My sincerest thanks to you all for providing the solution to the VSC light. My wife’s 2003 RX300 VSC/CEL came on, the error code indicated it was the rear manifold sensor, but I tried the front (easy) one with an original Toyota replacement first. It didn’t correct the problem so I approached (swapping out the front one with the original and using the new one for) the firewall sensor forewarned with the difficulties I would encounter, thanks to this site. I pre-sprayed the old sensor with a popular metal lubricant and tried to loosen it with a cheap O2 Sensor socket (the only one they sold) I bought at the local automotive store, but it just flexed and popped-off when I applied pressure. It actually stripped the sensor a bit so I stopped after about five tries. I bought a Mac O2 socket off eBay, hit the old sensor twice with some Liquid Wrench this time and decided to attack it again this weekend.
This morning at 2:00AM I woke up thinking about replacing the sensor, couldn’t fall back asleep, so I went at it. I sprayed it once more with Liquid Wrench and the new socket freed it with little drama. After wrestling with the connector for a while I was able to install the new sensor, take it for a ride (not much traffic at that time of the morning) and it worked like a champ! Except that is for the pesky VSC light. There was no error code but that hummer just kept coming back on. OK, now its 3:15AM, I am back on this site hoping to find a VSC light solution and thank God, there it is! I was too tired to try it then, so I went back to sleep, but as soon as I woke up this morning I followed Mikey00’s instructions and success! The VSC light is now staying off as it should. I truly can’t thank you guys enough for sharing your knowledge and allowing folks like me to avoid paying unnecessary large sums to the local dealer for something so simple…
