3rd Gen Traction Control Modes Explained

No problem.

The engagement is much simpler, but there are times when the computer control can be frustrating, for example when you get a flashing 4Hi or 4Lo light for no apparent reason. Advanced doesn't mean better in all cases. It does make it easier though.

We never had a 4wd / AWD car until my Wife bought a Forester. I was impressed how well that work on just pavement compared to our previous FWD cars. The Taco takes it to another level. I have been impressed what it can do with just the original tires.

Even with these great TRAC features, you can definitely get stuck. I was there a couple weeks back in some melt snow. It took some time, but I was able to work my way out. If it was 2wd or AWD, I would have been shoveling for hours.

 

TRAC is the first level of traction control, sort of like "limited slip lite".
AUTO LSD/TRAC OFF* is the next level or "limited slip strong".
A-TRAC/MTS is pretty much like automatic lockers on the front and rear.

*2nd Gen; 3rd Gen may have changed TRAC OFF in H4 according to testing here on TW.

 

I don't understand half of what you guy are talking about, but I'm definitely glad y'all are on this board lol

 

I'm in there with you. All I have is some button in the overhead console that the instructions say to mash if I get the truck stuck in a ditch. It says Auto LSD, which I was never supposed to engage when I had my old 2009 2wd Tacoma. The way I understood it, I had auto limited slip differential as long as I never mashed the button. If I hit the button, both rear wheels would spin at the same time. Now with my new 4 X 4, it seems to be the opposite. I'm not messing with it, regardless. I don't expect to be driving through too many ditches, anyway. A good rule of thumb also is that even though you have a high ground clearance, stay out of high water, too. No telling what that water will do to the electrical parts underneath.

 

I used the ALSD the other day. Pulled over to test it. Right rear on loose dirt, left rear on the road pavement. Pedal to the floor, heard ticking and squirrly light flashing...hell yeah. It took off very nicely with the left rear giving drive. Won’t always be in a ditch. Could be merging onto the 395!!!!

 

Merging onto the highway? I thought that was what the ECT button was for, but that little thing makes it easy to redline the tach because it keeps the transmission in the lower gears too long. Hence, I seldom ever use ECT. I wanted a manual transmission, but they are no longer available with 4 cylinders, only the V-6.

 

Yes, merging onto a highway from a dead stop if the right rear tire is on gravel/loose dirt, and the left rear tire is on pavement. Auto LSD works great in that situation. Even though the right tire is spinning wildly, the system is still able to brake it enough to give traction to the left tire. It will get moving quickly. The 3rd Gen TRAC system is much better than the 2nd Gen system if you're used to that. As for ECT, I like using it in traffic situations. Not much throttle and the truck gets moving swiftly amazingly well. BUT...it does chew up the mpg's compared to not using it. I enjoy both modes. The default mode works great too. That's where the mpg's improve, if you're into that. I stopped caring, though, after noticing the crazy drop in mpg's after turning on the AC...

 

In snow, on a paved road that is unplowed, with a 3rd Gen, do y'all just throw it in 4hi and stay away from crazy drivers?

I've had a few 4x4s but haven't driven them in snow much Now I'm permanently in Maryland, and I just sold a fine snow car (Subaru) to buy the truck I need.

My 2nd Gen was ok in mild snow in 2wd, but I had a bit better than the stock tires it came with (they were pretty bad in rain and mud too)

I don't plan to run winter's or MTs on this Taco .


Cool thread .It's a dang computerized 4wd and I like it .

 

I'll preface in case some don't know. GX 460 is full time 4WD with torsen center diff that is open for the pavement. The Mud & Sand MTS mode can be turned on in the default 4H unlocked mode. You have to be down below 7 MPH to engage but it will work at any speed above that. All other modes require 4L. Lots of people now doing the crawl & MTS mods on 460s. Thinking about adding one of these on the rear as well. https://www.cruiserbrothers.com/harrop-elockers/

 

Thank you for starting this thread. This is my first 4x4 and imI looking forward to getting it off road, this information will be helpful

 

This post is awesome TY !!!

 

Just play with your Toy to learn what does what. Try hill climbs in each of the modes (Trac On, Trac Off) in H2, H4, and L4 so you know the ability of each. Don't bother with VSC OFF can that is no assist at all and just allows one tire per drive axle to spin if traction is lost.

 

Now for the real question. How do you turn it all off when your in 2wd to let her eat ???

 

Let her eat?
To turn off traction control and stability control:
In 2WD (and 4WD) simply stop driving, press and hold in the VSC OFF button for a few seconds (until the VSC OFF light comes on). TRAC and VSC will remain off until you restart your truck or you do a quick press of the same button.
NOTE: If you drive in a dangerous manner, the safety system will reactivate to save your truck (and your butt)... so, it is watching how stupid you drive and Toyota's lawyers don't want you claiming the truck is dangerous. Look what happened to the Jeep CJ-5 after 60 Minutes show! VSC is the greatest safety product since the seat belt somebody in the industry said.

 

You know get rowdy, and spin some tire.
I’ll do that and for some reason it always comes back on if I get even a little sideways while the wheels are spinning.

 

Yes, let her eat! LOL

 

This has been a very educational reading. Thanks for taking the time to test and put together this info. I do have one question which may be silly, but I would appreciate if some could clarify:

From what I understood, if I change to 4low on my trd sport auto, without touching anything else, the TRAC system will be active, and it will provide a "simulated limited slip differential". My question is, do TRAC works for all the wheels or just for the rear wheels?

 

TRAC works all the wheels that get power, so in 4WD, 4 tires. What I personally don't know is if there is TRAC in L4 in 3rd Gens... On 2nd Gens there is not. Only in H4 and H2 on 2nd Gens.

 

According to the table in the first post of this thread, there is.

 

Right, why I said personally.