"Import" Check engine lights

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Okay in order to prove something to someone.. If you own a "foreign" car (Honda, toyota, etc etc) and have EVER had a CEL come on for anything other than turning on the car, post the make model year here.
 
Our Jetta threw a CEL when the MAF died, and also when the thermostat needed replacing.

No CEL on my 530i.

However, I'm not sure where you're going with this. The CEL on these cars is basically a warning light - it may come on for a variety of reasons. On other cars, you may get no warning at all and you have to figure out on your own what's wrong.
 
My '00 MB E430 had several CEL's:
O2 sensor twice
Fuel cap not closed properly several times
Camshaft Position Sensor failed

My '94 LS400 had one CEL:
O2 sensor
 
Originally Posted By: Quattro Pete
Our Jetta threw a CEL when the MAF died, and also when the thermostat needed replacing.

No CEL on my 530i.

However, I'm not sure where you're going with this. The CEL on these cars is basically a warning light - it may come on for a variety of reasons. On other cars, you may get no warning at all and you have to figure out on your own what's wrong.


This is here because SOMEBODY on here *see too many sensors thread in maintenance* thinks that imports are perfect and never throw CELs
 
we go one in our toyota previa when the 02 sensor went. Also my wife got one in her integra from a tps, iirc.
 
More common on Japanese cars I find. More complex/finnicky systems.

2000 Maxima - was bad ignition module (coil over plug) and also once for bad MAF.

2002 Altima - evap code, just a bad gas cap seal.

Nothing on my 97 Saturn ever

Nothing on my 01 Neon ever

My 96 Saturn just this week had a coil go bad, threw 2 codes because of that. One part solved both.
 
In my 05 Corolla, I've only seen a CEL for 2 reasons:
  • Loose gas cap
  • 5K oil change reminder
 
Last edited:
1993 camry 3.0

o2 sensor
EGR
temperature sensor

Added 2oz MMO to $20 of gas and CEL went away after a few miles on the freeway. That did happen! It had to have been the three items listed above but its fun to speculate. The CEL would return at 45mph with light throttle, EGR flow causes this, where heavy and various acceleration would mask the problem.
 
I get the concept of the thread but with emissions throwing check engine lights now it doesn't take more than a loose gas cap to get a check engine light.
 
Wow,, this is crazy. But:

1999.5 VW Golf TDI - MIL illuminated for faulty glow plug circuit and when MAF sensor responded out of range.

1999 BMW 323i - MIL illuminated for long term fuel trim out of range.

1997 Nissan D21 Pickup - MIL illluminated for intermittent inlet air temperature sensor reading.

These are my faults over the past 12 years.
 
Our 2006 Corolla has had two

1st - ecm replaced under warranty
2nd - intake manifold gasket replaced under warranty (barely)
 
Originally Posted By: Diesel_Clatter
Our 2006 Corolla has had two

1st - ecm replaced under warranty
2nd - intake manifold gasket replaced under warranty (barely)



Those are the two biggest issues with the 9th gen corolla, sucks you had them both. Some people are on their 3rd ECU. Guess your car was made in CA?
 
Originally Posted By: rudolphna
Okay in order to prove something to someone.. If you own a "foreign" car (Honda, toyota, etc etc) and have EVER had a CEL come on for anything other than turning on the car, post the make model year here.


So your attempt is to continue to stir the import vs. domestic debate? Sorry, that's not worth my time.
 
97 Altima:

Multiple CELs for
-O2 Sensor
-Alternator
-Cam Position Sensor, which can only be replaced by replacing the entire distributor
 
1998 and 2000 Honda Civics...roommate's cars...CELs on for something but nobody knows what or cares.

2001 Toyota Camry I4...friend's car...CEL on, again nobody knows what for or cares.

2000 Toyota Solara I4...friend's car, CEL on for EGR valve.
 
Originally Posted By: Pop_Rivit
Originally Posted By: rudolphna
Okay in order to prove something to someone.. If you own a "foreign" car (Honda, toyota, etc etc) and have EVER had a CEL come on for anything other than turning on the car, post the make model year here.


So your attempt is to continue to stir the import vs. domestic debate? Sorry, that's not worth my time.



Not to stir the debate, not at all. This thread is merely to show him that foreign cars do pop CELs occasionally too, it's not just domestic cars.
 
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