Have you ever noticed the “VSC” or “TRAC OFF” lights pop up on your Toyota or Lexus dashboard? If you are unsure what these lights mean don’t worry! The friendly staff at Tim’s Quality Car Care is here to help break it all down for you and get you safely back on the road.
What is the VSC light?
VSC or Vehicle Stability Control is part of your Toyota’s safety and traction control system. It is designed to help maintain stability and control during challenging driving conditions. Toyota and Lexus VSC helps on wet, icy, or uneven roads, it is very important in emergency situations. VSC systems can limit engine power and apply brakes to individual wheels in order to prevent skidding or loss of control. When your VSC light is on it indicates that the system has either been manually turned off or your Toyota has detected an issue.
What is the TRAC OFF light?
The TRAC OFF light refers to your vehicle’s traction control system. Traction control prevents your wheels from spinning when accelerating on slippery surfaces. Like the VSC system, it’s a crucial safety feature that ensures you maintain proper grip and control while driving. Your Toyotas TRAC OFF light appears when you have manually turned off the traction control or if there is a fault detected in the system.
Why do VSC and TRAC OFF lights come on?
Toyota VSC and Trac Off lights come on for 3 main reasons:
1) Check Engine Light Coming On – On a Lexus or Toyota your check engine light will almost always be accompanied by a VSC or TRAC OFF light.
2) Manual Deactivation – If you press the VSC or Trac off buttons on your vehicle that corresponding light will come on.
3) The Indication of a Fault- If your Toyota detects a problem with an ABS sensor, or another engine performance problem it will light the VSC and Trac Off lights.
What should you do when your Toyota VSC or TRAC OFF light turns on?
If your VSC or TRAC OFF light comes on first you should check for any additional lights. Most commonly a check engine light will be on as well indicating the vehicle has a problem that needs to be checked. If you notice your VSC and TRAC off lights are on with no other lights you should try restarting your vehicle. If your Toyota has lost traction for a moment many times it will cause your VSC or TRAC OFF light to illuminate or flash. If pulling over to a safe place, stopping and restarting your vehicle causes your lights to go out your vehicle probably lost traction for a moment. If you have a VSC or TRAC OFF light on your Toyota and the light will not reset with a startup or your check engine light is on it is time to seek help from a professional.
If your VSC or TRAC OFF light is on in your Toyota or Lexus you need help from a mechanic at Tim’s!
Make a reservation today!
You may also be interested in: What does solid check engine light mean?
