One cause & fix for "VSC TRAC" & "VSC OFF" lights, Zero Point Calibration

Just joined this club (4runner club, and engine warning light trifecta club) with a new to me 2005 V8 4WD Sport 125K. Unfortunately, CEL, VSC OFF, VSC TRAC all came on about 30 miles into my drive home from purchasing from a private owner. I can't help but think he disconnected/reconnected the battery right before I picked it up.....
I've tried the new gas cap and disconnect, just in case, but they all came back on after driving 20-30 miles.
O'Reily gave me this code P2197.
Just for double check- AutoZone gave me C1201, C1223 ABS malfunction, C1241, P2197.
Hopefully, fixing this doesn't cut too much into my build money....
I'm considering replacing the O2 sensor in question, but I may wait until I take it into a shop to get baselined to see what they say.
Thoughts?
 
Anyone know if this will work for an 08 and if not, what the proper procedure would be? My vsc kicks in inadvertently at times and I'm thinking a zpc will help that.
 
trying to update as many of these threads as i can.

for those of you with an 05, you need to use pin 12 rather than pin 14. i just tried and works perfectly.
 
Hello there, both my VSC light came out when I plugged in a new OBDII interface. It is a blutooth with an On/Off button.

Im sure the resed suggested will take care of the problem but is there any fast reset of the ECU that will take care of the problem?

Note that there isn't any fault code stored, just those two lights on

Any help is really appreciated
 
Hello there, both my VSC light came out when I plugged in a new OBDII interface. It is a blutooth with an On/Off button.

Im sure the resed suggested will take care of the problem but is there any fast reset of the ECU that will take care of the problem?

Note that there isn't any fault code stored, just those two lights on

Any help is really appreciated
Same problem here. I'm going to attempt the reset though
 
Same problem here. I'm going to attempt the reset though

Reset worked but Im still wondering why my other OBD does this (bluetooth) while the cheap ELM327 WIFI works like a charm.
Somehow is shorting the two pins and causing the light to go off.
 
Reset worked but Im still wondering why my other OBD does this (bluetooth) while the cheap ELM327 WIFI works like a charm.
Somehow is shorting the two pins and causing the light to go off.
Yeah the reset worked for me. And I also didn't have a problem before this new obdii reader. The old generic one I used never did this.
 
Yeah the reset worked for me. And I also didn't have a problem before this new obdii reader. The old generic one I used never did this.

I bought a $50 OBDII reader from Harbor Freight and the dam thing screwed my VSC up! I guess some OBDII readers just don't work well with the 4Runners.
 
I bought a $50 OBDII reader from Harbor Freight and the dam thing screwed my VSC up! I guess some OBDII readers just don't work well with the 4Runners.


In my case with ELM327 Wifi works perfectly

I have tried the same adapter but blutooth and triggers the VSC off etc etc
I have tried a small adapter blutooth still in elm327 (but with the on off button) and does the same thing.

Conclusion: both ELM327 Bluetooth family I tried DO cause VSC Trac and VSC to deactivate while ELM Wifi work perfectly, reason Is both blutooth tried to communicate with our 4Runner using CAN protocol which involves pin#14, and as mentionned by the author of this post this cause the 4Runner to erase the "zero point calibration" numbers in its memory. Without these numbers it can't get accurate information from the yaw rate and deceleration sensors (in the center console near the gearshift) and so it disables traction and stability control functions.


Hope this helps someone
 
Last edited:
Thank you T4R community! Worked first time!

Anyone know of a scanner that doesn't trip this error? Maybe this one?
 
Last edited:
Worked Like a Charm

I followed the instructions on the TSB to the letter and this fix worked perfectly. Once again the advice on this forum has saved me a ton of hassle and money with the dealer.
 
Weird problem 2001 4Runner

So this has happen a few times but i'm lucky enough to found the pattern. In my case i've got a small leak of fuel on the top of my gas tank / or in the feeder tube to the tank. The leak is so small the amount evaporates before any drops hit the ground. the lights only come on when i'm under a quarter of a tank and stay on.

Now to me the weird part is when I hook up my obd2 reader it erases the codes without me telling it to.

As long as I fill it up before the quarter mark i'm fine. please try and refrain from saying "keep it above a quarter tank" I want to fix the issue.
 
Didn't work

I have a 2002 4runner limited with the VSC and TRAC light + Check Engine lights on. I pulled the code and got P1135, so I replaced the Air/Fuel sensor and the check engine light went off. But the VSC and TRAC lights are still on, I have done the Zero point calibration twice, the lights go off, but as soon as the wheels roll forward both lights come back on.

I recently lifted the 4runner, so I am wondering if I damaged the ABS harness on one or both sides? How do I check this? I have read that you can repair these harnesses?

Any ideas?
 
Is it possible for a dealer to temporarily shut these lights off? I just got a 04 4runner and within 10 miles these lights came on and the check engine light temporarily came on. Everything else about the truck is perfect and the free diagnostic at Autozone showed nothing wrong. Taking it to dealership tomorrow and hoping to drive to Chicago Wednesday.
 
VSC TRAC and TRAC OFF, No CEL 2001 4Runner

I finally took my 2001 4Runner to the dealer to help diagnose the "VSC TRAC" and "TRAC OFF" indicating lights for $95. The dealer said it was giving a C1207 code - the Park/Neutral indication was not being received but they were not sure why. On the schematics, the Park indication that goes to the instrument cluster and also goes to the VSC module. The VSC module triggers the "VSC TRAC" and the "TRAC OFF" indications. I informed the shop that the "P" for Park indication bulb was not working and was probably burned out for a couple of months. I also informed them that this is about the same time period that these indicating lamps became active. So I had the "P" lamp replaced on the instrument cluster for another $50 (labor). The code C1207 was gone and the "VSC TRAC" and "TRAC OFF" indicating lights went out. I can not believe a burned out bulb in the instrument cluster for "P" (Park) caused the "VSC TRAC" and "TRAC OFF" to be disabled. I guess that is why they are called idiot lights because you have be a genius to figure out the problem.
 
One cause & fix for "VSC TRAC" & "VSC OFF" lights, Zero Point Calibration

Thanks, it worked perfectly (so far). But I would like to add a couple of points to clarify steps that confused me and caused additional research:

1. Turning ignition switch ON does not mean start the vehicle. Just turn the key to full accessory position.

2. The most confusing part for me was finding a correct listing of the terminal numbers on the OBDII port (aka DLC3) for my 2004 V8 4Runner. Depending on the overall outside shape of your OBDII port, the #4 and #14 terminals will be located in different places. If the outside shape of your ODBII port is shaped like an "A", meaning the width of the top is narrower than the width of the bottom, the #4 terminal (Ts) will be 4th from the right on the bottom row, and the #14 terminal (CG) will be 3rd from the left on the top row. If your OBDII port is shaped like a "V" with the top wider than the bottom, the #4 terminal will be 4th from the left on top, and the #14 terminal will 3rd from the right on the bottom.

But the fix works as advertised, just read the instruction 3-4 times to get them clearly in your head. You will spend more time finding and cutting wires (aka the proprietary SST 09843-18040 tool!!!) than you will actually performing the fix.

Thanks for the help!

(And BTW...as with others this was a self inflicted wound. I finally bought a code reader, and while I was not showing a check engine light on my 4Runner, I just HAD to plug it in to see how the code scanner worked. And suddenly, my VSC warning lights were displayed. This mechanic-ing is a weird past time...)
 
Last edited:

Members online

Forum statistics

Threads
278,316
Messages
3,554,120
Members
248,016
Latest member
Advally Service

Trending content

Back
Top