2006 Lexus LX470 VGRS issues

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Well... Made some progress today. Had both VCS lights on and the VGRS light on. Bought a DLC extender cable and performed step 8 from the VGRS system calibration procedure posted in this thread somewhere. No change and I felt kinda silly doing sub steps 1-6 15 times. After driving it again and making sure that the wheel is still centered, I came back inside my garage and did step 3, actuator angle initialization and my VCS lights are OFF! Still have my VGRS light on but, like I said, progress!.
 
Make sure to clear flags (REC) and drive in straight line up to ~27 MPH. Also make sure no DTC. You may also need to zero point calibrate.
 
Jwoodywild said:
How did you disconnect it specifically? I am not mechanical per se but want to do this as well. Suffering from similar issues to others on this thread - in 2024! P
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You don’t need to be mechanical to disable it. Search this forum for how to disconnect VGRS. It’s one plug in the VGRS ECU under the dash / in front of your left shin. But, before you disable, you may want to try getting an OBD2 extension cable and follow service manual steps to reset VGRS- easy and worked for me.
 
I definitely recommended trying to do the zero point calibration with techstream before disconnecting the plug.
I had to go in and clear the roads and only after that was I able to complete the calibration and the light went off. Worth a try.

Of course if none else fails disconnect the plug and move on with life.
 
Import Driver said:
I definitely recommended trying to do the zero point calibration with techstream before disconnecting the plug.
I had to go in and clear the roads and only after that was I able to complete the calibration and the light went off. Worth a try.

Of course if none else fails disconnect the plug and move on with life.
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When we tried to use Techstream we kept getting code C1531 - ECU malfunction. I don't think we can do a zero point calibration with this code present, and we did not seem able to clear this code. Disconnecting it would simply let me center the wheel and drive as normal.
 
Jwoodywild said:
When we tried to use Techstream we kept getting code C1531 - ECU malfunction. I don't think we can do a zero point calibration with this code present, and we did not seem able to clear this code. Disconnecting it would simply let me center the wheel and drive as normal.
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Oh ok. I've read through this thread pretty thoroughly before but sorry I didn't remember where you were at with it. That is disappointing.
 
Jwoodywild said:
Will try the reset. When you reset your was the ECU throwing a code?

Dealer says it was throwing code C1531
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Yes, I bought the truck about 5 months ago knowing it had VSC and VGRS trouble lights illuminated. I don’t have the VGRS code in front of me but the previous owner drove it like this (VGRS / VSC lights on and VGRS locked at about 45 degrees off center) for several years and about 100K miles. Lexus dealer told him it needed new VGRS actuator. I repaired it by replacing spiral cable, releasing VGRS lock by applying 12 volts to VGRS ECU with a power probe, and resetting the VGRS system with basic wires / pins into the OBD port. VGRS is actually great when it’s working. I fixed in January of this year and have put about 6000 trouble free miles on it.
 
Indiana80 said:
Yes, I bought the truck about 5 months ago knowing it had VSC and VGRS trouble lights illuminated. I don’t have the VGRS code in front of me but the previous owner drove it like this (VGRS / VSC lights on and VGRS locked at about 45 degrees off center) for several years and about 100K miles. Lexus dealer told him it needed new VGRS actuator. I repaired it by replacing spiral cable, releasing VGRS lock by applying 12 volts to VGRS ECU with a power probe, and resetting the VGRS system with basic wires / pins into the OBD port. VGRS is actually great when it’s working. I fixed in January of this year and have put about 6000 trouble free miles on it.
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I’ve read that techstream sometimes won’t work to reset / recalibrate VSC/VGRS. But, the manual OBD pinning works. Just don’t short the wrong pins!
 
Craiggger said:
HIDEC I joined specifically so I could reply to your post. Very useful.
I had VSC/VSC OFF VGRS steady lights.
Used Techstream to get the codes: 1567 and 1289
It was pointing to VGRS actuator and VGRS ECU failures. (I thought the black tape I put over the dash lights would be permanent)
Your success inspired me to keep trying.
Ultimately I did not replace anything.
I tried all the centering and calibration procedures. could not clear it.
I fully disconnected VGRS ECU, disconnected battery.
To clear the problem I executed the FSM procedure attached.
I had to do it all twice before I got the blinking VSC and VGRS lights. Then I knew I was homefree.
STEP 3 Actuator Angle Initiation was critical.

Thanks to all who keep sharing their experience. It saves everyone a lot of time and $. I was pointed to this doc by one of you I'm sure.
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Plus one for this method.

Symptoms:
Had a customer bring his truck me after his battery was replaced on his 2003 LX470. The steering wheel was cocked to the right about 15-20 degrees with VGRS, VSC/VSC OFF lights steadily illuminated.

Tech stream revealed codes C1289 VGRS system malfunction and C1531 ECU malfunction.

Solution:
  • STEP 3 Actuator Angle Initiation as found on SR-56
  • Made an SST 09843-18040 out of two old 98-99 LX470 OEM locker connector blank grounding wires. Nerdy, I know...
  • Used tech stream to unlock and adjust the VGRS steering angle
While I was in there I also checked the infamous recall snap ring and found that it had been replaced. Good for my customer 🍻

My local Lexus dealership charged him $200 to bring him a $4,000+ quote "to replace the VSRG ECU." I've seen multiple dealers suggest replacing the VGRS computer which would actually fix the problem if they followed the book after swapping it out- the sad part is that all they have to do is read the book...but no one reads anymore- especially not me.


Would anyone buy 09843-18040 if I imported them? Would cost between $20-$30

IMG_0989.jpeg
IMG_0990.jpeg
IMG_0991.jpeg
 
cruiserpatch said:
Plus one for this method.

Symptoms:
Had a customer bring his truck me after his battery was replaced on his 2003 LX470. The steering wheel was cocked to the right about 15-20 degrees with VGRS, VSC/VSC OFF lights steadily illuminated.

Tech stream revealed codes C1289 VGRS system malfunction and C1531 ECU malfunction.

Solution:
  • STEP 3 Actuator Angle Initiation as found on SR-56
  • Made an SST 09843-18040 out of two old 98-99 LX470 OEM locker connector blank grounding wires. Nerdy, I know...
  • Used tech stream to unlock and adjust the VGRS steering angle
While I was in there I also checked the infamous recall snap ring and found that it had been replaced. Good for my customer 🍻

My local Lexus dealership charged him $200 to bring him a $4,000+ quote "to replace the VSRG ECU." I've seen multiple dealers suggest replacing the VGRS computer which would actually fix the problem if they followed the book after swapping it out- the sad part is that all they have to do is read the book...but no one reads anymore- especially not me.


Would anyone buy 09843-18040 if I imported them? Would cost between $20-$30

View attachment 3638784View attachment 3638785View attachment 3638786
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Patch is amazing! The technician who worked on the car for $200 seemed to have never heard of VGRS and in fact got the letters who multiple times. When I spoke to the "shop foreman" he had heard of it but was equally confused and backed up the quote of $3,000 to fix the ECU with no guarantee of a fix.

If you are in the Atlanta area, or not, and need a trusted hand on your truck call Patch!
 
Indiana80 said:
Yes, I bought the truck about 5 months ago knowing it had VSC and VGRS trouble lights illuminated. I don’t have the VGRS code in front of me but the previous owner drove it like this (VGRS / VSC lights on and VGRS locked at about 45 degrees off center) for several years and about 100K miles. Lexus dealer told him it needed new VGRS actuator. I repaired it by replacing spiral cable, releasing VGRS lock by applying 12 volts to VGRS ECU with a power probe, and resetting the VGRS system with basic wires / pins into the OBD port. VGRS is actually great when it’s working. I fixed in January of this year and have put about 6000 trouble free miles on it.
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do you have a thread on how you replaced the spiral cable of your actuator? My actuator has probably a lose or cut cable connection. It works until after I turn my steering to a certain degree and VGRS then malfunctions and steering goes 180 off center. Switching the car off and on again takes care of it until I have to turn my steering again.
 
prickly said:
do you have a thread on how you replaced the spiral cable of your actuator? My actuator has probably a lose or cut cable connection. It works until after I turn my steering to a certain degree and VGRS then malfunctions and steering goes 180 off center. Switching the car off and on again takes care of it until I have to turn my steering again.
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Sorry to report- I did not have to repair my actuator spiral cable. I only had to replace my airbag spiral cable. I suspect that years ago under a prior owner, an independent shop disconnected the battery with steering wheel turned and triggered all the MILs. In my case, I just had to reset / recalibrate everything- after 2 dealers told previous owner that it needed a new actuator. Your case sounds different. Have you done a zero point calibration / steering angle sensor calibration?
 
Indiana80 said:
Sorry to report- I did not have to repair my actuator spiral cable. I only had to replace my airbag spiral cable. I suspect that years ago under a prior owner, an independent shop disconnected the battery with steering wheel turned and triggered all the MILs. In my case, I just had to reset / recalibrate everything- after 2 dealers told previous owner that it needed a new actuator. Your case sounds different. Have you done a zero point calibration / steering angle sensor calibration?
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yes, I did that with Techstream. But I have also read some people were not able to get it right with Techstream and had to do manual SST which then worked.

But I don't think it's applicable in my case ( I can be wrong). But I say this because I have a long history now with VGRS. Initially, it worked with intermittent issue, got my steering rack changed to a brand new and it stopped working completely. Then a year later it randomly started to work again but would trigger the VGRS light just before the limits with a small jerk to the steering. It works as intended until it VGRS light was triggered. Even now it works as intended until I turn the steering past a certain limit, which isn't a lot now.

I honestly gave up for now. I re-centered my steering with Techstream and then disconnected the power to VGRS and use it as dumb steering. But I do intend to look into it sometime at a later date, like manual SST resetting etc.
 
prickly said:
yes, I did that with Techstream. But I have also read some people were not able to get it right with Techstream and had to do manual SST which then worked.

But I don't think it's applicable in my case ( I can be wrong). But I say this because I have a long history now with VGRS. Initially, it worked with intermittent issue, got my steering rack changed to a brand new and it stopped working completely. Then a year later it randomly started to work again but would trigger the VGRS light just before the limits with a small jerk to the steering. It works as intended until it VGRS light was triggered. Even now it works as intended until I turn the steering past a certain limit, which isn't a lot now.

I honestly gave up for now. I re-centered my steering with Techstream and then disconnected the power to VGRS and use it as dumb steering. But I do intend to look into it sometime at a later date, like manual SST resetting etc.
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I had to manually reset mine with SST. Took a few tries, but was ultimately successful. Been working fine for several months now and it’s my daily driver
 
Hidec said:
The short story: SUCCESS!!!

The long story:
I was finally able to get back to the truck to install the recently arrived ECU. However, it was not as simple as I had hoped:
  1. Installed the new to me VGRS ECU.
  2. Battery reconnected and the truck started. Same dash lights as before (stability control, traction control, and VGRS).
  3. Techstream revealed the traction control code was the same as before (C1289 - VGRS error), but the VGRS code changed to C1531 (VGRS ECU Malfunction)
  4. I assumed this was because the VGRS actuator had not been calibrated with the new ECU, so I followed the Service Manual and attempted to clear all codes and go through the VGRS calibration via Techstream
  5. Codes did not clear, and C1531 would not allow Techstream to start the VGRS calibration.
  6. Tried clearing the codes multiple times through Techstream with no success
  7. Much cursing ensued which did not clear the codes either...
  8. Remembered that the truck would need to be driven in a straight line above ~25 mph for about 30 seconds, to identify the "straight" value for the VGRS
  9. Drove around town for about 10 minutes with multiple 40 mph over 30 second straight sections
  10. Returned home, connected Techstream, tried to clear the codes - no success
  11. More cursing, and still no code clearing secret words...
  12. Decided to follow the calibration procedure using the SST check wire instead of Techstream
  13. Per the SM as C1515 was not a current error code, I created my own SST and performed the 3 way connection per the Service Manual. Interestingly the SST has 3 connectors (at leas in the picture I could find online), and the SM required CG and Ts to be constantly connected, but CG and Tc to be connected and disconnected 10 times within 20 seconds, then turn the steering wheel to the left >180 degrees, then 10 more connect / disconnect in under 20 seconds of CG and Tc - all under 1 minute.
  14. After an on / off cycle of the ignition, two things had happened - Techstream now also showed the C1515 error in addition to the already present codes, but the two traction control lights on the dash were no longer lit. Just the VGRS light.
  15. Used Techstream to clear codes again, and after the refreshed health check, only the C1515 code was present!
  16. Since the steering wheel was already centered from when I installed the new mid-shaft actuator, I skipped ahead in the SM to step 8 - "Adjust the actuator angle". reconnected CG and Ts, turned the ignition on, and the VGRS light now was blinking!
  17. Ignition off - remove the CG-Ts jumper - start the engine - turn left > 90 degrees - turn right 90 degrees - back to center for > 3 seconds
  18. VGRS light goes out!!!!
  19. Much celebratory yelling and family coming outside to see if I am ok...
  20. To be sure, drove around town for about 20 minutes and no warning lights!
So, after all this I am not sure if it was the VGRS ECU, the mid shaft actuator, or both that were non operable.

It was interesting that both the original C1567 and the new C1531 codes caused the C1289 traction control error and the lights on the dash, but the C1515 code seemed to suppress the traction control error and turn off the dash lights.

It also appears my Techstream / Mini VCI combination could not start the calibration cycle, but the manual wire method could. Wondering if another Techstream / Mini CVI version would actually ground and unground various pins on the port.

Anyway, I'll come back to this thread and update if the light reappears, but I'm calling this one good for now and am enjoying a warning light free dashboard!
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Do u need to turn the steering wheel?? Ive seen multiple videos saying steering has to be straight and not be move
 
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