VSC System indicator (1 Viewer)
- Thread starter DSallean
- Start date
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Hi everyone. Thought I'd provide an update here. I have no clue if my issue is the same as everyone else, but here it goes. As previously noted, I've been dealing with this issue for the past 90,000 miles. Every so often when starting the vehicle the 4LO, VSC and TRC lights illuminate. If I shut the vehicle off and back on, they go away. The first time this was reported to the dealership was even before the 3K service. Since then it had been reported seven times, however each time either they were not able to reproduce the issue, or performed an incorrect diagnosis (can't really blame them as there were no codes). Finally, we were able to get some new codes from the system and it was determined to be a faulty activator switch in the transfer case. I'm no mechanic, but apparently the bolts that secure the actuator are from the inside of the transfer case, so it's a 12 hour job to drop the transfer case, open it up and replace the actuator. That's a hefty labor bill, not to mention the part itself isn't exactly cheap! So, I wrote a nice letter to Toyota and they graciously covered the majority of the cost out of warranty (I guess one could debate that they were already "noticed" of the defect within the powertrain warranty, so technically this wasn't a true "out-of-warranty" claim). It's now been about a month and so far so good! I'm glad this was finally resolved. 
- Thread starter
- #23
JBHorne, when I have this happen shutting off the vehicle and back on the codes and dash lights do not go away. I have to clear them manually. I have not had it happen in a few thousand miles so keeping my fingers crossed.
I think I have the same issue. How do I manually clear those lights?
Markuson
SILVER Star
Clear them either with a code reader that allows clearing...
...or disconnect your battery for about 35 seconds to a minute (there's an audible clicking sound you hear in the cabin that happens about that long after disconnecting...that seems to coincide with whether it retains the errors or resets upon reconnect).
I'll circle back with the latest efforts: My Toyota mechanic friend built a little paint can smoke machine (see YouTube). We connected it to the evap system line on the driver's side of the motor. We found that smoke came out of the fuel filler door area. Since we already replaced the fuel cap and charcoal canister, we decided to replace the fuel filler neck assembly. We did so two days ago, cleared the codes, and are hoping that we don't have the codes again!
Cheers,
T.J.
Cheers,
T.J.
Updates? Did that in fact clear the codes?
Mine ended up offering a code after repeated attempts and multiple scan tools. LH Rear Wheel Speed Sensor, boo.
My codes came back after a few weeks. I was very frustrated and just let it ride for a while. Then we took the truck to my Toyota friend's dealership shop. He put the smoke machine on it for a couple of hours and then was able to see smoke coming out of the new charcoal canister. There was a crack along the seam of the canister. I do not know if it was a manufacturing defect, a shipping problem, or an installation blunder. We ended up putting some JB Weld on it and it has worked great for about for months now without throwing any more codes.
He also put it up onto the lift the last time so he was able to see the whole system at once rather than us crawling around in his driveway.
Markuson
SILVER Star
It’s been 10 months since that post with no follow up. I have to assume that means it didn’t work.
My “solution...”
-Last week I bought a switched (power on/off) OBDII extension cable. So I keep my code reader/clearer plugged in 24/7...so when codes strike, I’m not fumbling with plugs. I simply hit the on switch...which powers up my reader...and within about 10 seconds I’ve got them cleared.
Not the ultimate solution...but it’s made it FAR less annoying to clear.
Don't assume! It has worked great! No problems... knock on wood.
@HDJdreams - the smoke machine will not fix the problem, just identify where it is coming from. You likely need a new charcoal canister. The one I received had a crack in it - don't know if it came that way or was because of an installation error. I bought it online from a dealership, sight unseen, so they were probably getting rid of it because it was malfunctioning.
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HDJdreams
SILVER Star
Got it, thanks! Now I am trying to decide whether to do the smoke for “proper” diagnosis or skip straight to a new charcoal canister.
Markuson
SILVER Star
My bad. Later in your post it said it’s been working for months. I missed that somehow. But anyway...that’s awesome!!
I’m gonna see if I have the same issue. Hopefully that’s it, except that @Atwalz replaced his entire canister at he is still throwing codes... Perhaps he got a flawed one...or it’s just something else.
I have this issue as well. Usually goes away after I turn the truck off then restart but not today.... Lights come on every once in a while.
I disconnected the battery and everything cleared. Prob doesn't fix the issue but everything works and no lights. 2nd time in 4 months or so I have seen these lights.
I disconnected the battery and everything cleared. Prob doesn't fix the issue but everything works and no lights. 2nd time in 4 months or so I have seen these lights.
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Is anyone/everyone using a Scan Gauge?
I had this issue with my 2004 4Runner AND a ScanGauge II.
I would have to make sure that I started the vehicle with the Scan Gauge attached.
I had this issue with my 2004 4Runner AND a ScanGauge II.
I would have to make sure that I started the vehicle with the Scan Gauge attached.
This happened to me last night. At
First I panicked but then found this thread, disconnected the battery, grabbed a beer from the garage fridge and waited 30 min.
Reconnected it and it all reset.
As did the seat memory, and radio stations.
First I panicked but then found this thread, disconnected the battery, grabbed a beer from the garage fridge and waited 30 min.
Reconnected it and it all reset.
As did the seat memory, and radio stations.
I might have missed it, but does the truck actually shift into 4LO during the event? I was just test driving one and this happened, but it would not switch into low with the lights on. CDL seemed to engage no problem
Markuson
SILVER Star
No.
There seems to be a whole mess of errors that trigger that 4Lo blink—even those that don’t have anything directly to do with gears (like the infamous evap codes). What it usually does do is prevent a shift into 4Lo until you clear the error.
I have a couple of intermittent errors that do that...so I keep my code reader/clearer handy. You might want to pick one up. Nothing fancy needed... Harbor freight units work fine or any of the cheap readers at an auto parts store.
