lx470 the vsc warning light goes on

[onceinalifetimeride]

On my 2000 Lexus lx470 the vsc warning light goes on, sounds a very loud beep and brakes are applied hard on freeway at 50 mph in a long sweeping left turn.
Speed limit on this freeway is 70. the car dive hard to left and scares the @!$#$ out of me when it happens. it is now increasing in frequency. ( couple of times a week but most every time I drive this stretch of pavement

 

[gbentink]

That happened to me......

I turned it off by removing the wires that go to the engine ecu. More accurately, when I removed the V8 to fit the 1HDFTE, I left the LX470 loom there and didnt connect the VSC and TRC wires because of that issue and the fact that I HATE TRC

 

[ToyotaDon]

I've seen this when one of the wheel speed sensors is starting to go out. The VSC will see one wheel speed vary too much from the others, and think there is slipping going on.

You may also simply need a Zero Point Calibration which tells the Yaw Rate, Steering Angle, and Deceleration Sensors where normal is.

Hope that helps.

 

[gbentink]

Honestly, I was planning to do just what you suggested especially since the former will affect the ABS in some situations.

But, perhaps unique to me, the VSC meant that when doing handbrake turns in wet weather the brakes would be activated while trying to spin the hweels on the exit of the silde.

It took all the fun out of it. My Wifes 99 model doesnt have it and it was so much more fun. I havent looked back!

I've seen this when one of the wheel speed sensors is starting to go out. The VSC will see one wheel speed vary too much from the others, and think there is slipping going on.

You may also simply need a Zero Point Calibration which tells the Yaw Rate, Steering Angle, and Deceleration Sensors where normal is.

Hope that helps.

 

[onceinalifetimeride]

Thank you both for the input. You are very kind.

ToyotaDan Do you know if there is a way to test the sensors individually to tell which .. if any or trying to go bad?

I was told that there were 6 to 8 of them and they run between $200 and $300 each before labor. In fact the lx service writer told me it was very expensive to locate what is going on (it didn't put out an error code) and that they may have to replace them all to see which one it is.

He said I might be better off just selling it and getting another one. ( I left that dealership quickly and almost waved at them with just one finger.)

I have 3 problems with doing that ;
1 I don't want to sell it to someone and have them left with the problem
2 I think someone could get hurt if it went of and were not expecting it.
3 the truck has 170k miles but is in very good shape, visually and mechanically. I have taken good care of it and don't want to through it away.
Finally My son wants to get into some serious 4 wheeling. I've had a number of older land cruisers (last one was a 1994)and smaller trucks and they were very capable on the trail, especially with the stock locker, but I don't want to put him into something that is dangerous or too expensive for him to afford to fix.

Do you think another LX dealer would be able to find it responsibly?

Thanks again

 

[agaisin]

onceinalifetimeride and gbentink - either of you resolve the issue or have repeats of the behavior? see this thread for 2 other folks with same behavior: https://forum.ih8mud.com/100-series-cruisers/476853-serious-issue-active-trac-help.html

 

[agaisin]

Thank you both for the input. You are very kind.

ToyotaDan Do you know if there is a way to test the sensors individually to tell which .. if any or trying to go bad?

I was told that there were 6 to 8 of them and they run between $200 and $300 each before labor. In fact the lx service writer told me it was very expensive to locate what is going on (it didn't put out an error code) and that they may have to replace them all to see which one it is.

He said I might be better off just selling it and getting another one. ( I left that dealership quickly and almost waved at them with just one finger.)

I have 3 problems with doing that ;
1 I don't want to sell it to someone and have them left with the problem
2 I think someone could get hurt if it went of and were not expecting it.
3 the truck has 170k miles but is in very good shape, visually and mechanically. I have taken good care of it and don't want to through it away.
Finally My son wants to get into some serious 4 wheeling. I've had a number of older land cruisers (last one was a 1994)and smaller trucks and they were very capable on the trail, especially with the stock locker, but I don't want to put him into something that is dangerous or too expensive for him to afford to fix.

Do you think another LX dealer would be able to find it responsibly?

Thanks again

If you haven't had it resolved yet, I would suggest another dealerhship or an independant toyota/lexus mechanic if you have any local ones (check clubhouse for local recommendations).

I second toyotadon's suggestion on performing zero point calibration, especially if you can replicate the behavior, perform the zero point cal, then try to replicate it again (or not).

 

[trackmur]

Threads like this make this forum great.

 

[onceinalifetimeride]

Ok Here it is. After about a year and half of pulling my hair out ( what little I have left is real valuble.)

We have finally corrected the problem and it was not what you would would think.

Here is what we did to try to fix the problem. Two different, very competent, shops tried many times without sucess and finally tossed in the towel and quit.

I the begin to work only with the #1 dealership in my state which I had bought 1 of my other 3 Lexus' from.

1 We checked all censors,
2 put on new tires and dynamically balance the new tires (4times)
3 Did a Zero Point Calibration (which samples the Yaw Rate, Steering Angle,) and checked the Deceleration Sensors.

OUCH
None of this did anything except empty my bank account,,,,, and fast.

On the way back to the lx dealership, for what seemed like the 5th time, I noticed that the steering seemed a little sloppy ( this is my kids cabin and lake car and they are the only ones that really drive it, so I had not noticed that before.)

When I got to the dealer I asked if they could check the play in the steering but not spend much more money unless they would promise it would fix it.

Well that is what the problem was. It turns out that the computer noticed the many small corrections I was making to keep the lx tracking straight and it thought I was over correcting.... posing a danger and then it took control of the lx on it's own. (Can I say Thank you Hal from 2001 a space oddity.)

They replaced the rack and pinon steering box, the tie rod ends and did a 4 wheel alinement with the promise that it would fix it for good.

It did..... no more problems with the vsc or brakes locking up....just the bank locking me out...... Jokes... The steering box, rod ends and alignment cost about $1100 for parts and $950 for labor. Yes that is painful but the lx 470 handles like new. And it's book value is about 12 to 15K, maybe more.IDK

Anyway I hope it helps you guys.

 

[Mike sark]

Ok Here it is. After about a year and half of pulling my hair out ( what little I have left is real valuble.)

We have finally corrected the problem and it was not what you would would think.

Here is what we did to try to fix the problem. Two different, very competent, shops tried many times without sucess and finally tossed in the towel and quit.

I the begin to work only with the #1 dealership in my state which I had bought 1 of my other 3 Lexus' from.

1 We checked all censors,
2 put on new tires and dynamically balance the new tires (4times)
3 Did a Zero Point Calibration (which samples the Yaw Rate, Steering Angle,) and checked the Deceleration Sensors.

OUCH
None of this did anything except empty my bank account,,,,, and fast.

On the way back to the lx dealership, for what seemed like the 5th time, I noticed that the steering seemed a little sloppy ( this is my kids cabin and lake car and they are the only ones that really drive it, so I had not noticed that before.)

When I got to the dealer I asked if they could check the play in the steering but not spend much more money unless they would promise it would fix it.

Well that is what the problem was. It turns out that the computer noticed the many small corrections I was making to keep the lx tracking straight and it thought I was over correcting.... posing a danger and then it took control of the lx on it's own. (Can I say Thank you Hal from 2001 a space oddity.)

They replaced the rack and pinon steering box, the tie rod ends and did a 4 wheel alinement with the promise that it would fix it for good.

It did..... no more problems with the vsc or brakes locking up....just the bank locking me out...... Jokes... The steering box, rod ends and alignment cost about $1100 for parts and $950 for labor. Yes that is painful but the lx 470 handles like new. And it's book value is about 12 to 15K, maybe more.IDK

Anyway I hope it helps you guys.

I had similar problems with my 2001 LX470, dealer said the control module needs to be replaced cost is $4500. A recommendation from a service tech, replaced the front tires problem solved hard breaking never came back.
Msark

 

[BullElk]

In my 2000 LX, I had same VSC and alarm problem. I replaced steering rack and pinion about 10 months ago and it cured the problem...until a few days ago. First the lights and alarm would beep for a couple days and now its lights, alarm and violent braking like before. I plan to take it back to mechanic to let check.

Bad steering rack? Bad sensors?

Thanks

 

[BullElk]

SOLVED...

Had Oreilly Masterpro steering rack installed 13 months ago and the original VSC problem was solved. This time the rack was fine but the small bushings were toast. I replaced them with the Whiteline brand bushings, including large bushing. Now the steering on the 2000 LX feels like the 2006 LX. Tight!

 

[ThaiCruiser]

Thanks for all the inputs. The 100 I'm eyeing on has the VSC problem, according to the owner. I need to revisit this if I end up buying it.

Cheers!