

While that sounds daunting, with a little patience, tackling basic diagnostics will give you useful knowledge about your vehicle and will also allow that Check Engine Light to do what it is really supposed to do: be your guide. There are hundreds of different codes that your check engine light can represent. These are automotive computer codes stored by the ECM, also known as the OBD (on-board computer diagnostic system) in your Camry. If you hear the term, diagnostic trouble codes (DTC), these are just another name for check engine light codes. The check engine light turning on can be quite intimidating to see that little light on your vehicle’s dashboard suddenly illuminates, but in reality, it is not something that should cause you to shut down in fear right away.
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While this code will tell you the issue that is detected, a true diagnosis still requires an experienced professional to determine the issue and repair it. There are also a number of relatively inexpensive code readers that are designed for do-it-yourselfers, should you choose that route too. This code is read with an electronic scan tool that is used by our Toyota auto repair mechanics. When the light turns on, the ECM stores an engine code or “trouble code” in its memory that identifies as the issue, whether it's a sensor or a failing engine part. This amber or yellow light is typically labeled “check engine” or “service engine soon”, or the light may be nothing more than a picture of an engine, or a picture of the engine with the word “check.” When your Toyota Camry's ECM (electronic control module), which is the vehicle's onboard computer, finds a problem in the electronic control system that it can’t correct, a computer turns on your check engine light. Ignoring that warning could end up causing major damage to expensive engine components. But take a deep breath and realize the light coming on doesn’t mean you have to pull the car over to the side of the road and call a tow truck, but it is recommended that you get your Toyota Camry checked as soon as possible. The fear of the unknown (or the cost of the unknown) can be just as stressful. If you’re like most Toyota owners, your heart sinks a little because you have little idea about what that light is trying to tell you or how you should react.

What do you do when you’re driving along in your Toyota Camry and suddenly, a yellow light illuminates on your dash and says "Check Engine".
