Auto LSD on with Trac off?

I would hope not... cruising is something for uncrowded highway driving and you don't need to do that in 4WD or without VSC for safety.

 

Thank you very much David K for taking the time to (re) explain these systems to us. I had a pretty good idea of how it all worked but you've expanded my knowledge and I really appreciate the details you've provided.

I have to say though, when it comes to taking off from a dead stop in 2wd in the snow, I much preferred the mechanical limited slip in my previous '07 Tacoma. The last 30 ft of my laneway is on a slight incline but I have to come to a dead stop due to evergreens blocking vision on both sides. While I could use 4wd to easily pull out onto the road, that means I am often transitioning from snowy laneway to dry pavement with a 90 degree turn and it tends to bind up the front-end. In 2wd with full VSC, the truck won't move out of the laneway, to the point where the motor will stall while the computer is trying to figure out what to do and I am giving it throttle. In 2wd auto LSD mode it is better but still struggles under throttle while the brakes click wildly. It's nowhere near as effective as a mild clutch dump with a mechanical LSD and a little wheelspin. The electronic nannies also make it very hard to steer with the throttle in snowy conditions. My 2016 is better than my previous 2007 in almost every way, the LSD function is not one of them.

 

I deleted my previous bitchy post in favor of echoing this one. Computers are awesome for the cases where someone knew how to tell them what to do. For those of us used to being the computer - the off switch and a conventional LSD is sometimes preferable technology. The CPU + eDiff to do power distribution without the CPU throttle cutout trying to control wheel spin would be my huckleberry for this truck. Despite my owner's manual and some posts in this thread indicating that it's possible - my MT OR does not seem to agree. But, yes, thank you for all of the explanations (@David K ) - it actually helped to unravel the bizarre function/naming overload condition going on on my instrument panel(s).

*** By eDiff I mean the way Toyota is using conventional open differentials but using signals from the ABS computer to apply brake to the wheel that slips to transfer power to the other side in varying degrees to simulate a mechanical LSD without the expense or weight of having one. It's slick.

 

Auto LSD tries to makes ALL FOUR tires spin at the same speed, not just the rear two.

 

Also, when driving with Auto LSD mode ON, I have individual wheels all around the vehicle fire off random braking. I think that's VSC keeping the tires all spinning at the same speed when driving. Usually happens in sand or when I hit sand on a trail between 20-30 mph

 

Ah thats interesting. Havent heard/thought of that yet and definitely seems plausible. Ruins all the fun but realistically thats optimal for traction in most cases, ha

 

If I'm just mobbing roads around the desert, I turn it all off. But anytime I'm doing anything technical I turn it on.

VSC is always on, I believe. If you do something stupid enough, it will kick in

 

Great thread, I also was at a loss with all this, cleared it up somewhat On my 2001 I would hit the brakes in the snow to see how slippery it was, now like someone said, it sounds like a cheese grater.... lots to learn

 

The terms are important to be clear on these modes. I will help all I can.
AUTO LSD is a 2WD only mode.
TRAC OFF is the 4WD HI equivalent.
VSC OFF is all controls off, but it lurks if you drive stupid. lol

 

Yes, I wanted to see how my truck handled in a slide and the truck stops you from doing that. As much as it says there no engine regulation, I tried it again in 2 wheel with VSC off Auto LSD on and the truck will not slide, the Auto LSD really prevents it from happening.

 

I think VSC lurking in the background is kind of a bummer. If I do something stupid to injure myself that is on me. I am to old to do something stupid to endanger the lives of someone else, so I don't want a computer preventing me from doing that.

 

Sorry, but legal department at Toyota must think different because here in America with lawyers just waiting to jump on big corporations, they won't ever let you kill or hurt yourself if they can prevent it! You are never too old to be stupid with nearly 300 horsepower and four wheel drive! LOL

 

TRD OR is no better in some sense. the locker can only be turned on in 4 lo, not in 4hi or RWD. I've had a FEW (not a lot) of situations where I would've like to run in RWD with locker. If you are going to spend the money to do a swap, why not just spend the 750 on an eaton e-locker and run it when you want (if eaton maks an e-locker for tacoma's). I've hear of many good things on eaton e-lockers as long as you don't lock it while still in motion.

I only mention eaton since you don't need an air compressor like ARB if an owner is thinking of a swap. It would probably be $150-250 more in labor compared to a swap, and you get to lock it when you want. then again, an onboard compressor is great to have anyway. Like yesterday, when it was the first day below freezing and the tires were down to 22-24 psi from 30 psi a few nights ago. It would have been nice to have onboard air vs dragging the compressor out of the basement.

 

Come on! Snowy open lot = donuts for days. haha I haven't actually tried it in a snow lot, I think it will be slipper enough to where the VSC cannot stop me.. But wet surface or dirt, nope.. no go..

 

Yeah a friend works at a shop and says he has installed the eaton e-locker in about a dozen tacos. Has not done any ARBs yet.

 

There is a Locker Anytime Mod so if you feel the need to, a 4WD Off Road Tacoma can lock the rear in H4 or H2. I have never had the need... If the tires loose traction in H2, I rotate the dial to H4, end of slip!
If you are resistant to using H4, then press the button for AUTO LSD in H2... that is Toyota's Posi-Traction.

 

Read in some areas that the 3rd gen tacos are wired differently and the locker mod doesn't work anymore. if you have info otherwise, please do tell. I bought the TRD OR, partially (10% of me) hoping I could do the mod. so I was pretty bummed when I found out you couldn't do the mod anymore

 

I too have not heard of anyone successfully implementing the locker anytime mod on a 3rd gen. I would likely do it if some one figures out how to get it working with minimal changes. To me the steps should be rwd->locked rwd->4hi->4low

 

You can skip many of the steps, but if you want to go in order of traction strength, here is how I would list them:

1) H2 TRAC (standard mode 4x2)
2) H2 AUTO LSD
3) H4 TRAC (standard mode 4x4)
4) H4 TRAC OFF
5) L4 A-TRAC
6) L4 A-TRAC + LOCKER

You will notice I don't bother with L4 VSC OFF (standard mode). This is because H4 TRAC OFF is more traction than L4 with open differentials. There is just no reason to not have traction control in L4, as that is where A-TRAC (MTS) or lockers shine.

 

cant do donuts in the snow, get lots of it up here, most kids call it drift season lol cant drift the taco tho, unless you keep the tires spinning under 30. I turn it all off and as soon as I hit 30 I get the cheese grater effect lol kind of a bummer cuz there are lots of empty beautiful white snow covered lots just calling my name.