Looking for some advice, I know this has been discussed before and I'll take some heat for not finding it on my own, but I haven't seen anyone post about an 08 specifically so here goes. Got in the runner the other day and the check engine light is lit solid, so is the traction control light, you know the one with the little car and skid marks behind it, the VSC light is flashing. All three, just having a grand ole time right there in the dash. I have an OEM gas cap that was put on a couple of years ago, I guess that could still be the problem, what I'm really looking for is the correct sequence including pin locations for a Zero Point Calibration, as I understand this could also be the issue. I apologize for the lengthy post but I've tried every iteration I can find, here and elsewhere and so far, no joy. Any thoughts?? TIA!!
2008 4Runner, VSC light flashing, traction control and check engine light solid
- Thread starter Swelden1
- Start date
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Drift Monkey
New member
Probably the gas cap or the gas cap gasket.
November Sun
Member
Gas cap. Mine does this when it's really cold outside. I've changed the cap, gasket and it still does it. I usually just re set it with my Scangauge and I'm good to go.
Don't guess, check the CEL diag codes. If you don't have a code reader, you should probably get one - they're like $20-$30 bucks on Amazon. Or, go to Autozone/Oreillys and have them read the codes for free. They'll even tell you what the codes mean and at least suggest some likely causes. It may have nothing to do with your gas cap.
Since the CEL is on, it's likely not the zero point calibration (a bad ZPC won't light the CEL). When the system detects a diag code, it lights the CEL. It also disables the VSC/TRAC system because the engine is in limp mode and the VSC software doesn't know how to compensate for the reduced engine performance. So, your CEL is pointing to the cause, while the VSC and TRAC lights are just side effects.
Short answer - figure out the cause of the CEL first.
Since the CEL is on, it's likely not the zero point calibration (a bad ZPC won't light the CEL). When the system detects a diag code, it lights the CEL. It also disables the VSC/TRAC system because the engine is in limp mode and the VSC software doesn't know how to compensate for the reduced engine performance. So, your CEL is pointing to the cause, while the VSC and TRAC lights are just side effects.
Short answer - figure out the cause of the CEL first.
Last edited:
meltdowner
Member
i got your update for ya!!!
