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Hello all. I just traded my '06 IS250 for an '06 GS300. I was excited to upgrade to the bigger vehicle and pleased to find a car for a great deal. Well a few hours after I took possesion of the car the CHECK VSC message came on along with the CHECK ENGINE light. I was livid. I've heard that it can be anything from a broken gas cap to a sensor. Well I'm frustrated because the car had just over 50k miles so the factory warranty just expired. I purchased an extended warranty but it hasn't been made effective yet...will probably take a week or so. Of course the dealer is claiming since it happened once I took posession of the car it is my issue. However, he has taken the car back and had it inspected. I found out today that it is probably an air fuel sensor which will cost $450. Does this sound right to you guys? Does it seem fair that I am responsible for this cost?

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First of all...congrats on your new car! I am sorry to hear this happened almost immediately after driving the car off the lot.....

This has happened to me a couple of times. The first time, I brought it in and they checked out the car....and nothing was wrong. The second time, I un-did the gas cap and re-tightened it....the light went away within a day or so. That being said, I make very sure, when finished fueling, that I tighten the gas cap until i hear two clicks. Since doing this little ritual...the lights have not come back.

--Duckman

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Same here. I ended up replacing the gas cap and that did the trick.

First of all...congrats on your new car! I am sorry to hear this happened almost immediately after driving the car off the lot.....

This has happened to me a couple of times. The first time, I brought it in and they checked out the car....and nothing was wrong. The second time, I un-did the gas cap and re-tightened it....the light went away within a day or so. That being said, I make very sure, when finished fueling, that I tighten the gas cap until i hear two clicks. Since doing this little ritual...the lights have not come back.

--Duckman

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Hello all. I just traded my '06 IS250 for an '06 GS300. I was excited to upgrade to the bigger vehicle and pleased to find a car for a great deal. Well a few hours after I took possesion of the car the CHECK VSC message came on along with the CHECK ENGINE light. I was livid. I've heard that it can be anything from a broken gas cap to a sensor. Well I'm frustrated because the car had just over 50k miles so the factory warranty just expired. I purchased an extended warranty but it hasn't been made effective yet...will probably take a week or so. Of course the dealer is claiming since it happened once I took posession of the car it is my issue. However, he has taken the car back and had it inspected. I found out today that it is probably an air fuel sensor which will cost $450. Does this sound right to you guys? Does it seem fair that I am responsible for this cost?

Hello. I have a same problems just about 2 weeks ago. I was replacing a spark plugs and when job was done VSC ligh came on. Went to local AUTOZONE store to check the trouble code (free), they told me it was a idle sensor.b So, I check the car again and find loose wire on sensor. Simple fix! Check your wires and I hope it helps! :)

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  • 2 months later...

Was the gas cap for our car too, with only 22,000 miles. Couldn't get it tight enough even though it would click several times. It would still rattle loose with the slightest touch. After building up a few layers of teflon tape under the O-ring on the cap, it now locks down like it should.

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Hello all. I just traded my '06 IS250 for an '06 GS300. I was excited to upgrade to the bigger vehicle and pleased to find a car for a great deal. Well a few hours after I took possesion of the car the CHECK VSC message came on along with the CHECK ENGINE light. I was livid. I've heard that it can be anything from a broken gas cap to a sensor. Well I'm frustrated because the car had just over 50k miles so the factory warranty just expired. I purchased an extended warranty but it hasn't been made effective yet...will probably take a week or so. Of course the dealer is claiming since it happened once I took posession of the car it is my issue. However, he has taken the car back and had it inspected. I found out today that it is probably an air fuel sensor which will cost $450. Does this sound right to you guys? Does it seem fair that I am responsible for this cost?

Hello. I have a same problems just about 2 weeks ago. I was replacing a spark plugs and when job was done VSC ligh came on. Went to local AUTOZONE store to check the trouble code (free), they told me it was a idle sensor.b So, I check the car again and find loose wire on sensor. Simple fix! Check your wires and I hope it helps! :)

I have an '06 Lexus GS 300. The VSC light came on around 25,100 miles. I now have 25,600 miles. The car has been running fine but now have concerns I might be doing it harm if I don't have it checked. The gas cap does not tight very well so I'm going to do what was suggested by another member by putting teflon tape to see if that secures it better. I was wondering where is the idle sensor so I can check for any loose wire?

post-94158-1254168670_thumb.jpg

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I have an '06 Lexus GS 300. The VSC light came on around 25,100 miles. I now have 25,600 miles. The car has been running fine but now have concerns I might be doing it harm if I don't have it checked. The gas cap does not tight very well so I'm going to do what was suggested by another member by putting teflon tape to see if that secures it better. I was wondering where is the idle sensor so I can check for any loose wire?

Isn't your car still under warranty? If it is, why bother to hunt for the problem when the dealer could take care of it on his time and at no cost to you. Besides, a bazillion obscure issues can cause the VSC warning light to come on. Have the dealer "pull the codes" and zero in on the issue.

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I have an '06 Lexus GS 300. The VSC light came on around 25,100 miles. I now have 25,600 miles. The car has been running fine but now have concerns I might be doing it harm if I don't have it checked. The gas cap does not tight very well so I'm going to do what was suggested by another member by putting teflon tape to see if that secures it better. I was wondering where is the idle sensor so I can check for any loose wire?

Isn't your car still under warranty? If it is, why bother to hunt for the problem when the dealer could take care of it on his time and at no cost to you. Besides, a bazillion obscure issues can cause the VSC warning light to come on. Have the dealer "pull the codes" and zero in on the issue.

and if your dealership is too far to drive to, any Autozone will pull the codes for free. Get the trouble code and post up here.

We will then tell you where to start looking based on the code causing the idiot lights to come on. Too many codes and so few lights to indicate them.

get them read.

steviej

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I have an '06 Lexus GS 300. The VSC light came on around 25,100 miles. I now have 25,600 miles. The car has been running fine but now have concerns I might be doing it harm if I don't have it checked. The gas cap does not tight very well so I'm going to do what was suggested by another member by putting teflon tape to see if that secures it better. I was wondering where is the idle sensor so I can check for any loose wire?

Isn't your car still under warranty? If it is, why bother to hunt for the problem when the dealer could take care of it on his time and at no cost to you. Besides, a bazillion obscure issues can cause the VSC warning light to come on. Have the dealer "pull the codes" and zero in on the issue.

and if your dealership is too far to drive to, any Autozone will pull the codes for free. Get the trouble code and post up here.

We will then tell you where to start looking based on the code causing the idiot lights to come on. Too many codes and so few lights to indicate them.

get them read.

steviej

StevieJ, Thanks for the reply. You are right, the nearest dealership to me is a little far from me. I live in a small town - Alice, Texas and the nearest Lexus Dealer is in San Antonio, Texas - 130 miles. I know it is still under warranty but like they told me - if it isn't anything that is covered then they are still going to charge me for looking at it and finding out what's wrong. So I'd rather look into it myself for now. These forums are very informative and I just thought I'd check here before having to take a day off from work to take it to the Lexus dealer. I will go to Autozone tomorrow and have them do a check and then I will post the result here. Thanks again. Rene.

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StevieJ, Thanks for the reply. You are right, the nearest dealership to me is a little far from me. I live in a small town - Alice, Texas and the nearest Lexus Dealer is in San Antonio, Texas - 130 miles. I know it is still under warranty but like they told me - if it isn't anything that is covered then they are still going to charge me for looking at it and finding out what's wrong. So I'd rather look into it myself for now. These forums are very informative and I just thought I'd check here before having to take a day off from work to take it to the Lexus dealer. I will go to Autozone tomorrow and have them do a check and then I will post the result here. Thanks again. Rene.

You might find the local autozone has only a generic scanner. Generic scanners will like not be able to pull codes that are not directly related to the engine. It all depends on which model scantool they have.

I would make it a point to go to the dealer. It will almost definitely be covered by warranty. Unless some component is physically damaged from an accident or the like, the cause will be something electrical that has either failed or has corroded from weather, i.e. an electrical connector. Either way, it would be covered.

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StevieJ, Thanks for the reply. You are right, the nearest dealership to me is a little far from me. I live in a small town - Alice, Texas and the nearest Lexus Dealer is in San Antonio, Texas - 130 miles. I know it is still under warranty but like they told me - if it isn't anything that is covered then they are still going to charge me for looking at it and finding out what's wrong. So I'd rather look into it myself for now. These forums are very informative and I just thought I'd check here before having to take a day off from work to take it to the Lexus dealer. I will go to Autozone tomorrow and have them do a check and then I will post the result here. Thanks again. Rene.

If the car is under warranty, the only thing that is not covered are brake pads, wiper blades and other routine maintenance items like cabin filters, air filters, oil and filter. 99/100 times the CEL is emissions related.....which is covered under warrantly.

Autozone is a start, even if it is a generic scanner. All the CELs that I have had on both of my Lexi were successfully pulled by autozone. AND ITS FREE and harmless to have them pull it. Post up the code here, we will be able to get a start with that.

steviej

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  • 5 weeks later...
StevieJ, Thanks for the reply. You are right, the nearest dealership to me is a little far from me. I live in a small town - Alice, Texas and the nearest Lexus Dealer is in San Antonio, Texas - 130 miles. I know it is still under warranty but like they told me - if it isn't anything that is covered then they are still going to charge me for looking at it and finding out what's wrong. So I'd rather look into it myself for now. These forums are very informative and I just thought I'd check here before having to take a day off from work to take it to the Lexus dealer. I will go to Autozone tomorrow and have them do a check and then I will post the result here. Thanks again. Rene.

If the car is under warranty, the only thing that is not covered are brake pads, wiper blades and other routine maintenance items like cabin filters, air filters, oil and filter. 99/100 times the CEL is emissions related.....which is covered under warrantly.

Autozone is a start, even if it is a generic scanner. All the CELs that I have had on both of my Lexi were successfully pulled by autozone. AND ITS FREE and harmless to have them pull it. Post up the code here, we will be able to get a start with that.

steviej

I bought my '06 GS300 early this year(used 54000mi). Next day, I had check engine light was on. I brought my car to dealer. They changed my fuel cap. It was fine until last week. Right after racing with G37 coupe, the light was on again. I brought my car to dealer one more time. They charged me $200 to make it off. However, they said, just simple computer error! I asked them what was code for the error but they said it would be fine. I doubt it. On the way back home the light was on again. Instead brought it to the dealer, I called my machanic friend. He found that, 06 GS model had some problem with Oxygen sensor. Lexus have changed the design of sensor planar to cup. My friend can replace it but he can't program it. So I have to bring this car to dealer one more time.

So, yours might have same problem with the sensor. if you are living quite far away from the dealer, check with local machanic shop to see the right code instead Autozon.

I will update further result from dealer

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it may by something simple.

Have a VSC light on, right after I replace my spark plugs. Went to Autozone, they check my codes and tell me what part i need to replace(even show me the picture). A went back to the car and find out that was just a loose wire on one of the sensor.Fix the problem instantly!

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I too had this happen on my RX300 when I was very low on fuel. It could be that this is NORMAL! I quote from the RX300 owner's manual (page 38):

If the fuel tank is completely empty, the malfunction indicator

lamp comes on. Fill the fuel tank immediately.

The indicator lamp goes off after driving several times.

Q: Does very low equal "completely empty?"

Q: Why does Lexus consider very low or even empty a "malfuction?"

Q: What exactly is the "malfuction indicator?"

Perhaps somebody from Lexus will enlighten us.......

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  • 3 years later...

I have an '06 Lexus GS 300. The VSC light came on around 25,100 miles. I now have 25,600 miles. The car has been running fine but now have concerns I might be doing it harm if I don't have it checked. The gas cap does not tight very well so I'm going to do what was suggested by another member by putting teflon tape to see if that secures it better. I was wondering where is the idle sensor so I can check for any loose wire?

Isn't your car still under warranty? If it is, why bother to hunt for the problem when the dealer could take care of it on his time and at no cost to you. Besides, a bazillion obscure issues can cause the VSC warning light to come on. Have the dealer "pull the codes" and zero in on the issue.

and if your dealership is too far to drive to, any Autozone will pull the codes for free. Get the trouble code and post up here.

We will then tell you where to start looking based on the code causing the idiot lights to come on. Too many codes and so few lights to indicate them.

get them read.

steviej

StevieJ, Thanks for the reply. You are right, the nearest dealership to me is a little far from me. I live in a small town - Alice, Texas and the nearest Lexus Dealer is in San Antonio, Texas - 130 miles. I know it is still under warranty but like they told me - if it isn't anything that is covered then they are still going to charge me for looking at it and finding out what's wrong. So I'd rather look into it myself for now. These forums are very informative and I just thought I'd check here before having to take a day off from work to take it to the Lexus dealer. I will go to Autozone tomorrow and have them do a check and then I will post the result here. Thanks again. Rene.

Rene:

Wow, you do live pretty far away from the nearest metro. Corpus Christie is showing a Toyota dealership. Have you tried them yet? You could also look for a Foreign car specialist shop who can work with you. Many of them should have the scan tools at their disposal.

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  • 1 year later...

HELP! any advice appreciated ASAP

2007 GS350 RWD, Car died in driveway last week at 96k, towed it to a mechanic my brother recommended, after jumpstart failed to get the car moving ( 9 amps across the terminals). This small time mechanic replaced the alternator and did an oil change +alignment. I picked it up Saturday morning. I drove to work and back on Saturday and Sunday, 50 miles round trip, and no issues. This morning, while driving to work, the Check VSC warning and Engine Malfunction light came on, and I was having acceleration issues, There was rattling sound coming. I pulled over and pulled the gas cap (no gas was put in the interim) and same warning at restart.

Had it towed to the same guy, and he tells me no warning signs and nothing wrong with it. He would take it for a test drive and see if it happened again.

Is there an OBD memory module that he can access and see what the issues where this morning? The lack of acceleration was not in my imagination, but the rattling may have been. There was a giant diesel truck behind me for 3 miles and seemed to tailgate me until I pulled over into a parking lot, he matched my acceleration and stops to the tee.

If he can't find the problem, is it safe to drive the car? At what point does it become unsafe? The owner's manual is of no help, it just says pull over immediately and call Lexus.

I'm out $950 for the first repair, and I think that my car may have been beyond his ability to fix.

I think he messed something up while replacing the alternator, and I am not sure howto proceed. Any advice would be appreciated.

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  • 2 years later...
  • 2 years later...
  • 2 years later...

Ref VSC light on 2007 GS350...here are the symptoms

a) 2007 GS350 Engine started for less than 5 sec then shut down; b) Battery fully charged so tried to start again....nothing except cooling fans running at high speed; Note all dash lights would come on... until push on brake pedal to start...then all dash lights go blank and no cranking of engine. However the VSC light would illuminate and stay on when start button pushed (with no depressing of brake pedal). Actually VSC has nothing to do with the main culprit which turned out to be the Fuel Pump SENSOR located under the intake manifold passenger side. Replacement cost $1200 as had to tow to Lexus dealership to determine real problem as local garages had no idea. Lexus said it is common failure on Lexus with 80 to 100,000 miles...mine has 92,000. When this sensor fails it essentially shuts down the whole computer system.

 

 

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  • 8 months later...

I too have a check vsc check engine light on an 06 GS.

got a p0302 code.

Changed all spark plugs but still CEL.

Fluctuating idle and strong gas smell. 

Have no clue what it could be besides changing out the ignition coil when it gets here. 

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  • 1 month later...

Hello guys, I have a 2007 Lexus GS350 and I noticed that the VSC light always turns on whenever I connect my amp/subwoofer wire to the battery. Not too sure what it is triggering or if I need a higher voltage alternator can someone give me any suggestions or what can be causing it? All the lights turn off whenever I take the wire off the battery pole so I’m pretty confused what it is but I have an idea what it may be. I was thinking that I need a higher voltage for the alternator. Can anyone help me out here thank you guys so much. Hope you guys have a wonderful day.

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