Paperclip trick does not reset ABS VSC ((!)) lights

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Happen to have any OBD2 codes (DTCs) that you could share with us?

Side note, you're moderated until you reach five (5) posting.

 

It didn't work because "the paperclip trick" to clear brake warnings is like a weed that cannot be killed, and new posters are constantly showing up here saying they tried "the paperclip trick" to clear their brake warnings and the lights didn't go out and why on earth not?

There must be some super-black-hole-like internet source that sucks in everybody's web searches and puts "the paperclip trick" in their heads. But usually nobody remembers where they heard it; if we could find the source, maybe we could add some better information right there and save hundreds of people wasting their time.

Of course by now PriusChat itself is becoming such a source all by itself, and people's web searches will bring them to dozens of PriusChat pages where others have mentioned "the paperclip trick" to clear the lights, and so the newcomers get the idea to try "the paperclip trick" to clear their lights, and end up starting yet another thread about "the paperclip trick", wondering why it didn't clear their lights, and the whole effect is just to make even more people think "the paperclip trick" is going to clear their lights.

Any warning light that had a reason to be on in the first place is either not going to go out with a code clear, or will go out temporarily, just until the computer remembers why it was on.

The people with the greatest success at making warning lights go out are the people who find out why the lights were on, and correct the underlying condition.

And that is what the real "paperclip trick" is for. When you have the right pins jumpered and turn the car ON, the dash lights will blink the trouble codes out. You can count the blinks and write down the codes, and then you know why the lights were on.

Once you know why the lights were on, you can look up what to do to resolve the condition so the lights can go out. Often they will go out on their own when the computer sees the problem is resolved. In some cases, they can be cleared then. Yes, there is a way to do that clear step while the paperclip is in place. But the "paperclip trick" that's going to help you is not the blind attempt at clearing. The "paperclip trick" that will help you is the one that gets you the trouble codes so you know what is wrong with the car.

 

+1, +2, +3, etc to ChapmanF

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How much time and money did you spend on a guess? You can try to flash out codes but I might suggest that you get a mini vci cable with a copy of techstream software from amazon or ebay and install it on an old windows laptop. That is the factory scantool for Toyota. That would let you read out codes and data from all computer modules on the car, and perform any needed resets or procedures.

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If you don't have an ABS scan tool, just take it down to your local auto parts store and they will be able to scan it for you.

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Or even use the real 'paperclip trick' for its real purpose, and count the blinks.

 

P1121 means throttle position sensor. The other two codes have to do with the EVAP system. The Throttle position sensor might be the culprit for the drop in MPG.

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No, it does not. That is was some cheaper ODDII incorrectly read out for the fortune cookie text or if you look up that code for other cars (or even other Toyotas) that are not Prius Gen 2.

P1211 is 'Coolant Flow Control Valve Position Sensor Circuit Stuck'.

Trouble areas are:

• The water valve (coolant flow control valve)
• Cooling system (clogging)

 

Ok. I see.

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