ICS malfunction and coolant temp high, what’s going on?

My 2018 Toyota Camry XSE is having some issues. It says “ICS malfunction” and the check engine light is on. I got it read at AutoZone, and the message was to ‘reprogram powertrain control module.’ It also stutters during acceleration and won’t go over 35-40 mph. It even said ‘coolant temp high.’ Has anyone dealt with this before? Any tips?

Yikes, sounds rough. Was your car in an accident recently? Sometimes ICS problems show up after that.

Ezra said:
Yikes, sounds rough. Was your car in an accident recently? Sometimes ICS problems show up after that.

Nope, no accidents. It just started acting up out of nowhere.

Ezra said:
Yikes, sounds rough. Was your car in an accident recently? Sometimes ICS problems show up after that.

Did the AutoZone folks give you the exact error code? Their scanners can only pull basic engine codes, not ICS specifics.

The ‘ICS malfunction’ relates to the Intelligent Clearance Sonar, which is more about parking sensors. Your main issue seems to be with the powertrain control module. Did you do any recent engine work or change any major components?

@Aeron
Nope, no recent work done at all.

If it says ‘coolant temp high,’ check your coolant level and radiator. When the engine is cool, open the radiator cap and see if it’s full. Could be a stuck coolant pump causing the issue.

Lei said:
If it says ‘coolant temp high,’ check your coolant level and radiator. When the engine is cool, open the radiator cap and see if it’s full. Could be a stuck coolant pump causing the issue.

I checked the coolant, and it looks pretty full. The stuttering only happens when the coolant temp high warning shows up.

Lei said:
If it says ‘coolant temp high,’ check your coolant level and radiator. When the engine is cool, open the radiator cap and see if it’s full. Could be a stuck coolant pump causing the issue.

Yeah, that sounds like the pump might be stuck or not working right. Reprogramming the ECU might fix it, but it’s best to get a pro to take a look.

I wouldn’t drive it until you get it checked. Overheating can seriously mess up the engine.

Ari said:
I wouldn’t drive it until you get it checked. Overheating can seriously mess up the engine.

I was planning to only drive it to the dealer on Tuesday for my appointment.

Ari said:
I wouldn’t drive it until you get it checked. Overheating can seriously mess up the engine.

Good call. Better safe than sorry when it comes to overheating.

You might also want to check if the radiator fans are kicking in. If they’re not, that could explain the coolant overheating.

Nate said:
You might also want to check if the radiator fans are kicking in. If they’re not, that could explain the coolant overheating.

Didn’t think of that, I’ll give it a check. Thanks!