Flashing VSC Off, Trac and ABS light

[Merle]

Flashing VSC Off, solid Trac and solid ABS light [RESOLVED - not zero point calib.!]

2008 4Runner, V8 Limited with >135,000 miles.

Took some time off and stopped driving the 4Runner except for a few times for the past 6-8 weeks. There and back about 10 minute runs twice a week with very limited highway.

One that started happening was the "VSC Off" light would flash, with solid Traction and solid ABS lights coming on at the exact same time -- 2-3 minutes into the drive.

i would pull over, turn the car off and on and get a repeat performance.

Just today, I pulled the battery cable for 2 hours. Was about to get on the highway and the lights came on. Pulled over, turned it off an on (5 seconds) and got on the highway.

Now, my normal habit was a long weekly drive of a few hundred miles, only when I stopped that and parked the car for a long time did I have an issue.

Well, after a nice long drive (back to my normal routine) of 200+ miles, nothing. Everything is back to normal.

I'm having a hard time reconciling it with any type of loose wiring (and I pulled and checked every fuse in the engine and driver kick panel). With a 200+ mile drive, I would have expected it to occur if it were. The battery is the original, and some folks have indicated that the battery could be on the way to crap out (the blue circle is fine, as is the red dot). But that's on the list. I checked the gas cap and it does seem very loose (click and it's basically no effort to untwist) and that's also on the list.

So... ideas? Or do I get back to my habit of 500+ miles a week?

 

[Merle]

Okay, a few months of struggling with the zero point calibration, stopping the the 4Runner and restarting it...

It got worse.

I also began to notice sometimes that I couldn't shift out of park without pumping the brakes!

So digging a bit further, I find other Toyota vehicles have the same problem and it turns out to be the brake light sensor!

There is a switch/sensor near the top of the brake. It contains a contact switch which controls two things:

1. Your brake lights coming on
2. Your brake engaging so you can shift it out of park.

People who have the VSC / Trac / ABS lights that come on - IF you have a problem shifting out of park at any time, this is probably the culprit.

When I would go for long drives, there would be zero issue - because I would be driving on the highway for hours on end w/o hitting the brakes.

But on the city streets, turning, accelerating, etc, the inevitable "hit the brake" would occur and I wouldn't connect that action with the lights coming on at that time or a few seconds afterwards.

The part ran me $48 list price.

To replace? Identify the switch (blue connector and disconnect) and then give it a 1/4 turn twist to disengage. You may want to make sure it's not loose and that it is fully inserted as the insertion can be up to 1" and it's potentially possible it could have been knocked loose if you have been banging around down there.

 

[mikiekimi]

Sorry to resurrect this old thread, but this is happening to me. Intermittent ABS/VSC lights stay solid, then go out randomly. Reading suggestions in other posts I've:

Replaced gas cap w/OEM
Replaced Stop Light Sensor Switch
Replaced Battery

I took it into my mechanic where it popped codes C1235 (ABS Fault) and 0200 (R Front Wheel Speed Sensor). The mechanic replaced the speed sensor, everything tested fine and the next morning the lights came back on.

What he saw in his diagnosis was that the original sensor had a very low, erratic output. After replacement, the new unit tested okay. He also cleaned the sensor mounting hole and tone wheel (there was quite a bit of rust in there).

I did have my windshield replaced and confirmed (to the best of my ability) that the seals are good (zero moisture in the cab, under the carpets in the front). However, I'd like to locate the ABS control board and visually inspect it, my google-fu is having a hard time finding anything to show the location.

I can confirm that it is the ABS system because occasionally while the lights are off, the brakes get a little touchy, like the ABS is trying to engage. When this happens, the ABS/VSC lights will once again light up.

My mechanic is out until Monday so I thought I'd hit the members up for any additional advice on what I might be able to look at (or the location of the ABS control board).

 

[HanIsa97]

All warning lights came on in 06 now engine is in limp mode