Warning Lights

Burroo 67 · November 5, 2018

Morning All,

On Thursday I got an error message on the middle screen of the display stating "CHECK VSC SYSTEM", with an exclamation mark in a red triangle. The ABS light, Stability Control light and a light similar to the parking brake light, only in orange. I pulled into the side of the road and switched the car off, the lights were off when I started it again.

On Friday the lights were back on, even after I turned the car off and on, so I took it to my mechanic and he put it on the diagnostic thingy. It showed 2 sensor problems but he then asked if I had jump started the car recently. I advised I had installed a new Battery 2 weeks ago and he said this can sometimes confuse sensors. He reset the sensors using his wee diagnostic machine and the lights did not come back on........until last night. I went out a short run (15 mins, 6-7 miles) and the lights came on and stayed on after a restart. Then I left the car for 10 mins and the lights were off when I drove home.

The car drives no differently, although I have noticed a slight pulse feeling through the brake pedal so there may be a high spot on a front disc. Not sure if that would cause the warning lights so any advice, as usual, would be appreciated.

Thanks

Rutlandlex · November 5, 2018

When the Battery was changed did you keep a 12 volt source on the leads to keep the systems alive during the change or did you do a complete disconnect? If it was me then I would be tempted to disconnect the Battery for half an hour or so and reconnect. I know that there are certain resets that need doing on these cars like the windows and sunroof but worth giving it a go.

Which sensors were showing fault codes and do you know what the fault codes are/were?

Burroo 67 · November 6, 2018

It was a complete disconnect, didn't know to keep a constant live source
Not sure if disconnection would work or just cause more problems?
I did have to re-program the windows but not the sunroof
TBH I don't know what sensors showed as faulty

BachelorDays · November 6, 2018

Disconnecting the Battery for a while isn't going to do any more harm. If I remember correctly, your Battery had run down to 6-some volts. That will cause sensor issues, but nowhere near as bad as a car which cranked on a bad Battery (yours doesn't because it cranks on the hybrid battery). Leave it off overnight, but first, the VSG light et al also have a habit of coming on and off like this if the petrol filler cap is loose. You might just check that too. Needs to be tight and clean. Be careful cleaning the filler top - lest you drop dirt inside the tank.

Burroo 67 · November 6, 2018

Read that somewhere else about the filler cap and found it very strange??

Lights came back on today so went and put £20 in the tank and really tightened the cap and the lights haven't came on since!!

Burroo 67 · November 8, 2018

Lights back on!! Driving me mental, so again if anyone has any ideas please feel free......

Malc · November 8, 2018

Don't panic . yet

we sometimes have certain dash warning lights come on our 2006 SH-AWD Honda Legend .... never on my Ls400 .... and find that in all instances, after a while, a day or two, the lights go off and normality returns..... for quite some weeks or months . until the next time

At first when the gearbox light came on we panicked and took it for diagnoses . couldn't find any issues then, a reset and the light went out ........... permanently.

Methinks it's built-in scaremongering by the teccies building these cars .......... far too sensitive and quite likely nowt to worry about. especially if the lights go out again

#

Look at the AA and RAC TV adverts, a car breaks down, well, a dash light comes on and car at side of the road .. the marketing says we get 99% ? of breakdowns back up and running within 30 mins .... wonder if that's the time it takes to get to the " breakdown " and the 2 mins to reset the dash lights

Malc

The-Acre · November 8, 2018

1 hour ago, Burroo 67 said:

Lights back on!! Driving me mental, so again if anyone has any ideas please feel free......

You need to get a decent diagnostic check. If it's an O2 sensor a running diagnostic will tell you how they're functioning, or not. Otherwise it's just guesswork. Some garages invest large amounts on diagnostic equipment, try to find one that specialises. Our local one charges £65 an hour but they really know their stuff.

Delphius1 · November 8, 2018

I'd agree that a diagnostic check is the only way to see what the system is complaining about. VSC is a complicated system that involves a lot of sensors and it may be just as simple as needing to do a reset procedure on a sensor.

For instance if it's an accellerometer and the vehicle power was applied whilst the vehicle wasn't on flat ground, the sensor would give the wrong reading.

But without Techstream looking into the bowels of the vehicle electronics, it's difficult to say what the problem could be.

katabrontes · November 8, 2018

I have had a similar problem with my RX350 for some time now. Intermittently the VSC ABS and Brake warning light either don't go out after starting the engine or come on while driving. If I stop the engine and restart it they go out, sometimes they come on again quite soon but usually they don't. I thought it was more common if it was wet but this doesn't seem to be the case. I have checked the error codes both afterwards and when the lights were actually on and found nothing. My local garage also did a check with a laptop (not sure what program they use) and found no error codes. I have replaced the rear height sensor for the AFS some time ago as it was badly corroded and not working so that the lights did not reset to the correct level after their "dance and turn" on initial starting. The latest suggestion from my garage (independant but good and has serviced the Lexus since 2010) was that it might be a problem with the ABS sensor on one wheel or that it might be due to tyre pressure on one wheel being a bit low (one was) which would alter the effective diameter of the wheel and thus its rpm when driving which might mimic a faulty ABS sensor. Or it could be a bit of dirt on the sensor or maybe some rust on the disc surface. They are going to check all these when it is next in for service. I had a problem with one of the spark plug coils while I was in France and Lexus in Bordeaux ran a full diagnostic test on the car and found no error codes relating to anything apart from the ignition system.

After all that said the car drives normally whether or not the lights are on. I haven't done an emergency stop while they are on to check the working of the ABS system but I suppose that might be worth trying especially on some slippery grass or snow.

My car has passed its MOT several times since this problem started and my local garage thinks its just a glitch in the software and not a problem to worry about.

BachelorDays · November 8, 2018

14 minutes ago, katabrontes said:

I have had a similar problem with my RX350 for some time now. Intermittently the VSC ABS and Brake warning light either don't go out after starting the engine or come on while driving. If I stop the engine and restart it they go out, sometimes they come on again quite soon but usually they don't. I thought it was more common if it was wet but this doesn't seem to be the case. I have checked the error codes both afterwards and when the lights were actually on and found nothing. My local garage also did a check with a laptop (not sure what program they use) and found no error codes. I have replaced the rear height sensor for the AFS some time ago as it was badly corroded and not working so that the lights did not reset to the correct level after their "dance and turn" on initial starting. The latest suggestion from my garage (independant but good and has serviced the Lexus since 2010) was that it might be a problem with the ABS sensor on one wheel or that it might be due to tyre pressure on one wheel being a bit low (one was) which would alter the effective diameter of the wheel and thus its rpm when driving which might mimic a faulty ABS sensor. Or it could be a bit of dirt on the sensor or maybe some rust on the disc surface. They are going to check all these when it is next in for service. I had a problem with one of the spark plug coils while I was in France and Lexus in Bordeaux ran a full diagnostic test on the car and found no error codes relating to anything apart from the ignition system.

After all that said the car drives normally whether or not the lights are on. I haven't done an emergency stop while they are on to check the working of the ABS system but I suppose that might be worth trying especially on some slippery grass or snow.

My car has passed its MOT several times since this problem started and my local garage thinks its just a glitch in the software and not a problem to worry about.

Have you noticed any pattern about when these lights come on (when they come on whilst driving). It could be that the lights come on when your foot touches the brake pedal. It will be helpful if you can pinpoint an action that causes the lights. Also, the next time the lights are on, see if your cruise control still works - that'll rule out a couple of reasons given by your mechanic.

katabrontes · November 8, 2018

It doesn't affect the cruise control. As to the other question I don't know but I can check it when I return to UK in March

BachelorDays · November 8, 2018

Another one who leaves his cars for months on end! And then they wonder.. One reason I only buy petrol cars is because they are the best in the lot for being parked for long periods.

The cruise control unaffected rules out abs sensors and reluctor rings. Let's see what you find out in March. I'm thinking brake switch, air in brake lines/ brake oil too old, brake booster pump stuff (in that order).

Safe travels..

katabrontes · November 8, 2018

I don't wonder. I disconnect the Battery when we leave. I agree with you about petrol only.You can buy a lot of petrol for the difference between equivalent 350 & 450! Although I will have to change to a hybrid when I finally get rid of this one (about another 4-5years I reckon) as another 350 will impossible to find.

Thanks for the information about the link between cruise and the abs sensors and the other possibilities. Maybe easiest to change the brake fluid and purge the system at the same time and then see what happens. The brake pedal is a little spongy but it always has been and the brakes work well so I didn't worry. I don't use the brakes very much anyway.

Malc · November 10, 2018

On 11/8/2018 at 1:18 PM, katabrontes said:

My car has passed its MOT several times since this problem started and my local garage thinks its just a glitch in the software and not a problem to worry about.

very possibly methinks

Malc