CEL and VSC Lights

Hi all, hoping to get some guidance on an issue I'm dealing with. Woke up this morning to move my 4Runner and noticed the car had the dreaded CEL light on and solid. In addition to the CEL, the VSC off light is on and flashing and the slip indicator light is on and solid. I have a 2009 V6 Limited.

I checked with my scanner and I'm getting the code P0016. Looking online it seems to be related the camshaft and crankshaft sensor or a timing chain issue. Taking it to a shop on Tuesday to get it properly diagnosed but was wondering if anyone else has run into this issue and had guidance.

I should also mention I did an oil change with 5w30 Pennzoil and Toyota oil filter probably a week before and haven't had any issues until now. I'm also assuming I should probably avoid driving the car until I can take it to the shop.

Thank you in advance!

 

In regards to the vsc, it always will turn on if the CEL is on. For an example, the vsc and slip indicator light is normal to be on if the CEL is also on for a bad MAF. Its weird why Toyota did that but who knows

 

A Toyota certified shop told me that the VSC will turn off if almost anything in the system has a problem. It's because the VSC has ties into so many other things that could impact it, if it's not at 100% the VSC light comes on. I've had it come on twice for the O2 sensor.

 

Yeah I had the vsc on too when my o2 sensor went out.

 

That’s good to know about the VSC light. Any thoughts on the P0016 code?

 

I would take it to a dealership or Toyota certified shop and let them read the obd2 port. My limited experience with codes is that they may not always be correct. I would trust the Toyota TIS Techstream software more than anyone else's. You don't have to let them repair it but let them give their expert opinion for 1/2 hour of their shop time. Just like the VSC light being on is caused by an faulty O2 sensor, maybe the P0016 code is caused by another faulty sensor.

 

Thanks for the tips! Yeah I might run it by my local Toyota dealership and see what they say. I took it to my usual mechanic who works on Toyotas and he said it’s probably the timing chain. He can’t work on it till December but said it’s safe to drive on. He usually knows his stuff but part of me is hesitant to drive the car like normal knowing this. Is that true?

The other thing is that the CEL and VSC light went off on the car (disappeared from the dash when I drive so car looks normal) but I heard this code pops up intermittently. Not sure what to do other than wait till December or shop around but taking it to Toyota seems like a good start.

 

I believe your 2009 4.0 L V6 is on interference engine, but check your owner's manual. If you have an interference engine you would risk severe damage to it if the chain broke. Check your service manual for the timing chain service interval and if you're within that interval you should be okay, but a couple of quick searches show there's no known issues with chains breaking or stretching.