Traction Control Selector button

The button on overhead console can be depressed in 2WD. The dash display says Trac-off. This implies there is some traction control using ABS, even in 2WD. I assume this works in 4Hi as well? When you shift to 4Lo the dash display also says Trac-off. At this point you can use Atrac or MTS for traction control. Has anyone experienced meaningful traction control in 2WD or 4Hi as evidenced by hearing the ABS engage? I believe there is also a flashing light when brakes are being modulated? Also, depressing the traction control button for 3 seconds turns off both traction control and VSC. When would this be useful?

 

In my 2010 Tacoma, trac active in high would not have throttle control like in 2wd with ALSD so it would act like a brake only traction control while giving you full throttle control. I’m not sure if that has changed but Toyota likes changing the names of the same thing to make it sound more appealing. ALSD did save me when the 4wd wouldn’t engage.

I have experienced traction control working in 2wd on wet pavement and on dirt because it’s an open rear diff.

Trac off and VSC off would be for hairy situations when you just need everything the truck has but VSC still lurks in the background. I would use this mode in sand because you need wheel spin.

 

Have a look at your manual. For the 2022 this stuff is covered on page 333 onward. Notice that there are different instructions for 2WD and 4WD models.

 

Yes, I just read those sections. It seemed more directly discussing throttle control (reducing power) and maintaining drive power than using brakes to reduce wheel spin. I think I was somewhat confused because in my prior Tacoma TRDOR that button was called Auto Limited Slip Differential (ALSD) when in 2WD (on a 4WD Tacoma). I think it’s the same function just not called ALSD on the 4 Runner. Whippersnapper discussed Tacoma ALSD above. I’m inferring the TRAC system (not ATRAC) limits wheel-spin whether in 2WD or 4Hi on a 4WD vehicle. Clearly when in 4Lo TRAC is off and the ABS system can be invoked using Atrac or MTS

 

I got a lot of TRAC and VSC activation when in 2WD in the snow. At that point I switch to 4WD after that you need really try to activate TRAC and VSC. Usually it's a good idea to turn off TRAC when you going uphill on slippery surfaces, but it will turn back on automatically when you reach certain speed. Once I got VSC activated in 2WD when I made left turn too fast during rain, actually it helped me stay on the intended course.