What's the best way to test the limit VSC?
(i.e. make the light come on while driving)

I've driven my '01 RX300 at over 60mph on freeway
exit ramps, tried to spin it, oversteer it, etc... nothing
ever seems to trigger a response from VSC.
(though the tires are screaming bloody hell...)

 

seems like your trying to flip your truck or gonna crash. i dont have any answer for you though. sorry, but be carefull

 

Be carefule now ToyotaLexus What I have done on our LS4 was to accelerate fast from a stop while turning. This would activate the VSC every time! It's great. Since the LS is rear-wheel drive, and has 300 ft-lb of torque it wasn't very difficult to make it step out of line

For the RX, expecially if you have AWD, I would suggest waiting until it rains. The first 5-10 minutes are the slickest on the roads. This will be the easiest way to slip-slide without having to force the RX too much. Try turning and accelertating from a stop to get the RX to loose some traction. As you probably already know, I say to turn and accelerate to try and get the vehicle to slide sideways a little. This way the yaw sensors are activated and VSC kicks in.

Good luck, and be careful...oh, and have fun too!!

-Nick

 

No... I'm not trying to flip the RX...

The reason I want to trigger a VSC response is that I suspect
that it is not functioning. Yes, the check light comes on and off
during start-up. However, I can always make the dealer's
loaner RX's VSC light come on by taking it close to the limit.
I've never been able to do that with my own RX, even if I push
it harder. Not even in wet snow or rain-slick roads...

I tried it on another demo RX at the dealership back in February.
There was a couple of inches of slushy snow on the ground.
I could feel the VSC working even at moderately slow speeds.
When I tried it my own RX, it would not do a thing...(but neither
did it loose control...)

 

Get your car detailed and take off real fast in a slight turn the armor all on the tires will cause the car to slide. I do this every time I leave my lexus dealership after they wash my car. The VSC light comes on.

 

WOW, becareful man!!! dont want ya to get hurt...

So you guy s are saying that if VSC kicks in, the light will light up?? i haven't experience this yet, but if thats the case cool... The fastest i think i have went on a on ramp would be around 30-40, too scary to go any faster LoL, i don't want my car to do some 360s or what not LoL

 

Thanks, GS300_BORICUA!

You solve my dilemma... I sprayed the tires generously with
tire dressing and it worked! The VSC was on an off during the
first few yards...(until the tire dressing wore off)

 

The RX300 is predominantly a FWD vehicle so it is much more difficult to get out of sorts, over-steering, under-steering, etc, than the RWD LS series.

I strongly suspect that the armorall on your tires resulted in Trac kicking in, not VSC.

There are two ways that I know of to test VSC:

1. A muddy dirt road, but be very careful.

2. Put the entire vehicle up on jackstands, start the engine, put it in gear, and then turn the steering wheel off-center.

My experience on a muddy road was inconclusive, the VSC indication did activate, followed almost immediately by two fault indications, VSC and ABS. If the VSC did actually activate I didn't feel its effects at all.

The fault indications would go off if I drive the RX "normally" for about a hundred yards.

I had Lexus check it out later and they said their chaeks showed eveything was normal.

 

O Trust me the VSC works!!!! I went on this ramp that i thought was headed towards the direction i was heading on the highway. I didn't know it was one of those big donut U-Turn things. I hit that thing at 60 mph. The VSC kicked in, man there were no skids at all, it was amazing, although it does correct you steering a bit, its really wierd. It like takes over sort of. Unexplainable experience. I got a 2001 RX 4WD Silversport (with VSC)