Too many traction choices

I have the 2009 4x4 TRD Off Road. It rocks off road but the options are mind boggling. Don't get me wrong, I'm not complaining but I've been searching and have not found a handy dandy post that clearly states what each mode is for. The owner's manual is minimal help. Any experts?

I have the obvious 2hi, 4hi, 4lo. Within each of those settings there is any number of combinations of VSC on/off, LSD, Auto LSD, ATRAC, locker, uphill assist, downhill assist, etc. There's probably more I'm not thinking of and I'm sure there are a good dozen different setting combinations. I know what most/all of them do and more or less when to use them but it's confusing which is best in what situation. What's best on snowy/icy roads, etc.?

If any gurus could make a "In this situation use this setting chart", I would be eternally grateful.

 

That much I already understood but thank you very much anyway. Like I mentioned, It's more a question of what works best on snowy, icy highways at speed? Why do I need the Auto LSD in 2wd if I can just put it in 4wd, etc.?

 

I think Toyota should really scale this down a bit. The average consumer can't even get their 2nd gen into 4Lo, never mind be able to comprehend all those combination's.

 

I agree. I hate to say there is too much of a good thing but there is kinda too much of a good thing. It's very difficult to remember. If your in this mode and you push this button, this happens, but if you hold the button down for 3 seconds, this happens, but if your in that mode and you push it twice while hopping up and down on one foot it does this, but it doesn't work while your in the other mode. Yes, it really is like that.

 

Are you sure you have LSD? I thought you either have Locker(OR) or LSD(Sport)???

 

Oh yeah, I got all kinds of crap, including both of those. Don't quote me on this but... If I push the VSC button while stopped in 2wd it turns on the Auto LSD light which in turn, don't quote me on this either, gives me added traction without going into 4wd.

I'm a pretty experienced four wheeler and a fairly smart dude, yet I frequently find myself staring at a bunch of buttons with a stupid look on my face. I'm glad it seems like I'm not the only person staring at their dashboard like a deer in headlights.

 

Wow. I didn't know it could come with both.

 

Update: I went to the car to check out this topic. Here is what I came up with. In 2wd, if I'm driving and I push the VSC button the Auto LSD lights up. While stopped, if I push the VSC button, both the VSC Off lights up.

That's just one button in 2wd! There's like three or four other traction buttons too! I didn't even mess with it to see what it does in 4hi or 4lo. Most of the buttons do different things depending on if you're in 2 hi, 4hi, or 4lo.

 

i wish i had that problem - my trd sport has too few options - which is my beef with my new tacoma.

 

I am going to have to agree with TRDBoy on this one. I have the 09' with most and maybe all the functions/features that TRDBoy has and I am mind boggled when and why to push all those buttons. In fact, I have so many buttons on the dash that I had to add a custom switch panel to put lights and make room for future mods.

Could someone step in and help out with what all these features do and when we should be using them.

P.S. Im just getting into the OR'ing and LOVE it to death so far and need help here to better myself whilst doing it.

Thanks

 

I know. I don't want to sound like I'm complaining. I just would like to know what all this crap does and what situation it does it best in.

 

On my 07 Offroad I was confused after reading the manual and did some reading on a few forums. I'll make an attempt to explain some of it, but I'm no expert and a few things have changed between my 07 and the newer trucks. Here is what I came up with regarding the vsc off switch (which only works in 2wd)...


normal operation... vsc on, trac on, autolsd off
push once (under 62 mph)... vsc on, trac off, autolsd on
push&hold (with vehicle stopped)... vsc off, trac off, autolsd off
push again (to return to normal)... vsc on, trac on, autolsd off

In 2wd...push the vsc button for slippage, push and hold when stuck.
vsc- automatically off when in 4wd
trac- on when in 4wd (unless rear diff is locked)
rear diff lock- must be in 4lo to operate
dac-only operate in 4lo on steep decent while transmission is in L or 2 (will not operate when the rear diff is locked)

Again, this is what I came up with for my 07...

 

That's about it. There's another thread with even more details.

I don't think there's "too much", I just think toyota needs a descriptive chart in the manual so people can understand when to use what.

 

http://www.tacomaworld.com/forum/attachments/a/38025-2009-vsc-trac-auto-lsd-snow-test-tacoma-vsc.jpg

 

with us getting 4-5 inches of snow tues night, i got a chance to really test the trucks abilities. Now i do have a slight understanding of all the features, but to try and remember them when needed - well i gave up.
So, with that said, I only care about one switch now- 2hi/4hi/4lo.
With that much snow on unpaved roads, I could of got by with 2wd, but would of had to drive like a old geaser. Seeing i like to drive more aggressive on empty unpaved snow coverd roads ( went out at 5am ), i went to 4hi. With my new duratracs, i was blazing new trails with no problems. When i did try to do some power slides the truck started beeping and kept me in check. the anti-lock brakes worked wonderfully when i slammed on them. So i am coming to the realization that the truck is now smarter than me. So as a loyal taco servant, and being a lazy male, i will let her do the thinking and i will just have all of the fun.

 

This explains it pretty well too...

http://www.tacomaworld.com/forum/2nd-gen-tacomas/49311-09-electronic-traction-systems-explained.html

 

Oh yeah, you rock. That's definitely on the right track of what I'm looking for. Hell, I can probably even figure the rest out from there.

 

Like TRDBoy, this is the kind of explanation I was looking for. Thanks for digging this one up.

 

Hmm...reading this it sounds like the 4x4 Sport is open diff front and rear when in 4H and AutoLSD is not available in 4H. So would the truck actually have more traction in 2wd with AutoLSD on? Seems 4WD AutoLSD is an unforgivable omission from the Sport models when there isn't any additional hardware required for this feature.