Toyota Proace says Engine Fault, Repair Needed. Solutions

If your Toyota Proace shows the “Engine Fault, Repair Needed” message, it most likely has the Peugeot diesel engine (1.5 or 2.0) and has issues with its emission system. But the problem can also be with the dead or dying battery, several engine sensors, and also some other hard-to-catch problems.

In this article, I will focus on the most common issues that can cause this message, and will also tell you how you can solve the problem.

I rarely write about Toyota cars, but recently I posted the article about the same message in Vauxhall – you may want to have a look.

What does the Engine Fault message mean in the Proace?

So, the Toyota Proace is basically the technical twin with Peugeot-Citrone vans (Expert, Traveller, Jumpy, SpaceTourer) and even the Opel/Vauxhall Vivaro. They all use the same diesel engines made by Peugeot in cooperation with Ford.

Both the 1.5 and the 2.0 engines available in the new Toyota Proace are basically European engines and have nothing to do with Japanese engineering. Although this is a disturbing fact for a lot of Toyota buyers, there is nothing to worry about. The engines are actually more or less good.

But they have one common issue – they love showing pretty misleading error messages and warning lights.

The “Engine Fault, Repair Needed” message means that something is wrong with the engine or emission system, and in about 90% of cases, the problem is in the emission control.

When you see this error message, it means that the engine may or may not go to the limp mode, it may lose power, work harshly, or even stall. But very often, it will work just fine and the only disturbing thing will be the message on your dash.

What are the reasons for this message?

Well, there are several common things that can trigger the “Engine Fault” error message in the Proace:

1) AdBlue tank problems

As far as I know, the AdBlue injection systems in these Peugeot engines are pretty faulty. There are numerous recalls for different models and engines. The strange case is that there may be a recall for the Peugeot 2008 with the same type of engine but there are no recalls for Toyota vehicles.

I strongly recommend you check the VIN of your car for possible recalls because they may be issued after I write this article.

So, the problem is with the blocked AdBlue injector or with the tank itself. And if you come to the dealer within the warranty time and mileage, the tank will be just replaced. Also, ask the dealer to check the DPF because it may cause some issues, too.

2) Engine sensors

Fortunately, it’s pretty easy to spot the problem with engine sensors in the Proace if you have the proper scanner. Whenever a certain sensor fails, it will send the code to the ECU and this code will trigger the message on the dash.

After reading the code, you will know what sensor is malfunctioning and will be able to replace it. Of course, the sensor may not need replacement. Sometimes, it just sends bad readings because of some other minor problems, so the proper inspection is still needed.

3) Engine misfiring

This will most likely happen with high-mileage Toyota Proace models. If the diesel fuel injection is not perfect, there are issues with fuel pressure, or your Toyota has problems with glow plugs, engine misfiring is pretty possible.

When the sensors detect knocking and poor fuel burning process, they will eventually trigger the Engine Fault Service Required message.

Fortunately, the simple scanner diagnostics will help you locate and solve the problem.

4) Dying 12V battery

You can’t even imagine what intricate messages and codes can a low 12V battery cause in modern Peugeot cars. Given the Toyota Proace is largely a Peugeot car nowadays, it inherited this “wonderful” ability.

So, maybe the first thing you should check is the health of the battery because this is something you can solve without any help from mechanics.

How can you solve the “Engine Fault” problem with the Proace?

I can’t list absolutely all the problems that can trigger this annoying message in your Toyota Proace. But I can offer a set of actions that will help you do everything possible to solve the problem:

1. Check the battery. If it’s over 4-5 years old, just replace it with the new one. A younger battery can be charged and checked with the proper charger.
2. Use the code scanner. But be careful – simple cheap OBD2 scanners will not get all the codes. You may need a good PSA scanner or an expensive diagnostic system.
3. Reset the battery. If you disconnect the battery for 5-7 minutes, all control units and computers will reset. This may help you deal with a possible software glitch.
4. If nothing helps, go to the dealer. Toyota dealers are not really good at dealing with Peugeot engines, but if your Proace is under warranty, there is nothing much you can do but go to a Toyota dealer.

If your car is not under warranty, you should visit a Peugeot or Citrone dealer. They tend to deal with these kinds of problems a lot because such diesel engines are widely used across the entire model range. So, they may have much more information about this problem and will help you faster (and most likely cheaper).

What if it’s the AdBlue tank?

In the majority of cases, the problem that triggers the “Engine Fault, Repair Needed” error message in the Toyota Proace is the AdBlue injection system. If the problem is detected when the van is still under warranty, the Toyota dealership usually just replaces the entire tank. But it’s going to be insanely expensive if the warranty doesn’t cover the repair expenses anymore.

In this case, I recommend you find a good independent garage and explain this problem to a good mechanic. The AdBlue tanks are repairable in these cars and the injectors may be replaced without buying the new tank.

I hope this article helps you solve the problems. Please share your experience of fighting the “Engine Fault” message in the Toyota Proace in the comments below!