What Do The Toyota/Lexus VSC Off And Check Engine Lights On ...

• Emma Davies

Updated on September 14, 2022

Warning lights on your car dashboard should never be ignored. If you have lights on your dash that stay illuminated after you start your car, there are problems that need addressing, or it won’t be long before you do some serious damage to your car.

If you own a Lexus or Toyota, you may have noticed that sometimes the VSC off and check engine light both light up simultaneously.

Here we have provided you with all the information you need with regard to the purpose of the “VSC off” light and “check engine” light and the reasons why they might both be lighting up your dashboard. As a conscientious driver, you should always investigate why your car warning lights are on.

If you have been puzzling over the VCS Off light in your Lexus or Toyota for a while now, keep reading to learn how to reset these lights in your car.

What Does The VSC Light Mean On a Toyota or a Lexus?

VSC is an acronym for Vehicle Stability Control. The VSC is Lexus and Toyota’s traction control system, it helps to keep your vehicle steady and on the road in adverse weather and environmental conditions by reducing power to wheels and applying power to brakes that need it the most in a swerve.

The VSC also works to correct under or oversteering. For example, if your car begins to skid the VSC will reduce the amount of power being sent to the car wheels and if your car begins to spin, the VSC will take control to steer the car safely to the outer curve.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reported vehicles with VSC can reduce the risk of single-vehicle accidents by up to 35% for cars and 67% for SUVs.

VSC plays an important role in keeping you safe while you are driving your Toyota or Lexus. If the VSC Off light and check engine light are both on, it is important that you find out why

Here is a list of Toyota and Lexus car models that use a VSC system for traction control:

• Toyota Avensis
• Toyota Verso
• Toyota Sienna
• Toyota Camry
• Lexus RX400H
• Lexus is250
• Lexus is220d

Why Is My VSC Off Light On?

VSC is important. The system can potentially save your life and when the VSC is off, your car will have no traction control activated. It is no wonder that drivers worry when the VSC Off light is on in their Toyota or Lexus. If you have noticed the VSC Off light is on in your car, there are many reasons why this may be the case.

The VSC is integrated with the car’s brake and engine control systems in order to be able to control the vehicle’s traction. However, because the VSC is joined to other systems, any failings with the brakes and engine can trigger the VSC Off light to come on.

Here is a list of the main reasons why the VSC Off light comes on in a Lexus or Toyota:

• Problem with ABS sensors
• Issues with the accelerator pedal
• Faulty throttle body
• Malfunction in the car’s computer
• Faulty main airflow sensor
• Sensors failing
• Issues with steering rack

If you can’t find the reason why the VSC Off light is on, you can purchase a car code reader to help you to diagnose the problem at home. Different issues have different error codes but a quick search online should be able to tell you what your code means.

Why Is My VSC Light and Check Engine Light On?

Are you looking at your glowing dashboard and wondering, what does it mean when the VSC light and check engine light are on at the same time?

Having several lights illuminating your dashboard can be an anxious time for car owners but there is a very logical reason why the VSC Off light and check engine light is on at the same time in a Toyota or Lexus vehicle.

As we explained earlier, the VSC and engine systems are integrated and an issue with the engine can cause the VSC to fail. The VSC works by reducing power to the wheels while sending braking power to the wheels that need it the most.

If there is a problem with the engine or brakes, the VSC will not work effectively and this may be the same issue triggering both the VSC Off and “check engine” light to switch on.

The most common reasons why the VSC Off and check engine lights are on at the same time in a Lexus or Toyota are:

• Damaged or faulty gas cap
• Faulty O2 sensor

If neither of the above seems to be the issue, you could take your car to a mechanic for a diagnostic test or you can use your car code reader to find the cause.

How To Reset VSC Off Light In a Lexus or Toyota

If you can not find any problems that could be triggering the VSC Off to turn on, there may just be a fault in the display and this can be easily reset by following a few simple steps.

Here is a quick step-by-step guide on how to reset the VSC light:

Step 1 – Stop the car and put it into “Park”

Step 2 – Find the VSC button – in a Lexus or Toyota usually the VSC is located on or behind the steering wheel.

Step 3 – Press the VSC button and hold it down for several seconds

Step 4 – The VSC/TRAC Off lights will now come on, indicating that both of these systems are now deactivated

Step 5 – Press the VSC button for a send

Step 6 – The VSC and TRAC systems are now re-engaged and the VSC Off and TRAC lights should now both be off

If your VSC Off light remains on it would be best to visit a mechanic to get to the bottom of what is causing the problem. The check engine light will usually go off once any problems with the car engine have been resolved.

FAQs

What Causes VSC Light To Come On in Lexus?

The VSC is integrated with the car’s engine and braking systems. Any issues with either of these systems can trigger the VSC lights to come on. However, some of the most common reasons the VSC Off light comes on include issues with the accelerator pedal, faults in the throttle body, or problems with the ABS, mass airflow, and O2 sensors.

How Do I Fix My Check Engine VSC Trac off Warning Lights?

You can fix the check engine and YSC or TRAC off warning lights by scanning your car with a code reader to discover what issue is causing the problem. Your scanner will bring up a code and this code will be a reference to a certain problem.

If you don’t have a code reader or are unsure of what to do, a mechanic can run a diagnostic and find out what is causing the lights to come on. Once the problem has been resolved the VSC Off and TRAC Off lights should switch off, as well as the check engine light.

What Does It Mean When It Says Trac off on Lexus?

If you are seeing the message TRAC OFF on your Lexus dashboard, this means the traction control is deactivated. It is possible to drive a car without the traction control turned on but you are putting yourself and your passengers at risk if you choose to do so.

Traction control helps to prevent wheel spinning and swerves and your journey from A to B will be much safer if you have it turned on.

Will a Check Engine Light Clear Itself?

In most situations, a check engine light will clear as soon as the problem triggering the light to come on has been repaired. For instance, if the light came on due to a problem with the engine radiator and the radiator has now been repaired, the check engine light should switch off.

However, sometimes it can take between 10 and 20 cycles (turning the car on and off) before the check engine light resets and turns off.

Is It Safe To Drive With VSC Light On?

While it is possible to drive with a VSC light on, it is not very safe to do so. If the VSC light is on it means your vehicle stability control system is not on and your car will not have any driving assistance if you get into trouble due to a rainstorm or icy roads.

It is possible to drive with the VSC light on but it is strongly advised drivers avoid doing so. If your VSC has to stay off or it is damaged, pay extra attention to your driving and take extra care driving on bending roads and in adverse weather conditions.

Where Is the VSC Button on a Lexus Rx350?

The VSC (vehicle stability control) button is located on the driver’s side beneath the steering wheel, on the left-hand side. The exact position of the VSC button varies between car models and if you are unsure, referring to the car owner’s manual should help you to easily find the VSC button.

Conclusion

If you drive a Lexus or Toyota you may have noticed the VSC Off and check engine light come on at the same time and is a common issue with Lexus and Toyota car models. This is because the VSC is integrated with other systems and it can take time to work out what problem is causing both lights to switch on.

In this article, we have shared what it means when the VSC Off light and check engine light are both turned on at the same time. We have also provided you with all the information you need on how to reset the VSC light and what problems may be causing the two lights to switch on in the first place.

You may also find more insights from these articles:

Lexus Won’t Start But Has Power: What Can I Do?

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