'04 Highlander - VSC/Traction control problem (1 Viewer)

[KLF]

Just tossing this one up here, see if anybody has any advice.

'04 Highlander, 125K miles. V6 AWD model. Love the car, not a single problem with it, until yesterday.

Wife reports that the Traction Control light (the one with the squiggly lines under the car symbol) on the dash cluster would suddenly start flashing, with a rapid beeping. Drove otherwise fine. Roads are dry, speed is constant.

Took it to work today, yup, problem reproduces many times. Dry pavement, constant speed. The only way to get the beeping to stop is to slow down to below 20 mph. It got scary just as I was almost to work, beeping away, and it suddenly slammed on the brakes for a brief instant, a few times, at 55 mph. Ya it got my attention fast.

I have NO TIME to deal with this right now, I am totally swamped. I looked at the fuseboxes, I'd prefer to just disable the thing for the next couple of weeks. Then I'm gonna have to take it to a dealer and bend over.

Any clues? Advice?

 

[SteveH]

I'd start by disconnecting the battery overnight (not for 10 min.) and see how it goes the next day. An OBDII/CAN compliant code reader may tell you something - and any auto parts store can dump the codes (be sure they get 'pending' codes, too). Then check some forums -

 

[KLF]

Just got off the phone with the dealer, they also recommended pulling the battery for awhile, I'll do that tonight. They also said if that doesn't work to start pulling the ABS fuses.

I do have a code reader, but it's just a generic cheapy. I'll see if it tells me anything.

I'm kinda spooked to drive the thing now.

 

[KLF]

Follow up: as suggested, I disconnected the battery overnight, it's been fine ever since. I did take it to the local dealer yesterday just to be sure, and they couldn't find anything wrong. I guess it just needed a reboot.

First time I've had to fix anything on this car, not bad for 8 years and 125k miles.

 

[Sam Stewart]

Just an FYI. The older style TRAC and VSC systems used wheel speed exclusively so ANY variation could make them do funny things. Like if one tire was low on air, mismatched tires, different size tires than OE, wheel speed sensor faulty, etc. If the light flashes and beeps that means the system is activated. Normal operation would be if one wheel locked up or was spinning, or if you turn hard in gravel.

 

[KLF]

I'm not 100% sure, but I believe the only thing this vehicle uses for wheel speed is the ABS tone ring, there are no other sensors on the wheels or in the suspension. It also feeds the TPMS, and it does work. Our last set of tires had one with a very slow leak and it would trip the light on when the tire would get low.

But the tires on the car now were recently replaced (Michelins), all the same size, factory spec, etc. I had rotated them and checked the pressure a few weeks ago while doing an oil change, so they were all fine. They did find a nail in one tire, but the pressure was still right at 30 psi where it was supposed to be. I plugged it yesterday.

They also found a couple of bulbs were burned out in the left taillight, but I can't imagine that had anything to do with it.

 

[ToyotaDon]

Sam's on the right track. The system uses the Wheel Speed Sensors (aka ABS tone ring) to detect tires slipping or spinning. It also has a Steering Angle Sensor and a Yaw Rate Sensor (Deceleration Sensor).

The times I've seen unwanted ABS/TRAC actuation have been when one of the wheel speeds goes out of range in comparison to the rest. This is what is supposed to trigger these systems to operate, so no DTCs will usually set. The system thinks things are normal. An intermittent variation would also not turn on the TPMS light, as that looks for a continual, slight variation in one wheel/tire.

All that being said, if one of the other two sensors had an issue, there's a possibility they could cause this. Both the Steering Angle and Yaw Rate sensors have a Zero Point Calibration procedure that's associated with them. If any service work has been done, especially something like an alignment, the battery is supposed to be disconnected for more than 2 seconds, and the repair manual procedures are followed to relearn the "zero point."

My advice would be if this happens again, have the dealership or someone with the proper equipment do one of the following: Using a scan tool with a fast refresh rate, record a snapshot of the ABS data when the condition occurs. This can then be reviewed to see if one of the sensors goes out of range. The other option is to use an oscilloscope connected to each of the sensors, and monitor for variations in the signals. Some scopes can also record the traces to be reviewed later.

HTH

 

[Dini]

My wife's '08 Highlander does the same thing. Traction control will randomly come on for no reason at all. Even in summer on warm dry days. No rhyme or reason whatsoever. What a POS!

 

[Haggis]

Well...just went through a similar hell. My 01 4Runner LTD dash went ballistic with the check engine light on, VSC, Abs no working speedometer a total f-ing pinball machine. Had to replace the VSC, ABS computer under the dash for $1,100 last week. Today, my truck would not start and the check engine light is on AGAIN. Does this happen to everyone who surpasses 115,000 mi?? Calling AAA tomorrow. What a PITA. Seriously thinking of moving up to a 100..

 

[Dini]

Well...just went through a similar ****. My 01 4Runner LTD dash went ballistic with the check engine light on, VSC, Abs no working speedometer a total f-ing pinball machine. Had to replace the VSC, ABS computer under the dash for $1,100 last week. Today, my truck would not start and the check engine light is on AGAIN. Does this happen to everyone who surpasses 115,000 mi?? Calling AAA tomorrow. What a PITA. Seriously thinking of moving up to a 100..

Sounds like you might have a lemon on your hands. My '98 Taco has around 228K and doesn't have any of those problems. Ouch! I didn't know those ABS computers were so dayum spendy. Eh, who needs ABS anyway?

 

[Haggis]

So true Dini, my ABS light is still on in my 2000 Taco. I just disconnected the ABS module under the hood. I have no use for it on the trails. Other than that glitch, my Taco has been trouble free. So was my 4Runner until last month. I did take a KLF's advice about disconnecting the battery. Started right up, no check engine light on for 2 days. Sorry about the rant, crossing my fingers....Thanks!