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I have a 2001 Toyota Camry le with the 3.0 v6, the check engine light keeps coming on. I get ot scanned at auto zone and fixed the problems and it still comes on. The first time it was the throttle sensor,than the gas cap,now its the wrong fuel air mixture and i was told it was the catalytic converter. I keep fixing stuff on it just to have it come on again. It is a automatic and only has 128k miles. I bought it about 2 months ago from a dealership and am very displeased.I am wondering if this is nothing to worry about or is it a lemon. Is it something with Toyota? What should i do?
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I would suggest getting a print out of codes so you know what all is going on. I have not had good luck with AZ scanning codes and giving adequate feed back. Codes don’t mean just change a part. It maybe out of budget for you however I invested in my own scan tool and have had a lot better luck. When a code comes up, look at the code, what does it take to set the code and not AZ most reported part sold to fix if you know what I mean. Not much help here but if you get the codes, miles etc, Maybe can help more.
I do agree with you on the autozone not being the best. I did take it to o raileys and got the same codes,they were using a bosch,a fancier one. I dont have the codes but i do have some more information to add. I bought the car 2 months ago and it was a abused car,it was very dirty and unkept. I thought being a Toyota it just needed cleaned and a few small repairs. It has 128,000 miles on it. What kind of scanner? I saw one at walmart for only 20 bucks but is that junk? How much would i have to spend for a good one? If its too much i wouldn’t be able to. Is there a chance of the check engine light being broke and going off for no reason? Thanks for all your help!
I hope for your sake it isn’t the catalytic converter because they can be rather pricey to repair. I agree with jjohnson1 on printing out the codes.
The only other suggestion I have is taking it to a TRUSTED mechanic and have them diagnose everything for you. It would typically cost about $30. Just make sure that you aren’t just paying $30 for them to look at a diagnostic machine. Have them come with you to troubleshoot the car if you can and if the job is up to your speed you can fix it yourself to save lots of money.
Sorry I couldn’t be more helpful but without any of the codes it’s hard to diagnose anything. Hopefully all of the different codes are connected, or maybe their is something wrong with the electronics? Just try to give us more information and we’ll try to help.
I would probably not bother with a $20 scanner if Orielly is giving you codes. The $20 tool is nice to get the code but that is about all it will do. I have a bluedriver which Eric did a video on. I like it but your out a $100 and I dont think it is near as capable with some of the foreign models. You would have to check about Toyota.
If your concerned about your own capabilities, the diagnosis from the mechanic is a good idea but again look for a trust worthy one that will diagnose problem and not just give you a code if you know what i mean. Then again you can choose to have them fix it or change part your self.
Electronics can be faulty but If you have different codes coming up, I would not suspect your “Check engine light” is broken. What are the codes? Do you notice any driveability problems ie: rough idle, loss of power on acceleration, stalling etc. Do you notice excessive white or dark smoke coming out of tail pipe? Does it small like gas when driving? Hope that all of this makes since.One sign of a bad catylitic converter is a loss of power. Eric also has a video on how to diagnose a bad cat.
The most recent codes are p 0420 and p0446. I heard that 01 camrys go throught catalytic converters fast,is this true?
I’ve never owned a Toyota Camry and I haven’t heard of that, and I couldn’t find any articles on them chewing through cats, but it is a possibility given their problems with sticky gas pedals and floor mats.
Have you checked your o2 sensor? That might be the cause of p0420.
As for the po446, check your vsv valve. It should stay closed unless powered up. If it isn’t closing and opening properly, that’s the problem.The biggest reason you may be having difficulties is because these codes tend to be broad and there could be many possibilities as to what triggered them. All you can do is check everything to see if it is working properly and isolate the issue.
Here is a list I found on possible causes for po446:
-Charcoal canister is clogged, loaded with fuel or with moisture
-Fuel tank over-fill check valve cracked or damaged
-Fuel tank seal leaking, fuel tank cracked, damaged or leaking
-Fuel vapor hoses/tubes blocked or restricted, or fuel vapor control valve tube or fuel vapor vent valve assembly blocked
-Vacuum hose or tubing cracked, damaged or disconnected
-Vapor pressure sensor has failed
-VSV circuit for the canister purge is open, shorted to ground or to voltage
-VSV for the CCV is open, shorted to ground or shorted to voltage
-VSV for the pressure switching valve is open, shorted to ground or to voltage
-VSV for vapor pressure sensor circuit is open, shorted to ground or to voltage
-Vapor pressure sensor has failedHere are the possibilities for p0420:
-Bad o2 sensor
-bad o2 sensor wiring
-Bad Cat
-bad Engine Control ModuleI hope it isn’t a bad cat or ecm because they can be pretty pricey to replace. Good luck and I hope this information proved at least somewhat useful.
I like to thank you for all the info,its been helpful,i will jack it up and check stuff. It sucks how many things it could be. I do know that the p0420 is common on toyota cars and trucks. The strange thing is it drives wonderful and i heard of people driving it like this but i want it in tip top shape. I will look into it and let you know what i find in the next few days. Thanks you guys for your help!
Ok i found a exhaust leak right after the catalytic converter on a flange.would this be causing my problems?
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