RAV4 Preheating Lamp Stays On

I'm having trouble with my 2000 Toyota RAV4 diesel. The preheating lamp won't switch off, the check engine light is on, and I'm seeing smoke when I accelerate. Could this be the preheating control unit? I've checked the cable and plug connections, and they look okay.

4 comment(s)

Dude, sounds like you've got a bad case of the preheating blues! I had something similar happen with my RAV4. Preheating lamp wouldn't go off either. Did you check the glow plugs themselves? Sometimes it's not the unit, but one of those little buggers failing. What codes are you pulling from the ECU?

I haven't checked the ECU for codes yet, but I will. Is there a way to check the glow plugs without special equipment?

Yeah, getting those codes read is key, man. As for the glow plugs, you can test them with a multimeter, checking the resistance. But honestly, with those symptoms, especially the smoke, and you've already poked around the wiring, it might be time to bite the bullet and get it to a shop. Could be a deeper electrical fault.

Understood. I'll get the codes read and consider taking it to a technician. You were right, it was a defective cable connection to the preheating unit. The repair cost 95€ Thank you again for your help.

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