Question about traction control

Today I was off roading in some very deep sugar sand areas in Florida. I had disabled the traction control but I got into some really thick stuff in 4hi (I had to shift down to 1st gear for more power to get through it so it was pretty nasty stuff). I heard the distinctive sound of the traction control activating and deactivating from the rear. Does the rear axle override the traction control being off somehow? I have a 2022 trd off road with rear locker. The locker was not on being in 4hi. I got through it no problem but was just a tad confused hearing weird noises comming from rear axle.

 

If you really disabled traction control by momentary pressing the “Trac-off” button on overhead console, I have no idea what you were hearing. In 4-Hi the default is “Trac-on” and it is “Trac-off” in 4- Low. I’m wondering if you inadvertently hit the “Atrac” button in 4 Hi, which would not have turned off traction control. If so, then you probably heard the ABS system braking the rear wheel with least traction. The same could have been happening with front wheels, especially with much spinning in sand. I am interested in what other experienced 4 R owners think?

 

Push and hold to turn it off but the locker will disable it as well but you need wheelspeed in terrain like that.

 

So push and hold the traction control button on the top by the a-Trac button or push and hold the a-track button. What disables what because the traction control almost got me stuck. I had to drop down a gear and power through it.

 

Well in 4 Hi you don’t want to disable traction control in sand. And you can’t use Atrac unless in 4 Lo. If driving in the same Sandy area either keep moving fast in 4 Hi without disabling traction control. Or go to 4 Lo and use the MTS (multi terrain select) on one of the lower settings (not rock). The lower settings permit more wheel spin before braking the slipping wheels too improve traction. If you actually get stuck, using Atrac with or without rear locker, should get you unstuck. It’s hard to beat all the driver assist systems in your 4 Runner. Having good tires is a pre-requisite. The stock tires are not good for off road use.

 

The manual clearly explains all of the traction control vehicles in your 4runner.

 

Push and hold the trac button. ATRAC is low range use only and basically offroad traction control.

 

This sand isn't really patches it's more like long tracks of sugar sand. I need momentum pretty much always. Traction control kind of works against me here in Florida sand. If a wheel slows down due to slipping (abs pulsing) it just sucks away momentum and power same with the mud/muck. I just want to turn it off and have it stay off if needed is all. I did have to turn it back off a few times because something caused it to turn back on prolly shifted into 2wd at some point and it turned back on is all I can figure.

 

You want to hold the button until you get solid yellow illuminated on your dash. It either says vsc off or has an icon like this I don't remember. That's vsc off, traction control will also turn off at this time. Vsc will cut or limit engine power like when you gas it with the steering wheel turned, so you will want it off. If you turn vsc off it won't turn back on again unless you press other stuff. Double check me out on the trail, I'm new and I don't have a 4wd.

How are those mud tires from linglong doing for you? Do you wish you had gone with something different? Do they list a letter for speed rating on the sidewall?

 

That is subjective.

 

I really like them so far. Drive pretty good on pavement. I did sense a propensity to hydroplane but might just be m/t in general. Off road they are very nice just plows through mud really sheds the muck getting stuck inside the treads. Funny the falken wildpeak at3w 265 was much better on sand. Imo 285/70/17 seems like the perfect size for a 4runner. I would sink too much on 265s. Lost about 1mpg is all. They say 121/118Q I never go over 70 mph due to lift and no front sway bar though.

 

Wow, they are worse in the sand! I assume you set your air pressure similarly, were your wildpeaks E load?

 

Yes both are e but I didn't air down as well. Cause lazy heh.

 

It's only subjective if you have poor reading comprehension

 

Doesn't off mean off?

 

If you hold it down till its truly off. Just a tap won't do it. I believe it also reengages at speed or 2wd.

 

Off does mean off. However a single button can have multiple uses depending on how the button is used

 

That's all I needed to know then. Hold it down is fine. Just so it turns off if it needed to be off.

 

Yeah, it said that but still did traction control stuff in the rear.

 

Without reading the whole thread, you must be stopped completely and hold the button for a few seconds to truly defeat traction control. I forget the sequence, but one light comes on after quick push, and the other light comes on after holding it down. If you don't wait for the second light, it will turn back on automatically.

 

Awesome info thanks.

 

Yeah @Ctreg I don't know. Trac off illuminates at the same time as vsc off is my understanding. So it could have been atrac(?). But I am too inexperienced to know exactly.