2007 RAV4 D4D: "CHECK VSC and 4X4 SYSTEM"

It’s quite common for the cars to throw up that message. Try disconnecting the battery and leaving for ten minutes befor reconnecting. That kinda re boots the cars electronics and very often clears that message. It’s free and easy and really does work often. 👍👍

If you’d have tried the re boot by battery disconnect first you very likely wouldn’t have needed that truck . Chances are they won’t do anything now anyway .
The main culprit for throwing up that message is the brake light switch above the brake pedal . But it’s not unusual to see that message which can appear then vanish never to return .

It wouldn’t be right for me or anyone to say whether you should drive the car or not as if damage was done or the car was unsafe it’s you who has to answer for the consequences.

I keep a diagnostics scanner to hand so if I have a message pop up I can read it and clear the code. My scanner stores the code for reference.

If you didn’t see a fault code and only saw the VSC etc it’s unlikely you have a problem it’s just the Toyota ghost.

Many cars will respond to the reboot but Toyotas especially the Mk3s really do respond well . First thing to do 🤙🤙
Oh and I wouldn’t judge your car as unreliable it’s just a minor thing that can pop up.

The triumvirate of lights is quite well known - the engine management light comes on to suggest that you read the corresponding codes to find out what is wrong; and the VSC and 4x4 lights comes on in sympathy because the engine management system is upset and can't tell whether the VSC and 4x4 systems will function correctly. So the lights are misleading - codes need to be read to discover the cause.

This 'started' with you losing the serpentine belt. As I understand just losing the serpentine belt isn't a big issue - you'd lose the alternator and water pump so that battery would eventually run flat and the engine would eventually overheat but as long as you spotted the issue soon enough no real harm would be done. I'm more concerned with why you lost the serpentine belt and what was the issue that cause that to happen - it could just have worn (but it's a reasonably long life component) but it may have failed for some other reason.

And the "rattle, lurch, jerking and losing power and engine stopping" really does need to be understood ...

And the current service inspection sheet calls for the "multi V-belt tension and condition" to be checked after 6 years / 60,000 miles and annually / every 10,000 miles thereafter. There's no scheduled replacement but obviously that would be done as and when the condition required it.

The OP originally stated "I have a 2007 RAV4 D4D, 150,000+ kilometers, I do most of the work on it and services".  So the tension and condition of the serpentine belt should have been checked annually since 2013 ... The OP didn't say when the serpentine belt was last checked or changed.

No it’s just lights coming on. My T180 did it 3 times during my ownership which was circa 50K miles over 3 years….. Each time the reboot cured it. I can’t remember though if it induced limp mode once. It’s over 9 years since I sold that car. 

Autel do some reasonably priced scanners but nearly all the generic ones scan just the engine and it’s closely related parts .
To scan Brakes ABS Steering Electronic handbrakes Gearboxes etc etc you need an “ All systems “ scanner .

So whether a generic 30 to 100 quid scanner would pick up and report on the message your seeing I’m not sure. It’ll depend on the scanner .

It’s very unlikely there will be a stored code for the “ ghost “ anyway As best I remember that won’t register .

Changing that brake light switch which is the more common culprit is a good idea. Unless your tiny get a garage to do it as it’s awkward and little space to work.

I bought an Autel all systems unit a good few years ago at which time it was 5 to 600 quid but it’s been brilliant and still does the business today . Autel 300 series start at well below 50 on EBay or Amazon
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