3S-GTE Gen 4 Check engine light problem Options

[speed-CCNP]

Hi all, Two days ago the check engine light came on. When I drive for 5 min the light comes on.

I have a 3sgte out of a Caldina (ST215) and the use the stock JDM ECU, so I can't get codes from it. I don't see anything leaking and the car runs great. I have put about 800 miles on the car

since i did the swap.

What should I check first?

[alltracman78]

You have to check the codes, otherwise you're just wasting time.

You should still have a diagnostic box on the harness, unless whoever installed the engine got rid of it.

If you have the box, jump TE1 and E1 and see if the CEL flashes a code.

If it does, post it up, if not, do you have a the wiring pinouts for the ECU?

[malpaso]

check air sensor (measuring amount of intake air)...

[pitcelica]

did you bought a complete engine or a front clip from a caldina?

3SGTE gen 4 are OBDII if I'm not mistaken (I've never seen a jumper box on any gen 4 wiring harness), no more jumper box for testing and checking codes. If you bought a clip, I supposed that you installed the OBDII connector located under the steering wheel in the caldina front clip. If you didn't do it, you'll have no way to see what code is triggering your CEL.

[alltracman78]

OBDII is a US thing.
Other than us and maybe Canada no one else uses it.
The Gen IV 3SGTE isn't going to have it.

There's going to be some type of check connector somewhere [that's all the OBDII connector is, a check connector; same thing as the DIAG box, only with better electronics behind it].
Most likely it's in the engine bay somewhere, though I can't say for certain because I've never worked on one.

A good picture of the engine bay MIGHT help.

[Dr_Tweak]

Did we do your wiring harness?

-Doc

[pitcelica]

Thanks for the info alltracman78. I was sure that all 97+ engine (no matter what market they come from) were OBDII. The best person to answer this question is Dr Tweak : Hey Tweak, did you ever seen a diag box in any of the harness you did from a ST215 ?

I had 2 ST215 harness and none of them had a diag box somewhere in the engine room wiring harness. So, I assumed that if it isn't in the engine bay, it would be in the cabin.

The best thing to do should be to go at an engine importer, look at a caldina ST215 front clip, and inspect it to find a diag box.

[Dr_Tweak]

There's no Diag box on the ST215 harnesses, that's why I was asking if we did the harness, we normally add in a diagnostic wire when we do them. Hopefully the OP comes back

-Doc

[alltracman78]

Well, I stand partially corrected. I've been talking with Tweak about this via PM; apparently the check connector is under the drivers dash, and is the same shape as an OBDII connector.

However, it's not a true OBDII system, and according to him a OBDII scan tool can't communicate with it.

Thanks for the info alltracman78. I was sure that all 97+ engine (no matter what market they come from) were OBDII.

To further clarify what I posted above; OBDII isn't just a different connector that everyone uses, it's a set of Federal regulations that standardize how the ECU communicates, the code numbers and their meanings, and what emissions the ECU checks for. That's a really simplified explanation, there's more to it, but I don't feel like typing too much of a book here...

Each country has it's own emissions regulations, so designing a system that complies with both would cost more money, and probably increase complications, so it's unlikely a manufacturer would design both in, unless another country fully adopted our emissions standards [like I believe Canada did].

Also, while OBDII requires certain things to be the same for all manufacturers, it also leaves other parts of the diagnostic system for the individual manufacturers to decide what is what.

This post has been edited by alltracman78: Apr 30, 2009 - 1:18 PM

[lagos]

sounds like a perfect candidate for my diagnostic switch idea.

[speed-CCNP]

I buy a clip. I didn't install OBDII connector located under the steering wheel in the caldina front clip because there is one on the celica. Should I have installed the caldina OBDII connector?

did you bought a complete engine or a front clip from a caldina?

3SGTE gen 4 are OBDII if I'm not mistaken (I've never seen a jumper box on any gen 4 wiring harness), no more jumper box for testing and checking codes. If you bought a clip, I supposed that you installed the OBDII connector located under the steering wheel in the caldina front clip. If you didn't do it, you'll have no way to see what code is triggering your CEL.

Yes, Sir

Did we do your wiring harness?

-Doc

What is you diagnostic switch idea?

sounds like a perfect candidate for my diagnostic switch idea.

[speed-CCNP]

The air sensor can go bad?

check air sensor (measuring amount of intake air)...

[lagos]

its in the stickies..
http://www.6gc.net/forums/index.php?showtopic=37471

[speed-CCNP]

Will this work on a gen 4?

its in the stickies..
http://www.6gc.net/forums/index.php?showtopic=37471

[speed-CCNP]

Doc, you did an excellent job on my harness. Remember, it went right in with no issues. The light only cut on a few days ago.
The car runs great. I don't see any performance issues at all.

There's no Diag box on the ST215 harnesses, that's why I was asking if we did the harness, we normally add in a diagnostic wire when we do them. Hopefully the OP comes back

-Doc

[speed-CCNP]

I still have the clip. Is there something I need to look at on it?

If not, I am planning to get rid of it in the next couple of weeks. I need space for my new bike.

[pitcelica]

could you plz, post some pics of the diagnosis box located under the steering wheel in your clip? This would be some good information to keep. And, if you have time, would you remove the harness that include the diagnosis box from the clip.

And, again, if you have the time, could you remove the wire looming out of the harness to inspect which wires are going to this diagnosis box, this could be nice to analyse the way this diagnosis box works.

Feel free to say no to all these steps I want you to do. But, if you are as curious as me, I'm sure you'll understand my point!

Sam

[Dr_Tweak]

Doc, you did an excellent job on my harness. Remember, it went right in with no issues. The light only cut on a few days ago.
The car runs great. I don't see any performance issues at all.

There's no Diag box on the ST215 harnesses, that's why I was asking if we did the harness, we normally add in a diagnostic wire when we do them. Hopefully the OP comes back

-Doc

Ah you should have just called me then

There should be a wire located near your ECU with a label on it that says "Diagnostics". Ground that wire to run the trouble codes. If you do NOT have that wire, give me a call or email and I'll walk you through what you need to do.

-Doc

[speed-CCNP]

Cool, I'll give you a call

Doc, you did an excellent job on my harness. Remember, it went right in with no issues. The light only cut on a few days ago.
The car runs great. I don't see any performance issues at all.

There's no Diag box on the ST215 harnesses, that's why I was asking if we did the harness, we normally add in a diagnostic wire when we do them. Hopefully the OP comes back

-Doc

Ah you should have just called me then

There should be a wire located near your ECU with a label on it that says "Diagnostics". Ground that wire to run the trouble codes. If you do NOT have that wire, give me a call or email and I'll walk you through what you need to do.

-Doc