2001 4Runner 4-wheel drive issue - Toyota Nation Forum : Toyota Car and Truck Forums

4RunnerHeather · 11-02-2011, 08:40 PM

Hello,

About a month ago, my check engine, VSC TRAC, and VSC OFF lights came on on my dash in my 2001 4runner. I took it to a PepBoys and they said that the code was "o2 sensor" related. Just last week I took it into a Toyota repair shop to have it looked at, and they came back and said they could find nothing wrong in the car that would have caused those lights to come on. They did, however, say I needed to replace my timing and drive belts, and a leak in my water pump, which I had them do. Now, this morning, after 6 inches of snow in Denver, I go to put my car in 4 wheel drive, and it won't engage! The lights continued to just blink at me, no matter what I tried. I have never had any problem whatsoever getting the 4runner to go into 4wheel drive, and so this was a shock to me. Also, one thing to note is that no light turns on when I click the VSC off button on the left side of the steering wheel, either when the 4 wheel drive is clicked on or off.

If anyone has ANY suggestions I would greatly appreciate it! Thank you!

Heather

jetwhine · 11-03-2011, 04:09 AM

4runnerheather,

The reason the trac and the vsc lights come on are because when the check engine light comes on it disables those 2 systems. Its a Toyota thing. You need to have the ECU interigated with a OBDII tester. This will tell you if there is something that needs to be address. If you had a check engine light which it sounds as if you did, and did nothing to fix it then it tells me that there is still an o2 sensor that might be at fault. That is what you indicated was the original problem. If you don't find anyting with the tester then I would disconnect the negative battery for about 1 minute and reconnect to reset the ECU. Then drive it and see if the 4wd system will work. But I would think that there is a stored code still for the o2 sensor, and until that is fixed then you are sure to keep having problems. If you indeed need an o2 sensor I would stick with OEM type made by Denso. Do not get a universal type as they do not have a plug on them and have to be hard wired/spliced. Go with the Denso.