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

[pookat]

Hi,
New to this site. Not sure if I'm posting in the right place. The dealer said 2 of 3 warning lights showed bad sensors that cost over $1,000. Looks like I'm not alone. It seems very strange 2 of 3 sensors would just go out. Does anybody have any ideas for this? It seems like a safety issue that those features just "go out" when the lights go on. Please help.........

[Johnnny Rock]

Originally Posted by pookat

Hi,
New to this site. Not sure if I'm posting in the right place. The dealer said 2 of 3 warning lights showed bad sensors that cost over $1,000. Looks like I'm not alone. It seems very strange 2 of 3 sensors would just go out. Does anybody have any ideas for this? It seems like a safety issue that those features just "go out" when the lights go on. Please help.........

I had those same lights go on in mine and I was told that the brake fluid being a little low and cause them to go on. I added a small amount of brake fluid and the lights went off and never came back on again. It's worth a try, Johnnnnny

[elfish4]

I too had my vsc etc. lights on one morning before I headed out in the snow. Tried to turn on/off 4wd,vsc and ignition. Popped the hood and topped off the brake fluid that was only about 1/4" low. Started up the Sequoia and the lights went away.
Same fix as Johnny.
Those money hungry code reading dealerships. They would have probably charged me that $1000 for a couple of ounces of brake fluid and sensors that didn't need replaced. They were actually sensing that there wasn't enough fluid to do the job so they warned me. Actually working just fine.
Good luck.

[reedje]

Brake fluid worked for me also...for about 4 months. The lights just came on again. Did an OBD check and came up with code PO456, EVAP Emission Control System Leak, very small. May be a vacuum line off, I'm looking for help.

[toyotabiz]

Same thing happened to me, mine turned out to be a lose gas cap. Make sure the rubber gasket around the cap is also in good condition.

[jamesjtjt]

This has happened to me Twice. First time it was low brake fluid. The Second time it was a loose gas cap.

JT

[bubbabean]

this is a great thread and great information. I really appreciate this input. We got a great deal on the Sequoia from a used car dealer and this VSC light just went off. So I was thinking, here we go with why this car was a good deal. My wife took it to the dealer and he quoted her $2,300 to fix it. What a crook he is (if he knew what you guys know) if this turns out to be just a loose gas cap or low brake fluid, which i'm hoping. Other than that, we were going to just try and live with the light on. thanks for all the input....

[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..

[celica]

The brake fluid often has to be just over the full mark on these trucks - the sensor is very touchy. I looked & I thought mine was full to, took it to the dealer & they put more in - problem solved.

[bubbabean]

thanks for the tip, Matt... mine looked pretty full... it looked over the line, but i'll try adding a little and see if that makes the light go off. it is worth a try. thanks for the input...

[bubbabean]

okay... filled the brake fluid til it was spilling over the sides, and that wasn't it... I also ran codes on the car with a code reader and there were no codes returned. so i'm thinking that i must just have a light malfunctioning or something. The last thing i'm going to try is to disconnect the car battery and see if that resets anything. Other than that, i'm gonna just live with the thing. thanks for the input...

[Sequoia311]

These warning lights came on a few times in my 03 Sequoia, but only in very cold temperatures. I would start the car and the lights would come on. I would immediately turn off the car and restart, the lights were disappear. I'm not sure why, but cold weather might be a factor.

[Johnnny Rock]

Originally Posted by Sequoia311

These warning lights came on a few times in my 03 Sequoia, but only in very cold temperatures. I would start the car and the lights would come on. I would immediately turn off the car and restart, the lights were disappear. I'm not sure why, but cold weather might be a factor.

That's what I thought to. It seemed like it would only come on when it was VERY cold out and when I lloked at the brake Fluid level it looked fine but then I figured even though it looked fine I would put a little in and the light never came back on again even on very cold days. I learned that you can't go by how high the fluid level is, if the light comes on just add a small amount of Fluid no matter how high the fluid level seems to be. Johnnnnny

[SEQUOIAME]

Hello, I am new to this site also. I would like to give you an answer to your question about the lights coming on on the dashboard, but I can't. It seems I have a similar issue. All lights are illuminated on my dashboard TRAC ON/VSC OFF, ABS, red emergency brake symbol. All I had done was a tire rotation and now all of these lights are on. Took it to the Toyota dealer who tells me "your ABS computer is gone and you need a new one at $2,000.00. I am so shocked that I just left the facility and came home to take all this in. I can't believe this could happen with a simple tire rotation/balancing, but it did. Sorry again I couldn't answer your question for you. At least you know your not the only one with this strange dilemma.

[ryankalel]

For what this might be worth, I had these same lights come on. I had a bad/leaky front tire. When it would start to go flat, even lose a lb or two of pressure the lights would come on. Eventually I had the tire fixed, it has kept the right pressure and no problems.