instructional video

not to sound dumb but... i was wondering if there was a tacoma instructional video out there for the newer tacoma's. If anyone has read the owners manual you will notice a few conflicting parts. I used a few of the options such as downhill assist and hill start assit. They really dont work as good as they should. A video would reasure that i am doing it right and that the awfull noises i hear are normal and not the truck self destructing. Also the manual says that there might be a time where you want to turn off vsc, but in the same paragraph is says that vsc is never truly off. its goes on and on. so frustrating.

 

I really don't think there are any. I guess that's why we have forums like these to help everyone out.

 

This is slightly true. VSC can be inhibited for burnouts and off-road use, but if the computer detects the vehicle becoming too unstable the VSC will kick in again.

As far as the down-hill assist control, my wife's 06 Rav4 has this. It really is only functional under 10 MPH (if my memory is correct). I used it once in New Mexico and, yeah, it was weird and unnerving more than reassuring.

 

Mark...is this true for the Tacoma's with the on/off switch? I had not heard if the computer senses the vehicle becoming unstable....VSC will re-engage even with the VSC switch off?

 

ok i know that if i push the on off button once. the slip indicator light comes on along with LSD AUTO. i guess this is when the vsc kind of goes off and the limited slip diffs come on. And then if i push and hold the same button for 3 seconds it turns the lsd off along with vsc and i am then with out anything, i guess it would be like a normal truck with out the any features. Am i right?

 

My dealer told me that at any speed i can push the down hill assist button. so i tried it and nothing. when i called him back and referred to the manual he had never heard that the truck needed to be in 4lo and not any gear or speed. Then he said " well with the rav4's you can", he really didnt know much about the trd trucks. most of what he told me was in correct according to the manual. thanks for clearing that up

 

I know that this is true on the 06+ RAV4s. I have experienced it come back on after it was disabled on ice.

Just don't tell my wife.

My 07' Tacoma doesn't have VSC (it wasn't available in January in my area). I am thinking about looking into installing it (and what that would cost).

 

Pardon my bold statement, but that guy is an idiot.

The Downhill-Assist on the RAV4 can only be engaged with the vehicle in low gear (I believe that "2" is lowest on the 5 speed automatic in the RAV4) and under a certain speed (I believe it is 10 MPH). The commercial makes it look like you can do it anytime, but I can tell you from experience (and the manual) that is not the case.

I will tell you - I am supposing that the VSC on the RAV4 and the VSC on the Tacomas are the same or at least similar since so much else is.

 

HERE'S THE LOW-DOWN:

When you push the 'VSC OFF' button once... you should see the "Auto LSD" and slip indicator lights illuminate. This is telling you the "Traction Control" system is disengaged. This is designed when and if you get stuck in the mud,snow,etc.. The traction control system controls engine performance and may interfere with your ability free the rear wheels, hence the reason you want to turn it 'OFF'. Then, when you push and hold the 'VSC OFF' switch for more than 3 seconds you should see the "VSC OFF" and slip indicator lights illuminate. This is turning OFF the Stability Control system. Also,if you have a 'locker' or '4WD' engaged... VSC is automatically turned OFF.

 

thanks flyman thats kind of what i got from the manual. so just to clear it up a little. when is it a good idea to use the limited slip diffs. and then when is it a good idea to turn off the vsc by holding it down for 3 secs. The only reason i can come up with for turning off the vsc is if i wanted to burn out or have some fun on the mud. Its kind of like the button on the new corvette's, you cant burn out unless you disengage the traction control.

 

Weird?? Stratton, you have an auto tranny I am assuming?? I've got the exact truck you do down to the color ( Very nice choice I might say.. ) and I have the 6spd with none of the vsc stuff.. i have the RR Diff locker and it took me a few shots the other day to figure every thing out, Pushing the clutch ALL the way in and that annoying 4lo buzzer. WOW!! but when I figured it all out it worked great. Must be an auto thing??

 

yeah its an auto i will get the hang of it sooner or later. i had it for just about two weeks. but it sits during the week. i have a work truck so i dont get to drive my truck then. i need a week off from work to get the hang of it and have some fun.

 

The Auto LSD achieves the equivalent functions of an LSD (Limited Slip Differential) through the use of a traction control system. Therefore, if the traction control system is disengaged....the Auto LSD is 'OFF'.

The traction control system enhances the start-off performance of the vehicle during low-resistance surface conditions, such as snow or mud, by restricting the acceleration effort during a start-off, in order to prevent the wheels from spinning. However, as I stated previously, the traction control system controls engine performance and may interfere with your ability free the rear wheels, hence the reason you may want to turn it 'OFF'.

On the other hand, Auto LSD tends to enhance the acceleration effort somewhat, in order to apply greater drive torque to the wheel that is making contact with the ground. This is assuming you still have some traction at least on one wheel. Thus, this function enables the vehicle to get unstuck if a wheel start to lose its grip, and enhances the vehicle’s start-off performance on high-resistance surface conditions such as gravel roads.

The only reason to turn VSC off: Intentionally 'burn-out' or a malfunctioning VSC system.