DAsh light VSC question problem

[boss73]

OK so here is my story,
On Monday morning I get in the FJC and start her up and some of my Dash light warning lights come on. ITs the Check engine, VSC, VSC-TRACK, and the slippery car sign.

Took it into the dealer yesterday and they said that it looks like a rat or mouse got into the engine campartment and was chewing on the wires. They also said that they had to pull the plenum to get at the wires and it was going ot be like $650.00 to fix!! (ouch)

I have not been wheeling in a couple of weeks and even when I do I do not do anything crazy with my stock rig. SO the problem seems to be in the VSC some where. The dealer also said that it would affect my O2 sensor readings and the car will lag when getting up to speed, Which now it does have a lag. SO am not an expert by any streatch of the imagination but I would like to try to save some money.

I know this may be a streatch but has anyone out there ever heard of this happening or is the rat, mouse threroy my best bet.. Thanks in advance for any help..

 

[Blues Dawg]

This happened to me when my CAI supply hose came partially disconnected before the O2 sensor. It required a reconnect and a reset (@ the dealer under warranty). Don't ask me why a traction control (VSC is variable skid control) indicator for O2 sensor issue but...

Carl

 

[greytandy]

Anything as unlikely as a rodent choosing your wires to gnaw upon always raises a big red flag to me. If it sounds like BS it is likely BS. And always beware of the "oh, by the way, you'll need a new ... because of this problem". I'd take it to another dealer just for a second opinion. I'd bet that it's really an issue under warranty and they get more money from you than Toyota.

 

[boss73]

OK so On the blue forum today some one sent me a link of a situatiion exactly like mine.. Same lights and same reason as to why all my VSC lights are on. and the Dealer said the same thing..I am dropping it off at another shop this on Wednesday to give it a second opinion.. I will let you all know what happens..

 

[motorsargeT]

I'm not a Toyota tech, but I am a Subaru Master Tech and on most cars I have worked on if you get a CEL the computer automatically turn off all traction control features because it is in limp mode. Because it turns off the traction control, you get all the lights. I get it all the time from customers, "my car is going to blow up!!! The check engine light is on, my cruise control light is flashing, my traction control light is on and the vehicle dynamics control light is on!!!!!!!! What do I do?" And after pulling the code I usually get to tell the service advisor to charge the customer a half hour labor. Car is fixed. I tightened the gas cap and cleared the code. crazy, I know but that is the logic in the ECM. Most of that comes back to the vehicles built today having a CAN(controlled area network) system to allow all the different modules to talk to each other. one thing goes down and it just snowballs from there.

The dealer telling you a mouse ate the wires sounds fishy. however it could be possible that it did happen and it ate one of your o2 sensor wires. I have absolutely seen that before too. little buggers seem to love the harness coverings.

 

[boss73]

Well I did find on the Blue forum that someone else had this exact thing happen to them. The dealer said it was rats/mice. hopefully tomorrow I will be able to get a better answer on my problem..

motorsargeT I think that you are right about the O2 sensor as well. Cuz not there seems to be a lag when I hit the gas. It alsmost feels like the timing is not adjusting fast enough.. SO I guess it makes sense that if something was chewing on the wires perhaps they got more than one...

 

[Sanderhawk]

Get under there and check the wires for chew marks yourself. The rat theory sounds flaky but it can happen. we has a rat make a home in one of our work trucks and it chewed up almost every wire under the hood and it also ate the fan shroud, It caused $4500.00 in damage. So it sounds wierd but it can happen. Check to see if you have any wire or plastic shavings laying on the ground under where you usaully park your rig.

 

[Crusader]

Outcome?

What was the outcome of this issue? I just got my wife a used '08 FJC w/14,000 miles on it. All those same lights came after driving it 250 miles. I disconnected the battery for 30 seconds, resetting everything. The lights came back on 30 miles later.

Thanks!

--Mark

 

[amaintaylor]

What was the outcome of this issue? I just got my wife a used '08 FJC w/14,000 miles on it. All those same lights came after driving it 250 miles. I disconnected the battery for 30 seconds, resetting everything. The lights came back on 30 miles later.

Thanks!

--Mark

That sounds like a gas cap issue. Either loose or the wrong type of locking cap.

 

[Crusader]

That sounds like a gas cap issue. Either loose or the wrong type of locking cap.

That's what I was wishing the problem was on my wife's. Unfortunately, I don't think that's the case, 'cause I'm pretty good at putting on a gas cap.

I hope I didn't mess up the works by A) filling it with the engine running and B) Topping it off another quart once the nozzle clicked off. :whoops:

-Mark

 

[Crusader]

Just got the car back from the dealer's shop--The check engine light was tripped by a bad fuel-air ratio sensor. Is this just a new, fancy term for an oxygen sensor, I wonder? The sensor lasted all of 14,500 miles.