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reset check engine light

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Care, Maintenance and Troubleshooting' started by misterdean, Jul 31, 2020.

  1. misterdean

    misterdean Member

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    replaced mass air flow sensor and the check engine light is still on. i disconnected the battery, still on. i followed the steps below and the light is still on. any ideas or suggestions?

    1. Turn off the car.
    2. Put the key fob in the ignition.
    3. Hold down the brake and press the power button one time to turn the car on.
    4. Continue holding down the brake, and then press the ODO trip button.
      1. (The ODO button is located by the hazard lights.)
      2. (If the glass readout says TRIP, you may have to change it to ODO for this whole process to work.)
    5. Turn the car off while still holding the ODO button and brake.
    6. While still pressing both brake and ODO, and press the power button one time to turn the car back on.
    7. The ODO meter on the digital display will turn to dashed lines like so —————— and will count down: —————, ————, ———, ——, —
    8. When the dashes get all the way to the right, the odometer will flash 000000. Then it will turn back on and the lights will be reset.

     
  2. JC91006

    JC91006 Senior Member

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    Maybe the problem is not with the MAF sensor. Have you read the code?
     
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  3. misterdean

    misterdean Member

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    ya, autozone did.
     
  4. JC91006

    JC91006 Senior Member

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    if the code indeed was for a bad MAF SENSOR and you replaced it properly, the light should go off when you drive it. If it doesn't go off, that just means the code is probably not for the MAF sensor or the MAF sensor is not the correct one (not original part or incompatible).
     
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  5. misterdean

    misterdean Member

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    i haven't driven it yet, do i have to drive it for the light to go away?
     
  6. JC91006

    JC91006 Senior Member

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    Yes I think you should drive it for a couple days and see if it goes away. If it doesn't go away, you can go back to autozone and get the code read again. This time get the actual code and post it on here.

    Many times auto parts stores will read the code and the people there don't really know what it's for. Then they go and sell you a part and send you on your way. It's the cheapest way to read the code, but you don't always get the correct interpretation of the code. That's why the dealer charges $150 to do what autozone did for free
     
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  7. misterdean

    misterdean Member

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    i've been driving it, still on. went to autozone and tried to reset, still on. scanned it, throwing up the same code. picture attached.
     

    Attached Files:

  8. JC91006

    JC91006 Senior Member

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    So you really need to narrow down the issue, as that code can be related to a number of areas. Often these Toyota cars are very sensitive with their electronics, requiring Denso parts to work properly with their cars. If you got the sensor from Autozone, it may or may not work properly with your Prius.

    If this were my car, I would first try an OEM original Denso/Toyota part before I look at anything else.

    What repairs can fix the P0171 code?
    1. Replacing the fuel pump.
    2. Replacing the fuel filter.
    3. Replacing the fuel pressure regulator.
    4. Replacing the powertrain control module.
    5. Replacing one or more injectors.
    6. Replacing one or more oxygen sensors.
    7. Replacing the mass air flow sensor.
    8. Repairing a vacuum leak.
     
  9. ChapmanF

    ChapmanF Senior Member

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    It's also always important to remember that the computers in the car are not clairvoyant.

    If you get a code saying the engine is running too lean, all you know is that the computer thinks the engine is running too lean. The computer is not able to tell you why it's running too lean. It can only give a human that code, and hope the human will test the various possibilities.

    Sure, the MAF sensor is one of the possibilities, but it could also be that the sensor is just fine and something else is causing the lean burn. Just automatically swapping the MAF sensor any time you get a code about it would be like just replacing your thermometer every time you have a fever.

    The same is even true for other codes that have the name of some part in their one-liner descriptions. That still doesn't tell you it's that part that's bad. It's just a memory jog to get you thinking about everything potentially related to that part. The code is always giving you the question to start your diagnosis. It is never giving you the answer.
     
  10. Rbjr

    Rbjr Junior Member

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    Thank you for the procedure to reset the check engine light..

    I think the trip needs to show the odo for the dashes to happen??

    I had the p0101 code on my torque check app...

    Replaced the mass air flow sensor, pretty easy with a short screwdriver..

    After 1 day and 2 drives the light went off on the dash . I did reset the codes on the torque obdi app on my phone also... The dash light was on the first day after resetting the code, only code p0101 showed up . And no pending codes..

    Thank you Prius community for all the help.

    Roll on
     
  11. dolj

    dolj Senior Member

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    For the benefit of other people who happen upon this thread hoping to find a solution, this procedure does not reset the "Check Engine" light, it resets the "Maint Req" light. It is also a little inaccurate. The correct procedure is:

    1. Press the ODO / TRIP / RESET switch until the odometer displays "ODO".
    2. Turn the power switch OFF.
    3. Press and hold the ODO / TRIP / RESET switch, and turn the power switch to IG-ON (two presses of the Power button with your foot off the brake).
    4. After turning the power switch IG-ON, keep holding the reset switch for at least 5 seconds. The reset procedure is completed.
      (The ODO meter on the digital display will turn to dashed lines —————— and will count down: —————, ————, ———, ——, —
      On completion, the odometer will flash 000000.)
    HINT:
    • • If the power switch is turned OFF during the reset procedure, reset mode is canceled.
    • • If the reset switch is turned off during the reset procedure, reset mode is canceled and the display shows the condition prior to the reset procedure.