My check engine light is on my Lexus ES300. Its not the oxygen sensor I replaced them both. Is there are compu

Question

My check engine light is on my Lexus ES300. Its not the oxygen sensor I replaced them both. Is there are computer I can buy so I can find out what the problem is for a car that old? Or could you tell me what it is? The computers in the store are for 1996 cars and up. They don't have anything for 1995 and down.

My car is a 93'

Answer 1

NEVER replace any part till you know the problem. Replacing the o2 sensors will not turn off the lite. If you go to Auto Zone they can check your trouble codes. 1995 vehicles may have obd2 systems. You will know when you try to plug in the code reader. obd1 has a different plug. If you do get an o2 sensor, or any other code, do not change the sensor. The sensor is telling the computer there is a problem in the emission system. You must read the code or codes and diagnose what they mean. one defect can lead to another so you must figure out the problem. Changing sensors will not solve the problem.

Answer 2

They do sell code readers for older cars, but usually only for American cars. For a Japanese car, like a Toyota Camry (a.k.a. Lexus ES300), you'll have to shop around quite a bit, or 1. take the car to the dealership. 2. take the car to a well-equipped mechanic (maybe a chain or franchise). 3. invest in an expensive ($ thousands $) vehicle diagnostic computer which will cover almost anything on 4 wheels.

Like the other person said, many newer cars will trip the MIL (malfunction indicator lamp - "check engine") light when you fail to tighten the gas cap properly. However, if checking that doesn't turn off the MIL, you will need to take it in to get diagnosed (probably between $40 - $100 just to plug the car into the computer and read the codes). Computer systems have too many sensors, wires, plugs, valves, etc. to try to trouble-shoot by swapping parts one at a time. You could spend all year and quite a pretty penny trying to figure out what's wrong without a computer diagnosis.

Just bite the bullet and try to find a good, reliable, honest shop which will charge you by the half-hour to do the diagnosis. That's why there is such a discrepancy in the possible rate they'll charge you... some places have a minimum 1 hr. charge and some have a minimum ½ hr. charge. They'll all probably run between $80 - $100 per hour, the question is if they charge you ½ hr. or 1 hr. minimum to plug the car in and read the codes. Try not to go too cheap and get stuck with a shop where the wrench-turner doesn't know how to interpret the codes fully.

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Answer 3

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RE:
My check engine light is on my Lexus ES300. Its not the oxygen sensor I replaced them both. Is there are compu
My check engine light is on my Lexus ES300. Its not the oxygen sensor I replaced them both. Is there are computer I can buy so I can find out what the problem is for a car that old? Or could you tell me what it is? The computers in the store are for 1996 cars and up. They don't have anything...

Answer 4

The reply above is one reason it might be on. Sometimes if you get gas and you don't turn your gas cap til it clicks 3 times the lack of vapor lock will cause your check engine light to come on or you may need to replace your cap to get a good tight seal. Good luck

Answer 5

Here's everything about your OBD-I codes on your Lexus:
http://www.troublecodes.net/Lexus/
You don't need to buy anything.
There was no emissions fault code or check engine light activation for loose gas caps on pre-'96 cars (OBD-I emission's standard)

Answer 6

sometimes the check engine light comes on when you fill up for gas and didnt tighten the gas cap thing on tight enough

Answer 7

Why are all the answers so short these days?

Answer 8

This may be feasible