2008 Toyota Highlander - CEL

[311Hemi]

Yesterday our 08' Highlander (v6) CEL light came on along with the TRAC light, and a blinking VSC light.

I have not had a chance to go to an auto shop to read the diagnostics, and have not had a chance to jumper the pins on the OBD port to get the flashing codes (I still have to double check that this needs to be done on this vehicle to check for VSC codes).

Any ideas?

[Jeremy airjer W]

DO NOT JUMP PINS ON THE ALDL TO CHECK FOR CODES!

Any time the check engine light is on the traction control and VSC will be disabled and the lights will turn on.

Check the fuel cap. Take a look at the air filter housing and make sure no vacuum hoses are disconnected.

I'm going to put money on either an EVAP code or an O2 sensor code with a possible lean code.

[311Hemi]

Thanks for the warning. I had not done it yet but wanted to look into it more before I did....just so I didn't break anything.

I tried cleaning the gas cap that night, didn't make any difference. Hoping to get into an auto store to pull the codes tonight or tomorrow.

[311Hemi]

I pulled a P0138 code, which looks like it's an O2 sensor (good guess Jer!). I cleared the codes and they have not reappeared after a few stops this morning.

[Jeremy airjer W]

that would be for the bank 1 sensor 1 air/fuel ratio sensor. (bank one is the same side of the engine as the number one cylinder and sensor one is always before the catalytic converter.

If the light stays out than fantastic. If it comes back on I wouldn't think twice about replacing it.

[311Hemi]

Light came back on last night. I will replace that o2 sensor.

Thanks Jer!

[311Hemi]

Jer, you sure that's sensor 1? I replaced sensor 1 and went to clear the codes and the obd scanner says that code is for bank 1 sensor 2. Guess I will find out soon enough.

[Macgyver55]

Here is what my scanner shows, (same as you found)

P0138 OBD-II Trouble Code

O2 Oxygen Sensor Circuit High Voltage (Bank1, Sensor2)

[Jeremy airjer W]

That might have been a typo!

[311Hemi]

that would be for the bank 1 sensor 1 air/fuel ratio sensor. (bank one is the same side of the engine as the number one cylinder and sensor one is always before the catalytic converter.

If the light stays out than fantastic. If it comes back on I wouldn't think twice about replacing it.

Jer, can you verify if what you stated here was accurate to what your source says? I replaced this sensor (even though the OBD reference sensor 2), and the CEL has not come back on. I'm just curious of the OBD reference is possibly incorrect, or why sensor 2 is not triggering the CEL anymore.

Knock on wood that I didn't just jink myself.....watch..the wife will come home tonight and tell me the light is on again.

[Jeremy airjer W]

Its definitely a sensor 2 issue (after the cat)

I'm pretty sure I was at work when I looked it up and between cars, looking it up, loging in, and posting my brain played a game of phone tag. I do apologize for the misinformation.

[Scott K]

Maybe to save your day, TSB 0001-10 indicates the front sensor(Air Fuel Ratio Sensor) can cause a P0138 as well.

So, I wouldnt lose any sleep over it, unless the light comes back on.

[Scott K]

[Jeremy airjer W]

Well thats some potential good news!

[311Hemi]

Thanks guys...that helps! I may have gotten lucky! I just wanted to understand if the OBD scanner was wrong or what was up.

0138 and 2195 were present when I went to reset the code after replacing the sensor which seems to go along with some of the info above. 2195 was not there the fist time I cleared the codes but we drove a good amount of miles after the CEL light came back on.

Jer, no worries....I had gotten the codes from the scanner before you posted that info and somehow chose to totally ignore and not pay attention to what they said.

Thanks again!