We own a 2007 Lexus that has been giving us problems. The car had been running fine, till one day I got a check engine light and VSC warning on my dash, while we were driving. The car seemed okay to drive, so we made it home with no issues, approximately 40 mile drive. Two days after this, I needed to get the car smog checked before my registration date. I expected to fail, since my check engine light was on.

The smog technician advised me, it would fail, but the OBD would tell me the problem, and of course it would generate paperwork to the State of the failure. I turned off the car and waited in line. Approximately 15 minutes later, I turned on the car to drive into the mechanic bay, and both the VSC and the check engine light were gone. I showed the mechanic, and he had no answer. Told me it might be an electrical problem, short or loose spark plug and coil. He stated I had a 50/50 chance of passing. He hooked up the OBD and it stated I had a weak coil, but the check engine light was still off. He completed the smog check, and it passed with no problem.

Two days later no problems. I commute to work about 80 miles everyday, up and down a mountain. No issues that I could ascertain, but mpg seemed a bit off. Then one day the check engine warning light comes back on with the VSC. The car is shaking and sputtering. I get it home, but the check engine light is now flashing on and off. I looked up the flashing check engine light on the internet. Say its a coil problem and not to drive it or it could ruin my catalytic converter.

Ok two days later again, the car has sat in the garage. I curiously, started it up the other day. Check engine light and VSC were on, but the check engine light was "NOT FLASHING". Drove it around the block. Seemed ok, no shaking, and acceleration was good. Got home and parked the car, and set up an appointment. Now today, the check engine light is gone again

Question is has anyone experienced this before. In 12 years of owning this car, I have never experienced a problem like this before. We own a 2017 ES 350 also, can I expect another issue like this. What could be the problem?

Is the VSC issue separate from the check engine light? Will bad brake pads, and or low nitrogen in my tires cause this?

Any suggestions would be helpful?

 

You did not state how many miles are on it. I am going to assume over 100,000 and that you have the original spark plugs and coils. One of your coils is failing. The others will also soon fail.
If it was my car, after learning I had a bad coil, I would just go ahead and replace all 6 and the spark plugs. That is probably your problem. Weak coils can trigger other lights such as your VSC.
It probably has nothing to do with your brakes and certainly not your tires.
Call around for prices to replace the plugs and coils. Good luck.

 

I've read other threads where these warning lights were caused by a battery or charging issues. Low voltage can lead to all types of problems in modern cars.

 

I had the same problem twice and it was number six coil, I replaced it and since then everything was fine.

 

Very similar events to our 07 ES350. I let the wife continue driving the car but it eventually started running bad - when the coil stopped functioning properly. 1st coil went bad at 70K miles; replaced with a $90 lifetime coil from AutoZone. At about 150K two more coils went bad. I replaced with AA Ignition cheap coils from amazon, about $15 each. One went bad at 10 months, the other went bad at about 13 months. Replaced them with Yec Flamma IGC112F coils, which I recommend. Made by an aftermarket Japanese company with better quality control. They average about $25 each.

 

Good information here! Based on your experience, if one of my coils goes bad, I'll replace them all (at just $25 each). Even if none go out, perhaps they should be replaced when the spark plugs are due, especially if the "Yec Flamma" coils are better quality than stock. Let us know how they hold up!