Hi, I have a 1998 GS400. Today i was starting the car and the check engine, vsc, vsc off lights came on. I shut off the car and started it again and those lights were still on. I let the car warmed up and the lights turned off. The lights haven't come on again and I was thinking that maybe because of the cold weather (5 deg). What seems to be the cause of that I'm just a little worried.

 

I would drive it for the next week or so, if you continue to have the same problem you can use the search feature on the board and come up with a ton of information.

 

I had that same problem shortly after I bought my GS430. Only thing is my lights stayed on. I was utterly disappointed, actually thought I got ripped off. I took the car to the dealer and they told me that there was nothing wrong with the car. He said that I probably turned the key to fast when In inserted the key and started the car. I think if you do it all in 1 motion it confuses the computer. So from now on I put the key in wait a second then start the car. Those lights haven't come on since.

 

When I'm in a hurry in the morning and I've started the car, then immediately stepped on the brake and shifted into reverse that some of the lights, including VSC and Check engine, and others stay on. Panic set in, I calmed down, shut the engine off, restarted and let the car idle for 5 seconds or so before hitting the brake and shifting into reverse and the display was normal. This has happened three times in the 5 years I've owned my 99 GS4. Might be some merit in what that dealer said.

 

someone on sc430 forum just stated that he put in some new colder spart plugs and same thing happened. put back the stock one and it's ok

does temperature have anything to do with this?

 

No it doesn't, I don't think because I got my car in September and the light incedent happened in October. Don't think it was all that cold that morning though.

 

If I'm not mistaken, this can be caused by a variety of problems and/or situations.

I once disconnected my oxygen sensor (playing, no reason) and was greeted by the same combination of lights, even after reconnecting. (I suspect because no inputs from the sensor for any length of time is assumed by the computer to be bad.)

Resetting the ECU fixed it.

Given the cold, it could have been that. I wouldn't worry unless is recurrs.