2000 Celica idiot light

2000 Celica 1.8, automatic.

My wife is 200 miles from home and just called to report an indicator light on the dash illuminated. She has been on the road for 5 hours. The manual states (more or less) there is a problem with either the engine or transmission electrical systems. It came on about 10 minutes after she switched on the AC but there are no indications of overheating or low voltage. Is this usually major or could it be something that she can live with for 200 miles?

Probably hard to say with so little info but that's all I have and any history with this type of indication would be appreciated.

Thanks,

gtb

Reply to
goodTweetieBird
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Reply to
Ghislain

Yes, she did match it up with the manual. The manual said engine or transmission electrical...

Reply to
jh

Thanks for the AutoZone tip.

The indicator was the amber malfunction indicator that looks like a side view of an engine and has the word 'Check' under it. Matching it up with her manual, it stated that if driving when the indicator illuminates ( which she was) it is either an engine or AT electrical problem...

Reply to
jh

AutoZone man in TX says low flow, could be catalytic converter or fuel pump or fuel filter or ...

It also has occassional bouts of poor acceleration though usually before it warms up. But it became more pronounced last night driving through the mountains of VA.

Thanks for your indulgence....

Reply to
jh

The Blinking Check Engine Light ones are the "Pull over and check all the fluids NOW! Then go get it checked out NOW!" faults.

If the light is not blinking, it's usually safe to drive for a while, but it should get checked before she heads home. If you have the exact trouble codes they came up with, post them - someone here with the factory books can advise further.

If the wife has a cellphone and basic emergency supplies (*) in the car, and can drive home really gentle and aware of it getting worse so she can pull to the shoulder BEFORE it quits, I'd have her limp it home once it is checked out at a shop where she is.

(*) - If she doesn't have this stuff, get it before heading home. Get two duffle bags to keep it in the trunk - one for the food type items and one for the non food items: Good D-cell flashlight (Mag-Light or Eq.) two sets of extra batteries and an extra bulb, one wool blanket, six red fusees/road flares.

Food type stuff: 6 Each 1-liter-size bottled water. Two or three days worth of granola bars, beef jerky, trail mix or other dry stable foodstuffs that will keep long term. Buy things you like munching on anyway, so you can and will munch through and rotate the stock.

If you live in inhospitable climates like the snow belt or Death Valley, beef this up a LOT as dictated by conditions. Plan on three days on your own worst case.

  • * * * * * * *

Optional but suggested: Two quarts of motor oil. Automatic cars, two quarts of the proper ATF. a set of fan belts. Very basic hand tools - 24 Pc. socket set and a few screwdrivers. Set of trucker's reflector triangles.

  • * * * * * * *

Strongly Suggested, one for every car, mount bracket in trunk:

Professional grade 1A-10BC 2.5 Lb fire extinguisher. Amerex B417 or equivalent - metal valve and dip tube, marine bracket. It will cost you appx. $35 from a real fire extinguisher service company. And get it serviced every three to five years to make sure.

Go here to find a distributor near home, and/or where she is now:

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You DO NOT WANT the "disposable" $12 plastic valve extinguisher from the hardware store. (coughKIDDEcough) And especially not the "Push pin to test pressure" type. They can fail internally, and you have no way to know until you have a fire and really need it to work. And trust me, that is NOT THE TIME to find out.

Oh, and ask your local Fire Department when they are going to do their next Live Fire training, and take the wife and kids. Nothing builds confidence like actually using a real extinguisher on a real fire under controlled conditions.

And they also teach how to stay safe, and realize when it's too big for you to handle by yourself - Stay Safe First, Call 911, Do what you can, then Back Off and wait for the cavalry to arrive.

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Reply to
Bruce L. Bergman

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