TRAC & VSC Light Troubles... Any Help?

[Brian757]

So I looked up this issue and none of the threads came to a conclusion, or they were completely unrelated by the end of the thread.

So here is my dilemma:

I just finished performing the steering slip-joint tack weld, put everything back together, and now my VSC and TRAC OFF lights come on, but only when I start moving the vehicle.

I successfully performed the yaw and deceleration sensor resets and the lights still come on when I start moving. I only have those 2 lights come on, and they don't come on upon startup, just once I start moving.

Any ideas?

 

[MStudt]

So I looked up this issue and none of the threads came to a conclusion, or they were completely unrelated by the end of the thread.

So here is my dilemma:

I just finished performing the steering slip-joint tack weld, put everything back together, and now my VSC and TRAC OFF lights come on, but only when I start moving the vehicle.

I successfully performed the yaw and deceleration sensor resets and the lights still come on when I start moving. I only have those 2 lights come on, and they don't come on upon startup, just once I start moving.

Any ideas?

Any codes? Maybe the P/R Range Switch that is on the passenger side of the trans pan?

 

[Brian757]

Any codes? Maybe the P/R Range Switch that is on the passenger side of the trans pan?

No codes. I have the SGII and it found no CEL codes. The thread with Ripcord states the P/R range switch but how would this go bad after performing the steering shaft job?

 

[cesa1221]

Check all wire make sure everything is plugged in.
Were in va are u in? I work for a Toyota dealer

 

[Brian757]

Check all wire make sure everything is plugged in.
Were in va are u in? I work for a Toyota dealer

I checked all of the plugs that go to the steering wheel. I will have to pull the kick panel off and really get into it tomorrow. I live in Virginia Beach. If your in Alexandria, I'm about 3 hours from you.

 

[MStudt]

No codes. I have the SGII and it found no CEL codes. The thread with Ripcord states the P/R range switch but how would this go bad after performing the steering shaft job?

That I don't know. It was something that I came across a while back, and remembered it when I read this. Take an ohm meter to the switch just to be sure.

 

[Brian757]

That I don't know. It was something that I came across a while back, and remembered it when I read this. Take an ohm meter to the switch just to be sure.

Will do.

Another thing to add is that today I noticed it comes on NOT right away, but after I hit a bump or take a hard turn. If I go slow, it won't come on at all. Which is giving me a sneaky suspicion that I have a short in the steering column somewhere, as it only started after I did that work.

Once I get out of work, I'm going to take my kick panel off, steering column shell off, start the truck and move the wires around until I get the lights to come on. Hopefully I can locate the short this way (If it is a short).

And it doesn't seem like a popular issue, so I'm going to dig through the wiring. Thanks for the help MStudt!

 

[VolcanoT4R]

I'm having the same issues with my VSC/TRAC lights coming on. Mine do it as soon as I move though. I think I have a bad relay. I haven't taken the time to test the relay yet though. I'll check soon and let you know if that resolved my issue.

 

[gs300tt]

Please see this thread.

01-02 4Runner How to Zero Point Calibrate your VSC system. - YotaTech Forums

Quote from thread
"
I did the calibration today using your instructions and ran into a problem. After resetting the yaw sensor I did a test drive and the VSC TRAC and VSC OFF lights came on as soon as I started moving. I read through the procedure in the FSM and noticed that it says to calibrate the deceleration sensor after calibrating the yaw sensor, before driving the vehicle. So to add to your instructions the procedure for the deceleration sensor is

1. Connect terminals T1 and ES again
2. Turn the ignition on
3. Check that the VSC TRAC light is on for about 4 secs and then starts blinking at 0.13 sec intervals
4. After the light has been blinking for 2 secs turn the ignition off
5. Remove the jumper wire

After doing this second procedure the lights are now off and everything works fine.

"

 

[Brian757]

I'm having the same issues with my VSC/TRAC lights coming on. Mine do it as soon as I move though. I think I have a bad relay. I haven't taken the time to test the relay yet though. I'll check soon and let you know if that resolved my issue.

Have you tried what gs3000tt posted? That might be your issue if you haven't tried it. Although the first thing I did when the lights came on was the zero point calibration and deceleration sensor resets, so I've ruled that out.

Please see this thread.

01-02 4Runner How to Zero Point Calibrate your VSC system. - YotaTech Forums

Quote from thread
"
I did the calibration today using your instructions and ran into a problem. After resetting the yaw sensor I did a test drive and the VSC TRAC and VSC OFF lights came on as soon as I started moving. I read through the procedure in the FSM and noticed that it says to calibrate the deceleration sensor after calibrating the yaw sensor, before driving the vehicle. So to add to your instructions the procedure for the deceleration sensor is

1. Connect terminals T1 and ES again
2. Turn the ignition on
3. Check that the VSC TRAC light is on for about 4 secs and then starts blinking at 0.13 sec intervals
4. After the light has been blinking for 2 secs turn the ignition off
5. Remove the jumper wire

After doing this second procedure the lights are now off and everything works fine.

"

Yeah. This was my first attempt to fix the lights. I did what you posted AS WELL AS the deceleration sensor reset, and upon moving, they came back on. I'm assuming there is a short somewhere.

 

[VolcanoT4R]

Please see this thread.

01-02 4Runner How to Zero Point Calibrate your VSC system. - YotaTech Forums

Quote from thread
"
I did the calibration today using your instructions and ran into a problem. After resetting the yaw sensor I did a test drive and the VSC TRAC and VSC OFF lights came on as soon as I started moving. I read through the procedure in the FSM and noticed that it says to calibrate the deceleration sensor after calibrating the yaw sensor, before driving the vehicle. So to add to your instructions the procedure for the deceleration sensor is

1. Connect terminals T1 and ES again
2. Turn the ignition on
3. Check that the VSC TRAC light is on for about 4 secs and then starts blinking at 0.13 sec intervals
4. After the light has been blinking for 2 secs turn the ignition off
5. Remove the jumper wire

After doing this second procedure the lights are now off and everything works fine.

"

Thanks! I've done that several times with no avail. At the moment I'm thinking it's associated with one of two things. Either the relay is bad, or the remote starter I installed. Aside from not knowing why they are on, it doesn't really bother me that the VSC/TRAC are off.

The reason I think the relay is bad is because I had/have an awful buzzing sound when I first start the car. At first I thought it was the antenna motor, but I've sense replaced the antenna and disconnected the antenna relay, so I know that's not it.

I don't remember if the lights were on/off before I installed the remote starter, but that's the only other thing I can think of at the moment.

Will update as soon as I have gotten a chance to mess around with it a little more.

 

[gs300tt]

Thanks! I've done that several times with no avail. At the moment I'm thinking it's associated with one of two things. Either the relay is bad, or the remote starter I installed. Aside from not knowing why they are on, it doesn't really bother me that the VSC/TRAC are off.

The reason I think the relay is bad is because I had/have an awful buzzing sound when I first start the car. At first I thought it was the antenna motor, but I've sense replaced the antenna and disconnected the antenna relay, so I know that's not it.

I don't remember if the lights were on/off before I installed the remote starter, but that's the only other thing I can think of at the moment.

Will update as soon as I have gotten a chance to mess around with it a little more.

From your description I don’t think you are going to like what you find out. If I had to guess the noise you hear is your electric brake booster going bad. Have someone turn the car on and put your ear by it. I bet this is where your sound is coming from and it would cause the lights you are describing. This part is not cheap and hard to come by used in good condition.

 

[VolcanoT4R]

From your description I don’t think you are going to like what you find out. If I had to guess the noise you hear is your electric brake booster going bad. Have someone turn the car on and put your ear by it. I bet this is where your sound is coming from and it would cause the lights you are describing. This part is not cheap and hard to come by used in good condition.

[MENTION=78387]gs300tt[/MENTION]...that's some excellent troubleshooting :thumb:, I checked today, and the "buzzing" is indeed coming from the brake booster...I'll do some research and start a new thread so that [MENTION=68576]Brian757[/MENTION] can get help with his issue...thanks again

 

[Brian757]

Any codes? Maybe the P/R Range Switch that is on the passenger side of the trans pan?

Hey! So my mechanic said that the code reads: bad backup switch. Is it the same switch you were mentioning before?

 

[MStudt]

Hey! So my mechanic said that the code reads: bad backup switch. Is it the same switch you were mentioning before?

Yes sir. Located on the passenger side of the transmission I believe. Part number for the switch is 84210-52050 and part number for the mating connector (if needed) is 90980-11250. Double check those number and make sure they're correct, but I think they are. Also, if this is the case you shouldn't have reverse lights either.

 

[Brian757]

Yes sir. Located on the passenger side of the transmission I believe. Part number for the switch is 84210-52050 and part number for the mating connector (if needed) is 90980-11250. Double check those number and make sure they're correct, but I think they are. Also, if this is the case you shouldn't have reverse lights either.

What typically causes that switch to break?

 

[VolcanoT4R]

I am not knowledgeable enough to know what a "backup switch" is, but I have spent the last 3 months troubleshooting why my VSC OFF/TRAC VSC lights were on.

Step 1) Figure out what DTC code you're getting:
Using a paperclip, connect the Tc and E1 ports of the diagnostics box in the engine bay. Turn the ignition switch to "ON". All lights will come one and go off as normal, and then the VSC OFF/TRAC VSC light will blink. If it blinks at a constant rate of (I think) 0.25 second intervals, then you don't have a DTC code. Inspect the Tc terminal; ABS warning light circuit; or, VSC/TRAC circuit (pg DI-225 of my FSM). Otherwise, the lights will blink more slowly in a sequence that gives you the DTC code; count the blinks. In my case, I was getting VSC DTC 37 and 43. After going through the first round of trouble-shooting, DTC 43 went away, and only 37 remained. DTC 37 is a problem with the PNP (aka Neutral Safety Switch). Long story short, it ended up being the LEDs that I installed not sending the voltage signal that the Skid Control ECU was expecting.

Step 2) Clear the DTC
If you ARE getting a DTC, you can clear it by doing the following:
Using a paperclip, connect the Tc and E1 port of the diagnostics box in the engine bay. Turn the ignition switch to "ON" and tap the brake pedal at least 8 times within 5 seconds. The VSC and ABS lights should blink at a constant rate of (I think) 0.25 second intervals. Remove paperclip and take it for a test drive to see if the lights come back on. If the lights come back on, repeat step 1 to see if the DTC code is the same.

Let me know what the DTC code is, and (if you don't have a copy of the FSM) I'll send you the next trouble-shooting steps per the FSM.

Also, does the "P" on your combination meter stay lit regardless of what gear you are in? Any problems starting the car? Those are both indicators that the PNP switch is failing/bad.

 

[MStudt]

What typically causes that switch to break?

Just like anything else, they go bad. You might want to crawl under and check to make sure it's even connected. The pins on the switch are usually the first thing to go on those. They tend to corrode at the contact points.

 

[Brian757]

Also, does the "P" on your combination meter stay lit regardless of what gear you are in? Any problems starting the car? Those are both indicators that the PNP switch is failing/bad.

I'm having issues starting my vehicle. Haven't really noticed the P.

My only issues currently are the VSC TRAC & TRAC OFF lights are on and I'm occasionally having issues starting.

 

[INTMD8]

Did you ever find a resolution to this? Thanks.