For the fifth time in the last year I have an annoying problem. It seems that when it is very cold, but not all the time, all of the lights come on when I start the car. At the same time there is a high pitched alarm sound which stays on until the lights go off. When this first happened one year ago it lasted at least one hour and I was stranded in Vermont. It is now happening with increasing frequency. My Toyota dealer has no clue, says there is no record in the computer, has never heard of this and is at a loss. This is not exactly acceptable to me and I need to fix the problem as the car is not drivable with the noise and the warning lights.

Help!!!!

Next time it's really cold hook jumper cables prior to starting and see if that makes it cycle properly. It may be low voltage for too long a duration at start-up.

I would have never thought about that. We will give it a try. I read many posts here about the lights going on but without the alarm and there seems to be a fix recommended. However, do you think the alarm sounding in my situation makes it unlikely that fix will work?

Thanks for the response.

Hello guys,
My 4runner started displaying a VSC TRAC and VSC OFF light just about 3 years ago after my local repair man had it connected to an OBD-11 diagnostic tool for some other diagnostic check. I had it returned to have the fault cleared and had tried other places but finally gave up after a
couple of months after failed attempts and suggestions that i get a new yaw rate sensor. Thankfully i stumbled upon this blog and after following MicaBlue 03's advice, i finally got cleared myself using the Trailer Brake Jumper Harness that came with my 4runner for the zero point calibration!!! You can
imagine my delight to have an alarm that has permanently remained on my dashboard over the past three years cleared by myself!! A very big thank you to Mica and the other great contributors to this forum..
Check out the pics.

VSC Trac - Trac Off lights on after New Tire installation.

Problem solved thanks to this thread..

2003 4Runner Limited V6 -- CEL, VSC TRAC, VSC all on due to righthand side CAT failure. CAT replaced CEL off. Move the car and VSC lights come on.

Shorted the two connections in this thread...and magically lights all go off and stay off.
Dealer wanted to charge $149.00 to 'diagnose problem' and shop that replaced the CAT said it was not their fault. Wanted more $$$ to investigate.

Did a google and fixed the problem in my garage with some romex.

Thanks!!!

THANKS SO MUCH FALKON for including this attachment !!!!!!!!!

Thanks to your post my daughters '04 is good to go. The thickest wire I could get in the plug was 18 gauge, but it worked like a charm. Hard to believe a designer would disable such an important safety feature just because one of the emission items triggers a code. First time it was a catalytic converter, this time the EGR valve position sensor tripped the check engine along with the TRAC and VSR lights. Appreciate your help.

I used a cheap switch i purchased at the local store. 18 gauge wires with a toggle on/off switch. If you use something similar, just remember to have it switched on so the circuit's complete when you place it back in the second time. A million thanks to the guys who provided the detail and download. If you're ever in SLC, UT, let me buy you beer.

I used a multimeter probe set to make the contacts, too easy.

This zero point calibration also fixes the issue when a sensor wire has been cut. Toyota wanted $200 or so for a new magical wire, saying it couldn't be spliced and still work. I spliced it anyway and just lived with the warning lights on for the past 60k miles or so. The VSC was pretty annoying before that wire got cut, though, hopefully I won't regret fixing it.

Regardless, thanks for an excellent & informative post!

Finally, just completed the Zero Point Calibration. I tried it about 5 times with no luck. Took a deep breath, re-read the instructions, and found my mistake [I can admit my mistakes!]

I misread Step 9 which lists actually connecting the two leads. Repeated it correctly and the lights started flashing, as advertised. VSC lights are now reset.

Thanks for this great post -- because of the CEL, I was unable to get Inspection stickers [PA state]. Now that everything is reset, I'm getting my stickers in the AM.

Wahoo!

Just wanted to say I also found this useful, worked like a charm! Thanks!

i'm going to have to try this on the next nice day. I was driving home yesterday, and i hit a pothole. Next thing I know, vsc lights and CEL come on. And continue to be on now.
So, do you all just take two stereo wires, put one end of each wire in respective parts of OBD II connector then touch the other two ends together as per instructions?

on a side note, this is my first toyota, and I am not impressed with reliability thus far.

In last two months, i have changed front calipers/rotors/pads and rear rotors/pads and E-brake hardware. Replaced tires (i know, nothing one can do).
Last week the liftgate lock motor broke and the window regulator are shot.
Constant ticking of engine that is well documented in the forum too (v8)
Now this?

Update from my experiences: although the Zero-Point Calibration worked great to reset the lights, mine came back on within a few miles. Turns out I had a bad O2 sensor (Bank 1, Sensor 2) as confirmed by the OBDII code reader. So I picked up a new one at NAPA for $114 [Denso 234-4805] and replaced it. Pretty easy job using a 7/8" wrench. Local shop was charging $265 parts/labor. The new one even comes with anti-sieze in the box. I reset the codes, and have been driving 200 miles without issue.
Thanks again for all the great info.

Dont worry about "reliability." Its a toyota, enough said.

Some things you listed are maintenance. Pads, rotors, and hardware all wear out just like every other car. Needing new calipers, cant say much, but that may be from neglect on a shops part. Tires, wear out.

Everything that broke in the back door could be from water damage. You probably need to replace the dew guards on the bottom of the window. VSC, just sucks, but I can deal with it failed on mine. Lets me drift...