Possible Explanations for the Malfunction Lights I'm Getting on Cold Starts?

[TiN]

I usually don't like to post threads like this, but I'd really like to get this figured out before I make the commute to college next week... The past few days I've been getting the VSC Trac, Trac Off, and ABS lights on cold starts after the truck has been sitting (overnight for example). When the truck is turned off and back on again, the lights go away. They stay off for all subsequent restarts until the truck sits for a while again. I know it's not an issue related to the engine or emissions as there is no CEL, but I can't find any explanations of my exact issue.

I'll take all the suggestions I can get. Hoping I may not have run around trying to find someone with the appropriate scan tool while the truck is in a "malfunction-state" and the codes are still readable.

 

[mrpurplepenguin]

Try a zero point calibration and see if that fixes it.

Not your exact issue, but it might solve your symptoms.
http://www.toyota-4runner.org/probl...ac-vsc-off-lights-zero-point-calibration.html

 

[gm350reratliff]

Monitor battery voltage during cold starts. It may be dropping too low causing what looks like a fault in one or more of the sensors. I would also check all the ground points for a bad ground.

 

[TiN]

Monitor battery voltage during cold starts. It may be dropping too low causing what looks like a fault in one or more of the sensors. I would also check all the ground points for a bad ground.

Thanks for the suggestion. This makes sense based on what I'm seeing. I'll keep an eye out

 

[BOSMECH]

It could also be a o2 sensor starting to go bad.

 

[TiN]

Wanted to update this thread as my problem has developed a little more.

Today, the warning lights came on after the first start (which I have come to expect), but persisted after multiple restarts (something I didn't expect). During this time of un-clear-able warnings, my speedometer didn't work. I still made the short drive to Walmart... after coming out of Walmart and starting the truck, the warning lights came on but the speedo worked. Went out to eat after Walmart... When I was done eating, I started the truck to leave and NO lights.

I'm thinking this has to be a failing ABS hub sensor (or the wiring leading to the sensor). I'm having the codes read at a dealer on Tues. morning; this is the best action I can think of at this point.

Any more suggestions/info you guys may have would be greatly appreciated!

 

[earthrealm]

am having a similar issue, not necessarily cold starts, and sometimes comes up 5 to 10mins into the drive......it usually clears after parking the car 4 a while, intend to grab a code reader and read the abs codes when ever it comes up again.

only common denominator i see is that our trucks are lifted...mine is front end only

 

[KingPrat]

Get your battery tested! Electrical gremlins pop up when the batteries get low and they vary.

 

[TiN]

am having a similar issue, not necessarily cold starts, and sometimes comes up 5 to 10mins into the drive......it usually clears after parking the car 4 a while, intend to grab a code reader and read the abs codes when ever it comes up again.

only common denominator i see is that our trucks are lifted...mine is front end only

Yeah, there's about a million different issues these lights could point to. It doesn't help that the warnings are so random... They never come on when I have the time to have the codes read.

 

[TiN]

Update: I decided against going to the dealership, as I wanted to do a little more troubleshooting myself... Today, I experienced more issues with the speedometer; it would work for the first ~5 miles and then drop to 0 for the rest of the drive.

I was also presented with a CEL today for the first time. I read the code with my OBD scanner; it spat out a P0500. I've done a small amount of research and it appears that the code warns of a faulty speed/ABS sensor (fairly obvious due to my other symptoms).

I haven't had a chance to have my battery tested yet.

Anybody have any more insight into the P0500 code?

 

[chitown40]

Check your alternator as well. When alternators start to go on newer vehicles the dash often lights up lights a christmas tree for no sound reason. Simple test is to put a volt meter across your battery terminals both when the truck is not running and then when it's running. You should be getting close to 13.9-14.2 volts if the alternator is working. When the truck is off you should have somewhere around 12-12.7ish.

 

[earthrealm]

+1 on the dying batt theory, from my ULtraguage, my batt voltage drops down to 9.5v when starting the car after sitting for many hours,

2ndly the sightglass on my non oem batt is red now, not green as it should be
Installed a battery desulphator, lemme see if its gonna resuscitate the battery, though hv my portable jumper always in the car

 

[TiN]

Check your alternator as well. When alternators start to go on newer vehicles the dash often lights up lights a christmas tree for no sound reason. Simple test is to put a volt meter across your battery terminals both when the truck is not running and then when it's running. You should be getting close to 13.9-14.2 volts if the alternator is working. When the truck is off you should have somewhere around 12-12.7ish.

+1 on the dying batt theory, from my ULtraguage, my batt voltage drops down to 9.5v when starting the car after sitting for many hours,

2ndly the sightglass on my non oem batt is red now, not green as it should be
Installed a battery desulphator, lemme see if its gonna resuscitate the battery, though hv my portable jumper always in the car

Thanks for the suggestions guys. I'm heading home this weekend, so I'll have access to all of my tools including a multimeter. I plan to test the battery first... I'm hoping that it's the problem.

 

[Luinil]

I will be interested in reading about what you find. Mine VSC Track and Off lights just started coming on earlier this week.

 

[TiN]

I started doing a little testing tonight. Here's what I've checked so far:

• Battery when truck is off sits at about 12.35 volts
• Battery when truck is at idle reads about 13.65 volts (a little low?)
• Checked each ABS sensor cable for continuity from sensor to main harness connectors. All cables had good connection.

So far, the cause of my problem still isn't clear. I'd like to check the functionality of each ABS sensor if that is possible. Does anybody have any experience with this? I've read that some sensors can be tested by checking resistance.

 

[gm350reratliff]

How low does the voltage dip while starting? Have you checked all the grounds?

 

[riceandpho]

Seems like a low battery issue, are you using an agm deep cycle? Or regular wet battery?
I would change it if it reads that low while sitting, should be in the mid 12.6 to 12.8 I think, do you have another external charger to do a full charge. See if that helps bring the voltage up a little.

 

[TiN]

How low does the voltage dip while starting? Have you checked all the grounds?

Voltage got down to the mid 10.xx volts when starting. I didn't go through and test the grounds tonight. Definitely something I want to test tomorrow with more daylight.

 

[riceandpho]

try a new battery, usually when it dips that low while cranking its a sign that the battery is not that good anymore.

 

[TiN]

Seems like a low battery issue, are you using an agm deep cycle? Or regular wet battery?
I would change it if it reads that low while sitting, should be in the mid 12.6 to 12.8 I think, do you have another external charger to do a full charge. See if that helps bring the voltage up a little.

I'm just using a standard battery, and I do have an external charger. I'll give that a shot and see what happens. :cheers: