Traction control operation

It was snowing today and was the first time I really drove my 4 runner in the snow, in 2 wheel drive. I turned off the traction control or ‘VSC’ system & felt like abs or another kind of traction system was operating. The traction control turned its self back on. I turned it off again driving down a road with no slippage, and it activated its self again. Is this normal? First vehicle with traction control and such. Thought turning it off would keep it off until I commanded it back on or restarted the vehicle. Thanks.

 

I think if you turn off TRAC with a button push (VSC will stay on), it re-engages above a certain speed. If you want to completely shut it off. Hold the button for 3 seconds while stopped, and it should turn off both TRAC and VSC until you push the button again or turn off you 4Runner.

 

By trac do you mean a-trac? On the above head console I have the VSC button, then A-TRAC (to my understanding this does nothing unless you are in 4 LOW) I hit that button and it did nothing in 2 wheel drive. So would I hold down the VSC or A Trac for 3 seconds. I have to go outside and try this out. Thank you. These are the options I have.

 

It's the "off" switch you want to hold down. As mentioned, be completely stopped. "Trac off" will pop up on the dash right away. Keep holding it until "VSC off" pops up. Then, you're free to go do donuts.

 

Hold the VSC Button. A-TRAC is for 4LOW like you said.

 

Thank you guys, I’m going to try this when I leave work...I found it real dumb how it kept coming back on. All vehicles I ever drove if you hit it off it stayed that way. I am new to the Toyota / electronics world coming from a vehicle with no traction control at all.

 

Edit. confused to an extent because havent driven hard enough to feel stability control

It's the VSC off light which illuminates immediately and then the TRAC OFF light that illuminates after holding while stopped.

 

Not on my 2019. Maybe they changed it.

Screenshots from a video I just took out of curiosity:

1st:



Second:

 

That's wild Thatbassguy. It might be a 2wd thing, I need to triple check this i guess. I have a toyota car that goes VSC off after long press and I believe lexus ls430 is also vsc off after long press. I got into a dirt lot to the ls430 and had to leave because I couldn't control it at all

but in my rig the picture on the button is indeed vsc off icon. In my car the button is trac off.

edit. Just confused to an extent because havent driven hard enough to feel stability control

 

I wouldn’t want to do donuts in such a top heavy vehicle and one tire fire.

 

Lock the rear diff!

 

It only works in 4wd low range.

 

O yeah, that's right.

So the consensus is if VSC is pressed and held down its off, not just pressing it.

 

Yes, that’s how it’s been for a while now. My 2010 Tacoma worked this way. However it lurks in the background even when it shows off. If you get too crazy, it will jump back in.

 

I only do it in snow. Not really "donuts" in this case, but I had to make a proper entrance.




Edit: also, if you add enough weight down low, it's not as top heavy.

 

I hear you, but I also wonder if Toyota put a solid center stripe on the dunlops for a reason

also, not totally figured this out yet, but 1 press puts my rig VSC off, so I wonder if the still active traction control will brake my inside wheel

 

It doesn't appear to do that in 4LO. In my off-roading course, they hung us up on diagonals and tried to get stability control to kick in automatically at very low speeds, which they said a Wrangler will do. After about four failed attempts, I engaged ATRAC, which worked like a charm. I think the other 4Runner used ATRAC right off the bat, judging by the video of his wheels. (What they said about the Wrangler is that in 4LO, the VSC is extremely desensitized, but not completely disabled.)

 

Can ya'll explain if 5th gen 4R's are actually one tire fire, or if both rear wheels get varying amounts of power?
Also same question when in 4WD what happens at the front axle? (I am aware of the power ratio split between rear and front, but what about when talking about each tire). Thx!

 

It’s an open diff so power will travel to the tire with the least resistance. Turn and mash it and the inside tire will spin for days. In 4wd both open diffs will do the same which is why you get ony one front tire and one rear tire to spin. The traction system tries to transfer power with the brakes but it’s limited.

Lock up the rear end and you get power to both wheels at all times.

The Limited’s center diff will transfer as much power as it can to both axles in full time 4wd. I believe the max is 40% front and 60% rear until the user locks it.

 

Locking diff only works in 4 lo?

 

Just wanted to say thank you.

I've been. Pressing that button and it's clearly not completely off so I can't do doughnuts in the mud and snow and sand and this has been my least forcorite bit on the car. Didn't know you has to hold it down. Going to have more fun now thank you!

 

From the factory, yes.

 

This information is in the manual, also.

 

Admittedly I don't do that. But I sincerely appreciate those of you that do.

 

This is hilarious. I've clicked on my rear diff lock soooooooo many times in 2wd and 4 hi. It's seriously not doing anything?

 

Absolute nothing. Flashing means it’s not locked.

 

The power of the placebo affect. Well thank you this has been a most productive day.

I think I need to open my owners manual for the first time.

 

Just get the pic of the car with squiggly tiretrack illuminated solid on your dash and you can get full(?) power with the wheel turned

At least that's how other toyotas are I haven't done this yet with 4r

 

You really should because then you find out things like the HVAC system will auto open the fresh air if it gets hot enough and how in a 2nd gen Tacoma you can push and hold the recirc button to bypass it from auto opening.

 

vsc off auto lsd (lol) on one touch and vsc off trac off on hold.