ABS, Brake, Slip-Indicator and blinking Multi-Terrain Trouble

Boyds4Runner

New member
This is a stumper so I am reaching out here in case anyone might have some experience or ideas.

For the past week I have had the ABS, Brake, Slip-Indicator light up solid accompanied by the blinking Multi-Terrain indicator. While those lights are on I have no ABS or traction control and when in 4Lo trying to turn on Multi-Terrain or Crawl Control they will not work. Multi-Terrain will indicate that it is not available. Makes sense since all of that relies on the ABS system.

Scan Codes show C0226, C0236, C0246 and C0256.

Took it into the dealer yesterday and they replaced the very expensive Master Cylinder Solenoid which required bleeding the brakes and I believe resetting the zero-point calibration and others.

Got the car back and for the trip home and through the car wash I had no error indicator lights.

Later in the day I noticed that the DRL lights were not on (I do like having it on and automatic) so I turned that on. When starting the car later in the evening I noticed that the driver side LED headlight flickers on startup then stays on like normal once the engine is running. The passenger headlight stays on solid the whole time. I start the car in the garage so I can easily see the headlights on the wall in front.

When I first start to move the car from startup, if I hear the little series of clicks (presumably ABS testing itself) then the error indicator lights go off. About less than 1 mile later though on comes the ABS, BRAKE, Slip-Indicator and blinking Multi-Terrain lights again.

I will have to bring it back to the dealer but if they already swapped out the Master Cylinder Solenoid where can I have them look? Does the flickering driver side headlight at startup indicate anything else?

I was about to put on the Toytec 2" TRD lift with the 1and1/2" Sway Away rear springs that finally came in but I am going to hold off until this gets resolved.
 
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Sensor wire.

Thank you [MENTION=66316]1engineer[/MENTION].

Taking it back in on Monday. I wonder if they didn't check the sensor wires in the first place. I hope it's simple to trace the bad one or ones.

I have had the wheels past the hubs in silty mud. Do the actual speed sensor in the wheel hubs go bad?
 
Dealer would be best equipped to figure it out... but it does sound like what many experience when one of the speed sensors or wires goes bad.

I would try unplugging each one and checking for moisture or contamination.... A few have had issues after being in the mud....

Besides that... its going to require dealer diagnostic tools and guides.
 
I'd definitely hold off on installing the lift until you get this figured out. You don't need the dealer refusing to help you any further and blaming the issues on the lift.

This should all be covered under warranty. Let us know what the issue was in case anyone else runs into this in the future and they know where to looks.
 
Wheel speed sensor. Happened on my Tundra every time they got too gummed up with mud and snow in the spring. I ended up cleaning them up and gobbing some silicone around the connector - they aren't very well protected from the elements.
 
Wheel speed sensor. Happened on my Tundra every time they got too gummed up with mud and snow in the spring. I ended up cleaning them up and gobbing some silicone around the connector - they aren't very well protected from the elements.

Thanks [MENTION=44305]weeeee[/MENTION], [MENTION=106176]wfo9[/MENTION] and [MENTION=87188]Hellamatic[/MENTION] for your replies as well.

I will definitely bring that up at the dealer on Monday. It's breaking my heart that the trusty 4Runner I love is giving me electronic fits. I don't have a chance before Monday to take apart the speed sensors beforehand.

So far it seems like the dash lights go off once I hear the little clicks while I start moving forward for the first time on a startup, but then once I hit about 28mph for a bit of distance the lights come back on.

Hopefully, the dealer comes back with a fix. I will post the whole summary so others can compare if it happens to them. Up to now the replacement of the Master Cylinder Solenoid has not solved the problem but with the consistent repeat of the same error codes; it must be the same source/s providing the error signal.

I'm sure the dealer will be upset that they spent a lot of $$ on replacing the Solenoid and it turns out to be as simple as cleaning up speed sensors or replacing them. If it's deeper than that, like something wrong in the harness leading up to the Master Cylinder Solenoid, or a bad ground somewhere...that will be a tough one to chase and they may have to keep the vehicle through the holidays to find.
 
Verdict is in

So the error lights turn out to be unrelated to the ABS system itself as the related components and harness have all checked out.

The cause for the error codes has been blamed on the H11 LED Headlights. Apparently blamed on RF interference from the LED Ballast.

Lesson Learned:
1) replace LED bulbs first if you have them...then start checking the systems that Toyota Engineers have carefully put together with reliability in mind.

I have the Xenon Depot H11 LED Headlight Kit (H11-LED-HL) without the CANBUS adapter.

I also have the Phillips LED X-treme Vision H11 fog lamps and the Phillips 921 LED kit for the rear backup lights. Neither with any CANBUS or resistor-pack adapter.

We replaced the Xenon Depot H11 LED Headlight Kit back with the factory headlight bulbs and the the error lights have all stayed clear.

The LED fogs and backup lights still remain on the truck as do all of the interior LEDS.

I will check back with Xenon Depot as to where to go from there. I am sure the CANBUS kit will be suggested. I will check to see if it eliminates any RF. If there is any RF coming out of the ballast on the driver side close enough to the ABS harness wires that may still trigger a code even with the CANBUS adapter.

I am not totally convinced of any RF being emitted. If it is RF then anyone with a radio transmitter at the specific frequency can shut down everyone's ABS on the roads.

Perhaps it's more like some harmonics being sent down the wires and then maybe the CANBUS adapter will filter that out.
 
Kind of odd but I believe it. I've seen electric brake controllers generate enough RF to shut the whole truck off. Was this a plug and play kit or did it have a separate power and ground?
 
Was this a plug and play kit or did it have a separate power and ground?

H11 LED Headlight Kit | H11 LED Upgrade

It was plug and play. Just had to test for proper current direction to make sure positive was going to positive when installing them. I believe LED's are unidirectional in terms of electrical current so if the plug is reversed it won't light up, or doesn't light up correctly.

I had these lights in for the past 4 months with no issues so either something went bad with the driver side light (noted flickering on startup) or...I don't know. But removing the headlight LED's (pair) and replacing with the original, factory Halogen bulb (pair) resolved the ABS, BRAKE, Slip-Indicator (on solid) and blinking Multi-Terrain indicator lights from coming back on and disabling ABS and related functions.
 
Follow Up

Spoke with XenonDepot and was asked to narrow down which item of the kit might be bad. The LED kit has the LED light and the LED driver that can be separated by unscrewing the plastic collar that locks in the two parts with a rubber seal.

Was able to narrow down the flicker to one of the drivers. XenonDepot has sent a replacement driver at no cost and no hassle.

Put the LED headlight kit back in place and have been running over a week with no flicker and more importantly no issues with the ABS and Terrain Control systems.

I think it's safe to say that the LED driver which was causing the flicker was also causing the interference that was causing the ABS and Multi-Terrain system to shut down.
 
I had this exact same issue with these lights, usually coming on when it was below 40 degrees. Turns out there was low fluid in the Master Cylinder from extended rear brake lines that were put in. The dealer added more brake fluid and that solved the issue.
 
Spoke with XenonDepot and was asked to narrow down which item of the kit might be bad. The LED kit has the LED light and the LED driver that can be separated by unscrewing the plastic collar that locks in the two parts with a rubber seal.

Was able to narrow down the flicker to one of the drivers. XenonDepot has sent a replacement driver at no cost and no hassle.

Put the LED headlight kit back in place and have been running over a week with no flicker and more importantly no issues with the ABS and Terrain Control systems.

I think it's safe to say that the LED driver which was causing the flicker was also causing the interference that was causing the ABS and Multi-Terrain system to shut down.


Hey, thanks for the tips. I am getting the same solenoid failure codes 26/36/46/56. I however do not have any HID LED lights. I do have some regular H11 LED low beams and Baja Fogs. Have you had success with the lights being the only issue and staying resolved?
 
Question about MTS
'16 4runner Trail Premium

My Multi Terrain System is not engaging, trying for the first time.

Tried in 4Hi & 4Lo
No error codes or warning lights on Dash.
Though at times I do get an air bag light because it's an accidental car but even after clearing all codes nothing shows up.

When I press the On button on the MTS knob all the lights flash and they go away, but when I rotate the knob to select a terrain do not get anything or able to select.

However, ATRAC, rear diff lock, crawl control system (left knob), traction control works perfectly fine.

Tried Zero Point Calibration, but still not engaging through TechStream. only error code is B2661 for D-seat sw, my driver seat lift and lumbar isn't working.

Seeking guidance
 

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