Is Your 4X4 Sport on LSD?

Do you guys keep the auto LSD "on" when offroading? I had mine on on some back roads in southern Utah, and I could swear I heard it engage every time I banked into a corner or descending into dry wash beds....






A pic from Page, AZ too. It was hot.

 

It activates when tires slip. I think it works great on my wife's sr5.

Your most likely noticing the vsc when cornering hard. Not the LSD.

 

Yes, I heard it when cornering...

Can you please explain the vsc?

 

If you hold the button longer it all turns off and you can then slide it around corners easy.

I found the auto LSD useful the handful of times I've used it.

 

My auto LSD couldn't even get me out of a hole at a boat launch. The only time mine kind of works is in snow, and even then it's pretty dimwitted. How I wish these still had an actual limited slip....
Lockers will be going in eventually because there's nothing more contradictory than a "4x4" that only spins one tire in the front & one in the back

 

is there a auto LSD button? where is it?

 

You're lucky enough that your truck should have an actual limited slip being that it's a '07. No auto LSD for you!

 

The actual LSD in the early sports isn't all that fantastic. The only time it really seems to spin both tires is when they both have close to zero traction. I guess it's better than nothing.

 

https://youtu.be/qK4kfkRlhBk

 

Lot's of confusion.
Just as an observer and Tacoma owner who is interested in removing mysteries...

1) The SPORT was introduced in 2005 with a mechanical limited slip rear differential.
In 2009, that was no longer offered and ALL Tacomas were equipped with electronic/ ABS brake limited slip. Only the OFF ROAD had the addition of a locking rear differential. The 4WD OFF ROAD also had the A-TRAC system that creates a nearly locked front and rear axle.

2) The standard mode for all Tacomas (2009+) is called TRAC. It is best described as a light limited slip that when traction is lost (a tire spins), it cuts the power (engine regulation) and applies brake pressure to a spinning wheel to REDUCE the spin. This allows power to transfer over to the other tire that has traction.

3) AUTO LSD (aka TRAC OFF MODE) is activated (2WD only) with a quick push of the VSC button, moving or stopped. This is the button with the wavy lines below the vehicle with the word OFF.





When you press the button (in 2WD) these lights comes on. What this does is eliminate the engine regulation (throttle cut) if a tire spins and only applies brake pressure. It is a stronger limited slip that drives more power to the traction tire while braking the spinning tire. In normal off road driving, you may not notice any difference. It is designed for those without 4WD to get out of a problem where one tire spins while the other does nothing (typical 2WD in mud or snow). The VSC OFF light goes out above 30 mph. Running in AUTO LSD mode when you don't have a traction loss problem means you could have a spin out under 30 mph if driving dangerously. VSC helps revent spinouts (see more below).

AUTO LSD is better than standard TRAC (or nothing at all), but far less effective than a locking rear differential or 4WD.

The term TRAC OFF is very confusing and it does NOT mean that traction control is turned off. Just the opposite! It means the engine regulation is turned off for MAXIMUM traction control. Called AUTO LSD in 2WD and called TRAC OFF in 4WD-HIGH (2012+ Tacomas). 2009-2011 Tacomas are automatically in TRAC OFF mode without any button to push, in 4WD-HI.

Finally, to actually turn the traction control off is called VSC OFF MODE. You must stop driving, press and hold in the VSC OFF button for a few seconds until the VSC OFF light comes on.
This mode removes the advantages of any limited slip action as well as the advantage of stability control. VSC (Vehicle Stability Control) corrects the direction the truck drifts towards in a high speed or accelerating condition when the truck starts to slide. VSC and TRAC are operated by the same hardware.



I FIND NO benefit for driving to ever turn VSC (and traction control) off, other than when it is automatically off during AUTO LSD use (to 30 mph). VSC OFF MODE seems to be enjoyed by 'kids' who like to drift or do donuts with their expensive trucks.

 

I will shut vsc off on the trail. I've had it literally bog the truck down enough to get stuck.

A-trac is no where near a locked front and rear. It works similar but not nearly as good.

 

My 2013 4x4 sport has the button with the wavy lines as shown by David K. My manual says that if I turn off the VSC (by pressing it) it then activates the Auto LSD when driving below 30mph. To me, with Auto LSD on I feel like I have more control on the trail than with it off.

 

Some are perhaps still not clear because of the poor naming of these modes by Toyota.

Auto LSD is more limited slip than standard Trac. When you turn on Auto LSD, VSC goes off only to 30 mph. Quick press activates Auto LSD, moving or stopped.

VSC OFF MODE is no limited slip at all. VSC and TRAC are both off in this mode. Stop, press, and hold in the button for 3+ seconds to stop both VSC and TRAC.

 

I'm so glad my truck doesn't have any of that bullshit

 

Is Your 4X4 Sport on LSD?

 

Yes, new technology (like the automobile and sliced bread) is sometimes difficult for people to grasp. I had several 4WD vehicles (and two Tacomas) before electronic traction and stability controls. The Tacoma with these computer assisted systems far outperforms my trucks without, in my opinion. They all get to the same place but with the traction control, I have less 'work to wheel' because such things as deflating the tires to improve traction or flotation are no longer mandatory in every situation. The system just corrects for poor traction by selecting which of the tires should have priority at receiving power. It is super cool, and I am an older guy who has been four wheeling since the 70s and a passenger in my parent's Jeep in the 60s.

 

I am the same way. This is my first traction controlled 4x4 and I love it. At first it was very hard to grasp. I was holding that trac button for 3 seconds every time I hit the trail. I thought it was all crap. Then I realized my wifes street tires are crap offroad and with it trac on it does a lot better. For a truck with light weight bed I'm very surprised how well it does in 2x4.

Now I usually just leave it all on unless I'm trying to have fun on a dirt road.

 

I suppose all of these gizmos and electronics make it easier for people with lesser driving skills to still enjoy off-roading and not have to worry about it as much. Kinda like the TPMS systems for people who can't tell when they have a flat tire and continue to drive.

 

A $34,000 compact pickup truck should drive itself... I enjoy the traction technology even though I have had off road skills from when I began driving in 1973. Low Range gears were new technology as was four wheel drive in vehicles once upon a time.

The TPMS alerts you BEFORE the tire goes flat. I have actually been able to pull over, get out my plug kit and fix the tire before it goes flat thank to the TPMS.

Technology... it's not just for you kids!

 

$34,000 is fairly cheap for a truck these days and I'd rather not any of my vehicles drive themselves. I'm capable of driving them myself and prefer it that way. Call me old fashioned.

I see people almost daily who have been driving for 50+ years who forget which pedal operates the gas/brake. I no longer consider length of driving time as an indicator of actual driving skills.