vsc and trac lights on dash, no cel

horkn

New member
We've had this truck since new. 04 v8 4runner sr5 4x4. It's been great. 145k now Regular maintenance only, plus a front wheel bearing, water pump and belt.

Since 20k on it, we put pirelli scorpion atr 265/70 r17 on it. Last winter, the pirellis were replaced, yes, they had a ton of miles on them but were replaced due to lack of grip in winter from being not pliable anymore and they rode bad. We replaced the pirellis with falken wild peak at in the 265/70 r 17. On the way home from the tires getting installed, the vsc trac, vsc off, and abs lights popped on. No cel is on. Abs as suggested elsewhere still works. I've tried the reset zero point, to no avail with the SST (wire). I've got to get an emissions test done by mid February for plate renewal and I'm not certain if this will affect that test. It shouldn't, but since the emissions test were privatized they seem to be less intelligent about tests. I tried the yaw/ zero point recallibration with a wire in the odb port, to no avail.

I'd gladly pay someone on this site if they could clear these lights for me. I've read, and futzed with it so much I've had it. I figured I'd try here before getting bent over by a shop, or even worse a yota dealership. I've read here that pins were different on someone 4th gen when they did the zero recal. Idk if this is my issue as well, since I didn't get the lights to flash when doing the zero.
I worked through a reoccurring cel on my Audi to get it to pass last fall, so if I could clear that crazy German technology, I thought this should be easy. Not so.
 
Register to hide this ad
First, do the lights stay OFF until you roll the vehicle a short distance after you cycle the key?

Second, it sounds like there's an ABS DTC (Diagnostic Trouble Code) stored in the ABS Module; I would stop by an autoparts store and see if they can scan the vehicle for the ABS codes. I have a feeling the tire shop messed something up reinstalling the tires (mostly based on how quickly the lights set from the last time anyone was near those components.)

I'd recommend giving this thread a read to better understand the system:
http://www.toyota-4runner.org/4th-gen-t4rs/151487-check-engine-trac-vsc-read-me.html

But you can't really clear the DTC as it seems to be an active DTC (not to mention IF there is an issue with the ABS that sets a DTC, you cannot perform a ZPC [Zero Point Calibration] until you've addressed/cleared the DTCs)
 
Yeah, I think there's something to the DTC. The lights are on from the time the key is turned. The lights just don't go off after a second or 2 like the other warning lights upon start up.

I'll have the truck scanned at a parts store. Something tells me the shop that mounted the the tires is the reason for these lights as they literally came on for the first time ever on the way home. The wife drove it home, and it is her truck, otherwise if it were me I would've turned right around to let them know they did something. It's been a year, so I just need to rectify it at this point.
 
Last edited:
Mine started throwing those lights last summer (they'd be off when I started up, but would light up as soon as I hit the brakes and stay lit up until I turned the engine off). I replaced the brake lamp switch (~$25 part and about 2 minute install) and that solved the issue.

I've also read that a loose or worn out gas cap can cause those lights to illuminate too.
 
Mine started throwing those lights last summer (they'd be off when I started up, but would light up as soon as I hit the brakes and stay lit up until I turned the engine off). I replaced the brake lamp switch (~$25 part and about 2 minute install) and that solved the issue.

I've also read that a loose or worn out gas cap can cause those lights to illuminate too.

The latter only applies if the MIL (Check Engine Lamp) turns on. In his case he only has the ABS, VSC, and TRAC Off lamps on at the moment.

If you want to learn more I explain it a bit more in the thread I linked earlier in the thread. :)
 
So, I took the truck to O'Reilly today for a scan. There are no faults, and it said the abs system is not supported. So, I need to see if the abs light doesn't come on until the brake pedal is pressed. I think it is on all the time. But I'll report back.

Any other advice? I'll try the zero point cal again, but I have a feeling it won't take as the abs light is on.
 
So, it won't take the zero point recal. Abs light, as well as trac lights on before the brake pedal is touched. I'm at a loss as to what I can do. Wouldn't the scanner at O'Reilly be able to determine if there was a fault in the abs system? Or is that only on the newer 4 runners?
 
Not all scantools support ABS, so you may want to just have a dealer check what the DTCs are or see if a shop that deals in Toyota's can help you out. It sounds like a circuit issue if the lights are on the moment you turn the key on.
 
Have you checked the brake fluid? If it's below the min level, the brake light will come on, in my Maxima this also disables the VSC/TRAC. I know this is a different car, but its a simple check.
 
Have you checked the brake fluid? If it's below the min level, the brake light will come on, in my Maxima this also disables the VSC/TRAC. I know this is a different car, but its a simple check.

I'll check this. Hopefully this is it.
 
Mine did this... it was a bad wheel bearing. Got any bearing noise?

No, no noise. We did replace a front wheel bearing about 2 years ago, and the abs light didn't light then. Literally, the only warning light to ever come on before this has been the tire pressure light.
 
Have you checked the brake fluid? If it's below the min level, the brake light will come on, in my Maxima this also disables the VSC/TRAC. I know this is a different car, but its a simple check.

No, the brake fluid level is well above the low level. It's right at the level it should be.
 
This happened in my 3rd gen. After months of troubleshooting I discovered the cheap LEDs I got off of eBay were the culprit. Replaced with regular bulbs and haven't come back since. I know it sounds silly, but you could try replacing the bulbs.
 
This happened in my 3rd gen. After months of troubleshooting I discovered the cheap LEDs I got off of eBay were the culprit. Replaced with regular bulbs and haven't come back since. I know it sounds silly, but you could try replacing the bulbs.



All stock, or stock replacement bulbs. I think I've only had to change the license plate bulbs, and 1 orange DRL bulb on it ever.

Thanks for the idea though!
This trucks been awesome. Original rotors, exhaust, sensors, you name it aside from plugs, water pump, timing belt, serpentine belt, 2 sets of tires, a front wheel bearing, 1 set of front pads, and a set of rear pads. I think that's literally it, not including a couple air filters and oil filters and oil. This things been great, but outside of a miracle at this point, it's probably going to take the independent repair shop to fix it.
 
You still haven't gotten the DTCs yet?

I found this buried in the FSM:

Short out the TC & CG terminals on the DLC3 and turn the vehicle Key On/Engine Off; the ABS lamp should blink in a pattern (i.e. 3 blinks... pause... 1 blink will indicate a DTC 31;) the patterns will indicate old school DTC numbers (2 digit codes similar to how old OBDI DTCs were set-up versus modern OBDII Alphanumeric DTCs) that we can use to figure out what the issue is.

2010-06-08_223707_camry_DLC.jpg


If that seems a bit too complicated or you are having trouble I would recommend finding one of them cheapy Chinese TIS Techstreams online from like Amazon and using that on a laptop. But there isn't much we can do to help you without the DTCs, otherwise you'll need to check EVERY ABS/VSC/TRAC related circuit in the vehicle from the ECM, Instrument Cluster, Skid Control ECU, ect.
 
Last edited:
Mine is the same way. Randomly came on one day and hasn't been off since. Tried the zero point, no luck. Tried tech stream, no luck. I just gave up on it and that was 2 years ago.
e264e4298442478afb3a2814c012c8b2.jpg


And there's more gas in there than it shows, the sending unit is shot as well.
 
Mine is the same way. Randomly came on one day and hasn't been off since. Tried the zero point, no luck. Tried tech stream, no luck. I just gave up on it and that was 2 years ago.
e264e4298442478afb3a2814c012c8b2.jpg


And there's more gas in there than it shows, the sending unit is shot as well.

No history DTCs or anything in the Skid Control ECU?
 

Members online

Forum statistics

Threads
278,312
Messages
3,554,087
Members
248,016
Latest member
Advally Service

Trending content

Back
Top