Freshly Bought 4Runner- VSC ABS Issue
 

Hoping to get some different perspectives on an issue I am having with a new 3rd Gen I bought over the holiday. Runner is a 2001, bought it because it was already heavily built up, problem with that is I quickly ran into an issue I am having trouble fixing. Vehicle drove fine one minute, parked it, got back in the next and when I cranked it back up the VSC ABS and the TC light are on the dash, the automatic transmission will not go out of park. I read where this issue has happened for some in older threads, it appears that the most likely culprit, although symptoms range all over the place, is the ABS module. Looking on EBay I can get one for around $200 but I am thinking of going a different route.

I already currently have opened the trim and taped the override sensor closed so that I can get the vehicle out of park without dealing with the tabs, so my first question would be is there any long term negative electrical effect that could happen from permanently keeping this sensor closed?

Second question is, I am only using this vehicle to overland, it will be on pavement only to get to the next dirt road so I have very little interest in ABS, VSC, or TC. Other than the aggravation of my dash being lit up like a Christmas tree, is there any negative effect of disregarding the ABS module altogether? Plan would be to keep the lever select emergency safety switch taped closed so I can put it in and out of gear and drive as is.

One thing to note: Going down the rabbit hole of trying to figure this out, I have seen where there is a popular mod of people creating a switch to manually turn off these features and turn them on when using the vehicle as a daily driver. As it appears the previous owner enjoyed modding (Tundra brakes, GM alternator, TRD supercharger), I would not be surprised if there is something tripping the mod out (if performed) keeping the safety features off. Plan is to research that mod heavily and see if I can find evidence of the attempt. Again, not needing these on at all though, if I can get your perspectives on the issue I am facing, I may look no further and continue as normal driving with the safety features off, just don't want this seemingly small issue to snowball into potentially something else and get me stranded.

Thanks,

I cant help much on the consequences of ignoring it, but I would say before you buy a new ABS module check the ABS 1 and ABS 2 fuses. One of them might be blown and could be causing your issue.

Good Luck!

I have been reading where the ECU/IG fuse blows, but I would think that would kill my speedo and door locks as well based on others symptoms. Will check these as well, thanks for the insight.

Confirmed the fuses are good, now it is the concern if disregarding the ABS VSC TC warnings will impact something else down the line and if having the safety switch taped up long term on the gear lever solenoid will cause issue.

Great question and major bummer. The late models 01 and 02 have the integrated master cylinder and abs module in one piece. Very costly piece to replace.

Any CEL light will knock out these 3 systems as well.

Maybe I missed in the thread OP does the truck have any pending codes?

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Main CEL has yet to come on.

Currently waiting on an order to get a code breaker as recommended by so many here, if I do not get it by the weekend I will run it by the local parts store and use theirs real quick, will report what I find.

That's odd. Interesting.

Just for reference, in the case that someone stumbles across this same issue, it appears the previous owner did do the AndyMod, or something similar, backtracking wires I can see where they led a switch, turns out a lead had come undone. Still considering leaving it permanently on, will look for answers on if there is any long term effect doing this.

Now I will anxiously wait for the next thing to come up on my inherited obviously heavily modded machine, lol.

Explains the no CEL light. Would have been nice if they gave you a build sheet with all the mods they did.

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I think the only physical side effect is the gear selector not unlocking to shift out of park. With the vsc/abs/tc light on the system is disabled

Perfect, I already have the safety solenoid taped closed, so that's fixed. Thanks for the insight, will be hitting the gravel heavy this weekend, hope I jar all these little issues away real quick. I hate not fully being able to trust a vehicle, although expected when buying someone else's project.

hey man
The whole procedure should take you about 4 minutes but read it before you try it. Becareful where you connect the paper clip in the first step, or it could burn fuses and then you have to replace them:

just take a paper clip and connect E2 with TC on the DLC in the engine bay and before you turn the ignition key to ON, be ready to count how many times each light blinks in patterns.

The patterns are in sequence: each light that contains an error code will blink out the error code by first blinking the first digit of the code, then a pause, then the second digit, then a bigger pause. After that the next error code and so forth until it reaches the highest error code to show you. Then it will turn off for the longest pause (5 seconds), and then start all over again. Do the count for each light that has a blink pattern other than normal non stop blinking.

For example. say one of the VSC light has recorded 2 codes - 12 and 42: the moment you turn the ignition ON it lights up for a few seconds then first it will blink 1 time, pause, then 2 blinks, longer pause, then 4 blinks, pause, then 2 blinks, then longest pause (5 seconds). Then it starts from the 12 error code again.

Turn the ignition key to ON and start counting. Read the code or easier way - just post a two three minute video that shows all the lights on the dash that are blinking. Just keep the phone steady.

Then we'll see where your problem is and how hard it would be to fix it up.

I say ready your camera before you switch the ignition key to ON.

Second question - if the lights are ON, then the system is OFF. So it wont bother you while driving around the country...BUT if the problem pertains to the big hydraulic brake booster, it should be of concern, as it could leave you without brakes if the issue is a serious one.

Most of the time it's an ABS sensor's broken wire, but sometimes it could be bigger problem. Don't rush to buy stuff off of Ebay, before you let us know what the light codes are. And don't erase the codes before you record them on a piece of paper. Dont disconnect batteries or pull fuses.

Hope this helps.

--Pavel