I will keep adding to the history as the issue goes on so check back for updates on this clown show.

Well, I have an '06 xB with 13,000mi and an intermittent CEL

Here is the history with Toyota Scion of Grand Rapids.

Monday April 3rd - Check engine light comes on. I call the dealership and the guy tells me to check my gas cap and make sure it is tight. He also says that even after it is tight the light may stay on for a long time (30 drives was the number I think he gave me) because it would take that long for the computer to cycle through the codes and realize the issue was no longer present.

Tuesday April 4th - I called the dealership back and told them I was fairly sure it was not a gas cap issue and I wanted them to take a look at it. They scheduled an apointmet for me on Thursday April 6th.

Thursday April 6th - By this point in time the CEL had turned on and off a few times. When I arrived at the dealership the CEL was not on and I let them know that. About 15 minutes later I received a call on my cellphone telling me that the CEL was not on and to come back and pick up my car. When I came back I spoke with a mechanic and was told they would not be able to do any diagnostics if the CEL was not presently on. I asked him if the codes were stored in the computer when the CEL turned on and he said no - then went into a rant about only 'hard codes' being stored and this was not a 'hard code' although he did not plug the scanner in. I was told to wait until the CEL was back on and to 'just come on up' leave the engin running and they would 'plug it in and see what's going on'.

Friday April 7th - 14th - The light would come back on intermittently but not at a time I could just drop in at the dealership during their hours.

Saturday April 15th - I stopped by an Autozone and had them plug in their scanner which showed 'The voltage signal from camshaft "A" position sensor in bank 1 indicates a timing over retarded condition…'

Monday April 17th - Dropped the car off at the dealer with the CEL on and the car running. Their diagnostics pointed to a similar issue with the camshaft position but I'm not 100% on the details. They said they diagnosed it and could not find any reason for the problems so they just reset the light.

Tuesday April 18th - While driving to work this morning the CEL came back on. Just about 30min (driving time) after getting it back from the dealership. I brought the car back to service around lunchtime and left it with them. I recieved a call from the tech who said they were able to locate an issue with my VVT valve. He said it was a part that needed to be ordered and replaced. The part is on back order from Toyota/Scion and should be here in two weeks. In the meantime he said the car was very drivable, the timing was only slightly advanced.

Friday April 21st – I revieved a call from the dealership that my part was in and made an appointment to have the car fixed on Tuesday April 25th

Tuesday April 25th – I dropped the car off at the dealership and they replaced the VVTI Valve. I picked my car up and drove away without a cel.

Saturday April 29th – While driving around about 3/4 of a tank of gas later I get another CEL. Again the car seems to be running normal and the dealership is not open at this time so I will wait for Monday.

Monday May 1st – The light is of course back off. I called the dealership and they said to just bring it back up there and they will see if they can get any information even though the CEL is not present… (just the way I want to spend yet another lunch break). Miraculously they were able to pull the code without the light being present the code was the same as before. The tech was going to contact Scion to get more help on the issue and give me a call back.

Tuesday May 2nd – Got a call back from the dealership they are going to take the car for the day on Monday and dig further into the problem. They also let me know that the tech who had originally diagnosed the VVTI valve as being bad was probably wrong because the documentation said that if the VVTI valve was bad the car would have been running bad.

 

had a tC in recently with same issue, crankshaft position sensor was reason for light coming on, but after further insepction nothing was found to be wrong. it was related to him autocrossing the car actually, which we found weird. but car is running fine since then

i would have the dealer look at it, as they are the only ones who can warranty any parts/service, and they will not go by what another shop/place/person has found otherwise, they diagnose the car themselves. but they aren't doing a very good job at handling the issue, even though the light has come on/off it MAYorMAYNOT have stored a code, he is correct in the "hard code" thing stated.

i would either
a.) take it back and raise some hell (ask to speak with Director only)
b.)raise some hell and call Scion Customer Service

if none of that works, you should just kick everyone in the nuts

 

Do you mean he stopped autocrossing and the CEL went away?

Anyways I dont race at all and my car runs fine, I just have a CEL.

 

the light came on after his race, er during
we raced last weekend after we looked at it and its fine

 

updated

 

so whats the deal?

 

 

GLAD they stepped up and stopped slacking

 

Updated

 

 

tell me about it.

 

Anyone have any advice, input, thoughts?

 

Take it back, till it gets fixed. It sucks you have to use your lunch hour to do it, but you need to make sure your car is working properly. I paid my dealership to fix a problem that i created, and after 4 days of having it they told me the problem was fixed. I drove it home and it still had the problem, took it hte next morning and droped it off for another 3 days and finally it got fixed. Like i said i created my problem, but your issue is no fault of your own. See if they can give you a loaner car and leave the car with them for a couple of days until the problem is solved and fixed. Intermitten problems are a pain, i deal with them on the car audio side and if you cant get it to replicate the problem then its really hard to fix it if you cant find it. So that is why i say leave it for a few days and they can supply a loaner car. Just my two cents, good luck hope you get the problem fixed.

 

only advice i have really is to keep buggin the dealership man, unfortunately you keep losing your lunch break, thats not cool
any hint as to what the code that popped back up was?? it should have been stored (hopefully)

 

Update

 

Wow...the only thing that I keep seeing on various models in a little vaccuum switching valve on the evap canister causing CEL's. Don't see too many Scions here, so not sure if the xB is having a problem with those. We have replaced many on Camrys and Corollas, though. Few on other models.

 

A while back, I bought an OBD-II scanner for about $100. It paid for itself with an O2 sensor in my Dodge Caravan I replaced myself. It's super easy to hook up and read and gives you a leg up when dealing with service departments who won't give you the time of day. Also if you have loose gas cap syndrome, you can shut off the CEL with the scanner too.

 

The first time or two I brought the vehicle in with the problem the tech/mechanics were rude and fairly un-helpful. The dealership is now being quite cooperative, I guess it was just a matter of finding the right people to talk to.

This thread was by no means to be a rant but to get the information out for a second opinion from the SL community. At this point the thread is just informative in the case someone else is having similar CEL issues.

As for purchasing a OBD-II scanner, at autozone they will plug in a scanner and give you a print out of the code for free anytime.

 

wow, im sorry to hear about that. but as for the VVTI issue, ive had plenty of cars (camrys mostly) that have had the same issue you had diagnosed before, and they ran ok

im hoping they have a tech or shop foreman get involved in this to solve your problem

keep me updated