98cruiser

I have an 02 ls430 I have the CEL and VSC light and it misfiring on all cylinders on the passenger side, he checked plugs and coil packs (switching them out), my toyota machanice thinks it the vvt sensor casue its misfire on the intire passenger side of the car, I want to make sure its that before he changes it and it ends up being some thing else.

GLIDESUL

Check your fuel injectors too they may be clogged or faulty.

chris81964

Check the catalytic converter too.

98cruiser

Chris I was thinking the same thing, I keep hearing a funny rattling noise under the car, if it is clogged, how can I check, would a muffler place now how to check????? and would that cause my misfire and CEL VSC to trigger

chris81964

Have them put the car on a lift and then tap the cats. You will get the rattling from the side that is clogged. I had the same problem on my ML. And it threw codes misfire on three cylinders that were on the same bank and the CEL stayed on. The car would loose power when I accelerated and the CEL would flash.
The shop I took it to wanted to replace coils and plugs. I took it some where else that properly diagnosed it. On my sons cavalier misfiring also triggered the traction control light. That was a serious misfire caused by bad wires. CEL yes, VSC I don't know.
Good luck

fergo308

Check the cats first,then check the injectors. They may not be unrelated- running overly rich will kill a cat.
Does seem odd that it's only one bank though,would be worth loooking into the O2 sensors as well.

I don't think the VVT would make it misfire,it only alters cam timing. it'll still run and fire the cylinders on that bank,it'll just run rougher with only one half of the VVT operating.


Justin...

98cruiser

Ok guys, luckily my mechanic new what he was talking about, He was right it turned out to be the passenger side VVT senor (valve) It only took him literally 5min to change as I watched him last night, car is running like a charm, no ruff idling and tested out my vsc/traction control in the snow, works fine.

fergo308

That's a real surprise,not what I was expecting at all. Glad it's fixed!


Justin...

chris81964

Where in NJ is your mechanic? I am in NJ. Glad it was an inexpensive fix. What was the noise?

98cruiser

im located in essex county, where are you from

chris81964

I am in Sussex Cty. Sparta.