New to the post. My check engine light came on after an 800 mile trip. I didn't notice anything different, all fluids were fine, changed the oil, checked the fuel cap, air filter, clutch fluid, blah blah blah. I read that a blown fuse can cause the light to come on in tacos. I'm guessing it's an emission related prob (o2 sensor, egr valve, c/c problem). Has anyone had a seemingly unexplainable C E Light?
Also, my clutch still squeaks after the pedal spring modification (change from a compression to a tension spring). Any suggestions?
Thanks for any input. :banghead:

Oh Yeah, The check engine light went off about a week and a half later, just out of the blue. It's not burned out, I checked.

If it went out, don't worry about it. Might have just been an occurance that won't happen any more. Watch it and get the codes from the ECM if it happens again. If you're curious, the code from the previous CEL are still in the computer.

For the clutch, put some high temperature grease on the clutch fork pivot and other contact points you can reach.

I had that same problem. It will go on and off intermittently. It ended up being the throttle position sensor, or I think it's called a potentiometer as well (I could be wrong though.) Anyway, if it is that it's an easy fix. The part costs between 80 and 120 depending on where you go.

Thanks for the input, I'll try and get to a code reader asap, but I'm not going to worry about it right now. The truck still runs like a bear, and what more can you ask for? Gonna take it into the mountains this weekend, we'll see if another 500 miles trips the code again.

Mine came on and it was simply the O2 sensor. You can pretty much tell if it's anything serious on these trucks. It's easy to tell when a superior vehicle like the Tacoma is having problems than say something like a ranger which is loud, rough and chokes all the time.

My check engine light came on at 220,000 miles... It was the gas cap.

My check engine light came on @ 187,000. Valley-Hi Toyota in Victorville diagnosed it as a burned #3 exhaust valve, and told me that was par for the course with high mileage(BS). They also told me I could keep driving it. I put another 20K on it before it wouldn't run anymore, then I got to buy two new heads to boot. I'll never buy Toyota again. The whole thing cost me $4,475.00. They Can F' off:mad:

My check engine light came on @ 187,000. Valley-Hi Toyota in Victorville diagnosed it as a burned #3 exhaust valve, and told me that was par for the course with high mileage(BS). They also told me I could keep driving it. I put another 20K on it before it wouldn't run anymore, then I got to buy two new heads to boot. I'll never buy Toyota again. The whole thing cost me $4,475.00. They Can F' off:mad:

I'm at 280,000 miles now. You should have taken better care of your truck.

Also, good luck with your next purchase. LOL!

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Originally Posted by bangbg
My check engine light came on @ 187,000. Valley-Hi Toyota in Victorville diagnosed it as a burned #3 exhaust valve, and told me that was par for the course with high mileage(BS). They also told me I could keep driving it. I put another 20K on it before it wouldn't run anymore, then I got to buy two new heads to boot. I'll never buy Toyota again. The whole thing cost me $4,475.00. They Can F' off

I'm at 280,000 miles now. You should have taken better care of your truck.

Also, good luck with your next purchase. LOL!

:loser:

I guess I did not see this reply to my post when it originally was posted.

The reply will matter little but just to set the record straight, I have always had EVERY scheduled maintenance done to my truck at THE DEALER and paid full boat for all of them.

The reason the valve burned was most likely that one of the valve adjustments that I had paid the dealer to do was either done incompletely or not at all. I always do every scheduled maintenance to my vehicles.

The failure had nothing to do with how I cared for the truck, unless of course I do the valve adjustments myself. :iceslolan

PLug in a "OBD 2 Code reader" under the dash near the parking brake, assuming this truck is after 96? The readers are inexpensive life savers, they sell them on ebay, I paid more at an auto parts store for the same thing. The code reader will give you a number like 00301, and then clear the CE light, look up that # in the manual and fix the problem, easy enough?

Just joined this forum five minutes ago for this same reason you guys are talking.

My check engine light came on this morning in my 96 tacoma w/226,000 miles. Engine still performs just as good as day one. Pulled over on the side of road to make sure oil & stuff were fine. Looked around for something unplugged. No luck. I figured the O2 sensor was the problem but wanted to check on the net to see what problems people have had.

I've read a lot on this scanner that you can buy and just plug in as long as you have a lap top. Sounds like thats the best thing going. There nothing like being able to fix your own stuff. I like to keep my hard earned money in my pockets. At least I try to.

Going to work on it this weekend. I can't complain about this truck at all. I bought it new in 96 and have thrashed it all over the place. Day one it was in the mud and hauling dirt bikes everywhere, then quads, jet ski's and now street bikes. I have wrecked it once and washed it about 15 times in the past 10 years. The stock spark plugs went bad at 146,000 miles, the clutch 175,000 miles, the start somewhere in between. The longest its went on an oil change, well I would say somewhere between 10 - 15,0000 miles. I just find it hard to do much after a 10-12 hour work day 6 days a week.

I will say this. If it blows tomarrow it was well worth the money I spent for how I've taken care of it.

Will let you know what I come up with.

Later,