3rd Gen Traction Control Modes Explained

Yep
Just think about how I felt while reverse engineering 2lo on 3rd gen... on at least two occasions I was basically positive I had fried the ECU but it all came out ok.

(I discovered when I messed up early attempts at controlling the actuators, that you can manually drive the actuators into invalid positions and the ECU just shuts down if you do, but you can get them back into legal positions with a few AA batteries)

 

Thanks David, I could not take cabin fever, I went on state land and practiced. I found that you have to be in neutral, choose mode —- it will tell you to go into 4L mode, then is words, lol, I crawl back and forth........

 

You must be in neutral to go into and out of L4. You should be able to change the MTS settings, etc. at will. All this will be in your owner's manual.
You should check out all the H4 choices, too. I am speaking of Track and Track Off differences.

 

I'm a bit confused by all the dashboard lights upon going into 4LO and then A-TRAC. I have a DCSB TRD off-road 4x4 6MT.

4LO:


A-TRAC:


4LO disables traction control and VSC? A-TRAC only disables VSC? Are these correct? Thanks.

 

The TRAC OFF light turns off when you turn A-TRAC on because A-TRAC is traction control.

Answer to the first question is yes, by default 4-LO turns off both but you can turn traction control back on in 4LO by pressing A-TRAC.

To say A-TRAC disables VSC is wrong. VSC is off because you are in 4LO in your pictures.

 

Looks right for a manual Pro/Or
In general, it's in 4wd, in 4lo, with collision avoidance deactivated.

In 4lo for Pro/Or, truck defaults to no VSC, no traction control. This gives the 'Trac off' and 'squiggly off'.

Atrac provides traction control, so the 'trac off' light is removed....

 

Sounds about right!

 

Question from a 1st gen guy that could be interested in a 3rd. I looked at the chart on page on and saw the few things not available on a TRDOR6MT vs TRDOR auto. If while stopped in 2wd I hold the VSC button down, that basically makes it like my 1998? Dose the computer take back over when you hit 35mph? I test drove a 6MT TRDOR yesterday, I pressed the VSC while stopped, then got on the freeway up to 80mph and the lights said everything was disabled still. I wasn't able to pull onto some dirt and test it out. If VSC/Trac control was disable above 35mph would the same truck in an auto do the same thing. Like I said 1st Gen guy looking at a new truck. I like doing the thinking even if the computer is badass. If all the nanny systems come back on over 35mph that would drive me nuts.

 

Long press on the VSC off button disables traction control and stability control as much as the truck will allow. Anti-lock brakes are still active. Yes, this is basically driving on mechanical components with no wheel braking or engine cut intervention from the skid control ECU. It's supposed to remain this way at all speeds, but there's no guarantee Toyota hasn't kept something active under certain conditions. These systems shouldn't intervene during typical driving unless you begin to really over/understeer or break traction. This is the same setup on manuals and autos. Honestly, you should embrace these systems, especially for daily driving.

 

The VSC will come back on IF you drive in a dangerous manner. ie, the truck (and Toyota lawyers) won't let you kill yourself if you get stupid. So, no, they do not come back on at 35 mph unless you are doing something dumb.

 

Ok thank you for the replies. So it is off for the most part, they just don't make things like they use too lol. My wife had a 2016 4runner and I thought it kicked back on at 35mph, but I only messed around off road once or twice with it since I had my 1st gen to play with. I'm not so much worried on road about it as off. If every time I exceeded 35mph blasting across the desert or on a logging road it turned back on that would really get to me. Glad to know that function is the same auto vs 6MT.

 

I think you might be thinking of the VSC being off when you are in AUTO LSD mode? It comes on at 30 mph.
AUTO LSD is the 2WD traction mode that turns off engine regulation. It is also called TRAC OFF in 4WD-High. You push the button quickly, moving or stopped for that.

VSC OFF is no traction control and no stability control. You get that by stopping and then hold in the button for a few seconds.

I do not like VSC OFF at all. The beauty of the traction assistance is it improves off road driving, giving the benefit of limited slip differentials. My 2010 truck goes off road far better than either my 2001 or 2005 4x4 Tacomas because of TRAC or TRAC OFF in H4 and A-TRAC in L4.

 

I have no doubt that Toyota put together a system that works great on these very popular trucks that tons of people actually use off road. That being said I like options and feel like there should be a button that turns the truck into 1980s traction control. I don't want Toyota, the government or anybody else telling me what is best for me. Even if I'm stuck on the trail as some kid drives around me with his computer controlled truck lol!

 

https://youtu.be/y3JwFTee7i0

 

this shows just how effective brake activated traction control on 3rd Gen trucks is. It almost makes A-Trac obsolete

 

Nice work!

The 3rd Gen TRAC system is pretty damn great.

 

Cool vid. I couldn't help but think better tires would have really helped there.

 

I am impressed

 

Cooper Discovery AT3

 

That is a contradictory statement being that ATRAC is brake activated traction control.