gomboy60

Hi All,
I know this subject has been discussed but I can not seem to get rid of those lights. After reading many inputs on this site, I have made sure that evap hose is secured behind the air filter and also tried disconnecting the neg battery for ten seconds and purchased scanner (AutoXray 1500) but the scanner does not read any codes with the lights on. Can someone please suggest what to do next?? The lights come on as soon as the trans is engaged and stays on.
It is for 2003 RX-300 with 67k miles and the check engine light is NOT on.

I appreciate any input.

Thanks.

Chris

lexus114

Long shot,but did you check the fuses? Another possibility is a dirty/burned out sensor on one of the wheel hubs.Basically you have no vsc/traction control rite now.

gomboy60

lexus114,
Thank you for your quick response.
If it is a fuse, would they not be on all the time rather than coming on during the start up and disappear but come back when the trans is engaged? Also do you have any info as to which what the sensor looks like/how many of them and the location??


Thanks again.

Chris

lexus114

They are abs/speed sensors the ecm uses for the abs,and also the trac control.Whats puzzling me is it doesnt occur until you engage the trans.I would check the sensors for dirt,and clean them real good.I used wd-40,but you can use crc maf cleaner too.

lexus114

gomboy60 How did you make out with what I suggested?

gomboy60

lexus114,
I have not clue to where those sensors might be located.

Thanks again for following up on it.

Chris

lexus114

here is a link for you....Start with cleaning the ABS sensors: https://www.clublexus.com/forums/sho...d.php?t=285023

gomboy60

lexus114,
Thanks again for the info.
I will try to take a look this weekend. Hopefully cleaning them will solve the problem. I will keep you posted.

Chris

lexus114

Sounds good Chris,even if that isn`t the problem,it is good to clean those sensors once in a while.They get a lot of metal particle debris built up after a while.The sensors are magnetic,thats why this happens.

gomboy60

All,
I had a chance to pull those sensors out and gave them a good cleaning with brake cleaner. The front wheel sensors are located toward the rear and rear ones towards the front of the vehicle (2003 front wheel drive). They all have 10mm bolts and the front ones are bit easier to take out since they do not have o-rings that kind of stuck to the interior wall like the rear ones. Also the front ones have small metal (about 1.5mm in diameter) exposed in the center of the sensor but the real ones have two 5mm by 1.5mm metal rods embedded in gray plastic, like an = sign in the center. They were all relatively clean but I cleaned them anyway. By the way, removing the wheels is suggested.
As for the the other side of the sensing mechanism, they all have some sort of gear teeth (in white color) built into (??) toward the end of the rubber boot (towards the wheel end), as far as I could tell. At the end, all this cleaning did not work and as soon as the car backed out of the garage, I had those lights on again.
One thing I have noticed, though, is that on the one of the front, the wheel well is coated with thick grease that looks like one for bearings. My guess is that one point in time, boot on the CV joint had been replaced without thorough cleaning of the mess and the grease might have dirtied those teeth and the rest.
Does anyone know if those teeth are accessible once the hub or rotor is removed or they they just part of CV joint assembly that cannot be accessed unless the whole thing is disassembled?

Thanks again.

Chris

MiniTubbed

if the cv axle was replaced the abs wire could have been broken, cut, or pinched. hence when you put in gear the computer goes to read speed, which it doesnt recieve a signal. i would take it to a toyota or lexus dealer. they have a scan tool too look at each sensor. to pin point a sensor or a problem. but with the money you bought the scan tool could have paid for the 1 hour diag time. but its i always try to find out what wrong before i go to dealer to see if they are trying to work one over on me.

gomboy60

Well, problem is the scanner does not produce any code.

gomboy60

Aso, there is no obvious signs of pinch or any damage to the cable/unit on any one of them.
One more thing, I drove from Las Vegas, NV to Wichita, KS and more without any warning lights...


Thanks.

Chris

gomboy60

Tried different thing today.
With each wheel lifted from the floor and with the engine running with gear in neutral, I tried turning each wheel separately (turning the engine off and on in between the wheels to start with VSC and Trac Off lights off position) but all four wheels triggered the VSC and Trac Off light. This tells me that, at least, triggering mechanism (if triggering is based on certain discrepancy of the speed among the wheels) is working properly......


Chris