lexus4us

This is new and intermittent problem on my 2001 Rx 300 (233,000 miles )

When taking curves at low to moderate speeds I'm getting the beeping noise & light coming on. The light does not come on with any other light or stay on long when it occurs.

My first opportunity to google it has suggested to check these.

1)Wheel sensors ( abs rings )
2)YAW sensor,
3) Steering wheel angle sensor,
4) Check vacuum hoses

Zero Point calibration ?

I will scan for codes soon but your thoughts are welcome in the meantime.

Thanks

lexus4us

Did the VSC reset per another thread to no avail. Will continue to inverstigate.

salimshah

Looks like you dont have any combustion/exhaust related issues, so CEL should not light up.

I would start with the basics ,,,
inflate the tires properly and make sure you have good tread on all. Same type tires on LEFT vs RIGHT.
Cleanup the rotation sensors.
Make sure your battery is fully charged.

Was there any work done recently?

Salim

lexus4us

No recent work done.
Tires are good
Cleaned Front sensors - the rears are locked up and did not want to risk damaging to clean.
Ran test on battery but it needs and will be replaced. 69% efficiency on load test.

Question: How can the individual wheel sensors be tested? I could replace all 4 but prefer not too: )

salimshah

Have you run the diagnostic to see what brake codes you are getting?

Salim

lexus4us

My scanner is a cheap one so no I'll have to take it somewhere. Any idea if Autozones scanners will scan correctly?

salimshah

Some advanced scanners can read ABS codes, but most can be read by counting the number of flashes in the instrument cluster.

Please search which pins must be shorted to read the ABS codes.

Salim

lexus4us

Thanks Salim,

I picked up a battery today and found the DIY you mentioned on the ABS pins. Will put in battery and pull codes this weekend.

lexus4us

Just an update. Counted the flashes to diagnose and wrote down. Unplugged the ABS to ride until able to fix. Also bought a code reader capable of pulling wheel sensor codes.

lexus4us

Now with funds available to make repairs to one ( or more ) wheel sensors, I plugged the ABS wiring harness back in. After two days ( drove a few times locally ) the VSC light has not come back on so the scanner does not detect any codes.

Symptoms are the same.

Brakes engaging although not severe as if braking in a mild skid or snow with the irritating ASC sounds.
It occurs when almost at a comple stop, lightly depressing brake pedal and occasionally when taking off from a complete stop.
Have not experienced any noise or grabbing when taking on or off ramps Like I did previously.
The noise seems to originate on the front passenger side. ANY SIGNIFICANCE?

Question - any idea how long it will take the computer to start flashing the VSC light again on my dashboard?

lexus4us

Still no code showing on scanner after driving 50 miles. Now getting an intermittent situation where the VSC/ABS lights will either display or not but the symptoms remain the same except taking an off ramp exit does not cause it to engage now.

Your thoughts:

1. Could there be a possible short in the wiring harness from disconnecting THE ABS? Carefully did so a few times
2. May have to pay someone who can pull live codes.
3. Spoke to a mechanic. Said if it were him, he would disconect and move on.

Drcoffee

you need to have it scanned

salimshah

Have a auto electrician check your alternator output or take your alternator out and have it bench tested. As RX ages and you go through dead batteries, the rectifier diodes start dying one by one. With one or to two still working you can get enough output to charge the battery, but the waveform has many gaps. The ABS computer is very sensitive to these ripples.

I chased one such problem for months and finally nailed it when I changed the rectifier of my alternator.

Salim

Drcoffee

How does your battery ground wire look? When they get corroded badly it can cause electrical gremlins. I have a thread on building a better ground wire for the rx300.

lexus4us

Will have it tested but replaced it in early January with a new battery.