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Car Forum / Toyota / Toyota Cars / April 2008Check Engine: VSC lights on
2003 Highlander with 51,000 miles. Both Check Engine and VSC lights are on. Manuals says take to Toyota dealer. Meanwhile OK to drive. I have tried the ABS system on loose gravel and the brakes feel and sound like they are functioning OK. Any ideas what might be causing the lights to go on? I have had the vehicle for a week. No idea of age of battery or service record. > 2003 Highlander with 51,000 miles. > [quoted text clipped - 6 lines] > Any ideas what might be causing the lights to go on? I have had the > vehicle for a week. No idea of age of battery or service record. Visit your local AutoZone store, where they (or you) pull the check codes for free. You can't do anything until you know what the codes are. If you drive the car, you can check the codes in the parking lot. If you elect to not drive the car, they will sell you the scan tool on your credit card, then give you full credit for the purchase when you bring the tool back. There is a data port along the bottom of the dash board in the general vicinity of where your left leg rests as you drive. Plug the scan tool in, set the ignition to ON but not START, and read the code(s). Jot it(them) down and and post here. You should expect the codes to be P0nnn (where the 0 is the numeral zero). Update: Had engine codes read: P0441 Evap Emission Control System Purge Flow Fault P0446 Evap Emission Control System Vent Circuit Malfunction P0441 as above P0442 Evap Emission Control System ... leak (small) P0446 as above > Update: > [quoted text clipped - 17 lines] > P0446 > as above After finding out the codes, we reset the codes via an option on the reader. Both check engine and VSC lights are out for the moment. I checked to make sure the gas cap is on tight. Have also checked the hoses coming from the air cleaner housing. Any other suggestions? >> Update: >> [quoted text clipped - 25 lines] > > Any other suggestions? Wait to see if the light comes on again. My guess is that somebody fills the tank and does not ratchet the cap 3 or 4 times, this can result in the cap not seating fully which can result in a leak in an otherwise sealed system. These faults have the easiest roots in a loose gas cap. They could be more serious, but before you spend any time or money on anything, erase all faults and be sure to seal the gas cap after every fill up. The second most common fault is a break in a vac line, followed by an actual problem with a system component. The evap emissions control system (fumes from the gas tank) are the result of a poorly seated gas cap more often than not. The system must be sealed to function properly, and the most common break in the seal is the gas cap. There can be other causes, to be sure, but until the gas cap is isolated, I'd not spend any time or money on any of them. I suggest erasing all codes and waiting to see if any of them return. In the mean time make sure you seal the gas cap every time you fill the tank. If the cap has a ratchet when it locks, be sure to set the ratchet 3 or 4 clicks. None of these deal with the VSC. > Update: > [quoted text clipped - 17 lines] > P0446 > as above > These faults have the easiest roots in a loose gas cap. They could be > more serious, but before you spend any time or money on anything, erase [quoted text clipped - 36 lines] >> P0446 >> as above Thanks. I've only had the vehicle a week now and have put gas 2x into tank. I will be more attentive to tightening the gas cap. Will report back if lights go on again. I have read that sometimes the lights could indicate either a charcoal canister or its associated sensor. let's hope it's no more than a loose gas cap. >> These faults have the easiest roots in a loose gas cap. They could be >> more serious, but before you spend any time or money on anything, erase [quoted text clipped - 45 lines] > canister or its associated sensor. let's hope it's no more than a loose > gas cap. It's possible that the cap is not the problem, but before dropping loads upon loads of dimes chasing down any of the possibilities, you could spend an extra moment making sure the cap is getting sealed properly. To be honest, when the cap is the problem, the failure code should translate to either a malfunction, gross leak, or a minor leak. I recall these codes to be P0440, P0441, and P0442. You listed both 441 and 442, so I'll keep my money on the cap. You also listed the purge valve as P0441, but I recall this to be different (I could look it up, but I don't feel like it, and my money is on the cap). >>> These faults have the easiest roots in a loose gas cap. They could be >>> more serious, but before you spend any time or money on anything, [quoted text clipped - 56 lines] > P0441, but I recall this to be different (I could look it up, but I > don't feel like it, and my money is on the cap). Thanks again. Will check the cap and make sure gasket and where it seats are both clean and smooth. May even put o-ring lubricant just to be sure. > Thanks again. Will check the cap and make sure gasket and where it seats > are both clean and smooth. May even put o-ring lubricant just to be sure. You can do that if you want, but all you really need to do is make sure the cap clicks a few times when you put it on. If you have others that also put gas in the car -- a Main Squeeze for example -- them make sure they also put several clicks on the cap. AFTER you do that, then star looking at the cap itself. This is not a problem that will cause any other problems. You have plenty of time to investigate doing stuff that is free before you have to open the checkbook for professional repairs. >> Thanks again. Will check the cap and make sure gasket and where it >> seats are both clean and smooth. May even put o-ring lubricant just to [quoted text clipped - 9 lines] > plenty of time to investigate doing stuff that is free before you have > to open the checkbook for professional repairs. Thanks for the help AND reassurance. I am still in GMC pickup mode, the vehicle I had before the Highlander. Will be more careful and definitely will listen for the clicks. > 2003 Highlander with 51,000 miles. > [quoted text clipped - 6 lines] > Any ideas what might be causing the lights to go on? I have had the > vehicle for a week. No idea of age of battery or service record. Take the car to a Toyota dealer. The repairs may be covered by the emissions warranty. I doubt if a loose gas cap caused all those trouble codes, there is probably a problem with one of the evaporative emissions valve.  SignatureRay O (correct punctuation to reply) >> 2003 Highlander with 51,000 miles. >> [quoted text clipped - 11 lines] > codes, there is probably a problem with one of the evaporative emissions > valve. I don't agree. I suggest making sure the cap is properly secured, then taking the car for service if the code returns. The reported codes are classic loose cap codes. One is a gross leak the other is a minor leak. Neither is a safety-of-flight item, so there is ample time and opportunity to check the free stuff before spending money. >>> 2003 Highlander with 51,000 miles. >>> [quoted text clipped - 19 lines] > other is a minor leak. Neither is a safety-of-flight item, so there is > ample time and opportunity to check the free stuff before spending money. I've got to agree with Jeff. S. My one hour at the Toy dealer to find out that my multiple error codes were based on a loose gas cap cost me $88 labor, and the problem never returned....believe me, I give the gas cap another couple of twirls now! >>>> 2003 Highlander with 51,000 miles. >>>> [quoted text clipped - 24 lines] > labor, and the problem never returned....believe me, I give the gas cap > another couple of twirls now! And THAT is my only point. If the gas cap is not the problem, the code will return, and there is nothing lost in the mean time. If the cap is the problem, the code will not return and there is no cost in the mean time. Either way, one that watches the cap is money ahead, or no money behind. > 2003 Highlander with 51,000 miles. > [quoted text clipped - 6 lines] > Any ideas what might be causing the lights to go on? I have had the > vehicle for a week. No idea of age of battery or service record. For the record, problem was not the gas cap. It was a disconnected/loose vacuum hose to the filter box. |
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