How you folks doin? First post from a newbie. Cool site with a lot of good info. Tried a search on this and didn't find much. I'm from Wisconsin and just got a 2001 4runner SR5. The "check engine" light, "VCS trac", and "VCS off" lights are on. They came on one other time and just went off after about a week. Now they are back on and have been for 8 days. I'm guessing that if I disconnect the battery and let the cpu reset it might take care of it. Any other suggestions? I was told by the dealership that if the check engine light isn't flashing it shouldn't be anything major. True? Any help would be appreciated.
vcs trac, vcs off, & check engine lights on
- Thread starter madtown
- Start date
Register to hide this ad
The dealership is right, but the CEL doesn't trip just for poops and giggles. Get the code pulled. FYI, when the CEL trips, VSC and TRAC lights go on, too.
90% of the time, your O2 sensor(s) are bad, which trips the CEL. Or could be your gas cap isn't tight enough.
Go to Autozone or Checkers and get the code pulled (free).
90% of the time, your O2 sensor(s) are bad, which trips the CEL. Or could be your gas cap isn't tight enough.
Go to Autozone or Checkers and get the code pulled (free).
steezemcqueen
Moderator
CEL flashing just means the engine is misfiring. it could be a number of different things causing it from a bad spark plug to zero compression. i don't really see how you are going to cause a meltdown
notrayray
New member
It flashes when the misfire is dumping raw fuel into the converter, that will kill it.
steezemcqueen
Moderator
not for awhile
steezemcqueen
Moderator
what i mean is if it flashes, its not like you should immediately pull over and get it towed. yes the cat will get overworked but it won't suddenly melt like you said. i had a misfire on my 2000 for over 6 months and it didn't kill the cat.
Last edited:
notrayray
New member
lol....I don't think it will melt.
I was thinking in some instances it might damage the cat sooner, but mostly you are right. The blinking light, is to scare consumers to get it towed in asap. :cheers:
steezemcqueen
Moderator
agreed. it shouldn't be ignored....but your car isn't going to blow up
maybe you guys can help me then.
Previous not noticing the lights:
Had lost my keys, Had the car towed to a dealership, new keys and keyless entry made
After Having the Keys Made
The Traction control and some VSC or something another light came on
No Check Engine Lights
To Get the Lights to Show:
Upon cranking car there are no lights
After putting the car into drive and moving a few feet the lights immediately come on
I have a mac tools OBDII code reader and it has to be engine off key to on to read. Since the lights aren't thrown until the car is moving and go back off when you turn the car off and back on, my reader shows nothing wrong. However when I took it back to the dealership they told me some sort of sensor was bad (i quit listening to this bullshi.... about the time he chimed in that it would cost me an additional 1500 dollars to fix those lights) and I would have to leave the car AGAIN to have that fixed.
Is there a simple fix for this other than removing the lights from the cluster? :biggrin2:
Previous not noticing the lights:
Had lost my keys, Had the car towed to a dealership, new keys and keyless entry made
After Having the Keys Made
The Traction control and some VSC or something another light came on
No Check Engine Lights
To Get the Lights to Show:
Upon cranking car there are no lights
After putting the car into drive and moving a few feet the lights immediately come on
I have a mac tools OBDII code reader and it has to be engine off key to on to read. Since the lights aren't thrown until the car is moving and go back off when you turn the car off and back on, my reader shows nothing wrong. However when I took it back to the dealership they told me some sort of sensor was bad (i quit listening to this bullshi.... about the time he chimed in that it would cost me an additional 1500 dollars to fix those lights) and I would have to leave the car AGAIN to have that fixed.
Is there a simple fix for this other than removing the lights from the cluster? :biggrin2:
