2003 Sequoia: ABS, VSC trak, VSC off LIGHTS ON!

[FltTest]

I'm just looking for info on Sequoias but I did see in the Highlander forum that several people has ABS/VSC faults and they traced the problem to a loose vacum or disconnected line. Might be worth a try to check that out.

[Twodzusfittings]

Hi Everyone. New to this site today. I have been driving since the fall with the same group of lights on. I tried the brake fluid top off suggestion, that did not work. The gas tank is tight as when I removed it I got the vacum noise. So what else guys. Mine came on a short while after changing from the OE Dunlops to Michelins. I would say about 2k miles later. I can't believe it has anything to do with the tires. I am wondering if any of the electrical connections at each wheel for ABS might have some dirt in it and need to be cleaned out. That's my next task. I will get back to you all as soon as I know. I was also told $2000. There is no way $2000 dollars should be spent. Those computers are protected. Has to be in the sensors. If none of this works I am going to use black electrical tape over the lights.

[mic43]

The same problem happened to my 2003 sequoia (27000 miles) (i think TSB 00606). It lit TRAC OFF and VSC TRAC, and had no trouble codes. My factory warranty ran out just a few months ago and the lights turned on, so I took it to the dealer. They charged over $100 just to tell me that the computer needs to be replaced. They rudely blew me off for a while, then said my VSC computer needs to be replaced for $2000 parts + $500 labor . And to add insult to injury, they promised me a toyota prius as a loaner, but when I went to pick it up, they said they only had a kia rio left. It smelled bad, was scratched up, and was the worst car I ever drove in my life (well, what do you expect from a car that is $10,000 brand new). What are they doing with Kias anyway? Toyota dealers have horrible service. When I dropped off a mercedes c-class for repair, their dealer fixed it promptly, and even delivered an '07 e-class right to my door as a loaner. They didn't blow me off or leave me waiting to talk to a mechanic like toyota did.

[rsterbens@socal.rr.c]

Originally Posted by bubbabean

rats... that wasn't it... brake fluid was full and the gas cap was tight... well, thanks anyway for the ideas. the light goes on and then off when you start the car... it doesn't come on til you put it in drive and proceed to go forward. this problem started happening right after we had the car smog checked. wondering if anybody thinks that could have caused it??? thanks for any info..

I just had the same expierence. Just had the Sequoia smogged and when I left the smog station, the vsc trac and abs lights were all on. The tech at the smog station said just drive the car and the lights will go off after a few miles. I drove 3 miles home, light still on. I waited 4 hours, lights still on. Checked the gas cap, topped the already full fluid and even disconnected the battery, lights still on. Finally I thought I would go drive the car and rerally abuse the brakes in the industrial park, just as I left my driveway, the F%$%#@$%^ lights went off! I love my Toyotas but their warning systems are crap.

[Franz]

I had this same problem before on my SEQ as well and posted before. I tried looking for my own post and could not locate. I'll summarize as best I can.....

I had this same issue where the lights would go on at different times and under different circumstances (so I thought). The problem with this was that I could not duplicate the problem for the dealership. I would leave the car for the day or sometimes overnight just to give them an opportunity to duplicate and see the lights come on. After expressing my frustration to the dealership, they told me to bring the car in the next time the lights go on and to not turn the engine off when I arrive there. About 1 week later the lights did go on and I took the car in as instructed.

It turns out that I they needed to replace either the brake booster or master cylinder (sorry as I do not remember exactly).

I'll continue to search for the original post as there used to be another thread addressing this issue.

[thtran]

new to the board... have a 03 seq. sr5 w/ slightly over 100k miles (that's why i bought a toyota).

trac/vsc lights came on and dealership charged me $92 to tell me that it needs a new vsc computer (all for about $1500). they said they tried to top off the brake fluid but that did not work.

does disconnecting the battery cable work? any other suggestions?

thanks in advance.

[lid]

Just went through another winter. The lights came on again after starting out on a trip on a very cold morning. I had posted about three years ago that after filling the master cylinder with break fluid it did not do it again. I want to see Toyota move on this problem as I feal it should be a safety recall as VSC is sold as a safety device. There is now 35000 kilometers on my 2003 Toyota. It has done this since new and I am scared as hell to have some incompetent mechanic touch any electonics on my vehicle.

What is wrong with my Toyota?

[mic43]

Originally Posted by thtran

new to the board... have a 03 seq. sr5 w/ slightly over 100k miles (that's why i bought a toyota).

trac/vsc lights came on and dealership charged me $92 to tell me that it needs a new vsc computer (all for about $1500). they said they tried to top off the brake fluid but that did not work.

does disconnecting the battery cable work? any other suggestions?

thanks in advance.

The dealer did the same thing for me (charged $2500), but it did seem to have fixed the problem. I did notice that you could buy the computer for about $300 aftermarket, $700 OEM. I suppose it would be cheaper to do it youself or have a different mechanic do it.

[Crusader556]

New guy here. This thread does not make me feel good about the Sequoia.

I will be looking to get a new SUV later this year and I'm seriously considering a 03 or 04 Sequoia. The 03's seem to be closer to my budget.

I sure would hate to get one and see these lights come on. A $2500 repair bill was one of the things I was hoping to avoid by going with a Toyota but I guess I may need to start looking at other options...

[Flyboy2000]

First Post.. So here goes..
( Ok Calm yourself...think happy thoughts)
Have an 04 Sequoia, just past its 3 yr 36,000 mile warranty. In fact, took it to the dealer just under 36K miles to make sure everything was checked out. No problems found.
Now at 41,000 miles the VSC / Check Engine/ Trac Off lights came on. !!
Took it to the dealer....and $2,000 will get it fixed, new ECU required. Yikes!
I told the service advisor at my last visit that after shutting down the car, you can hear a funny low " whhomp whoomp" noise coming from the area of the gas cap/fill line. He said that was the normal noise of the " fuel pump". I said what? Even after the car is off? He said yes, the fuel pump runs to "level" the fuel ( ??) But the sound sounds more like a slow air/noise, not electrical pump noise.

Are you kidding me! I went about bragging so much about this Sequoia that my neighbor bought one.
I bought " Toyota" for a reason.... Spending almost $2,000 for a truck that is driven VERY carefully and is just 6,000 miiles past its warranty is not one of them.

HELP!!

A.L.

[hollant]

My lights came on 500 miles after the certified warranty and service agreement expierd. Where can the computer be bought for $500?

[bud4ya]

When the truck is in park and running I press the VSC to turn it OFF and I do not get a light on the dash that says it is off. Could this be something to do with the break fluid also? Or is this a different issue?

Sorry for the Hi Jack but I thought it is along the same lines as your issue.

Thanks

[mitey_whitey]

Here is another twist to the VSC story. 2003 Sequoia SR5 with 81,000 on the odo. Yesterday the VSC and Trac light came on along with the check engine light. Per another thread, I added the miracle fix, brake fluid, with no results, then headed to Autozone to have the code read for free. P0031....... Bank 1 oxygen sensor. He reset the code, stated that the VSC was an unrelated issue that could only be taken care of at the dealer. Thank God he didnt have the $120 oxygen sensor in stock because when I started the truck to leave, the check engine light was gone along with the vsc and track lights........... WAZ UP?

[csl463]

I read this advice here somewhere but can't find it now... therefore I'll tell my story so hopefully somebody else can find it.

I've got one of the '03 Sequoias that has had VSC issues. First time had an oxygen sensor go out in addition to the steering angle sensor, and had the dealer replace them. Within a month another oxygen sensor was out, and a non-Toyota repair shop said I needed the computer replaced.

Based on posts here, I told him "no," and had him clean the sensors on each wheel - apparently they contain magnets which collect rust particles from the wheels, and that affects the signals they send to the computer, giving a false indication. He then disconnected the battery cable to reset the computer, and it's been problem free ever since.

Much cheaper than a new computer, and much more satisfying too!

[kmeadowc]

Originally Posted by Crusader556

New guy here. This thread does not make me feel good about the Sequoia.

I will be looking to get a new SUV later this year and I'm seriously considering a 03 or 04 Sequoia. The 03's seem to be closer to my budget.

I sure would hate to get one and see these lights come on. A $2500 repair bill was one of the things I was hoping to avoid by going with a Toyota but I guess I may need to start looking at other options...

--------------------------------------
I JUST BOUGHT A 2004 SR5 SEQUIOA, AT Only 12,500 miles. Now at 19,500. At 17,000 I had the VSC-VSC Trac light -emergency brake light come on. Dealer couldn't figure it out but called me today after checking with a national database with Toyota. Told me the VSC computer needs replacing. $1500 plus tax. one year warranty. unfortuntately my warranty is expired. uggggghhh. this isn't right, especially since it has low miles.