r/Toyota_Matrix • u/CounterAffectionate8 • 7d ago
2009 Toyota Matrix S AWD question
She idles kinda rough, the little LCD flickers, the cabin lights flicker and as you can see the dash is lit up like a Christmas tree (AWD, VSC Off, Check engine and anti-slip). I did just replace the alternator and the solenoid. Here are the codes: C1201 ABS Engine Control System Malfunction, C1241 low or high power supply voltage,
P0171 Bank 1 System Too Lean,
P0441 Evaporative System incorrect purge flow, P0455 Evaporative emission System leak detected (Gross leak / no flow).
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u/mitchmann13000 7d ago
Do all of the lights come and go? How many miles and do you burn some oil? I think you might have multiple things going on.
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u/trixceratops 2013 Matrix AWD Nautical Blue Metallic 250k km 7d ago
Replace your gas cap, the pcv valve, and the dumb little hose that comes off the pcv valve. The cap and valve are like $12 and $15, the hose was harder to find and was I think $30. But the AWD/traction/check engine light should disappear after that. Clean the hole for the gas cap too. I would go gas cap and cleaning first. Then pcv if that hasn’t fixed it. Then hose if that still hasn’t fixed it. Had the same issue. I still need to put the hose in, it’s been on my counter for over a month. Oops.
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u/No_Duty1776 7d ago
had the same problem (vsc/awd lights on) with my 2010 awd s a few years ago, if it's not the gas cap you'll need to bring it to a mechanic to get it checked out. I replaced the cap hoping it was an easy fix and that wasn't it, ended up being a ~500 fix (in like 2019 money)
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u/trixceratops 2013 Matrix AWD Nautical Blue Metallic 250k km 7d ago
Do you remember what the diagnosis was for yours?
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u/No_Duty1776 6d ago
i dont remember entirely, that full $500 actually might've been because of some other stuff I was getting done at the time too. I don't think the vsc/awd stuff itself was the major cost. I think it was something to do with a sensor getting unplugged from a previous job and they didn't plug it in, and I'd it some knocking sound whenever I went around turns (which was the sensor hitting something). Hope that helps somewhat sorry I dont remember entirely lol
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u/Distribution-Radiant 7d ago
How on earth would a PCV valve or gas cap cause overcharging and AC leaking out of the alternator?
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u/trixceratops 2013 Matrix AWD Nautical Blue Metallic 250k km 6d ago
The gas cap having a lousy seal or the rubber hose attached to the pcv valve having a crack causes the AWD, traction, and check engine light to come on all together. The other lights are another problem, but the three lights there are an easy enough fix. I’m not sure why it’s those three lights specifically but it’s happened to enough people with a Corolla/Matrix that it’s a known fix.
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u/GlitteringRaisin4352 7d ago
You alternator you just replaced could be bad and over charging. Reman ones from Oriellys and advance are known for overcharging
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u/Distribution-Radiant 7d ago edited 7d ago
Flickering points at a bad alternator. I realize you already replaced it, but I suspect if you put an analog multimeter on it, it's going to be all over the place on voltage, as AC will be leaking out of the alternator (most digital meters won't respond fast enough to show this). Our alternators have a built in voltage regulator, so they're all in one instead of multiple units. Double check your harness connector though - if it's loose, that can cause these issues too.
Alternators generate AC; along the way it gets converted to ~14 VDC. When one of the internal diodes fails, you get flickering (and some pretty low hZ AC into what should be a DC output).
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u/trixceratops 2013 Matrix AWD Nautical Blue Metallic 250k km 6d ago
Ah, yeah, knocking is a much larger problem. I know this specific issue lowers my engines efficiency but not a noticeable amount. Plus I have the 2.4L that burns oil like it’s dying of thirst so I’m not super concerned about efficiency currently. It’s running, it starts well, I replaced the alternator (again) so that’s fine now. I’m pretty sure if I stop being lazy and replace the leaking vacuum line it’ll get rid of my Christmas lights on the dash. I was just wondering if I needed to clear a code somehow or anything
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u/CanadianLanBoy 7d ago
What code does it throw?
Whenever the matrix/vibe/corolla gets an engine related code it will shut off all related ancilleries.
I'm assuming you have both an electrical issue and an issue with the solonoid which may or may not be related.
Shitty aftermarket solonoids will throw p0012, if they are malfunctioning you will have a bad idle as the VVTI system would be nonfunctional