I Spent $30 To Turn Off My 4runner’s VSC Lights… And It Worked!

If your 4th Gen 4runner's VSC and ABS lights are on without your check engine light, there's a good chance it's a simple and easy fix.
Do they come on immediately every time you start your engine? You might need to do a zero point calibration. It they come on intermittently, there's a good chance it's as simple as replacing the $30 brake light switch.
Beck Arnley 201-2337 Stop Light Switch: amzn.to/3DMS3rD
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Links to 4runner modifications:
Fox 2.0 adjustable front coilovers: bit.ly/3trRP3g
Fox 2.0 rear shocks: bit.ly/3vMpCXT
OME 895 rear springs: bit.ly/3IK29tV
Method Race Wheels: bit.ly/3sHVRFp
Goodyear Duratrac tires: bit.ly/3sLWjCR
MIC Tuning OEM style light bar buttons: amzn.to/3tvTi8S
Oznium LED Camping lights: amzn.to/3pETAsZ
Boslla color changing LED foglights: amzn.to/3sJX3bv
Pioneer DMH-2660NEX head unit: amzn.to/3sKfCMQ
iDatalink Maestro steering wheel control module: amzn.to/3hEdvUi
My favorite car detailing products - bit.ly/3vLgDGa
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Rode microphone: amzn.to/3pEBg2U
Photo editing software: bit.ly/3MJ7Dr9
Video editor: bit.ly/3J97xqO
DISCLAIMER: This video and description contains affiliate links, which means that if you click on one of the product links, I’ll receive a small commission.
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[@billdobbs9360]

CG I've been watching your videos for a while now, and I must say: this one was huge for me. I've been fighting this issue forever (better part of a year) and my leading theory as to the culprit seemed to change by the week after trying fix after fix. This did it. I splurged on OEM ($48 here in MA) after your reported fitment issues and the damn lights went away. Unbelievable. Keep it up man, love the channel!

[@CanadianGearhead]

That's awesome! Glad to hear this fixed it

[@josereyes9726]

Do u have the part number for the switch..

[@lisaredmond3701]

Excellent fix , I went with Toyota switch .2008 4 Runner . Thank you 🇺🇸

[@danquinn4264]

Thanks for your great video. I bought the after market switch & had the exact same problem. The switch won't stay in the vertical position. Comparing the bell housings, its clear that the threads are a different pattern. I followed your solution with a small twist & it worked. I took the bell top off the original, took out the plunger switch, washed & dried the housing, inserted the new plunger switch & the new base. It went together well, re-inserted as you showed & its working great. Thanks for your video & the details. Looking forward to the Zero Point Calibration video.

[@teasquared09]

Bro, you just saved me a massive headache. Got the OEM switch on eBay for $45. No longer an issue. THANK YOU!

[@JoeyAndVehicles]

Nice. Always come to you for my 4runner help

[@guyjordan8201]

Sincere thank you sir. This is exactly what we needed. Great video should exactly what I needed to do and it solved the problem. Even though now I know it’s a common problem, your video helped a lot. Thanks.

[@scottg2946]

That's pretty ingenious!

[@sse1204]

My dumpster just started to act stupid as well, put my order in and hopefully this will take care of it. Thanks for the video!

[@CanadianGearhead]

Hope it works for you!

[@Kypreparedness]

Gas cap is another one. Our v8 runner did this anytime there was a drastic temp or barometric change, sometimes rain. Replaced the gas cap and a year later no lights. Probably my only dislike of this car is the Christmas tree lights for simple things that causes an unwarranted freak out

[@CanadianGearhead]

I've had that as well but the difference here is that a gas cap will also cause a check engine light and evap code

[@revolutionunderground]

I wish cars were required to not do this to people. CEL has become an all purpose catch-all that cries wolf

[@2-old-Forthischet]

I wonder if the "spray and pray" fix would've worked? We used that method in the telecom world a lot before tearing apart stuff.

[@CanadianGearhead]

I'd say it's definitely worth a shot before buying a new switch

[@87studga]

Thank you omg we got the same truck....

[@jawrd_]

What lift & tires do you have?

[@nickmoller2293]

we have to do a zero point calibration every so often to reset the vsc and trac lights on our 2004 4 runner, its at about 330k miles had this problem probably about the last 80k.

[@CanadianGearhead]

That's strange, there must be something causing it to forget the calibration

[@scottliegel855]

I love hearing about Toyotas over 300.000

[@mreyes3478]

@nickmoller2293, do you have a zero point calibration video you can recommend? My lights have been on for weeks and I think it’s time to fix but don’t know where to begin.

[@christianrodriguez4806]

Same here 2004 4Runner Sr5 with 280k with the same lights on .

[@LifeinWV]

I have a 2005 4 runner and have to do a zero calibration reset every so often sometimes it last a month then others is last a day no ideal how to keep it from showing up I have over 250,000 miles on it

[@anav1404]

Thank you

[@distilledfreedom1840]

What's this zero point calibration? My VSC lights are always on. Break lights work fine.

[@follow_fraser3081]

FYI anyone watching this, I fixed the same this with switch swap. I used the OEM switch from Toyota though

[@BPV-22]

Have you ever had issues with the hatch door not working dosent open on me

[@lionelarmenta3514]

MR2 looks mean!👍

[@CanadianGearhead]

Thanks! It'll be in videos soon enough

[@blackwatch7151]

I have an 06 V8. Recently had a small exhaust leak fixed under the passenger floor pan. The shop disconnected the lower O2 sensor but when they started it up the upstream bank 1 O2 was throwing the P0031 code. They didn’t go near it though. Any ideas why this O2 sensor would go bad when it was having lower exhaust repair?

[@CanadianGearhead]

That's weird but it must just be a coincidence. I wouldn't be surprised if it never comes back after clearing the code

[@Medickep]

I found this video off of your amazing article. I'm having the same issue with lights on my '08 4runner. VHC flashing and ABS and traction lights staying. The only problem, is they're not always lit up. If it's the brake light switch, would you expect the lights to light up when in park or while driving? Thanks in advance.

[@CanadianGearhead]

My lights would come on intermittently whether I was in park or driving, it didn't seem to matter. It's strange that your VSC light is flashing though - mine was on steady with the others

[@caution_xray]

how’s it working out since posting this video? did the replacement part do the trick? Thanks for the video!

[@CanadianGearhead]

Honestly, it works almost all of the time but I still get the lights every once in a while when it's cold/damp out. I suspect this cheaper switch is the culprit - it's probably best to get an OEM one

[@caution_xray]

@@CanadianGearhead The OEM part did not resolve the issue.. lights will sometimes return when accelerating during a right turn. I installed a bypass switch to disengage the traction control. But to reset it, I would have to turn off the engine and start it again.

[@lukesell953]

What was the code it was throwing?

[@koryrage1545]

Please god help me, I just got my dads 2000 4Runner and he said “I’d be worried if they weren’t on, they been on 20 years” but it drives me off the walls knowing something somewhere is wrong please please please help me fix mine, I’ve changed the booster, I’ve changed this piece I’ve done the zero point I’ve done the flash I’m losing it

[@calmic75]

My 2006 V6 4Runner just blew a gasket at 215,000km. Our Vsc lights also went through the gamut of diagnoses. May god have mercy on my soul

[@CanadianGearhead]

Ouch! Hope you get it fixed up 👍

[@rngwrm]

well that's stupid. why do those three lights mean so many different things that aren't anything to do w/ stability or traction control? next up is to try sanding down my fuel filler neck (because i already have sand paper), but i'll add this to the list of things to potentially replace some day. i have the CEL, but no evap codes, so i don't think this filler neck trick is going to fix it

[@ljgsuper]

i have a 2004 and the abs light and alarm keep going off. Ive had my actuator and booster pump replaced and it still goes off on cold starts? Anyone know why I keep getting this alarm. Seen others say that the brakes need to be bled. Well Ive had them bled twice in the last 4 years and it still keeps alarming . Can anyone tell me how I can remove the alarm? I can live with the pressuring on cold starts but the alarm is deafening. And where air keeps getting in the system, if thats the problem? I had the brake sensor switch go out on my wife's 22 4runner and because the car has push button start, the suv wouldnt start and I couldnt even shift to neutral. Lucky it was under warranty, so I know what to do now on her car if it happens again

[@CanadianGearhead]

The only time I had the alarm was when a brake line blew

[@troybabs]

My first thought was that the new switch may just be a poor/cheap knock-off that was made in China? Amazon is great in so many ways, but it's a gamble with lots of things, including anything do with electronics.

[@CanadianGearhead]

Yup I agree, I'm just surprised that nothing had been mentioned in the reviews. Maybe I just got a bad one

[@revolutionunderground]

@@CanadianGearhead since the Chinese vendors turned Amazon into eBay & Wish crap, their reviews are manipulative & fake. "Great product. 5 stars" "just what I needed" type fake reviews etc

[@oscarlevipaguada]

I have an 08 limited V8 and I tried the brake light switch and it didn’t work… any information on a zero point calibration on a 2008 V8?

[@CanadianGearhead]

There should be info on the T4r.org forums but maybe I'll make a vid about it

[@oscarlevipaguada]

@@CanadianGearhead I checked the forums and there isn’t a lot of information on the 08 V8 0. Calibration. I tried the method that worked for the 03-05 but that didn’t work for me. If you could please make a video that would be really appreciated! Thank you for all the videos you do! I really enjoy your channel.

[@oscarlevipaguada]

So update! After some research on the forums and trying different things. Turns out all I needed was a brand new gas cap lol the old one has a seal that was broken.

[@LifeinWV]

@@oscarlevipaguadaI can make a video all it take is to reclibrate using a wire I’ll try to do a video on mine in a few hours it’s simple

[@Medickep]

Ya I’m not sure the solution yet, it the brake sensor is a cheap starting point!

[@aidanvines4926]

This happened to mine it went away when I turned the car off and back on

[@tommcl8548]

👍👊