Help With Abs & Vsc Dash Lights

[shane3eb]

I am looking at a 2000 GS400 to buy. It is a bank repo so the guy doesn't know anything about the car. The car has 101,000 miles on it and looks like it's been taken care of. The only problem is that the ABS & VSC & VSC OFF lights on the dash are all on. The car does have a scrape along the front driver's side wheel well about a foot and a half long. The tire or rim doesn't seem to have any damage. I drove the car and it pulls a little to the right so the alignment is off. I sped up and then applied the brakes hard and it slowed evenly without any pull to one side or the other.

I am wondering if anyone knows what the most likely cause is for these lights being on and what costs would be worst case scenario? I am meeting the guy in the morning to have an inspection done on the car, except their computer is down so they won't be able to run the codes (It was the only place open tomorrow that I could find). Anyway, for $20 they are going to take off the wheels and check the brakes, rotors, calipers, tie rods, all joints, tires, belts, fluids (brake, power steering, transmission), leaks, steering, alignment. I think that's it. Anyway, they are saying without checking the codes they will probably be able to tell why the ABS light is on when they take off the tires and do the inspection. I'm wondering if anyone has any suggestions, clues, or help for me. I appreciate anything you can give! Thanks

Oh, and when I first showed up and he gave me the keys to start the car it wouldn't start, because it was dead, so we had to jump start it with my car. If this info makes any difference...

[UREXINMYLEX]

Those lights mean the entire ABS system is toast.....people note repair / replacement is about a $2000-$3000 job. You have to replace the entire master cylinder or brake booster. Lxus quotes roughly $1300 parts and $1200 labor. I just had it happen to my 2000 GS300 but it hasn't triggered the lights in about a month..... My lexus seems to repair itself on its own....lol thats why I love my GS like a child. People have been noting that this problem occurs on most 98-00 GS's around 100k mileage. Seems to me that lexus should have issued a recall since it is part of the safety of the vehicle needing ABS. Basically when the lights are on, your brake function is normal just no ABS or vehicle stability control....

[GuyTelefunken]

The cause of these lights may be as simple as one wheel speed sensor. They do not indicate a ridiculously expensive repair. The only way to know what you are getting into is to put the car on a scantool and see what codes you have.

[shane3eb]

The cause of these lights may be as simple as one wheel speed sensor. They do not indicate a ridiculously expensive repair. The only way to know what you are getting into is to put the car on a scantool and see what codes you have.

Yeah, I had it inspected, but their scan tool was broken, but from what they found in the inspection they are saying that they're thinking because there are 20" after market wheels on the car it is throwing off the calibration and that it is probably causing the malfunction. Anyway, after getting it all inspected and getting approved for a loan the guy backed out at the last second and decided he wanted to keep the car, nice huh?

[shane3eb]

The cause of these lights may be as simple as one wheel speed sensor. They do not indicate a ridiculously expensive repair. The only way to know what you are getting into is to put the car on a scantool and see what codes you have.

Ok, so I got the car and the guy actually took it into the dealership before I bought it and you were right, it was a speed sensor, ha ha. I think there was something else with the abs, but anyway he ended up paying a little over $400 to get the lights off, so now I've got a car without any dash lights on. I need to replace the brakes and rotors now...

[scottie]

My wife just noticed this problem on our 01 GS430. Taking it to our mechanic today to have it looked at and fixed. I hope it's the same problem and not something more serious.