Traction control/stability control/slip indicator fault

[andoland Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close andoland]

A little while ago while we were driving down the beach on Moreton Island the TRC/VSC seemed to give up the ghost. We'd been driving for quite some distance in very soft sand and I'd forgotten to turn the TRC/VSC off so it was kicking in pretty frequently as we moved around in the loose sand. Eventually I noticed that this light came on and it has stayed on ever since:



Looking in the manual is says this is the "slip indicator" and "It may indicate a malfunction of the VSC or TRC system. Consult your Toyota dealer."

I think that the TRC and VSC are now not working but of course the only way I'll know is if I break traction and they don't kick in. Before I head off to Toyota and potentially pay them a large sum of money to fix it I wondered if anyone else had come across this and if there might be some easy things to check first. I looked in both fuse boxes at the time and couldn't see a specific fuse for this and I also looked under the vehicle to see if a wire or sensor might have come off or broken but there was nothing obvious. In any case the ABS still seems to be fine so I think this would rule out a broken/disconnected wire or sensor.

So any thoughts out there from the collective Pradopoint wisdom on what to check before I turn the car over to Toyota?

Thanks
Ando

[mjrandom Out of control poster! Find all posts View Profile Close mjrandom]

All I can suggest is switch off TC and ESC (press and hold the button for 10 seconds...) drive a bit then stop and switch it all back on.

[andoland Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close andoland]

Have tried that to no avail, although we were on the sand at the time. Will give it another go though and see what happens.

[mjrandom Out of control poster! Find all posts View Profile Close mjrandom]

Only reason I suggested it stems from dyno tuning rwd cars. The ESC has its knickers in a twist because the rears were doing 200+ while the fronts were stationary. Defeat the ESC and drive for a few km then switch it all back on and it settles down once the wheels are doing pretty much the same thing. Otherwise you have possibly damaged a sensor, any water crossings? Stick impacts etc? Have a look for any wiring from the hubs that looks sad.

[Steve M Addicted PP Member Find all posts View Profile Close Steve M]

Disconnect the battery maybe to give the system a reset (just guessing here)....Cheers Steve

[andoland Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close andoland]

Okay here's an update on this. I finally got Toyota to look at this problem when the Prado went in for a service today. They hooked it up to the computer and the diagnosis is that the zero point on the steering angle sensor is out of range. Possible cause is a knock to the front wheels putting them out of alignment, i.e. may need wheel alignment.

They have reset the fault which may or may not fix the problem. The will take if for a drive after finishing the service and if the light comes back on then it will need a wheel alignment.

[andoland Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close andoland]

Apparently the light has not come back on after the test drive so Toyota say no wheel alignment necessary. If the light does come back on in the future get a wheel alignment and take it back in for a reset.

[KarlCaudwell Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close KarlCaudwell]

I'm having the same issue. First happend in January after beach driving. Showed Steering sensor & deceleration sensor code, cleared those codes. Was all good until back on the sand 2 weeks ago and 'slip Indicator' light back on. Took to mechanic... Showed 'steering angle sensor' code. Cleared it but came back on after 5 minutes driving. Been told to replace the Steering Angle Sensor.

Have you noticed that when the slip indicator light is on that when you move to L4 it also locks the centre diff and it can't be unlocked until you put back in H4

Can someone shed some light on Steering Angle sensor i.e is it in the clock spring?

[andoland Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close andoland]

Have you noticed that when the slip indicator light is on that when you move to L4 it also locks the centre diff and it can't be unlocked until you put back in H4

Actually I did notice that the other day. I was reversing a large trailer and put it into L4 and then when I went back to H4 I noticed that the centre diff was engaged. I thought I must have accidentally pushed the button, but perhaps not!

My slip indicator light has stayed off since Toyota reset it a week ago, but I haven't been back on sand or in 4wd.

[KarlCaudwell Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close KarlCaudwell]

Yeah. I think you will find the centre diff locks when the slip indicator light is on. I don't know why.
I thought I was in the clear too. Hope yours stays off. Was quoted about $1,300 for the clock spring / steering sensor by my mechanic sourced from Toyota. Found it for half the price from direct imported from Japan. So that is some good news.