VSC/PCS/AWD malfunction

Just wondering if anyone has seen this problem before? It happened once and didn’t happen again for a while, but now it happens every day and it’s completely random timing when I drive. The VSC and PCS systems will shut up, and the 4L and 4H lights start blinking. The 4L and 4H lights eventually disappear and the AWD system works fine, but the others don’t go away. I also found out today that my cruise control doesn’t work when the VSC and PCS lights are on. I’ve taken it to my dealer and they believe it’s a sensor at the rear diff, but I’m still waiting for my next appointment and for the part to arrive. Honestly don’t have much faith that it’ll be properly fixed any time soon…

 

Alberta, Canada. So yes cold climate, snowy and salty roads.

 

Just an FYI, and no offense intended, but these trucks do not have AWD. They have part-time 4WD, which means you can only use it in low traction situations. If you try to leave it on all the time (i.e., on dry patches of pavement), you will run into problems…

Your issue may just be a sensor issue, but there have been a couple posts from members who got into trouble because they didn’t understand how the 4WD in their truck works.

That front sensor, which controls your radar cruise and pre-collision braking system, won’t work when it is covered in snow/ice. Mine is always fine after I clean it off.

 

Yeah I understand that, I just called it AWD because that’s the message that pops up on my screen when the lights turn on. Thanks though!

Also there shouldn’t be any ice build up as it’s been pretty nice weather lately and no snow, etc. That’s why I’m kind of stumped on the issue.

 

Update on this - gave my truck a good wash and the VSC and PCS lights turned on again shortly after, so it can’t be dirt or ice. Again, it’s totally random but usually happens daily.

 

I have the exact same issue with my 23. Mine happens whenever the tires start to slip, then everything fails... Was going around an icy corner this morning and it turned my traction control off on me. Lots of fun. Going in next week to have it looked at.

 

I finally got mine fixed. It took a while for the part to come in, plus they initially ordered the wrong part. In the meantime, I got into a collision because of it… Toyota did nothing to help or compensate of course.

It turned out to be a faulty sensor. I finally got it fixed early January and haven’t had an issue since!

 

Can you post which exact sensor was responsible?

 

Here’s what my work order says. 4 wheel drive position switch

 

And this was the original diagnostics

 

Here is what I got... No resolution but my truck has a slew of codes present. None of which tripped the CEL. Hoping that is all it was, but time will tell.

 

what is the wrong size tires thing about?

 

Who knows. I put 35s on it so I'm sure they want to pass the blame on something other than themselves.

 

Failure came back this morning. This time I was able to replicate it and promptly brought it back into the dealer.

When switching from 2H to 4H my truck seems to shift fine and relatively quick. When switching back to 2H from 4H, my truck takes forever and a day to shift. Today I was doing just that, I shifted from 4H to 2H while driving approximately 30mph (manual says under 62mph), and the 4H light was flashing. Mine flashes for nearly a minute while driving for whatever reason. While the light was flashing, I accelerated, the rear end slipped a little and then all of the lights on the dash popped up like shown above. Not sure how long it should take to shift from 4H to 2H, but all other vehicles I have had that were "shift on the fly" have never shown an issue like this.

I have this along with my radio sound turning off every time I drive it.

If these two items are considered "normal" after todays visit, this thing is getting traded in very soon.

 

I have a similar problem, going from 2H to 4H no problem, going from 4H to 2H, 4H starts blinking and shortly there after I make a turn left or right, and 4H will stop blinking. Never had this on any of my previous Toyota 4WD trucks. We have fresh snow so I may drive around the block a few times putting it in and out of 4H, maybe it just needs to break in a little.

 

Update from the service department... The hybrids are new so they don't fully understand them. Not a valid excuse in my opinion, but whatever.

Apparently what is happening to mine is "normal". According to them (not the manual) you need to be under 35 driving straight for 20-30 seconds before the 4H can fully disengage. If you accelerate during this period and your tires spin even the smallest amount, everything will turn off as a "fail safe".

With that being said, I will have a 23 TRD Pro with 4k miles going up for sale or trade sooner than later. Love the redesign, less than impressed with service and performance.

 

I’m pretty sure you can switch at speed but I’ve noticed sometimes the engagement/disengagement can be delayed if you’re on the throttle. The transfer case is the same between hybrid and non-hybrid so dealer is just making excuses.

 

Manual says 62mph and maintain acceleration or deceleration.

I think they were making excuses as well, but arguing with a service tech does you zero good in the world we live in.

 

Hi, my name is Ty and I am a Tundra user. I knew I had a problem when the same thing happened to Jberubs. Flashing lights (4H and 4L), warning lights (no VSC, no traction control) and THE AWD message showed up all at once. I didn't do anything out of the ordinary, just put in 4WD and it was over. Thank you for listening.
P.S. Technician said they could see me in 8 days. Hope nothing goes wrong in the meantime.