GenVibe - Community for Pontiac Vibe Enthusiasts

I started my car and it rumbled to a start. I have had this happen over the years, especially when I lived in rainy areas in the east. This time, once the idle settled down to normal, I got a check engine light, a VSC light, and a blinking VSC OFF light. The car drove fine under these conditions, but eventually I made my way back to the oil change place that did my fuel injection drip service.
2 days prior, I had F.I. cleaner put in the gas tank, and had them do the "BG" drip into the engine to clean out the fuel injectors. I took the car back to them and had them read the codes with their scanner. Both codes in the system showed they were related to the F.I. system. The service guy told me that this wasn't unusual after the F.I. drip was performed. He cleared those codes, which resulted in the check engine light, the VSC light and the VSC OFF (blinking) light disappearing.
I have read on line that many of the Corollas built at the same time as our second generation Vibes suffer from these same lights coming on.
I was wondering: has anyone else had the fuel injection system (F.I.) drip cleaning done or used Sea Foam, and had the same problems with trouble codes shortly thereafter? I had a nice plume of white smoke come out of my exhaust for about 3 seconds after they performed the service, blowing out the built up carbon I suppose.
I'm pretty resigned to the fact that these lights will come on again in the coming days, so I thought I'd contact this group to see if you believe there is any trouble other than a rich running F.I. system after the cleaning was done? Also, I believe the drip is performed through the brake vacuum line. Is that correct? Could that account for the VSC lights coming on?
As of this writing, my brakes work fine, and I am able to turn on/off the stability control/VSC using the button to the left of the steering column. Your thoughts?

Did they tell you what the computer trouble codes are?
They have the form Pxxx, e.g. P0171 etc.

No, I wasn't smart enough to ask for the actual codes. So far, the lights have not returned. Again, I wonder if it is common to have lights come on after an engine cleaning service is performed?

They should have that info saved. They did for my PCM issues over 5 years later when I went and asked.

I had a similar issue a while back on my '09. Same flashing light except no throttle response at all but engine ran and idled fine. It was related to the DBW motorized TPS. My work involves dealing directly with Toyota's factory techs. It seems that there is a glitch that can occur with the TPS used on the Corolla/ Matrix/ Vibe and some Scion models with the 1.8L 2ZRFE but only occurs when the engine is started when the car is at a stop. In my case the battery had to be disconnected for a few minutes to reset as the code reader would only clear the codes but not reset the TPS. I was told if it continues to happen that there maybe a defect with the TPS. So far in 7 years it has only happened once.

DBW: drive by wire?

TPS?? What is that?

Since the technician cleared the codes, the lights have not come back on. I still don't know why the check engine and the Traction/Stability control lights came on at the same time as a result of a fuel injection drip cleaning, but again, the lights have remained off. If there is, as you say, an issue with the 2ZR engines, I'd like to understand all I can about this TPS issue. Thanks.