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2018 TRD Off-Road Lift and TSS Malfunction

Discussion in '3rd Gen. Tacomas (2016-2023)' started by Rudolph805, May 23, 2020.

  1. May 23, 2020 at 10:18 AM
    #1
    Rudolph805

    Rudolph805 [OP] Member

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    After doing a 3" suspension lift on my '18 TRD Off-Road the TSS system, specifically the Pre-Collision System and Stability Control System are all bugged out with errors. I have gone into settings and turned off the PCS system but the malfunction error in the photograph pops right back up. I have found no way to turn this warning off.

    Now I have contacted a dealer about this and was met with a borderline confrontational service rep who was saying "There is absolutely nothing that can be done if you lift that truck, and we refuse to touch it."

    After doing some research I found that it is a simple recalibration that can be done in Toyota service locations but its liability issue. Toyota seems adamant that they don't want to recalibrate a system that deals with automatic braking and speed control. Some people say in forums that Toyota was willing to do a recalibration but most shops are staying away from it.

    I am reading some posts about lifted '18s that have had no issue, I am not sure why mine is affected but here I am. A common recommendation I see is to install the TRD Pro grill where the sensor sits 2" lower. I am thinking this will work but I figure the system is going to need to be reset somehow. Or, best case, when it turns on and the sensor registers that it is sitting much lower, everything will be fine.

    I am hoping someone out there has run into this same issue and found some kind of workaround. Most recommendations I see say to just get 2017 before Toyota added this TSS nonsense but that won't exactly work for my situation given I already have the truck and the lift.

    Any help or recommendations would be GREATLY appreciated.

    Stablity Control.jpg TSS Malfunction.jpg Warning Lights.jpg
     
    strongrob likes this.
  2. May 23, 2020 at 10:40 AM
    #2
    strongrob

    strongrob Active Member

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    Subbing in case you figure it out. The TSS has caused me nothing but headaches and I’d love to just switch it off. I’ll be driving down the highway and all of a sudden the brake warning will spring into action and start beeping at me. No rhyme or reason to it.
     
  3. May 23, 2020 at 5:21 PM
    #3
    AKGSD

    AKGSD Warranty denied

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    Dog hair, metaltech 4x4 rocksliders, KBVooDoo bed risers, Smittybilt RTT, 3” spacer lift (Removed!), caliraised ditch lights, amazon rock lights, OVtune, Skewp
    You can switch it off in the dashboard options. You can also change it in techstream so it doesn’t default to on when you restart the truck.
    You can also hold the on-off button on the cruise lever to engage old school cruise instead.

    Also my 19 was lifted 3ish inches and while i did have rare false BRAKE! warnings, it worked fine otherwise.
    Are you sure something didn’t get unplugged? The stability control light makes me wonder
     
    strongrob[QUOTED] likes this.
  4. May 28, 2020 at 2:50 PM
    #4
    Rudolph805

    Rudolph805 [OP] Member

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    After going to the stealership, the fix was a "Zero Point Reset". Ran me about $125. Hopefully, the lifting shop will reimburse me, as it was an alignment issue and not a TSS sensor issue like I feared. I will blast this across the forums in the hopes I can help someone else with issues with lifting a 2018+ Tacoma with TSS package. From my service history from Toyota.com:

    THE VEHICLE SETTING CODES FOR THE YAW RATE SENSOR BEING OFF. CLEARED CODES AND PERFORMED ZERO POINT CALIBRATION ON YAW RATE SENSOR

    As for all my research about throwing off TSS sensors when lifting a truck here is what I have found:

    • A 3" lift will not throw off the TSS sensors
    • If you get PCC and Stability Control Errors all you need is a zero point calibration (most lift shops can do this)

    Important note: 2018 Tacoma's have had a recall on the front TSS senor for it being susceptible to water damage. If your truck is lifted, they will not perform the manufacture recall repair. Your only option through the dealership is to. Disable Pre-Collision Control and Adaptive Cruise Control if trying to fix your front TSS sensor on a lifted 2018 Tacoma. Since my TSS sensor was still working, I opted to not have them turn it off, though if it does get water damage, the dealership will not repair it due to liability reasons. From what I understand it is a very simple bandaid fix with some caulking around the sensor wires which I will probably research how to do myself.
     
    hwntaco20 and AKGSD[QUOTED] like this.
  5. May 28, 2020 at 2:55 PM
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    Rudolph805

    Rudolph805 [OP] Member

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    So I got some information that may help you. Although this fix must be done at the stealership as far as I know, you can have them disable PCS and adaptive cruise control. They will also go into the system and make it so it remembers the setting so you don't have to do it each time you start the truck and prevents warning messages.

    If you really hate the TSS and the auto braking due to the Pre-collision sensor then this would be the fix, and trust me, I am with you. However, this would mean losing the adaptive cruise control, and after a couple of cross country road trips, I've become pretty addicted to it lol.

    Hope this helps man, I have pictures of the dealerships waiver you have to sign in order for them to perform this procedure, hit me up if you want to take a look at it.
     
    strongrob[QUOTED] likes this.
  6. May 28, 2020 at 6:14 PM
    #6
    strongrob

    strongrob Active Member

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    It definitely helps. Thank you for posting all the details. I’d miss the adaptive cruise too much to go through with it currently.

    However, if it automatically brakes when it shouldn’t and ends up putting my family at risk, it’s good to know that it can be disabled.

    Thanks again!
     
  7. Sep 26, 2020 at 9:03 PM
    #7
    hwntaco20

    hwntaco20 Well-Known Member

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    Wish I saw this thread before I did my lift, I would have held off a while. I have the dreaded VSS and TSS errors too after a 2"/ 1" lift. Alignment is off and steering wheel slightly cocked so I have that scheduled for Monday AM, hoping that will solve the VSS. Then I'll try to play with the TSS sensor angle to see if washers on or off will help that, I have the Pro grill with no prev issues. If not, backup dealer appt on 10/5 if needed. ( hope not).
     
    Last edited: Sep 27, 2020
  8. Sep 27, 2020 at 10:15 AM
    #8
    Rudolph805

    Rudolph805 [OP] Member

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    *******UPDATE********


    I feel you, the TSS is nothing but headaches. However, I do have some good news for you. I was in the same boat and had a lift done Friday and had to sit around all weekend with the VSS and TSS warning messages while fearing that the dealership wouldn't touch it due to safety reasons. But I can answer your questions and provide some tips to get it fixed:

    1. The lift threw off the alignment, the same errors your seeing is very common when people hit potholes or rocks as well. MOST alignment shops can get that fixed. Especially if they are familiar with Toyotas because it is a Tacoma centric issue.

    2. Most dealers I spoke with will not recalibrate the TSS sensor due to safety concerns, they don't want to be held accountable for a system that deals with automatic braking. So if the alignment shop cant fixes the errors, take it to a dealership and DONT MENTION THE LIFT. I told the dealership I hit a pothole and the warnings came on as the VSS/TSS combination error is an alignment issue. This way they couldn't blame the lift.

    3. The dealership did not have to recalibrate my lift, they had to do what's known as a "Zero Point Reset". This is something all alignment shops should be familiar with. Best to keep it away from a dealership if possible because they are super opposed to touching lifted Tacoma's for TSS issues.

    Bottom Line Up Front:

    o TSS / VSS combination errors come from missing a "Zero Point Reset" after doing the tire alignment at a lift shop. It should not be an issue with your sensor alignment. Make sure you mention this "Zero Point Reset" at the alignment shop and this should fix the problem. If you have to take it to a dealership, then DO NOT MENTION THE LIFT, say you hit a curb or pothole and these warnings came up, they should fix it for about $100.

    Unfourtantly due to the grill swap and lift, if you run into any issues with your TSS sensor in the future, you will be hard-pressed to find a dealership that is willing to fix it, which is problematic considering ONLY dealerships are equipped to do this calibration. But luckily I do not believe this is the case with your truck.

    Worst case scenario the dealership can disable the Automatic Braking and Adaptive cruise control and disable the warning message from popping up. If I ever have an issue with the sensor I figure this is going to be my only option, I hope my senor holds out but we will see. I really like adaptive cruise control.

    Best of luck man! If you have any other questions let me know.
     
    Chris1121555 and hwntaco20 like this.
  9. Sep 27, 2020 at 10:20 AM
    #9
    4x4spiegel

    4x4spiegel Well-Known Member

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    how can't the dealership mechanics or techs not know if you vehicle was lifted ?
     
  10. Sep 27, 2020 at 10:27 AM
    #10
    TurdTaco64

    TurdTaco64 Well-Known Member

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    I think he's trying to say is to tell them that these errors were cause by a pothole and not by the lift that was just installed ie. Tell them what they want to hear so you can get your shit fixed. I thought the same thing for a minute too.
     
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  11. Sep 27, 2020 at 10:28 AM
    #11
    Rudolph805

    Rudolph805 [OP] Member

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    So they will definitely know that the truck is lifted. But I just didn't mention the lift at all when describing the problem. The dealership doesn't know when you got the lift after all. Additionally, the TSS/VSS combination error is extremely common for Tacoma's when the alignment gets bumped hard. So when you mention hitting a curb and the warning messages coming on they have no reason to question it.

    As I understand it, doing a "Zero Point Reset" after an alignment is something most shops should do. However from what I can gather, this issue is somewhat Toyota specific, so most lift shops may not be familiar with this. If you get this error after a lift, it is not due to a senor issue (as most of us fear). I would avoid a dealership with this issue if possible, the only reason I went to the dealership is I was scared it was a sensor issue.
     
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  12. Sep 27, 2020 at 10:40 AM
    #12
    JS760

    JS760 Well-Known Member

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    If you change the ride height on your truck, you are changing the parameters of the line of sight is the sensor.

    The stock vehicle calibration configurations no longer apply. And the configs are based on a stock vehicle. Toyota does not have calibration specs
    For vehicles that have been customized.

    Dealers are not going to just guess, or say, that seems to work. It is a saftey system component, and a huge liability.

    if the yaw/sas and alignment are off from the lift, it will trigger the errors.
    You can zero it out align the truck and it will fix the errors, but the specs on the sensor are still off.
     
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  13. Sep 27, 2020 at 11:09 AM
    #13
    Rudolph805

    Rudolph805 [OP] Member

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    Well put. That is also how I understand it

    It is a liability issue and I can see why the dealership would be apprehensive to deal with that. I do however believe the dealer has the ability to calibrate the sensors for a lifted truck, however. If I were to trade my truck into the dealership and they had to sell it, I am fairly certain they have the ability to calibrate the sensors based on non-factory ride height. Think of all the lifted Tacomas, tundras, and 4 Runners that are sold by dealerships.

    While researching my issue I came across a dealer manual for calibrating the TSS sensors, it appears as though they lay out a calibration map and hook up a kind of Toyota exclusive computer to adjust them as needed. I think the dealers can calibrate, but due to liability, will not.
     
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  14. Sep 27, 2020 at 2:03 PM
    #14
    JS760

    JS760 Well-Known Member

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    I understand your thought process, but no.
    If you look at the procedures, it involves proprietary targets, plumb bobs, and specific measurements and tolerances.
    And all that is based off a STOCK configuration.

    So what you are saying is that a dealership tech can that take that specific information and those tools, and calculate new parameters based on your specific vehicle configuration in order to appropriately adjust your sensor?
    And even then, those parameters would only apply to your specific vehicle, and would not have been vetted or endorsed by the engineers at Toyota.

    See where this is going, and why it’s never going to happen?

    As far as your trade in senario..trade-in’s are the Wild West. Toyota has no knowledge or control over what the dealer does or the secondary market.
    They take in cars and ship them to macco for cheap repairs so they can flip them all the time.
    So they will absolutely take it, but they can’t sell it as CPO and they aren’t going to bother with the sensor. They just sell it and pass the MC Hammer we can’t touch this on to the next owner.
     
    4x4spiegel likes this.
  15. Sep 28, 2020 at 5:47 PM
    #15
    hwntaco20

    hwntaco20 Well-Known Member

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    update, had an alignment done at a local shop that I know they do Toyota Trucks, after explaining my issues in depth, they understood, did the alignment and reset to zero, yay- the vehicle stability control malfunction is fixed but...
    still had the Lane Dept and TSS errors. After some driving, the Lane Dep went away on it's own as expected(hoped) and works fine. Now it's just the TSS Pro Grill error to work on. I'll start by removing all washers as a start point and add 1 till fixed or ... dealer.
    So so happy, what a relief! Thankyou to OP Rudolph805 for the insight!

    Side note - my castor adjustments are now maxed and still slightly in the red with 0.9 and 0.2 but drives fine, they sugg aftermarket adjusters to gain more adjustment, sounds crazy for a 2" lift.
     
  16. Sep 29, 2020 at 7:02 AM
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    Rudolph805

    Rudolph805 [OP] Member

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    Glad to hear it! I know that feeling of relief after you think you just messed up your truck irreversibly.

    If the TSS is still bothering you I would recommend taking it to the dealership and going with the "pothole story and saying the alignment shop fixed the vechile stability control but not the TSS and MAYBE they can fix the TSS. I can't believe the TSS sensor would be so out of wack from just a 2" lift, but between the lift AND the pro grill, it may just have it way beyond its factory settings. And you always have the fallback of just turning the whole TSS system off. I just like that adaptive cruise too much to pull the trigger on the shutdown option.

    Best of luck!
     
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  17. May 8, 2021 at 10:13 AM
    #17
    Chris1121555

    Chris1121555 Well-Known Member

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    I just ran across this last night. Literally just made a post on it. I installed a 2 inch lift and had all these lights go on. The alignment is tomorrow (it's currently wicked bad after working on it) SOOOOO I hope this fixes it like it did for you!!! I'm pumped to hear this is the fix.
     
  18. May 8, 2021 at 10:22 AM
    #18
    mr.rick

    mr.rick Well-Known Member

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    Anyone know if this is accurate? I had hear that if the alignment shop does not do a zero point calibration, disconnecting the battery once on the lift and before they touch anything with the alignment and then reconnecting after its all done, the system doesn't "see" the alignment so there would be no need to do a zero point calibration as the system was not taking reading while things were being moved around. Not sure if this is accurate but I have heard that from a couple different sources with various vehicles. Anyone able to confirm this?
     
  19. May 8, 2021 at 7:52 PM
    #19
    Chris1121555

    Chris1121555 Well-Known Member

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    I just called firestone and asked if they did it. The guy said yes they do. Tomorrow I'm getting the alignment done with all the PCS malfunction BS goin on and I'll update at some point if this fixed it
     
  20. May 9, 2021 at 3:52 AM
    #20
    KA19Taco

    KA19Taco Well-Known Member

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    I get the sensor is dirty message sometimes. Is that the same thing this is about?
     

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