Slip indicator light - Raw sensor replacement

[md2002]

Hello,

I have a 2009 SR5 4runner. 1st off let me say that I have searched this forum and Googled what I'm about to ask. After 3 hours a night for 2 nights straight I still haven't found the answer I'm looking for. Hopefully someone here can help.

I first posted this thread about 3 weeks back:
http://www.toyota-4runner.org/4th-g...ndicator-light-comes-dangerous-situation.html

Last week the same thing started to happen. Slip indicator came on and the car would break on it's own. I went back to the dealer and they basically said they are "guessing" that I need a new Raw sensor at a cost of $690. I've read allot about the Raw sensor but what I was looking for an answer to was will this fix the issue since it's a guess? Has anyone had this sensor replaced and all was well? They did get a code of C1234 but they said it went away. Another odd thing was after this visit to the dealer if I push the anti slip off button the anti slip light comes on along with the AUTO LSD light. This was not working before this last visit. When I used to press the button nothing would happen. That being said I have been driving the truck in this condition as a test to see if the anti slipping issue goes away. I'm in a bind and I have read and searched but am getting discouraged because I haven't found what I'm looking for.

1) Is it OK to drive the truck with the anti slip off (Auto LSD) all the time. As a test more than anything
2) Will replacing the RAW sensor more than likely fix the issue?

I have read for hours about the raw sensor but nothing I have read states that someone actually had this done, and I have only found one article describing the issue I'm having. Another thing to mention is I need new tires, could this cause the anti slip to engage.. even on dry surfaces?

On a side note. When this started happening again I decided to put it into 4WD to see if that helped and I found that 4WD was not engaging. The dealer looked at this as well and the 4WD transfer case actuator is being replaced. They said it was bad. This is under warranty though - 59,596 miles.

 

[Synister]

Dumb question but are all of your tires the same size? I have not heard of these sensors going bad and I see in your previous post someone suggested the zero point calibration. Im guessing it didn't work. There is no problem in driving the vehicle in the Auto LSD mode, this is a "virtual" LSD as it involves using the brakes, rather than a real LSD, only when the system detects wheel spin on the rear axle. Also, on your model year you can press and hold the VSC button for 3sec and completely disengage the stability system. Only problem is it automatically comes back on after you turn the car off. As far as the 4WD, seems kinda early (59k?) for it to fail, sometimes its easier to engage when you are driving along at 20-30mph and gently press and release the gas a little to help all the gears line up. If they are already replacing it then good to go.

 

[md2002]

Thanks for the response. I went out and checked the tires to be sure and they're all the same size. Zero calibration didn't fix it either.

Thanks for the tip on disengaging the VSC system. This was driving me nuts because everything I read said to hold the VSC button to turn it off. The issue was I couldn't find the "VSC" button. I had an "08" manual for my "09" 4 Runner so I assumed there was no button on the "09". After reading your post I fiddled around and it turns out I need to hold the anti slip button down for 3 seconds. I guess this is considered the "VSC" button and that is how I turn it off. Manual says not to drive like this but I'm doing it anyway for testing purposes. I just hope I don't do damage to the truck.

I read for hours on the 4WD not engaging but I tried everything. Driving backwards, starting and stopping, gas cap nothing worked. Dealership hit the actuator with a hammer and it engages so I guess that's how they figured out it was bad? My hope was that the 4WD going had something to do with the slip indicator problem but they tell me it's not the same system? Which means the RAW sensor replacement is not under warranty. Again, they said it's just a guess. I would rather not spend $690 on a guess.

 

[2007toyota4runners]

If you want to comletly shut off all the traction computers just to safly drive. There is a plug on the front of the brake master cylinder you can just unplug that and you will be able to safly drive it.

 

[md2002]

If you want to comletly shut off all the traction computers just to safly drive. There is a plug on the front of the brake master cylinder you can just unplug that and you will be able to safly drive it.

Thank you. I will have to look for that. It is getting quite dangerous. Today it happened on the highway again while switching lanes doing about 65 MPH.

As I said I've been driving with the anti slip feature OFF, and it still happened. At this point I shut the VSC OFF and I will see if it still happens after that. I'm stumped! I've been reading some more and few people mentioned checking the ball joints so I may have the dealer do that while I'm in getting my 4WD fixed.

 

[dadigab]

This was already mentioned but are tires all same size with equal tread wear. Also double check air pressure. I doubt psi is the problem but its a cheap test. Is there any strange noises eg. wheel bearings/hub, tie rod ends issues. Maybe something wrapped around hub? When situation occurs does it act the same every time like pulls left / right? Try to pay close attention to what happens just before it happens. A loose wheel sensor and sharp bump could trigger it I guess.

Maybe get a second dealers opinion, dealers are not all knowing I know the dealers I have worked for have been wrong before. Its easier to throw parts at it when its not your money.

Toyota has giving the 4R ability to turn off VSC via traction control switch so you can drive truck sideways in mud or snow without killing engine power(VSC). My buddy complained about not being able to do "donuts" in snow in his '06 before doing VSC mod.

 

[md2002]

This was already mentioned but are tires all same size with equal tread wear. Also double check air pressure. I doubt psi is the problem but its a cheap test. Is there any strange noises eg. wheel bearings/hub, tie rod ends issues. Maybe something wrapped around hub? When situation occurs does it act the same every time like pulls left / right? Try to pay close attention to what happens just before it happens. A loose wheel sensor and sharp bump could trigger it I guess.

Maybe get a second dealers opinion, dealers are not all knowing I know the dealers I have worked for have been wrong before. Its easier to throw parts at it when its not your money.

Toyota has giving the 4R ability to turn off VSC via traction control switch so you can drive truck sideways in mud or snow without killing engine power(VSC). My buddy complained about not being able to do "donuts" in snow in his '06 before doing VSC mod.

All the tires are the same with the same PSI but the tread is not all the same. It actually seems like one tire has more wear on the inside than outside. The tires probably have another 1000 to 2000 miles on them but since I'm having this issue I'm going to replace them now. There are no strange noises at all. Yes, it's the same thing every time. The car beeps, the anti skid light comes on, the car brakes and pulls to the left and then the anti skid light goes off and the truck is normal again. This all happens within a second or 2. The braking that happens feels like a double tap on the brakes too.. it's not just a solid brake. It's a pretty scary situation. The one thing I noticed today is that is sounds like there is a grinding noise when the car brakes. Like the brakes grinding, but it may not be. It may not even be the brakes coming on. I was thinking today maybe it's the transmission or something that pulls the truck back?


I plan on taking it to another dealer but the issue is they will charge me $109 to look at it as did this dealer. It may be worth it though.

 

[[email protected]]

Resolution?

Did this ever get solved? I have the same issue with my 2002 4runner .... grinding when braking , anti slip light randomly going off...

 

[md2002]

Did this ever get solved? I have the same issue with my 2002 4runner .... grinding when braking , anti slip light randomly going off...

Hi, Yes I did get this solved. I'm not sure what you've found so far but at the time this happened to me I read about a raw sensor (which I never replaced) and a zero point calibration ( I think that's what it was called). I went to the dealer and they said nothing was wrong so I TOLD them to do the Zero point calibration, they did it at a cost of $109 dollars but the problem continued to happen, I have my doubts if the dealership actually did anything, I never saw anything about what they found. So - I found a local mechanic who specialized in Toyota's and I brought the 4 runner in for something else and told him about my issue and he said " Ya, you need a zero point calibration" and I told him to go ahead and do it. When I picked up the truck he showed me some papers with all the reading and what he fixed with the ZPC and the issue never happened again. Sorry for the long story but I'm trying to get across that if you don't take it to the right place you may be wasting your money because they don't know what they're doing... the ZPC did fix it though. Just to add, I called Toyota ( the actual company and not dealers) to tell them about this and they said they've never heard of the issue??? Hope this helps. Good luck.

 

[Blythed]

I have this same problem on my 2004 Toyota 4Runner. We were driving on the freeway at 65 Mph and it happened with my small kids in the car. Dry flat surface. . Automatically brakes and pulls to the right, the anti slip light comes on beeping. . Very scary! I am looking for a safe guaranteed solution.

Do you all have any further insight?


Thank you!