*UPDATE*VSC and ABS Lights are on, need help/advise

Good afternoon.
While driving I had to suddenly brake hard to avoid someone cutting me off. After a few minutes I noticed my VSC light was on. When I stopped at a stop light it started blinking and the ABS light started flashing. The VSC light blinks 3 times, pause, blink three times, pause....
I stopped and shut the car off for about 15 minutes thinking it may clear, nope.
Any help is greatly appreciated, thanks.

 

Something like this may take a trip to the dealership to diagnose, unfortunately. There are so many possibilities.

 

Attach a scanner and see what fault codes it is showing.
Disconnect the battery for 30 mins and reconnect to see if it solves the problem.

 

Deep scan for codes. Maybe an ABS capable scanner will see it but there may be a code from the traction computer.

 

UPDATE.
The ABS light went out after a couple hours. The VSC light is still on. The fuses are all good, tried the battery trick mentioned earlier, and three seperate scans to see what error codes came up. The codes were all random and nothing consistent. I did stop at a dealership and told them what was going on the, the service guy laughed and said it needed to be a Toyota specific scanner, not a general off the shelf tool, ok I can except that. Anyway, I'm.dropping the vehicle this evening when I get back in town and will wait to see what they say. I bee.dto get my 100,000 mile service done anyway.

 

How is brake fluid level?

Odd to happen after hard emergency braking.
Maybe that high pressure found a weak spot in the system for you and now you just have to figure out where that is.

 

Fluid level is spot on. Had the system flushed right after I got the vehicle, it's still clear

 

speed sensor maybe? I'd check on Tacoma World, I bet you might find some answers on there

 

random codes sometimes of bad trans switch.

 

Ok everybody watching this thread for an update here it is. Just got off the phone with the service department, he said the brake booster has gone out and isn't holding pressure. To me this seems plausible from the initial problem I posted about. The part is $2300 from the dealer and I should have my 4runner back tomorrow (Wednesday)
Before everybody jumps on the "highway robbery" campaign, I'm away from home and my tools, I'm 58 and well past my prime of smashing my knuckles to do it myself. Also if something else breaks in the process they can fix it.

 

Sucks but cheaper than a new vehicle.

 

I'm 61 and I'm busting knuckles because I don't trust anyone to be very honest. I get tired of being filled with crap.

 

You didn't accidentally hit you VSC button did you? If it's blinking 3 times and pausing it's trying to tell you something. If you have a owners manual it could help. Broken skid ABS speed sensor wire with make ABS, VSC, transfer case light come on. If hatch isn't shut completely, hazard lights, 4lo and something else will come on when you hit a bump. Things I have learned or it taught me. You can disconnect the battery for a couple minutes. I bought a Bluetooth scan tool and drive with it plugged in for $26 at the moment. It's easy to clear P0430 code when it pops.

 

I thought that also but when I pushed the button nothing changed. The downhill assets wouldn't turn on and there was another system that stopped working also but I don't remember what it was at the moment. I also noticed in the info screen of the instrument cluster the display no longer showed the position of the front tires. I tried turning the wheels from lock to lock to maybe reset the display, that didn't work. Hope replacing the part works.

 

So the 4runner is back up and running. The brake booster went out and caused all kinds of problems.

 

^Bad luck. The brake booster on all 5th gens is electronic and integrates the ABS unit, hence the expense. Thankfully it doesn't fail often in the fleet.

 

Yeah those hydroboost MC's are steep! I wonder why they went that way vs. a conventional diaphragm booster? Not enough vacuum? Btw, RWD 4R's don't have the hydroboost version, but rather a conventional diaphragm instead.

 

I'm with you there. I used to do all the wrenching on my vehicles, and now do virtually none. Life situations change, and stress can truly kill. AND, a brake booster replacement? I've never done that. THAT would be stressful even before starting. 20 years ago I'd be all for doing it myself. Today, I'm just not interested in learning to do something new that's that complex and carries big risks if I fail. It's $2300 for a reason, even if there's an element of 'robbery'. And if there's a problem with the repair, you have a dealership you can push back on to make it right.

 

2WD 4Runners aren't real 4Runners so they don't count

The electronic booster is for A-Trac, enabling full braking power to clamp a spinning wheel while you're on the gas (where intake manifold doesn't have vacuum to power a vacuum booster).

 

Yeah, but they make great station wagons! Thanks for the ATRAC/Vacuum connection! Makes perfect sense.

 

I had a 2012 Tacoma TRD Sport AC 2WD. That truck was absolutely scary in a panic stop. The truck literally would not stop in a reasonable distance. I traded it for my 2015 Tacoma TRD Sport AC 2WD with brake boost. Massive difference in braking capability. This truck stops, and quickly.