You need to look at left rear sensor. You should be able to trace wiring harness to left rear wheel area. Make sure there is no obvious damage to sensor or wire harness. If no obvious damage then you will need to remove rear seat to access sensor connector. Once you access connector you can unplug and use a multimeter to check for resistance in sensor. Basically you will just be checking to make sure there is NOT an open circuit. Anything further than this I would recommend taking to dealership or local reputable shop.
I can not imagine this being any further than a defective sensor or disconnected wire harness. I have never seen any ABS / VSC computer issues on the LS430.

Good luck

 

Well, I tried. But I guess I don't really know what the speed sensor looks like or exactly where it is located on the left rear. Any suggestions? Thanks.

 

Crap crap crap. I took the car to my mechanic, he removed the wheel and showed me the sensor and pulled it out. Nothing looked wrong with from inspecting it. So I guess I'm going to have to order the part from my Lexus dealer (around $330 since it is not a generic Toyota part)) and have the mechanic install it (around $100 or so, I hope) unless anyone has any other/cheaper suggestions. Or I could just ignore the damn thing.

 

Have your mechanic check sensor before replacing it. No need to just replace it for lack of anything else to do.

 

Please post the update from this adventure.

My guess would've been that a hose or wire was not connected in the engine compartment, producing an error. Common mistake when you change out air filters.

Let us know what the status is...

 

I totally agree with you, DDLexus, because this "check VSC" light and warning only came on after they serviced the car (especially since you say that this is a "common mistake"). However, the mechanic says everything is connected (but how does he know?). The mechanic has looked at the sensor visually and showed it to me (it looks "normal"), and I really do not want to take the back seat out to check the connection of the sensor wire because that sounds so unlikely. The mechanic and the Lexus dealer have offered to replace the sensor for around $350-375, but I don't believe that's the solution. Any suggestions about exactly where I should look for a disconnection? Thanks.

 

This would be the most common area for someone who changed the air filter to forget to re-connect a few wires. Check these 2 areas and make sure you've got a tight connection. You will have to remove the plastic cover to see one of the connections.

Good luck.

 

I checked the connections (disconnected and then reconnected) and they are properly attached. No change in driveability: Chime and red warning triangle and "Check VSC" all appear in instrument panel after I've driven several feet. Any other ideas? Thanks.

 

yeap speed sensor will cause the VSC light to go off and it aint cheap. easy to do your self... cost about $200-250

 

For me, taking the back seat out in order to access the speed sensor connection is not "easy." Neither is taking the wheel off inorder to access the speed sensor. But thanks anyway, maybe it will help someone else. Any other ideas floating around out there?

 

Just to finally clean up this thread:

I arranged for my nearest Lexus dealer (125 miles away) to install a new left rear speed sensor. They picked up my car and took it to the dealership. Checking it on their computer, they found nothing wrong with the speed sensor. They were able to "re-configure" (reset?) the car computer, and the "Check VSC" light is now off.

Lesson I learned: take it to the Lexus dealer for service.

 

That's very good advice. Some things you do yourself, sometimes it's best to let Lexus do this stuff. I'm glad you got your problem fixed; it can be maddening to see dash lights on in any car...