Check Engine Light from Running out of Gas?

[KinLM]

Hello GTP,

So, I need your help. I accidentally ran my 1997 Toyota Camry out of fuel yesterday.

All was fine, we filled it up and it started just fine. I made sure to not fire up the ignition while it was out of gas so as to not burn out the fuel pump.

Everything seemed fine, except for one issue: ever since it ran out of fuel, the check engine light has remained on.

Is this something common, or might there be something seriously wrong with the engine? Note, the engine does not feel down on power, does not sound off, or anything else abnormal.

Is this most likely just a temporary thing? Will the light go off? Or should I take it in to the repair shop and pay for a diagnostic check?

I searched the internet about this, but as usual with googling things, all I found were confusing answers from people who probably don't know anything about cars (these are most likely the same people who say that higher octane petrol increases power)

So, I ask you all, what should I do? 👍

 

[Parker]

I've never ran any of my vehicles out of fuel but I wouldn't think that would trip a CEL. If you have a an AutoZone near you they will pull the codes for free and tell you why the CEL is on, I'd do that before anything else.

 

[Slash]

Couple things to think about.

1. It could have thrown a code to the computer and needs a hard reset.
2. Tighten your gas cap (seriously, a loose cap can set it off these days)


Otherwise I'd do as peobryant says and go to AutoZone and have them run the scanner through it.

 

[Grayfox]

It may be a lean code(P0171/P0174) or miss fire(P0300).

Car ran for a while while a few injectors spluttered and spat out little fuel.

 

[Mikeybc]

Try disconnecting the battery for a few minutes and hook it back up.... see if the light stays out. Make sure you have your radio code before doing that

 

[Grayfox]

Try disconnecting the battery for a few minutes and hook it back up.... see if the light stays out. Make sure you have your radio code before doing that

You do not really want to do that.

You want to know why it came up in the first place.

 

[Mikeybc]

You do not really want to do that.

You want to know why it came up in the first place.

True but if the CEL was triggered from a temporary lean condition that was picked up by the knock sensor or from misfiring then the light would stay out. If something was wrong then the light would come back on. I'd try it first before paying a shop 70+ bucks to find out it was just nothing.

 

[Grayfox]

True but if the CEL was triggered from a temporary lean condition that was picked up by the knock sensor or from misfiring then the light would stay out. If something was wrong then the light would come back on. I'd try it first before paying a shop 70+ bucks to find out it was just nothing.

You don't need to pay a shop that much.

Torque plus a cheap ELM327 and your set.

 

[nascarfan1400]

Couple things to think about.

1. It could have thrown a code to the computer and needs a hard reset.
2. Tighten your gas cap (seriously, a loose cap can set it off these days)


Otherwise I'd do as peobryant says and go to AutoZone and have them run the scanner through it.

This may definantly be the issue.

 

[niky]

I'd go with the simplest first. Slash's point about the cap is pretty relevant. Evaporative emissions requirements mean that a loose gas cap can set off a CEL.

Otherwise, unplugging the battery to reset the ECU will tell you if it's some serious recurring problem, or something simply arising from running out of gas.

 

[White & Nerdy]

Maybe sucking on the dregs of the tank damaged something somehow?

 

[KinLM]

After not driving it for a while, I finally climbed in the car today to take it to Autozone for a check. Turned the car on and the check engine light didn't come on. So, I'm assuming everything is fine.

I made sure it wasn't the gas cap earlier on, so I knew it wasn't that. Maybe just running it out of fuel made the engine think that something was wrong (which makes sense, considering the engine technically wasn't working) and after refiring a few times and sitting still, everything returned to homeostasis and everything was fine.

If anything weird happens, I'll be in Autozone in a heartbeat. But it really looks like everything will be alright. Thanks to everybody for your helpful feedback, I really appreciate it. 👍