Check-Engine, Slip Indicator and VSC Off lights stuck on! Need help

[ddicosmo]

My 08 4runner has been running fine but when I went to leave work yesterday, after turning on the vehicle, the Check Engine light and Slip Indicator lights stay on and the VSC Off light flashes. This has never happened to me before. As a matter of fact, other than my low tire pressure light staying on due to the spare tire, I've never had issues with this vehicle. Normally, the only time I see these lights turn on, is when I turn the ignition but then go away after the vehicle starts (this is expected behavior). However, them staying on now is not normal. I'm not sure why this is happening now. I'm especially concerned about the check engine light staying on. This started happening on tuesday (yesterday). Below, I've listed a brief history going back 1 week or so of things I did that may/may not have caused this issue?

- Ran vehicle through a touchless car wash 7 days before issue was seen.
- Filled gas tank. I topped it off as I normally do. This was 3 days before issue was seen.
- Cleaned off battery terminal corrosion on negative terminal with wire brush. After cleaning off, poured a glass of warm water to clean off corrosion and residue, dried off terminal and added a very thin coat of vaseline to negative terminal. 2 days before issue was seen.
- Checked engine oil (removed dipstick). Also removed oil filler cap, cleaned it off and put it back on. 2 days before issue was seen.

That's all I did to the vehicle recently. If I had to guess, this seems like some type of electrical issue and could it have been caused by cleaning the battery terminal?

Has anyone seen this issue and if so, how to remedy it? I'm really nervous driving around with these lights on but have no other means to get to work.

 

[4RunnerMexico]

Take it an autoparts store and get the codes read

 

[That_Titanium_4RNR]

My 08 4runner has been running fine but when I went to leave work yesterday, after turning on the vehicle, the Check Engine light and Slip Indicator lights stay on and the VSC Off light flashes. This has never happened to me before. As a matter of fact, other than my low tire pressure light staying on due to the spare tire, I've never had issues with this vehicle. Normally, the only time I see these lights turn on, is when I turn the ignition but then go away after the vehicle starts (this is expected behavior). However, them staying on now is not normal. I'm not sure why this is happening now. I'm especially concerned about the check engine light staying on. This started happening on tuesday (yesterday). Below, I've listed a brief history going back 1 week or so of things I did that may/may not have caused this issue?

- Ran vehicle through a touchless car wash 7 days before issue was seen.
- Filled gas tank. I topped it off as I normally do. This was 3 days before issue was seen.
- Cleaned off battery terminal corrosion on negative terminal with wire brush. After cleaning off, poured a glass of warm water to clean off corrosion and residue, dried off terminal and added a very thin coat of vaseline to negative terminal. 2 days before issue was seen.
- Checked engine oil (removed dipstick). Also removed oil filler cap, cleaned it off and put it back on. 2 days before issue was seen.

That's all I did to the vehicle recently. If I had to guess, this seems like some type of electrical issue and could it have been caused by cleaning the battery terminal?

Has anyone seen this issue and if so, how to remedy it? I'm really nervous driving around with these lights on but have no other means to get to work.

You need to get the codes read. Anything else you do to it will be grasping at straws and throwing away money.

Get the codes read and then search on this forum because chances are that multiple people have had the exact same issue. I would say that depending on the issue that your drivability will be nearly unaffected. Especially since you have not reported any strange sensations while driving. But regardless of all that, get your codes read first and foremost. Also as was mentioned previously this can be done FOR FREE at nearly every major auto parts store, Oriellys, Advance Auto, AutoZone, just to name a few. No reason to pay for getting the codes read.

 

[ddicosmo]

Went to VIP and got the codes. The guy that connected the OBD reader said, "Looks like someone's been in here...They left the cover off". I told him that I've never touched that port and that this is the first time the check engine light has ever come on. The only person that could have been in there recently was when I brought it to a mechanic 5 weeks ago to get it inspected. Which leads me to ask the following question:

Would there be a reason for someone performing an inspection to go into the OBD port especially if no check engine light was on? Is that standard procedure when doing inspections? This guy's comment has got me worried now. Why someone would have been checking the OBD port during an inspection and why 5 weeks later out of the blue, I get all of these codes?? Anyway, here are the codes he wrote down:

P043E
P043F
P2401
P2402
P2419

The guy at VIP was surprised there were so many codes and said that they fired off several times.

 

[AuSeeker]

Went to VIP and got the codes. The guy that connected the OBD reader said, "Looks like someone's been in here...They left the cover off". I told him that I've never touched that port and that this is the first time the check engine light has ever come on. The only person that could have been in there recently was when I brought it to a mechanic 5 weeks ago to get it inspected. Which leads me to ask the following question:

Would there be a reason for someone performing an inspection to go into the OBD port especially if no check engine light was on? Is that standard procedure when doing inspections? This guy's comment has got me worried now. Why someone would have been checking the OBD port during an inspection and why 5 weeks later out of the blue, I get all of these codes?? Anyway, here are the codes he wrote down:

P043E
P043F
P2401
P2402
P2419

The guy at VIP was surprised there were so many codes and said that they fired off several times.

All of the codes you have are for a "Evaprotive System Leak", which is saying you have a leak with the fuel vapors of the gas tank, the most common reason for these codes is a loose or bad oil ring on your gas cap, make sure your gas cap is tighened properly since you recently filled up the tank, you may have to get the codes reset/cleared or they may go away without doing so, you can reset the codes yourself by disconnecting the battery for 30 seconds but you will have to reset your electric widows for them to work correctly (should tell you how in your owner's manual or come back and we'll help), if that doesn't clear it up the first and cheapest step would be go to the dealer and get a OEM gas cap, don't get an aftermarket cap as it may not seal well enough.

That being said, after tightening or replacing the cap and your issue persists report back and we go further into what else could be causing the leak of the gas fumes, if it's the gas cap (as mentioned the most common cause) you will be slapping yourself on the forehead for giving yourself a heart attack!! LOL, also come back and let us know if the gas cap worked, others new to this issue will learn from your experience.

P.S. Yes it's possible that the vehicle inspector could have plugged a scanner into your ODBII port to check for pending codes...but that shouldn't cause any issues at all.

 

[ddicosmo]

Thanks everyone for the help. I think I may have found the issue. You are correct about the EVAP system. I re-checked my gas cap this morning and noticed that it comes off really easy. When I put the cap on and it clicks a few times, it takes very little pressure turning it counter clockwise for it to come off. Looks like the seal on the gas cap is worn or defective. I will order a new gas cap at the dealer and hopefully, that will fix the issue (fingers crossed). After I put the new gas cap on, should I try and reset the codes (ie. disconnect battery method) or should I drive and see if they clear up by themselves? Thanks,

Dave.

 

[TenTwelve]

Thanks everyone for the help. I think I may have found the issue. You are correct about the EVAP system. I re-checked my gas cap this morning and noticed that it comes off really easy. When I put the cap on and it clicks a few times, it takes very little pressure turning it counter clockwise for it to come off. Looks like the seal on the gas cap is worn or defective. I will order a new gas cap at the dealer and hopefully, that will fix the issue (fingers crossed). After I put the new gas cap on, should I try and reset the codes (ie. disconnect battery method) or should I drive and see if they clear up by themselves? Thanks,

Dave.

Gas caps wearing out seems very common with 4Runners. I've replaced mine as well.

 

[AuSeeker]

Thanks everyone for the help. I think I may have found the issue. You are correct about the EVAP system. I re-checked my gas cap this morning and noticed that it comes off really easy. When I put the cap on and it clicks a few times, it takes very little pressure turning it counter clockwise for it to come off. Looks like the seal on the gas cap is worn or defective. I will order a new gas cap at the dealer and hopefully, that will fix the issue (fingers crossed). After I put the new gas cap on, should I try and reset the codes (ie. disconnect battery method) or should I drive and see if they clear up by themselves? Thanks,

Dave.

Just drive it a few days and see if they go off, if not then do the battery disconnect and hopefully this solves the issue.

 

[Charlie 1978]

Mine did the same. Bought new gas cap. Disconnected red battery cable for 30 sec. lights off and never came back on!

 

[syncretic.buffalo]

bumping an old thread here, hoping for some clarification.

2007 4.7 4wd here, 191k on the clock.

Been having some rear driveshaft issues lately, planning on dropping the truck off to have them grease the spline of the DS first before we swap in a new one if it doesn't work. I'm also 99% sure my manifold is cracked, i have the bad sulfer smell as well as the tick on startup.

This morning when I turned the truck on for the first time EVER i had the CEL, VSC, and TRAC OFF lights on. Obviously immediately panicked - haven't had time to check the codes yet..though I did check the gas cap and it seemed loose..

Question: would a cracked manifold throw codes, and if so - is it possible to do some kind of a bypass?

I've already had to bypass the AIP system with a fix from one of the members here on the forum.

Cheers

 

[KV_SR5_2006_4WD]

VSC, slip, check engine lights

Hello and thank you to everyone that posts here. A huge thank you to the creators of this forum. My issue was fixed by reading the thread.

I had and issue with the VSC, skid, check engine lights that came on one day and wouldn’t go out. Read on the thread that it could be a gas cap. Checked my gas cap and it was clearly loose. Tried tightening it to get the two licks. Got the clicks but it didn’t sound or feel right like it wasn’t completely sealed. Searched NAPA, AutoZone and O’Reilly for new gas caps. Went to pick them up but I was skeptical that they would work because they didn’t look the same as the original. Went to Amazon to buy and OEM but saw a cheaper OEM knock off. Bought it, installed it, clicks felt right, filled up the tank then waited. Lights still in after a few hours…after a day…after two days. Then started reading more threads and looking at YouTube vids for a fix. Started looking more complicated. Then I just stared at the wall for another week like FTBS I might just drive this thing into the ocean. On about day ten of the issue I was on my way to the beach and noticed the lights went out. Light stayed out ever since it’s been about two weeks now.

So very successful! Proves that if you work hard and stare at a wall for long enough your issues will fix themselves. I don’t know what the longest time would be before those lights will go out by replacing a gas cap but again mine took about 10 days.

Here’s the video I subscribed to and saved for the day I was ready to re-attack this issue.

(Part 1) How To Fix Your Check Engine, VSC, Trac Off Warning Lights On - YouTube

Hope you guys found this useful.