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Pardon me for stumbling into the SC430 forums (I look here regularly) but, VSC is Vehicle Stability Control. This includes both traction control AND stability control, both of which utilize the rear brakes (via the ABS unit) to 1: slow the rear wheels to prevent slippage (traction control) or 2: individually brake each wheel in the event of a slide (stability control, keep in mind stability control also utilizes the front brakes also), to help center the car. Both are not truly necessary unless if you're an inexperienced speed racer, though they do prove to be quite helpful in the rain and some snow conditions. The reason the VSC off button exists, is that during slow slippage, such as exiting your driveway in the snow, it will allow for some wheelspin instead of cutting it entirely out. Once you pass 15 MPH the VSC turns back on again after pressing the button to turn it off. Having those lights on is survivable but it's certainly not ideal.
Pardon me for stumbling into the SC430 forums (I look here regularly) but, VSC is Vehicle Stability Control. This includes both traction control AND stability control, both of which utilize the rear brakes (via the ABS unit) to 1: slow the rear wheels to prevent slippage (traction control) or 2: individually brake each wheel in the event of a slide (stability control, keep in mind stability control also utilizes the front brakes also), to help center the car. Both are not truly necessary unless if you're an inexperienced speed racer, though they do prove to be quite helpful in the rain and some snow conditions. The reason the VSC off button exists, is that during slow slippage, such as exiting your driveway in the snow, it will allow for some wheelspin instead of cutting it entirely out. Once you pass 15 MPH the VSC turns back on again after pressing the button to turn it off. Having those lights on is survivable but it's certainly not ideal.
Thank you for stumbling in!! I have been driving for more than 70 years and for most of those years there was no VSC. I have driven in sand and snow and on ice and wet. I do believe that VSC is a good addition to our cars, but not so much that we have to "be careful" if it isnt working, I assume the driver knows how to drive in adverse conditions and hope that if not, he/she will refrain from driving until he/she does.
Your input was appreciated.
Thank you for stumbling in!! I have been driving for more than 70 years and for most of those years there was no VSC. I have driven in sand and snow and on ice and wet. I do believe that VSC is a good addition to our cars, but not so much that we have to "be careful" if it isnt working, I assume the driver knows how to drive in adverse conditions and hope that if not, he/she will refrain from driving until he/she does.
Your input was appreciated.
Yeah, no problem. It's basically like ABS. ABS, when driving normally, isn't really needed. It's only when an emergency or something of the sort happens that it really becomes necessary. Still, a car won't pass inspection with those lights on (at least, in my state) and it is always a good idea to fix it, if the OP can. Sorry I can't provide much help OP, I don't know the SC430 all that well so, sorry!
Edit: oops, forgot to read the OP's last post. Glad it's fixed!
I( have read the owners manual. You misunderstood my question! Do not assume the person asking the question is a dummy. I find the CL to be very friendly in most part, but in the SC-430 area, not so much. Most areas, answers are freely offered and the questioner is not berated.
As to MY question, you stated the I should be careful driving while the lights are on and my reading of the manual suggests no such warning is necessary. And if it was dangerous to drive with it lit, I am sure there would be NO switch to turn it off, and there is.
My original questions were trying to determine WHAT are we trying to cure...other than lights on the dash .....which are not in any way harmful.
sorry Jim, you are correct, the owners manual says to keep driving when the lights are on…I thought VSC was a safety thing…carry on
I( have read the owners manual. You misunderstood my question! Do not assume the person asking the question is a dummy. I find the CL to be very friendly in most part, but in the SC-430 area, not so much. Most areas, answers are freely offered and the questioner is not berated.
As to MY question, you stated the I should be careful driving while the lights are on and my reading of the manual suggests no such warning is necessary. And if it was dangerous to drive with it lit, I am sure there would be NO switch to turn it off, and there is.
My original questions were trying to determine WHAT are we trying to cure...other than lights on the dash .....which are not in any way harmful.
Jim, I assume you are a very smart and accomplished person…I meant no disrespect and hope this information helps you.
HOW DOES THE ABS WORK?
The antilock braking system (ABS) transformed the auto industry when it was introduced in the late 1970’s, making all vehicles much safer to drive. ABS uses hydraulic valves, a hydraulic pump and four wheel speed sensors. A controller checks the speed of each wheel using the sensors. The system prevents your brakes from locking by monitoring the deceleration of the wheels and using the hydraulic valve to decrease the brake pressure on the needed wheel allowing it to turn faster. When the wheel speeds up again, it uses the pump to put pressure into that wheel’s brake line.
WHAT IS THE VSC AND HOW DOES IT WORK?
Others call it electronic stability control, but vehicle stability control (VSC) is what is called by Toyota and Lexus. This technology was developed in the mid 1990’s by Toyota. It didn’t become a standard requirement in the U.S. until 2012. The VSC system also makes use of the wheel speed sensors as well as sensors for the yaw rate and steering angle. The system is assisted by a controller, an accelerometer, and a hydraulic modulator. When your sensors detect your car starting to skid, the VSC activates each wheels’ brakes and regulates your engine to regain control and stability of the vehicle. This system significantly reduces the possibility of an accident.
WHAT DOES TRACTION CONTROL DO FOR MY CAR?
Your vehicle’s traction control (TRC) works in a very similar fashion to the VSC. The system is designed to prevent wheels spinning when driving off or accelerating on wet or slippery roads. Introduced in the late 1980’s, the TCS becomes more sophisticated each year as its technology is updated. The TRC Sensors monitor each wheel’s speed to detect wheel spin, alerting the system to apply the brakes or reduce engine power to regain grip and provide stable acceleration.
All three systems, the ABS, VSC and TRC, work together to provide safety for you and your family on the road. It is important to pay attention to the corresponding sensor lights in your Lexus. When they are on, it means it's time to schedulerepair or maintenance with our experts at Earnhardt Lexus Service.
VSC Light Comes On In Your Lexus – What Does It Mean?
April 11, 2020 by Tom HarbidThe vehicle stability control is a system in many Toyota and Lexus cars that is designed to prevent the car from sliding and slipping during tough climates. During times of extended precipitation, the roads will become slippery and cause problems for tires trying to gain friction. The system that is in charge of preventing your vehicle from sliding around the road is the vehicle stability control system, or VSC. The purpose of the VSC system is to apply the brake to the car’s wheels and prevent the car from skidding on the road.
The VSC is in charge of providing traction for your specific Lexus. The car’s internal traction control system is regulated by the VSC. when you drive on slippery and unstable roads, you lose traction and the car can slide around. The system comes to life and gives you better steering control to maneuver the tricky roads. All of the wheels in your car will have sensors that directly communicate with the Lexus’ powertrain control module.
The powertrain control module, or PCM, is a control unit used in the Lexus vehicles. It is a combined control unit consisting of the engine control unit and the transmission control unit. The engine control unit, or ECU, controls actuators in the internal combustion engine to ensure optimal performance. The transmission control unit controls automatic transmissions in most modern cars. The unit uses sensors within the vehicles to determine when and how to change gears for the best possible performance. The powertrain control module is essential in the workings of the vehicle stability control system.
If you experience issues with the control of steering, the VSC will reduce the engine speed in order to prevent excess motion. In addition, the VSC will give more braking power to the wheels that need friction and braking power the most. The wheel sensors provide information about the motion and rotation of the wheels in order to determine which wheels need the braking power. If you notice the VSC light comes on, you might be having problems with your sensors or the steering system.
How To Fix Your VSC Light
If you are sure that your VSC light has come on by accident and there is nothing wrong with your car, there is a button on your shifter or steering wheel that has the same icon as the light that comes on on your dashboard. After you have located the VSC button, then there are a few steps you need to take.
First, you need to make sure that you are at a complete stop. Put the car in park and turn on your emergency brake to ensure the car won’t move during this fix. Next, press and hold the VSC button for a few seconds while you are in the car. Next, the TRAC OFF and VSC OFF lights will come on. This means that both of these systems are now off. Lastly, press the VSC button once more. Both lights will then shut off and the systems are now restarted and working again.
If the VSC OFF light is still showing up, then this means you could have a computer or internal error in your car’s computer or VSC system. Take your vehicle to a trusted technician or Lexus service center to have a certified technician run codes and diagnose the issue. It is safe to drive your car while the VSC light is still on. However, you should still take your car in for a diagnosis as soon as possible.
The ABS light might come on for a reason that is specific to the anti-lock brake system. It will usually come on as the letters ABS, or the letters ABS surrounded by two circles. The anti-lock brake system is in charge of pulsing your brakes in certain situations. If the ABS sees that your wheels might lock up during use, it will activate and deactivate individual brakes and wheels.
If there are any issues with your ABS system that can prevent it from performing the functions required, then the ABS light will come on. There are a few key reasons the ABS light will come on, and some of them are tied to the VSC light in your Lexus illuminating as well.
If the engine control module notices that there is skidding occurring and the wheels are not spinning the same speed, the ABS system will lock up some of the wheels and prevent the car from skidding on the slippery road. The ABS system usually consists of a coil housing a magnet and a ring. A signal is generated by the magnetic field and is then transferred into a digital signal. After adding VSC to the Lexus, drivers are able to gain better control of their cars.
So The VSC and ABS Light Are On Together. What About The Check Engine Light?
If this happens, it doesn’t necessarily mean that there are issues with the traction control system. It could mean that the system is turned off and won’t work until the check engine light is fixed. The issue with the VSC OFF or Trac Off light coming on is that your car could slide on the road during wet conditions.
Amen to that. I have checked the gas cap and doesnt seem to be the problem. But I cant tell whether the VSC OFF switch is on or off. If it is OFF, that would account for the two lights being on. I also have the windshield washer symbol and the Check Engine light on. So the intertwining of all of these could be from just one minor issue. And of course the flat tire light is on but that is caused by the lousy low profile tires I have that came with the car. Wheels and tires have already been ordered.
BUT, the car runs well, gets 29mpg on the highway and 25mpg in town. When I get the wheels and tires replaced I will get my Tecstream online and see what I can find. The Techstream is hampered by the fact that the software wont start and I am hashing that out with the seller of the Techstream.
The big question is....what does shorting 4 and 14 on the OBDII plug simulate?
And of course the flat tire light is on but that is caused by the lousy low profile tires I have that came with the car. Wheels and tires have already been ordered.
When I get the wheels and tires replaced I will get my Tecstream online and see what I can find. The Techstream is hampered by the fact that the software wont start and I am hashing that out with the seller of the Techstream.
The flat tire light is not on because of the tires/wheels, it is either because the pressure is low or the battery in the TPS has been depleted. You'll need to replace the TPS(s) that died to make the light go out. You can use the Techstream to indicate which one(s) need to be replaced (or just replace them all).
Yes it IS BECAUSE of the tires and wheels!!!
The wheels are 14 year old chrome plated
wheels. After about 10 years these types of wheels are worthless because the chrome deteriorates and peels off causing rim leaks. The tires are low profile that are MORE prone to rim leaks because the walls are stiffer. Yes it IS BECAUSE of the tires and wheels!!!
Yes it IS BECAUSE of the tires and wheels!!!
The wheels are 14 year old chrome plated
wheels. After about 10 years these types of wheels are worthless because the chrome deteriorates and peels off causing rim leaks. The tires are low profile that are MORE prone to rim leaks because the walls are stiffer. Yes it IS BECAUSE of the tires and wheels!!!
hey Jim, did you have the old TPMS sensors installed in the new wheels?
Yes it IS BECAUSE of the tires and wheels!!!
The wheels are 14 year old chrome plated wheels. After about 10 years these types of wheels are worthless because the chrome deteriorates and peels off causing rim leaks. The tires are low profile that are MORE prone to rim leaks because the walls are stiffer. Yes it IS BECAUSE of the tires and wheels!!!
Ah, got it Jim. You're saying that chrome flaking is causing leaks. I had the same problem and had my wheels fixed at a shop that repairs wheels. What I was saying is that if the light never shuts off even when the tires are properly inflated, then that is a TPS problem, in addition to any tire pressure leak problem that you may have. (My wheels are 19 years old.)
Sorry, I wasn't questioning your judgement, I just was trying to point out how the SC430 TPS light works. But if the light is on all the time because of actual leaks, then you are correct in stating that the problem lies with the wheels as long as the light turns off when properly inflated.
BTW, some further information about the TPS, be sure that every time that you have your tires replaced, you also have the o-rings/seals replaced in your TPS also, otherwise they will leak eventually too.
Hope that helps!
I do not yet have the new tires/wheels but they are coming with new sensors. They are supposed to be already set so that all I have to do is bolt the wheels on. Coming from Mr Wheel Deals. Actually they are on back order and I am still running on the old ones because I wanted special wheels that were not in stock.
I do not yet have the new tires/wheels but they are coming with new sensors. They are supposed to be already set so that all I have to do is bolt the wheels on. Coming from Mr Wheel Deals. Actually they are on back order and I am still running on the old ones because I wanted special wheels that were not in stock.
Jim, make sure the new TPMS sensors in the new wheels are from Toyota, each one is a different part number and color coded, Red, Yellow(Gold), Blue and White. This applies to the 2002-2006 SC430s
Rockauto.com shows several TPMS sensors but I cannot vouch for other brands. I only know the Denso is OEM
06-22-21, 07:48 PM
