LEMON Manuals: Even more car manuals for everyone: 1960-2025
Home >> Toyota >> 2003 >> MR2 C65M >> Repair and Diagnosis >> General Information >> Identification >> Introduction >> How To Troubleshoot Ecu Controlled Systems >> How To Use The Diagnostic Chart & Inspection Procedure
April 5, 2026: LEMON Manuals is launched! Read the announcement.

How To Use The Diagnostic Chart & Inspection Procedure

  1. CONNECTOR CONNECTION & TERMINAL INSPECTION 
    • For troubleshooting, diagnostic trouble code charts or problem symptom table are provided for each circuit with detailed inspection procedures on the following pages.
      Fig 1: Identifying Faulty Connector Connection
      G02843502Courtesy of © TOYOTA, LICENSE AGREEMENT TMS1002
    • When all the component parts, wire harnesses and connectors of each circuit except the ECU are found to be normal in troubleshooting, then it is determined that the problem is in the ECU. Accordingly, if diagnosis is performed without the problem symptoms occurring, refer to step  8 to replace the ECU. So always confirm that the problem symptoms are occurring, or proceed with inspection while using the symptom simulation method.
    • The instructions "Check wire harness and connector" and "Check and replace ECU" which appear in the inspection procedure, are common and applicable to all diagnostic trouble codes. Follow the procedure outlined below whenever these instructions appear.
    Fig 2: Identifying Faulty Wire Harness
    G02843503Courtesy of © TOYOTA, LICENSE AGREEMENT TMS1002

    OPEN CIRCUIT:

    This could be due to a disconnected wire harness, faulty contact in the connector, a connector terminal pulled out, etc.

    HINT:

    • It is rarely the case that a wire is broken in the middle of it. Most cases occur at the connector. In particular, carefully check the connectors of sensors and actuators
    • Faulty contact could be due to rusting of the connector terminals, to foreign materials entering terminals or a deformation of connector terminals. Simply disconnecting and reconnecting the connectors once changes the condition of the connection and may result in a return to normal operation. Therefore, in troubleshooting, if no abnormality is found in the wire harness and connector check, but the problem disappears after the check, then the cause is considered to be in the wire harness or connectors.

    Fig 3: Identifying Faulty Connector Terminals
    G02843504Courtesy of © TOYOTA, LICENSE AGREEMENT TMS1002

    SHORT CIRCUIT:

    This could be due to a contact between wire harness and the body ground or to a short circuit occurred inside the switch, etc.

    HINT:

    When there is a short circuit between the wire harness and body ground, check thoroughly whether the wire harness is caught in the body or is clamped properly.

  2. CONNECTOR HANDLING 

    When inserting tester probes into a connector, insert them from the rear of the connector. When necessary, use mini test leads. For water resistant connectors which cannot be accessed from behind, take good care not to deform the connector terminals.

    Fig 4: Illustration Of Connector Terminal Testing
    G02843505Courtesy of © TOYOTA, LICENSE AGREEMENT TMS1002
  3. CONTINUITY CHECK (OPEN CIRCUIT CHECK) 
    1. Disconnect the connectors at both ECU and sensor sides.
      Fig 5: Disconnecting Connectors At Both ECU & Sensor Sides
      G02843506Courtesy of © TOYOTA, LICENSE AGREEMENT TMS1002
    2. Measure the resistance between the applicable terminals of the connectors.

      Resistance: 1 Ω or less 

    HINT:

    Measure the resistance while lightly shaking the wire harness vertically and horizontally.

    Fig 6: Measuring Resistance Between Wire Harness
    G02843507Courtesy of © TOYOTA, LICENSE AGREEMENT TMS1002
  4. RESISTANCE CHECK (SHORT CIRCUIT CHECK) 
    1. Disconnect the connectors on both ends.
    2. Measure the resistance between the applicable terminals of the connectors and body ground. Be sure to carry out this check on the connectors on both ends.

      Resistance: 1 MΩ or higher 

    HINT:

    Measure the resistance while lightly shaking the wire harness vertically and horizontally.

    Fig 7: Measuring Resistance (Short Circuit Checking)
    G02843508Courtesy of © TOYOTA, LICENSE AGREEMENT TMS1002
  5. VISUAL CHECK & CONTACT PRESSURE CHECK 
    1. Disconnect the connectors at both ends.
    2. Check for rust or foreign material, etc. in the terminals of the connectors.
    3. Check crimped portions for looseness or damage and check that the terminals are secured in lock portion.

      HINT:

      The terminals should not come out when pulled lightly from the back.

      Fig 8: Visual & Contact Pressure Checking
      G02843509Courtesy of © TOYOTA, LICENSE AGREEMENT TMS1002
    4. Prepare a test male terminal and insert it in the female terminal, then pull it out.
    NOTE: When testing a gold-plated female terminal, always use a gold-plated male terminal.

    HINT:

    When the test terminal is pulled out more easily than others, there may be poor contact in that section.

  6. CHECK OPEN CIRCUIT 

    For the open circuit in the wire harness in Fig 9, perform "(a) Continuity Check" or "(b) Voltage Check" to locate the section.

    Fig 9: Checking Open Circuit
    G02843510Courtesy of © TOYOTA, LICENSE AGREEMENT TMS1002
    1. Check the continuity.
      1. Disconnect connectors "A" and "C" and measure the resistance between them.

        In the case of Fig 10:

        Between terminal 1 of connector "A" and terminal 1 of connector "C" --> No continuity (open)

        Between terminal 2 of connector "A" and terminal 2 of connector "C" --> Continuity

        Therefore, it is found out that there is an open circuit between terminal 1 of connector "A" and terminal 1 of connector "C".

        Fig 10: Checking Circuit Continuity
        G02843511Courtesy of © TOYOTA, LICENSE AGREEMENT TMS1002
      2. Disconnect connector "B" and measure the resistance between the connectors.

        In the case of Fig 11:

        Between terminal 1 of connector "A" and terminal 1 of connector "B1" --> Continuity

        Between terminal 1 of connector "B2" and terminal 1 of connector "C" --> No continuity (open)

        Therefore, it is found out that there is an open circuit between terminal 1 of connector "B2" and terminal 1 of connector "C".

      Fig 11: Measuring Resistance Between Connectors
      G02843512Courtesy of © TOYOTA, LICENSE AGREEMENT TMS1002
    2. Check the voltage.

      In a circuit in which voltage is applied (to the ECU connector terminal), an open circuit can be checked for by conducting a voltage check.

      As shown in Fig 12, with each connector still connected, measure the voltage between body ground and terminal 1 of connector "A" at the ECU 5 V output terminal, terminal 1 of connector "B", and terminal 1 of connector "C", in that order.

      If the results are:

      5V: Between terminal 1 of connector "A" and body ground

      5V: Between terminal 1 of connector "B" and body ground

      0V: Between terminal 1 of connector "C" and body ground

      Then it is found out that there is an open circuit in the wire harness between terminal 1 of "B" and terminal 1 of "C".

    Fig 12: Measuring Voltage Between Terminals
    G02843513Courtesy of © TOYOTA, LICENSE AGREEMENT TMS1002
  7. CHECK SHORT CIRCUIT 

    If the wire harness is ground shorted as in Fig 13, locate the section by conducting a "continuity check with the body ground".

    Fig 13: Checking Short Circuit
    G02843514Courtesy of © TOYOTA, LICENSE AGREEMENT TMS1002

    Check the continuity with the body ground.

    1. Disconnect connectors "A" and "C" and measure the resistance between terminals 1 and 2 of connector "A" and the body ground.

      In the case of Fig 14:

      Between terminal 1 of connector "A" and body ground --> Continuity (short)

      Between terminal 2 of connector "A" and body ground --> No continuity

      Therefore, it is found out that there is a short circuit between terminal 1 of connector "A" and terminal 1 of connector "C".

      Fig 14: Checking Continuity Between Connector & Body Ground
      G02843515Courtesy of © TOYOTA, LICENSE AGREEMENT TMS1002
    2. Disconnect connector "B" and measure the resistance between terminal 1 of connector "A" and body ground, and terminal 1 of connector "B2" and body ground.

      In the case of Fig 15:

      Between terminal 1 of connector "A" and body ground --> No continuity

      Between terminal 1 of connector "B2" and body ground --> Continuity (short)

      Therefore, it is found out that there is a short circuit between terminal 1 of connector "B2" and terminal 1 of connector "C".

    Fig 15: Checking Resistance Between Connector & Body Ground
    G02843516Courtesy of © TOYOTA, LICENSE AGREEMENT TMS1002
  8. CHECK & REPLACE ECU 

    First check the ECU ground circuit. If it is faulty, repair it. If it is normal, the ECU could be faulty. So replace the ECU with a normal functioning one and check If the symptoms appear.

    1. Measure the resistance between the ECU ground terminal and the body ground.

      Resistance: 1 Ω or less 

      Fig 16: Measuring Resistance Between ECU Ground Terminal & Body Ground
      G02843517Courtesy of © TOYOTA, LICENSE AGREEMENT TMS1002
    2. Disconnect the ECU connector, check the ground terminals on the ECU side and wire harness side for bend and check the contact pressure.
    Fig 17: Checking Ground Terminals On ECU Side & Wire Harness Side
    G02843518Courtesy of © TOYOTA, LICENSE AGREEMENT TMS1002