hi I have a canadian is250 with the 6mt transmission and I cannot turn off the traction control. the button press from a stop does not turn on the dash light nor does the button hold from a stop turn on the 2nd light. should these lights light up during the start up sequence? I don't see them on during that either.
my question is - could the light be out on both of these, which seems unlikely, the rest of the dash lights function
or is there something else I can check? is there an alternate way of verifying the traction control system
I used an obdii scan tool and did not see any codes.
one interesting thing are the extra menus in the touch screen, but this is a base model from canada and doesn't have the touch screen
thanks for the help

 

As an owner of a 2011 base model Canadian-spec 6MT car, I feel I can speak to this.

When you press and release the button "TRAC OFF" should appear on the dash information display. If you press again it will disappear and traction control will be back on. Traction control will come back on by itself at 50 km/h.

If you press and hold for 3 seconds, the VSC off light on the tach will also illuminate and traction and stability control (VDIM) will be disabled. If you press again, it will all disappear and VDIM will be re-enabled.

VSC off should illuminate when starting the car, TRAC OFF is just a display on the LCD and so does not show during startup.

If none of that is working as it should, chances are something isn't working right (the switch, the body ECU, the ABS ECU, the engine ECU or some wiring between them).

Jeff

 

Thanks Jeff, that's really helpful

the VSC light doesn't come on during start up. since the gauges are mph vs kph now, it might make sense that this light simply doesn't work - i don't know for sure but I wonder if the importing dealer switched these when it moved to seattle.

I'll read up on replacing that light.

If you have a quick shifter handy or know where i can get one, I'd be up for one of those

 

Not at the moment, sorry.

Do you have a picture of the gauge cluster? Perhaps they used an 06-10 cluster instead of the 11+?

Jeff

 

 

Can confirm, that is an older cluster. The traction control/VSC lights worked differently on the earlier cars. That is likely why it is not showing up properly.

The question then becomes, is it still turning off or not.

Jeff

 

oh amazing - I bet it all works as expected, this car is in pretty decent shape. Think it is worth the trouble to ebay a facelift / 2010 + cluster? - if it is just traction control lighting up, i might not bother, i can press the button then press and hold it for 3 seconds with no light
if there are other features and things, maybe more interesting - the 'mode' button works and shows me the temp, miles till empty, etc

that really helps understanding what is going on - thanks again Jeff

 

and if this ever comes about, let me know - would probably pay a bit, the lexus part was over $400

"I am working on something, but can't say much more than that.

Jeff"

 

Open the hood and unplug a wire to a single coil pack and start it. That will throw a code immediately!

Or hold the button for 5sec and dump the clutch. If disabled, you should get a short peg-leg burn on the right rear....

 

thanks 2013FSport, i'll give it a shot- sounds like the near lsd that came with the manual isn't that amazing. worth it to go lsd 4.10 gears from the 86 or the 3.91 from the auto?

 

Technically it it's an eLSD as the ABS wheel speed sensors are working the electronics to limit power output and apply braking to the free spinning wheel if for example one were trying to launch and lit up the rear.

That being a 250, I'd stay w the 4.083:1.... unless you happen to get a screaming deal on the 3.9.

 

So does that cluster have a big red triangle top center when the key is switched on?

Perhaps, next time you get in there, just turn it on and snap a shot before starting it. Although the PDF manual from Lexus has pretty good detail so you could read that too.

 

it has an orange triangle with an ! in the middle of it that goes away and then displays a 'check complete' message - I'll see if I can get a pic after work tonight.

 

Not super important, but the gears used in the IS250's differential don't come in a 4.083 ratio. 3.727 is stock on a North American 6MT, 3.583, 3.909, 4.100 and 4.300 are available as complete assemblies with LSD that can swap in (3.583 is hard to find in North America though).

Jeff