VSC off, TRAC off and check engine light on!

[junbug119]

Hello everyone,
I've had the check engine light, VSC, and TRAC light on for about a month now on my 03 4Runner with about 19,000 miles (It's my weekend vehicle and I take the train commuting to work ). Went to Autozone to get the codes read but they told me they don't offer that service anymore. Vehicle runs great and the gas mileage hasn't changed. I've tried the usual tightening the gas cap and resetting the computer. But, after driving for about 15 minutes, they all light up again. I did just read in some other forum that low brake fluid can also cause the lights to light up. I will have to check up on that once I get home from work. I'm really hoping there is something else I can do before I really have to take it to a mechanic.

 

[Liftproduction]

Vsc , check engine, anti lock , low tire pressure

I had low tire light come on my 2005 4runner sport v8 4wheel drive. I did not take care of this right away, and it set off lights "vsc, anti lock brakes" . I solved it after proper air in all 5 tires including spare. The lights were still on, so disconnected battery waited 15 minutes, hooked battery up and all lights shut off.

 

[whitfam]

Sgt Boz & Grosse14 what were you able to find out about your problems. I'm having the same issue now with an 04 SR5 V6 w/ 125K miles. Engine shakes for a while when i start it up, and sometimes I notice after driving a while rpms go down to 500 on idle. CEL reader reported cylinder 6 misfire and I replaced all six plugs, it was good for a while but now it's happening again. I'm thinking it could be a bad distributor cap. Your input would help a lot.

I have the same exact issue with my 2004 4Runner Limited v6 4x4. Except now my heater does not work. Has anyone resolved their issue yet? Any help would be greatly appreciated.

 

[whitfam]

check engine

Sgt Boz & Grosse14 what were you able to find out about your problems. I'm having the same issue now with an 04 SR5 V6 w/ 125K miles. Engine shakes for a while when i start it up, and sometimes I notice after driving a while rpms go down to 500 on idle. CEL reader reported cylinder 6 misfire and I replaced all six plugs, it was good for a while but now it's happening again. I'm thinking it could be a bad distributor cap. Your input would help a lot.

I have the same exact issue with my 2004 4Runner Limited v6 4x4. Except now my heater does not work. Has anyone resolved their issue yet? Any help would be greatly appreciated.

 

[bk4runner]

engine shake

had same problem except when it was done shaking it sounded like water rushing into the dash for like 5 seconds. turns out i had a head gasket and water pump gone bad , that week was a pain in the ass

 

[Trail4Runner]

VSC Light and CEL fix

I had the same issues CEL and VSC light came on at the same time.
Took it to Autozone and code came in as exhaust/catalytic convertor code.

Autozone guy suggested possible hole in exhaust system. My mechanic wanted me to spend $900 to replace cc. When we put the car on the lift it was hard to see but the gasket just before the cc was leaking. We changed the gaskets on both sides...CEL cleared VSC no longer illuminated.
total cost $100

 

[AurelioDiez]

Had a similar problem with my 2005 4 Runner. I fixed it by cleaning the battery poles from a greenish powder.

 

[azurez14]

03 4runner CEL VSC TRAC OFF

Actron code reader said it was passenger side 0xygen sensor downstream(the one after the catalytic converter). I replaced it with OEM Denso and cleared the code. Two days later CEL and VSC TRAC OFF lights came back on. Checked with reader again and code came back as the same Oxygen sensor downstream on passenger side even though it was already replaced with new one. Any ideas anyone?

 

[4run4BuxandTako]

That sounds like my problem...We have replaced all O2 sensors with factory parts now, at first we used after market (which I have heard that can trick the Codes to pull). Also new battery, MAF sensor...and my VSC Trac, VSC Off, and check engine lights are still on!! They are haunting me. I have noticed the exhaust has a bit of an eggy smell to it occasionally...gaskets sound like my next step ?

 

[WJB75]

VCS off / track and check engine light on

Hey this just happened to me also. So; as many rational people do I scanned through my owner’s manual and as usual it suggested that "I SHOULD DRIVE STRAIGHT TO A DEALER!" "F that" so I googled my issue and found this sight after reading through a dozen of post ranging from bad cat's to lose gas caps I ventured out to my 2002 SR5 LTD 4WD and started the rounds as follows. I tightened my gas cap ...nope. Then I checked my abs fuse box...nope. I checked fluid levels all good...nope. Then I said what the Hey and opened up the old air cleaner box .....Guess what folks some damn rodent had stored at least 100 acorns in there via my air induction port on the passenger side wheel well...lol. Following a quick WAP VAC maneuver the lights went out. So, add this one to the possible fixes regarding warning lights.

 

[hubertron]

Same is happening to me. I think its the "Yaw" sensor based on when it happens.

 

[Super-G]

I bought my 2002 4 Runner on Thanksgiving weekend. I got it at a good price and with good miles (84,000). Lucky for me the dealer gave me a 3 month 3000 mile bumper to bumper warranty with the purchase.

I took it in last night and got a call from the service advisor today that the code reads a bad cat. I said no biggie I have a warranty....after a pause he asked me what warranty. I said the one I got with the truck...the one I have in writing. He said uh...OK and told me he'd check with his mgr and let me know.

The dealership is replacing the cat for me under warranty.

 

[tatapo]

in response to the original vsc lights prob.it's one of your abs sensors .....have it plugged or check all your abs wiring for cracks or dents or water/dirt around the sensor.it has nothing to do with the o2 sensor,the check engine comes on because the the truck will make more pollution since it will spin.(when abs not working;the vsc cannot operate).hope this helps

 

[dvdwkfld]

VSC Light, Trac Control and CEL. All were on.
Went to Autozone, ran CEL Code, saw it was EVAP.
After reading multiple posts, decided to try and replace the gas cap. 40 miles later, all warning lights were off.
Done and done. $13 later, problem fixed. Just in time for a huge snowstorm in Salt Lake.

And now I am a member thanks to everyone's expertise on here.

Dave

 

[jaebird82]

'03 2wd. The CE, VSC Off and VSC Trac lights are on too. It happened on the freeway. I went around a corner today and my tires kept spinning through the turn for like 3 seconds. It was fun, but besides the point.

I want to leave it disabled anyway for off-roading, but want to make sure there aren't any problems. Should i just go to auto zone and get the code read? Lastly, my brakes are horrible, I'm about to get them fixed, does it have anything to do it? No ABS lights on.

 

[far2neet]

2004 4runner; vsc off trac off ck engine

Hi all- I have 2004 T 4Runner v6 with 90K miles on it. Every time I have to park it on an inclined driveway or space and put on the emergency brake, the vsc trac lights as well as the check engine sign comes on. The last time it happened it was a few days before I had to have the 90K mile service. And all the warning lights went away. They changed the battery as well, so I am guessing that is what ended up curing the faulty signs as well. Does anyone have any ideas or similar experiences? How easy or difficult would it be to disconnect and reconnect the battery?
Thanks

For about a month my warning lights were on too.... I put in a new battery and they all went OFF! I still had the original Panasonic battery in my truck from 2004. Everybody try this before spending “big” money on repairs that are unecessary.

 

[Jetbox]

Thank you for the Posts, The gas cap fixed my 2007 4-Runner SR5 4WD.
VSC off / track and check engine light on came on after a gas fill up. $12 after market gas cap and Code reset tool $45, Winner!!!

 

[Jan777]

fixed it! VSC OFF TRAC & CHECK lights on

After getting stuck on a beach where all four wheels dug into the gravel and the body came sitting on the gravel with the all wheels spinning, these lights came on permanent: VCS symbol, VCS OFF, TRAC and CHECK

Started reading bit of reading in this forum. First attempt then worked like magic:

Disconnected the battery for 30min and its all fine again!

Its a 2005 V8 Limited with 75k miles.

THANKS TO ALL!

 

[TeryT]

Best Response

in response to the original vsc lights prob.it's one of your abs sensors .....have it plugged or check all your abs wiring for cracks or dents or water/dirt around the sensor.it has nothing to do with the o2 sensor,the check engine comes on because the the truck will make more pollution since it will spin.(when abs not working;the vsc cannot operate).hope this helps

IMHO most of the responses on here kinda went in circles (aka "spinning the wheels" - couldn't help saying that! :happy: ) This response makes the most sense. Just had this happen today when a brake shop did a major brake job on my 03 V8 (147k miles). I have to take it back in tomorrow morning to fix, but I can pretty much bet it's something related to an ABS sensor.

 

[dekhoi1]

gas cap

Guys check the gas cap. I didn't believe it when I read some of the post online, until I had the computer code come back from my mechanic. There is a sensor in the gas tank for the pressure build up from gasoline. He figured out it could be one of two things, either the gas cap is not on tight or I needed to replace the charcoal filter (that I didn't know). He checked the gas cap, and guess what! There were 2 hairline crack in the o-ring seal. They were vey minute, but if you look at them closely you can see them. Now my 4Runner just broke 95K so I did a major amount of maintenance on it, just as a precaution, and it's a 2001! I changed out all the belts, including the timing belt, water pump (cheaper in the long run). I did the tune up myself, including the sparkplug wire, which is super simple. I don't know if all the maintenance set off the alarm codes: check engine, Vtrac, etc. Another thing I learned that once the check engine light activates it will also deactivate the traction control to save the engine wear and tear. If you read the manual from Toyota, if the traction control lights goes on it's safe to drive, just take it to a Toyota dealer ship. So before doing anything when both are lights are on, just take it to your local automotive shop for the computer code, most likely it has to do with your fuel tank. I also have a friend that lost a fuel cap on a Lexus, and after a week of driving he had the same problem, and again it was no seal. I hope this helps.