Reference Guide: 250 Automotive Problems and Solutions (Toyota & General)
⚡ Starting and Battery
Quick click-click at startup: 12V battery flat. Jump-start or replace.
Nothing happens (complete silence): Battery completely dead or dirty/loose connectors.
Engine turns over but does not start: Lack of fuel or faulty fuel pump.
Slow starter (Whoa-whoa): Weak battery or oil solidified by extreme cold.
Smart key not detected: Empty controller battery. Stick the Toyota logo on the Start button.
Steering wheel locked (key won't turn): Turn the steering wheel left/right gently while turning the key.
Lever stuck in P: Press the brake firmly or use the "Shift Lock Override".
Lights flash at startup: Loose battery connection. Tighten the terminals.
Vehicle unable to start after accident: "Inertia Switch" activated (fuel cut-off). Check manual.
Grinding noise after starting: The starter pinion is stuck. Replace the starter.
Starter motor sticks (Ziiii noise): Starter solenoid remains engaged. Needs replacing.
? Moteur et Mécanique
Check Engine fixe : Fuel cap not screwed on tightly (click once). Otherwise, have it scanned.
Check Engine light flashing: Stop immediately. Misfires are dangerous for the catalytic converter.
Message "Maintenance Required": Oil change reminder. Reset via menu or counter.
Unstable idle (RPM fluctuates): Dirty throttle body or vacuum leak.
Engine knocks when cold (Tac-tac): Oil level or valve adjustment required.
Engine knocks when hot: Serious internal problem (connecting rods). Garage required immediately.
Whistling sound under the hood: Serpentine belt (accessories) slips or is worn.
Overheating (Red needle): Stop. Check coolant level when cold and the fan.
Excessive oil consumption: Check PCV valve or stuck piston rings.
Smell of burning oil: Oil leak dripping onto the hot exhaust manifold.
Smell of gasoline: Fuel injector or fuel line leak. Risk of fire. Stop immediately.
Smell of rotten eggs: The catalytic converter is blocked or faulty.
Blue smoke from the exhaust: Engine is burning oil (valve stem seals).
Thick white smoke: Blown head gasket (Prestone is getting into the engine).
Black smoke: Mixture too rich (too much fuel or clogged air filter).
Sudden loss of power: Safety mode (Limp mode). Turn off and turn back on to test.
Vibrations when stationary (in D): Worn or broken engine mounts.
Oil stains on the ground (black): Drain plug not tightened properly or faulty filter seal.
Red stains on the ground: Transmission or power steering leak.
Green/pink stains on the ground: Coolant leak (Radiator/Water pump).
Temperature gauge not rising: Thermostat stuck in the open position. Engine remains cold.
Fan runs after engine is switched off: Turbo cooling or particulate filter. Normal.
0W20 or 0W16 oil? Follow the oil filler cap. 0W16 is standard on new Toyotas.
Rat in engine: Use chewed wire (soy-based insulation). Place repellent or traps.
? Système Hybride (Spécifique Toyota)
"Check Hybrid System" indicator: Safe stop. Contact dealer (often high-voltage battery).
12V battery often dead: Use the car more often or install a battery maintainer.
Internal combustion engine starts all the time: Demand for cabin heat or low hybrid battery.
Rear seat fan noise: Dirty hybrid battery filter. Clean the air vent.
Braking feel: "Elastic" Transition between regeneration and mechanical friction. Normal.
EV mode refuses to activate: Battery too low, cold temperature, or excessive acceleration.
High fuel consumption in winter: The engine is running to heat the passenger compartment and the batteries. That's normal.
High-pitched whistling sound when stopped: Electric or inverter water pump. Normal.
Clunking noise when starting the engine (gasoline): Worn torque damper between engine and transmission.
Message "Auxiliary Battery Low" : 12V battery low. Replace or recharge.
Estimated range decreases rapidly (Prime): Electric heating consumes a lot of energy. Use heated seats.
Charging port cover won't open: Frozen mechanism. Defrost gently (warm water in the bag, not boiling).
Refill gun jammed: Unlock the doors 3 times with the lever to release the latch.
Corroded orange cable (RAV4 2019-22): Rear "AMG" connector inspection required (Extended Warranty).
The car rolls backwards slightly uphill: Hill start assist is active. Press the brake harder.
Spaceship noise (Recoil): Mandatory pedestrian warning system (VPNS). Normal.
Rusty discs (Hybrid): Brakes rarely used. Brake hard occasionally to clean the surface.
⚙️ Transmission and Gearbox
Jerky noises when changing gears (Auto): Lack of transmission oil or broken solenoid.
Speed of sliding (RPM increases, auto does not): Worn transmission or very low oil level.
Clutch slippage (Manual): Clutch disc (clutch) worn out. Replace the kit.
Clutch pedal remains down: Defective transmitter or receiver cylinder.
Lever is hard to move (Manual): Solid oil (cold) or worn synchronizers.
Growling noise (Speed): Internal transmission bearing.
Axle oil leak: Cardan joint seal is leaking.
Vibrations during acceleration: Unbalanced or worn drive shafts.
"Elastic" CVT (engine noise): Normal operation of the continuously variable transmission.
Reverse gear engagement time: Low oil level or internal wear of the belts.
Black transmission oil: Burnt oil. Oil change required (avoid pressure flushing on older models).
Corolla CVT "Launch Gear" : Slight jerk on startup (transition from mechanical gear to belt). Normal.
? Freins
Grinding noise: Brake pads worn out (metal on metal). Discs also need replacing.
High-pitched whistling sound when braking: Audible wear warning. Brake pads need changing soon.
Steering wheel vibration when braking: Warped front discs. Repair or replace.
Seat vibration during braking: Warped rear discs.
Soft (spongy) pedal: Air in the brake lines. Bleed the system.
Hard pedal (brick): Defective brake booster or loss of vacuum.
Handbrake lever goes up too high: Loose cable. Adjust via console or rear drums.
Stirrup (Caliper) seized: Hot wheel, burning smell. Replace caliper.
ABS active on dry roads: Dirty or faulty wheel speed sensor.
Red "Brake" light illuminated: Low fluid level or handbrake engaged.
Brake fluid level drops slowly: Normal brake pad wear (pistons extend). Do not fill to the maximum.
Electric parking brake locked: Low battery. Try maintenance or booster mode.
Pedal vibrates (Emergency Braking): The ABS is working. Don't release the pedal, it's normal.
? Suspension et Direction
Cloc-cloc on bumps: Worn stabilizer bar links.
Car bounces (Yoyo): Shock absorbers are finished. Replace in pairs.
Squeaking (Rubber): Dry hanging table bushings.
Car leans to one side: Broken coil spring.
Loud banging pothole: Ball joint or finished shock absorber head.
Steering wheel hard to turn: Low power steering fluid or faulty pump.
Whistling sound when turning the steering wheel: Steering pump belt slips.
Play in the steering wheel (Lousse): Worn steering rack or steering column.
Steering wheel not centered: Alignment (parallelism) required.
Steering wheel vibration (high speed): Tire balancing required.
Clicking noise when turning (Tac-tac): Cardan (CV joint) pierced/broken.
Fleet car on the motorway: Worn shock absorbers or incorrect tire pressure.
Bruit "Wou-wou" en virage : Wheel bearing on the side opposite the turn.
Steering wheel makes noise (plastic): Clockspring is rubbing.
Liquid direction downwards: Rack and pinion or hose leak. Have it inspected.
? Pneus
External tire wear: Turns that are too fast or poor alignment.
Tire center wear: Tire overinflated.
Tire shoulder wear: Tire not inflated enough.
TPMS light (horseshoe): Low pressure. Inflate and initialize the system.
TPMS flashes then stays steady: Dead pressure sensor (internal sensor battery).
Vibration 80-100 km/h : Unbalanced wheel or snow accumulated in the wheel.
Rolling noise (Womp-womp): Deformed tire or sawtooth wear.
Flank hernia: Pothole impact. Dangerous tire, must be changed immediately.
The tire valve was: Loose or corroded valve core.
Stuck wheel nuts: Too tight with the impact gun. Use a sledgehammer.
Lost locking wheel nut: Order via the Toyota code or force extraction at the garage.
Tire loses 2 psi/week: Nail, leak at the valve or the "Bead" (rim) is oxidized.
Tire worn unevenly: Defective shock absorbers causing the wheel to bounce.
Noisy tires (Winter): Harder rubber and studs. Normal.
Rotation tires: Recommended every 8000 km or 6 months.
Easy aquaplaning: Worn tires (tread depth < 4/32). Change tires.
⚡ Electrical and Lighting
Alternator not charging: Battery warning light illuminated while driving. Replace alternator.
Fuse often blows: Short circuit in the wiring. Electrical inspection required.
Headlights are twinkling: Unstable alternator voltage regulator.
Horn no longer works: Broken fuse, relay or spiral contactor (Clockspring).
Turn signal flashing rapidly: A lightbulb is burned out on this side.
Brake lights remain on: Brake pedal switch stuck or improperly adjusted.
Reversing light not working: Burnt-out bulb or switch on the transmission.
Windshield wipers won't stop: Relay stuck or wiper motor faulty.
Windshield washer fluid not pumping: Broken pump or blown fuse (often frozen in winter).
Burnt-out headlight: Replace light bulb (Caution: do not touch the glass with your fingers).
Phare tern/jauni : Polish the plastic with a headlight restoration kit.
Humidity in headlight: Sealing compound complete. Dry or replace the headlight.
Headlights are aimed too low: Adjust the height adjustment screw on the headlight.
Interior light out of order: Burnt-out bulb or switch set to "OFF" instead of "DOOR".
Black dashboard: Rheostat (dimmer) turned down to minimum or fuse blown.
Daytime running LED flashes: Internal fault in the LED headlight. Complete replacement often required.
❄️ Air Conditioning and Heating
Hot air (A/C): Lack of refrigerant gas (leak) or compressor failure.
Vinegar/mold smell: Fungus in the evaporator. Clean and change the cabin air filter.
Sound of running water (dashboard): Lack of coolant or air pocket in the system.
A/C flashes on button: Compressor blocked or relay faulty.
Little air at the feet: Flap motor (Actuator) broken or blocked.
Warm heating: Thermostat stuck open or heater radiator blocked.
Grease on the windshield: Leaking radiator core. Antifreeze smell.
Fan running at full speed: Burnt-out heating element.
Fan is making noise (trrr): Leaves or debris that have fallen into the ventilation motor.
Wet carpet on passenger side: A/C drain blocked. Unblock from underneath the car.
? Multimédia et Technologie (Entune/Toyota)
Frozen touchscreen: Press and hold the Power/Volume button for 3-5 seconds to restart.
Bluetooth coupe : Remove pairing on cell phone and car. Re-pair from scratch.
CarPlay is not connecting: Use an Apple-certified USB cable (preferably short).
Android Auto lent : Clear the cache of the Android Auto app on the phone.
GPS map missing: Navigation SD card removed or data corrupted.
Radio has no sound: Check the mute button or amplifier fuse (if using a JBL system).
Microphone not working: Check microphone permissions on the phone.
Black screen (Sound OK): Screen backlight faulty. Unit replacement often necessary.
Steering wheel controls not working: Spiral ribbon (Clockspring) in the broken steering wheel.
Qi charger flashing: Cell phone not centered, case too thick or metal detected.
Entune request Update: Connect to home Wi-Fi or share cellular connection.
Contacts are not syncing: Allow access to contacts on the phone (Bluetooth settings).
Blurry reversing camera: Clean the rear camera lens.
360 camera dirty: Clean the 4 cameras (grille, under mirrors, trunk).
Displaying KM in Miles: Change in Menu > Settings > Units.
Clock not showing the correct time: Adjustment via screen (sometimes linked to the GPS time zone).
Constant beeping while reversing: Parking sensors dirty or covered in snow.
Fuzzy Speed Indicator (HUD): Adjust the height/brightness of the heads-up display in the menu.
?️ Toyota Safety Sense (Sécurité)
PCS (Pré-collision) OFF : Radar (front emblem) or camera (windscreen) dirty (snow/mud).
LDA (Lane) beeps too much: Disable or reduce sensitivity in the dashboard menu.
Steering wheel pulls (LTA): Active Lane Trace Assist. Deactivate from the steering wheel if it is bothersome.
Adaptive cruise control cut: Sensor obstructed or heavy rain/snow blinding the system.
Incorrect sign reading: Camera saw a sign on an adjacent lane or exit.
Automatic headlights (AHB) do not mount: City lights or headlights of other cars detected.
BSM (Blind Spot) illuminated continuously: Sensor in rear bumper dirty or misaligned.
RCTA (Rear Traffic) beep: Car or pedestrian detected while reversing (Side radar).
Message "Clean sensors": Wash the car (especially bumpers and top of the windshield).
?️ Intérieur et Confort
Electric seat stuck: Fuse, switch or motor jammed (coin in the rail).
Heated seat no longer heats up: Heating element cut out (often caused by a knee on the seat).
Slow electric window: Dry slides. Apply silicone spray lubricant.
Window goes up and down: Anti-pinch safety feature. Reset the glass (Hold up for 5 seconds).
Door does not lock: Lock actuator broken.
Child door blocked: Child safety "Child Lock" active (switch on the edge of the door).
Belt does not rewind: Worn spring or dirty belt (wash with water/mild soap).
Airbag warning light illuminated: Yellow connector under seat disconnected or weight sensor.
"Passenger Airbag OFF" indicator: Normal if empty seat or light bag (less than 60lbs) on it.
Mirror no longer adjusts: Mirror control switch or motor.
Sunroof leaks: Roof drains are blocked. Use a nylon thread to clear the blockage.
Sunroof creaks: Grease the rails and rubber seals.
Cigarette smell: Ozone treatment required to eliminate the odor.
Glove box falls down quickly: The damper has come unclipped on the side. Reattach it.
Plastics creak (cold): Thermal expansion of materials. Normal in very cold weather.
Steering wheel peels: Natural wear and tear or reaction to hand cream. Steering wheel cover required.
Gas pedal glue: Winter mat incorrectly installed. Use retaining hooks.
Electric tailgate beeps 3 times: Obstacle detected or jacks too weak.
The tailgate does not open at the foot level. Key not on oneself or foot movement too slow/fast.
Broken window button: Replace the master switch.
Wet dog smell: Wash the seats and carpets thoroughly. Air out the room.
? Carrosserie et Extérieur
Rust at the bottom of the door: The door drain is blocked, water is pooling inside.
Chipped paint (Stone chip): Quick touch-up with a pencil to prevent rust.
Bumper unclipped: Broken plastic clips. Replace the clips.
Wind noise at the door: Torn weatherstrip or misaligned door.
Rear light condensation: Crack in the plastic or dried-out seal. Drill a small hole or replace it.
Door handle remains raised: Internal mechanism frozen or rusted. Lubricate.
Side strip detaches: The 3M adhesive tape has dried. Reapply.
Loose shark fin antenna: The nut under the headliner is loose. Tighten it.
Light scratches: Polishing (Compound) can often remove them.
Deep scratches (nail grip): Touch-up painting or repainting the entire panel.
Tailgate rust (Rav4): Check under the chrome trim (known problem).
Water in the trunk: Rear light seal or faulty trunk seal.
Mirror vibrates (Bass): Loose internal fixing screw or detached glass.
Cracked windshield: Replace. Caution: TSS camera calibration required afterwards.
Torn rear wiper blade: Often overlooked during maintenance. Replace the blade.
❄️ Winter in Quebec (Specific)
Windshield wipers not wiping: Ice on the blade. "Crack" the ice manually.
Frozen sprinklers: Use summer windshield washer fluid. Add -40C and wait for the engine to warm up.
Door stuck to the seal: Pull gently. Apply silicone to the joints as a precaution.
Frozen window closed: Do not force it (risk of engine damage). Wait for the cabin to heat up.
Frozen fuel filler flap: Tap gently or use emergency lever in the trunk panel.
Frozen lock: Defrost the lock or heat the key with a lighter.
Self-locked: Turn off traction control (TRAC OFF). Balance (Drive/Reverse).
ABS makes a "Crackling" noise: Normal on ice. Keep your foot down, don't pump.
Continuous beeping reversing sensors: Ice or snow stuck to bumper sensors. Clean.
Frozen handbrake: Do not use the handbrake in freezing rain (leave in P).
Low battery in extreme cold: Install a battery heater or smart charger.
Wipers parked too low: Ice is blocking movement in the windshield bay. Clean it.
?️ Entretien et Divers
Synthetic oil interval: 16,000 km or 1 year (Toyota Canada). 8,000 km recommended by mechanics.
Dirty engine air filter: Fuel consumption is increasing. Change the filter.
Dirty cabin air filter: Less air and bad smells. Change it (behind the glove compartment).
Differential oil (4x4): Change at 64,000km if towing or harsh conditions.
Iridium spark plugs: Lifespan 192,000 km (Toyota). Do not change before it is necessary.
Prestone (Rose): Long lifespan (160k km). Never mix with green.
Cracked accessory belt: Visual inspection. Replace if there are deep cracks or missing pieces.
Injector cleaning: Recommended at 80,000km or if the idle is unstable.
Jack (Cric) does not lift: Valve not properly closed or lack of hydraulic oil.
Broken anti-theft socket: Go to the garage for forced nut extraction.
Compressor repair kit faulty: The car's 12V fuse may have blown (check lighter socket).
Baby seat moves: Poorly anchored to the UAS/ISOFIX system. Tighten the straps.
Rear door won't open from the inside: Child safety "Child Lock" activated on the door edge.
Window won't go up (finger): Anti-pinch system detected obstacle. Clean slide.
Alarm not arming: A door, the trunk, or the hood is not properly closed.
Remote starter stop: If the door is opened, the engine shuts off (standard Toyota safety feature).
Key won't come out (Older models): Put the lever in Park, insert the key and turn.
"Glug-glug" noise from the tank: That's normal, it's the movement of gasoline in the tank.
Rearview mirror vibration: Mirror glass detached or housing loose.
Trunk light off: Burnt-out bulb or faulty latch switch.
The alarm horn sounds by itself: Faulty hood or door sensor (often due to humidity).
Lost fuel cap: Buy OEM Toyota cap (universal ones often cause Check Engine lights).
Rusty wheel nuts: For aesthetic purposes only. Replace with new chrome nuts.
Wet rear floor: Trunk seal leak or rear sunroof drains blocked.
Seatbelt jammed: Pull gently. The car must be level (gravity mechanism).
Rav4 wind noise mirrors: Aerodynamic design. Window deflectors can help.
Tacoma vibration freinage : Rear drums may be oval. Check and adjust.
Sienna sliding door bug: Clean the electrical contacts at the bottom of the door and on the frame.
Stolen Prius Catalyst: Install a protective plate (Cat shield). It will make a tractor-like noise if stolen.
Tundra Turbo Wastegate : Known problem on recent models (loss of power). Dealer.
bZ4X slow charging cold: Aggressive battery thermal management. Software update possible.
Crown Signia tire noise: 21-inch wheels with low-profile tires are naturally noisier.
GR Corolla handbrake: Do not use for drifting (only decouples the rear diff in expert mode).
Rattling noise from the underside of the car: Corroded heat shield. Secure with a collar or remove.
Smell of petrol when filling up: Overfilled (after clicking). Canister charcoal saturated.
Low exchange value: Bodywork damage, worn tires or high mileage.
dashboard light burned out: Light bulbs (old models) or soldered LEDs (new).
Broken window button: Replace the master switch.
Fuel gauge not working (RAV4): Fuel tank problem (Sender). Toyota service bulletin exists.
Vibration 80-100 km/h : Unbalanced wheel or snow in the wheel.