New to the forum and read all the old posts today regarding the check engine light/check VSC/traction control lisghts coming on together. Most responses and threads usually point to a faulty or lose gas cap. Called the dealer today (Bell Lexus) and the service manager told me same thing, it was probably a lose gas cap and to see if the light/s go off by Friday. He said it would need a few dry cycles to see if it there were any vapor leaks. I did fill up with gas yesterday and may have not tightened the cap all the way, who knows. I do know that everytime I open the cap to fill up it almost fills off as far as opening it goes.....almost seems to easy. The service manager told me that was normal, ok, doesnt seem normal to me, and to give it until Friday. Couldn't i just make sure the gas cap is tight, which I did today,and then disconnect one terminal for 5-10 minutes, reconnect, start car and see if it clears? If I posted this in the wrong forum please don't flame me, just let me know where to post it ok?

 

I wouldn't. Lexus car don't like disconnected batteries. You will loose many settings, like windows, sunroof, etc. Plus, I never hear that disonnecting the battery clears any codes.

 

Take it to Autozone, have them pull the code properly (the do this as a free service) and then have them reset the CEL/VSC lights with the scan tool. This way you don't lose any saved presets. Post up the codes here to get a clue as to what may be causing the idiot lights to come on. The gas cap may be one reason but there are hundreds of sensor readings and a whole slew of codes that will cause these lights to come on.

steviej

 

I don't think auto stores do that service anymore. I heard they got sued or something.

 

if your gas cap seems really use even after you tighten it, its the seal around the cap thats bad. same thing happened to me. i got a new one and did it myself. replaced the cap in about 15 seconds then disconnected my battery. if you disconnect your battery you may lose a lot of functions such as the 1 touch up and down for windows, sunroof, radio presets, seat preseats and steering wheel preset. its very simple to fix though. for the windows, just go around to each door panel and hold the switch down to let the window roll all the way down and then again back up. once you do that for all 4 windows, you should be able to use the switch on your drivers panel. for the sun roof you just have to hold the open button in for like 30 seconds.

 

The autozones here don't do that service either, but they will lend you the tool to do it yourself.

 

Thanks fopr all the replies, great points from everyone. IXI187IXI - question, did you just replace the rubber o-ring? Also, I see a few people mentioend one touch sunroof setting - since I have only had my car about 2 months now I am still learning things about it. How do you set the one touch open/close or up/down for the sunroof? In regards the the idiot lights if they don't clear by tomorrow I will just take it to the dealership since it is still under warranty. COULD THIS BE THE PROBLEM- when I bought the car 2 months ago the front two tires were worn pretty good, so before I bought it i insisted the dealer replace them. They replcaed them with the same size tire 245/40/18R but they are a different brand, they are not the Bridgestone Potenzas like the two back tires. Even though they are the same size, they are a slightly different treead pattern. Any way that could set off the traction control/vsc issue? Anyone ever heard of that?

 

yes it will be covered under warranty. if you take it they will replace the cap for free. i just replaced the whole cap because it was cheap and they couldnt get me in for service for over a week.

for 1 touch sunroof, just hold the open button in and keep holding it. the sunroof will open all the way and after about 5 seconds it will close again. make sure you keep the open button held in. you may have to do this 3 or 4 times but it should work.

 

Did you just buy an OEM gas cap from the dealer? Thanks for the info o nthe sunroof, I will try it at lunch today.

 

yup, it was like 20 bucks

 

Thanks, I might just go pick one up at lunch today, for $20.00 it is almost worth saving me the time and hassle of delaing with the dealer. So with your experience in doing this, and disconnecting the positive terminal, it cleared the lights and the worst part was losing your settings? If that is the worst case that isn't so bad.

 

thats correct

 

Is it possible for the cap to click when I am tightening it, but for it to still be bad?

 

yup. try tighten the cap til it clicks. then go to unloosen the cap, you'll probably notice that it feels loose and only takes about 1/4 turn for it to come off.

 

I stopped by the dealer. They replaced the o-ring on the gas cap, mine was dried up and compressed, it was shot. They cleared the code and it's good to go now. Cost me $6.00 for the o-ring and ten minutes of my time at the dealer.

I tried to program the one touch open/close sunroof but didn't work. I forgot to ask them how to do it while I was there. You mentioned to open the sunroof and once it was open to continue holding the open button, and then it would start to close? I tried that and it just stayed open.