Check engine light, VSC TRAC & TRAC OFF lights

[jdq4runner]

heres some 411 in case you are a dyi person: o2 sensor AFTER cat $67.99 w/o harness or with harness $99.99 from autozone 1year warranty. pep boys has it for $100 life time. O2 bosch from autozone BEFORE cat $57.99 w/o harness. $236.68 with harness 1year. pepboys o2 sensor before cat is $190.xx. life time. both parts stores no longer borrow the obd2 tools due to amounts of complaints and dealerships/mechanics shops not getting paid for use of there diagnosis. also since im going to change o2 sensor and clean the MASS AIRFLOW SENSOR. i should buy the obd2 scanner since the t4r getting old with miles its going to have more lights in the long run. any body know a good obd2 scanner tool thats friendly?

 

[4runner55]

Had this problem a few weeks ago. Had the fault codes read, replaced the gas cap, disconnected/reconnected negative battery cable, problem solved. Sorry, don't remember the code.

 

[oskar]

I have got 4Runner 2001 124k.
Check engine , VSC TRAC & TRAC OFF lights came on. Dealership mechanics found code PO755 - bad solenoid. Replaced it for $600. It did not help, lights are still on. They asked me to drive one 100m and come back, I came back, they did not find anything, no codes. They offered me to change transmission for $4,500 because it might help. Though, they said transmission is working just fine. I do not see any logic here, why change transmission if it is working?
I refused to change transmission, lights are still on one month later. What to do? Any ideas?

 

[jdq4runner]

my check light n VSC TRAC & TRAC OFF light were on. the code i got was bank 1 and bank 2 cat failure and o2.instead of replacing spending $1,600 on the cat $400 on a o2. i got rid of it by cleanning my mass airflow sensor it was dirty. add some guarantee to pass smog in the gas tank. ( my smog was due ) i reset the codes. i got better gas mileage too car ran better. all 3 light didnt appear. few week later my rear brakes went bad no padding on the pads and since that happen VSC TRAC & TRAC OFF light stays on without check light. hopefully when i get new rotors it'll go away i had to resurface my rear rotors its beyond mini with new pads. i did a obd2 scan no errors reported. VSC TRAC & TRAC OFF light only appear once it hit 3 mph. i dont think its your transmission. if your transmission is slipping or not working correctly i would just wait for it to be broken since another there going to replace it another $4,500. obd2 are very sensitive CHECK ENGINE, VSC TRAC & TRAC OFF LIGHT on because of bad emission, cat ,o2. 600 miles later i passed smog with flying colors. fyi not all dealership or some mechanics are not honest, some dont even replace the filters they charged you like jiffy lube.

 

[oskar]

code po755

Thanks for the kind answer,jdq4runner.
I looked at my dealership papers, they found po755 - solenoid B is not working properly. So they have changed this solenoid. Two weeks later I went to autozone, they have got same po755. Transmission is working fine. I can drive the car but how can I sell it with all these lights glowing?

 

[jdq4runner]

If u just wanna erase the code n sell, light wont show up until few miles or weeks just unplug the battery for a while or buy a obd2 scanner, I bought my obd2 scanner at costco for $35 it tells u the error code n defines the code, instead of going online searchin for the meaning of the code, it also asked if u would like to erase the error codes, its friendly too so easy a caveman can do it, good luck selling it just fyi majority toyota cars I ran into usually have check lights but go away randomly misfire, or reading too rich or too lean cause them to pop up, besides that fwd n rwd toyota rear brakes wear out faster I don't know why. great cars in major accidents, I met a lot of people who survived major accidents at high speeds,/flipping over/ T boned.

 

[Master Yoder]

I have a 2002 SR5 4x4, 130K+

I know this is long running thread but I have a few questions about the check engine, VSC track and VSC off lights.

Recently it snowed a lot and have been driving in cold wet conditions. I was driving down the road an dall of a sudden the three lights came on. I haven't done much yet, just read this thread mostly and I am hoping it is an easy fix.

I checked and the gas cap seems tight. I was going to clean the MAF sensor but can someone tell me where it is located? After that I will pull the fuse or battery to reset the lights and see how it goes. Another easy thing I remember reading to check is the vacuum tubes behind the air filter.

It sounds like another possibility is the O2 sensor/s. That seems like a lot to fix. Is it possible to clean the O2 sensors and fix the problem or is it most likely going to need to be replaced?

How hard is it to DIY? Do you have to take the exhaust off to get to the sensor or is it external? It seems like it would be an easy thing to replace but I don't know

 

[TEXREX]

It sounds like another possibility is the O2 sensor/s. That seems like a lot to fix. Is it possible to clean the O2 sensors and fix the problem or is it most likely going to need to be replaced?

How hard is it to DIY? Do you have to take the exhaust off to get to the sensor or is it external? It seems like it would be an easy thing to replace but I don't know

Check out this link for 3rd GEN O2 sensor replacement. 4x4Wire - Tech: Time to Replace the O2 Sensor on your 3rd Gen Toyota? I did mine at 100K as a preventative maintenence. Bought the DENSO brand on Amazon. Denso makes the OEM sensor that Toyota will sell you for twice as much. Good Luck.

 

[rotten1]

drive cycle procedure

does anyone know where I can find the obdII drive cycle procedure on line for a 2003 4runner with the 4.0 I just did the zero point calibration on my yaw sensor and deceleration sensor to turn vsc light off. it also failed for the readyness moniters not ready and need to ntry and do a drive cycle

 

[99LSBrad]

I just picked one of these up today. Now $29.97 at Costco.

Have an '07 4Runner SE with 39k miles. CEL and VSC lights came on a few weeks ago. Took it to Autozone and code came up with Cam position sensor error. Bought the sensor this weekend at dealer ($114) and put it in but lights still on. Disconnected the battery but still didn't clear. Once car is home later I will hook up the OBD2 and see if I can clear it, or see if something else is wrong. 39k miles! :redbrick:

If u just wanna erase the code n sell, light wont show up until few miles or weeks just unplug the battery for a while or buy a obd2 scanner, I bought my obd2 scanner at costco for $35 it tells u the error code n defines the code, instead of going online searchin for the meaning of the code, it also asked if u would like to erase the error codes, its friendly too so easy a caveman can do it, good luck selling it just fyi majority toyota cars I ran into usually have check lights but go away randomly misfire, or reading too rich or too lean cause them to pop up, besides that fwd n rwd toyota rear brakes wear out faster I don't know why. great cars in major accidents, I met a lot of people who survived major accidents at high speeds,/flipping over/ T boned.

 

[jd10135]

just went thru this

Traveling on business, check engine light and vsc trac and trac off lights come on, when I start 2003 4runner in the morning.

Town I'm in has a Toyota dealership. While they are diagnosing, I google "check engine, vsc trac, etc" and get this thread.

Pay $40 for diagnosis which comes up "Diag. P2238-P2241 Both A/F sensors.
B1 S1. B2 S1"

Its explained that these 2 oxygen sensors are bad and that they need to be replaced. Total estimate with tax $588.12.

Call trusted mechanic friend, he says try getting home without fix. Worst that could happen is ruin catalytic converter which may need to be replaced anyway since I have 211,000 miles.

Decide not to fix.

Drive 250 miles home. Gas mileage excellent. No problems.

Next morning. No check engine lights or anything. Have saved $588.12.

Trusted mechanic friend suspects the sensors are dirty and simply need cleaning.

THERE IS NO RISK OF DAMAGE TO YOUR ENGINE IF THESE LIGHTS GO ON IN MY OPINION.

NO RUSH TO FIX !!!!

My 2003 4Runner 4wd SR5 6 cyl starts, drives and feels as good as it did when I drove it off the lot with zero miles on it.

 

[Johnate0]

Hello all. New to the forum (though I've been browsing it for months) and this morning I started up the '01 4runner to find all three of these lights on. This is the 1st problem of any kind I've had with this truck since I bought it used in August of '08. The only thing I've done to it besides regular maintainence is install a K&N cold air induction kit. I was told that the oil that you manually apply to the "good for life" air filter can accumulate on the MAF and cause problems. I was instructed to apply the oil very lightly to avoid any problems with the air intake system. The last time I cleaned an re-oiled the filter was months ago so I'm guessing that's not the problem.

Anyhow, I got the PO420 code. (I run a body shop so thankfully I have many tools and equipment at my disposal to deal with prettymuch anything auto-related). I disconnected the battery and the EFI relay and reconnected them after 1/2 an hour or so. Removed and inspected the rubber ring at the gas cap, OK. Tightened it to 5 clicks. Lights are off now. We'll see if that does it. If they pop on again I'll try removing and cleaning the MAF and try again. Although I wouldn't think the PO420 code would be thrown if it were only a problem at the air intake. Am I wrong? If still persists I'll probably look into purchasing the B1 o2 sensor. I've already checked all my HVAC lines and evap cannister, all look ok.

Side note: I got a little more horsepower and noticeably better gas mileage out of this truck after installing the K&N kit. For the most part I always leave my vehicles in stock form but I went for this kit and I'm glad I did. I'm at 121,000 miles. This is my 1st Toyota after years of owning GM and Ford products and I'd have to say I'm now a Toyota fan for life.

 

[03_4x4Runner]

Hello all. New to the forum (though I've been browsing it for months) and this morning I started up the '01 4runner to find all three of these lights on. This is the 1st problem of any kind I've had with this truck since I bought it used in August of '08. The only thing I've done to it besides regular maintainence is install a K&N cold air induction kit. I was told that the oil that you manually apply to the "good for life" air filter can accumulate on the MAF and cause problems. I was instructed to apply the oil very lightly to avoid any problems with the air intake system. The last time I cleaned an re-oiled the filter was months ago so I'm guessing that's not the problem.

Anyhow, I got the PO420 code. (I run a body shop so thankfully I have many tools and equipment at my disposal to deal with prettymuch anything auto-related). I disconnected the battery and the EFI relay and reconnected them after 1/2 an hour or so. Removed and inspected the rubber ring at the gas cap, OK. Tightened it to 5 clicks. Lights are off now. We'll see if that does it. If they pop on again I'll try removing and cleaning the MAF and try again. Although I wouldn't think the PO420 code would be thrown if it were only a problem at the air intake. Am I wrong? If still persists I'll probably look into purchasing the B1 o2 sensor. I've already checked all my HVAC lines and evap cannister, all look ok.

Side note: I got a little more horsepower and noticeably better gas mileage out of this truck after installing the K&N kit. For the most part I always leave my vehicles in stock form but I went for this kit and I'm glad I did. I'm at 121,000 miles. This is my 1st Toyota after years of owning GM and Ford products and I'd have to say I'm now a Toyota fan for life.

This is why I do not use air filters that take oil on any car with MAF sensors. I had to many problems with getting oil on the sensor. Now on my Jeep Wrangler without MAF it works great.

 

[Johnate0]

Update: Light came on the next day. I removed and cleaned the MAF though I knew that wasn't going to be the culprit. The MAF was a little cruddy so I'm glad I took the time to clean it anyhow.

Bought an OEM a/f sensor from my usual Toyota dealer, my cost $140. Removed the old one (B1) and was amazed at how easy the nuts came off! I mean they were tight but not seized on like they always are. (Thank you, whoever had the presence of mind to use antiseize on those bolts.)

That was 48 hours and 200 miles ago and the lights have stayed off.

Dammit. It came back on. I get the funny feeling I'll be buying myself a CAT for Christmas.

 

[puppetz007]

Got this problem on my '01 last night. I'll try most everything on this thread. Hopefully something works!

 

[mikeyd]

VSC, VSC TRAC, CEL, Slip lights

Hello All, new to the site. I have an 2006 4Runner that my wife was driving today in the parking lot and the car jerked a little and the VSC Off light, slip light and VSC trac light along with the Check Engine light came on. We drove the car home but transmission only would let us go up to 35 MPH and then it wouldn't shift into the next gear so kept it at 35 the whole way home; about 4 miles. When we put it into drive from park it shifts pretty hard, not sure what the deal is but was hoping somebody would have an idea. Gas Cap is on tight.. I think we will end up taking it to the dealer on Monday, yikes.

 

[Johnate0]

Ouch that sounds rough Mikeyd. Hope you got that squared away.

Update on mine: Replaced the CAT w/ OEM, $700 my cost. Took about a half hour to do. The bolts/nuts to the mid pipe were completely seized. I was still getting some hesitating and loss of power after replacing the CAT, so I cleaned and re-lubed my K&N filter (it had been a while), replaced the plugs and wires OEM, and poured a bottle of drygas in w/ a fillup of 89 octane. All seems fine now.

 

[SaanichRunner]

MAF Sensor - where is it?

Hi,

Can someone tell me where the MAF sensor is? I would like to inspect and clean it as I have the check engine and vsc lights on too. Thanks.

 

[jre]

I had this problem with my 2004 Highlander. I tightened the gas cap and the VSC, check engine and trac lights all went OFF.:thumb3:

 

[Jeff4runner]

One thing Im surprised at, is that the VSC and TRAC lights seem to be "related" to the EVAP system, when its the traction and stability control. When I went a little further into the computer (I have the 6000$ MODIS), I got a completely different code. Dont remember off the top of my head, but it turns out to be the yaw-rate sensor that has intermittently failed, then finally crapped out. It is the big heat-sync looking thing behind the fuse-box on the 4th gen 4Runners. This caused the zero-point calibration to go out (detecting the car on level ground, sliding sideways etc.), so no matter what you do to the car, it wont shut the lights off. The way you check for this, is turn the car on, move it about a foot for the lights to come on (or engage the lights however), and pop the hood. The engine bay should be cold, but the yaw-rate sensor will be abnormally hot. This is because it is now acting, simply, as a giant resistor for the system instead of the yaw-sensor. I was quoted $931 from the dealer, but that is a complete rip-off. Your best bet if this is the case, look for a totalled 4Runner, or FJ cruiser, and get the sensor off that. Then, you can splice the connector from your old one, test the new one, and reset the zero-point calibration. That is a whole different story, but you can DIY, or take it to the dealer (scary....).

If all else fails, then the silver lining is, enjoy your ability to drift in your 4Runner. Any other runner with Traction and Stability control cant drift, if you ever tried.