the cause of your check engine light. The check engine light warns of issues ranging from a gas cap that's not perfectly tightened to a more serious failure like a bad catalytic converter or a problem with one of the car's oxygen sensors, so it good to get the proper code reading and diagnosis.
What Does the Check Engine Light Mean?
One of the most commonly misunderstood lights or indicators in your 2012 Toyota Tundra is the check engine light. The check engine light is part of the crucial onboard diagnostics system, and displays in a wide range of different 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 wide range of things for your 2012 Toyota Tundra. Some of these essential duties include controlling engine speed, shifting automatic transmissions ignition timing, and implementing security control, just to name a few. With that being said, the check engine light can mean a wide range of different things. It can be as simple as your gas cap being loose or as unpredictable as engine knocking. If your check engine light is on in your 2012 Toyota Tundra, contact Nalley Toyota Union City. Contact Nalley Toyota Union City today! Our Toyota service department can help you find out what code is turning your check engine light on or diagnose why your check engine light is flashing.
2012 Toyota Tundra Check Engine Light Flashing
Although there are countless potential causes of an illuminated Check Engine Light, we know from years of providing Check Engine Light Diagnosis Service that there are several common causes including something as simple as a loose gas cap. Other generally common reasons for a Check Engine Light are damaged oxygen sensor, dirty mass airflow sensor, a malfunction with the fuel injection system, damaged emissions control part, damaged head gasket, or damaged spark plugs to name a few. No matter what is the root cause of the Check Engine Light, we have the Toyota Certified Mechanics and the certified service protocol to isolate the root problem and absolutely 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 totally fixed.
Every 2012 Toyota Tundra was designed with a high-technology performance monitoring system with a computer, and a series of sensors positioned strategically throughout the car on its essential systems. The fast sensors are continually detecting conditions while sending essential 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, sadly that is the limitation of the Check Engine Light – it won’t tell you what precisely is wrong 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 Immensely Qualified Service professional.
Is it safe to drive your 2012 Toyota Tundra with the check engine light on?
If the check engine light is flashing, this means that there is a serious issue and it is suggested to service your Toyota Tundra promptly. This question is not tremendously simple 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 secure to drive. This is typically indicated by a steady glow of the check engine light. If you notice a difference in the performance of the vehicle, it could be an indication of a more serious problem. Call the experts 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 promptly as conceivable.
2012 Toyota Tundra Check Engine Light
A flashing light indicates that the problem is tremendously serious and if not taken care of immediately may result in major and meaningful damage to the car. If the check engine light in your 2012 Toyota Tundra starts flashing, that means that the problem needs attention immediately and your Toyota should be brought in rapidly. This blinking light usually reveals a severe engine misfire allowing unburned fuel to be dumped into the exhaust system. There it can rapidly raise the temperature of the catalytic converter to a point where damage is likely, requiring an pricey and far-reaching repair. Some owners ask if spark plugs cause the check engine light to flash? This can precisely be the cause. A broken, old or dirty spark plug can cause the engine to misfire. If your check engine light is repeatedly flashing, please contact our team of automotive experts at Nalley Toyota Union City promptly by calling 7702848361. If the problem is completely ignored or you continue to drive, this can spread to the spark plug wires, catalytic converter, or ignition coils which can lead to a immensely pricey repair.
How many miles can you drive with the check engine light?
Since each check engine code has its own level of severity, it is usually difficult to predict how many miles you can be secure in driving with the warning light on. If you check engine light is flashing, we recommend that you pull over and contact Nalley Toyota Union City to help determine if your vehicle is secure to drive in or if we recommend a tow truck. It could be anything from a bad sensor to plug wires needing to be replaced. The safest bet is to decipher the code and then plan your strategy accordingly.
Will the check engine light reset itself?
The check engine light on your 2012 Toyota Tundra will frequently shut itself off if the issue or code that caused it to turn on is fixed. For instance, if the cause of your check engine light coming on was a loose gas cap, if it's tightened, the light will instantly turn itself off. Again, if your catalytic converter is working correctly, 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 Tundra 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.
What could cause the check engine light to come on in a 2012 Toyota Tundra?
When your check engine light comes on, this could be as simple as tightening or replacing your gas cap. Also, the check engine light could again be a warning of a meaningful problem that could cause serious damage to your engine and come with a hefty and expensive repair bill. Depending on your make and model, the check engine light will illuminate or blink. A steady and continuous glow typically means something less serious but a flashing check engine light indicates that your vehicle’s engine is in serious trouble and useful service is necessary swiftly. If your check engine light is flashing in your 2012 Toyota Tundra, we exceptionally suggest not to drive the vehicle and schedule Toyota service today. Below is a list of the most common reasons your check engine light can come on:
- New Spark Plugs or Plug Wires are required for your 2012 Toyota Tundra. The spark plugs are the part of your engine that ignites the air/fuel combination in the combustion chamber of your vehicle. This explosion is what moves the pistons and makes the engine run smooth. 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 old, you will experience a noticeable poor performance and decreased 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 catalytic converter is bad or going bad. The catalytic converter is a part of your 2012 Toyota Tundra’s exhaust system. The catalytic converter's function is to turn the carbon monoxide created by the combustion process into carbon dioxide. A damaged catalytic converter is normally caused by invariably neglected maintenance, which is why Nalley Toyota Union City offers a complimentary multi-point examination with every Toyota service. If you have an issue with your catalytic converter and don't get it repaired, your 2012 Toyota Tundra 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 dangerous problems from overheating.
- Your mass airflow sensor (known as MAF) needs to be replaced. The mass airflow sensor in your Toyota Tundra is what determines how much fuel is required to run your engine efficiently by measuring the amount of air entering the engine. As a part of the engine management system, the mass airflow sensor helps adjust to certain changes, like altitude. If your Toyota Tundra is having trouble starting, idling rough or has a sudden rapid change in the position of the throttle pedal, this could be a crucial sign of a damaged mass airflow sensor.
- One of the most common and frequent cause is that your 2012 Toyota Tundra gas cap is loose, damaged or missing. The gas cap for your 2012 Toyota Tundra serves numerous purposes. It prevents perilous 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 damaged fuel cap? If your gas cap is old or has a ruptured seal, you can lose fuel through evaporation which will result in more trips to the pump and be more pricey. Luckily, to replace a gas cap isn't expensive. If your check engine light turns on quickly after you put gas in your 2012 Toyota Tundra, 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.
- Your 2012 Toyota Tundra has a vacuum leak. Every Toyota Tundra has a vacuum system that performs a wide variety of functions. The vacuum system likewise helps lower adverse 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, exceptionally if they’re exposed to intense heat or extreme cold.
- The battery is low or dead. The battery in your 2012 Toyota Tundra is every essential. 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 a few decades ago, and they don't really require maintenance. The price of a new one depends on the type of Toyota you drive, but check our current service coupons and specials.
- Issues with any aftermarket items. An aftermarket alarm, exhaust or other item can wreak extreme havoc on your 2012 Toyota Tundra if it’s not installed properly. These aftermarket components and accessories can drain the battery, trigger the check engine light, or even prevent the vehicle from starting. If these issues sound familiar, bring your Tundra to Toyota and have our team of skilled certified mechanics make sure that your aftermarket items were installed correctly and aren't causing any issue. Getting accessories, exceptionally aftermarket parts and accessories, or using OEM components first place might cost a little bit more but could help you save considerably from having to get poor work and damage caused by poor installation work corrected.
- Your O2 Sensor (Oxygen Sensor) needs to be replaced. The Oxygen sensor, known as the O2 sensor, measures the amount of oxygen in your exhaust system. If there is excess oxygen in your exhaust system, fuel burns more expeditiously and your vehicle will be less efficient when it comes to fuel economy. So what happens if I don’t replace your O2 sensor? A damaged sensor can not only affect your miles per gallon, but it can cause meaningful damage to your catalytic converter and your 2012 Toyota Tundra's spark plugs. The O2 sensor sends data to the vehicle’s onboard computer to determine the exactly correct combination of air and fuel that enters the cylinders in your engine. A damaged O2 sensor can likewise cause a car to fail an emissions test.
