3rd Gen Traction Control Modes Explained

Yes, seems to me that they are pretty close to the same thing. Minus the components and when they are active.

 

TRAC on 3rd gen trucks makes A-TRAC obsolete. That’s what I was trying to say

 

The difference between TRAC 4Hi and A-TRAC 4Lo is that A-TRAC does not cut engine power and TRAC does. My understanding is A-TRAC braking action is much more aggressive than TRAC braking action. This was certainly my experience snow wheeling this past Winter. IMHO both modes have their time and place where/when one is advantageous over the other. To call A-TRAC obsolete is inaccurate, again IMHO.

 

TRAC does not cut engine power in 4wd low or High. It does in 2wd however

 

Always learning, thanks.

EDIT: I will add that my experience off-road in snow/ice going out to my friend's cabin several times, I tried both 4Hi and 4Lo ATRAC...for me the best combination was 4Lo A-ATRAC using 2nd and 3rd gear. When approaching the deeper drifts I'd stop and engage the rear locker to get through, as I learned the rear locker does not help much after you get stuck.

 

My apologies if this has already been posted. Dude prefers MTS over rear locker. Think I would rather try/use MTS first, too.

 

I’m sure that anyone who has whipped shitties in a parking lot can attest to the fact that VSC does not intervene after being disabled via the long press no matter how much wheel spin and yaw is obtained. The VSC button long press is the first thing I do when I don’t want the fun police ruining my day.

 

sweet thread

 

Does crawl control deactivate if you open the door and get out of the driver's seat?

 

So this thread is great, but also hurts my brain. I have 2 questions.

On a SR/TRD Sport/Limited... the default 4lo has an auto lsd type function happening with no engine power reduction for traction control or vsc. What situation would you want to long press to get open diffs in 4 lo? Seems like you would never benefit from this function.

Also, sorry if I missed this, is there an auto-lsd type feature working on the front as well?

 

I have an OR now, but I had a 2016 SR5 and I’m pretty sure TRAC (as well as VSC) were disabled in 4lo contrary to what is implied in the first post of this thread. I never heard the ABS brakes operate (without the brake pedal) in 4lo but I did hear them operate in 4hi. I never really paid attention to the lights on the dash though. TRAC is intended for on-road use and isn’t particularly useful off-road. It doesn’t apply the brakes hard enough or long enough. That’s what ATRAC on the OR is for.

 

You are right, turning off the traction assist in 4Lo does not gain you more traction but being able to turn it off is still a nice feature. I see two scenarios where you may want to do this...

1) the system is overheating from excessive use and you don't need it anyway
2) you are purposely being a hoonigan and there's no reason to stress the system because loss of traction is the goal

SR5 does have TRAC on by default in 4Lo.
https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads...-non-trd-offroad.437814/page-18#post-16979995

Also, TRAC is very useful off-road. It does an excellent job of preventing wheel spin caused by open diffs. It is not as effective as ATRAC, MTS, or the mechanical locking diff but it does well none the less.

 

To each is own. I have experience with both and I would not consider TRAC to be a system that will get you unstuck. In a 2wd comparison, the auto lsd mode is way better than trac at getting me unstuck.

 

My apologies if this has been asked b4.

Is there a mod that enables the traction control to be turned completely off without stoping and holding the button down?

 

The original post suggests that TRAC is enabled in 4lo on a SR/SR5/TRD Sport/Limited, but I do not think that is the case. I never heard the ABS brakes operate in 4lo (without the brake pedal being applied) on my 2016 SR5. I did however notice it when in 4hi. I have a 2020 OR now, so I cannot confirm it.

I am referring to this section:

SR/SR5/TRD Sport/Limited
7. 4Lo TRAC ON and VSC OFF.
8. 4Lo TRAC OFF and VSC OFF

 

Extensive team testing did indicate SR/SR5/Sport/Limited does have TRAC in 4lo (by default), as shown by the posts in this thread.
I can't verify that from personal experience (OR model here).

Start reading thru this older thread for some verification
https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads...s-non-trd-offroad.437814/page-8#post-16945563

 

That video is fairly convincing. I know I tended to disable TRAC/VSC with the long push every time I wanted to have fun, but I don't remember having to do it in 4lo. I remember 4lo defaulting everything to off. Maybe I wasn't observant enough, my memory fails me, or I had an oddball 2016 SR5. I wish I had an SR5 to go test with again.

 

The first post of this thread implies MTS + Crawl Control is a viable operating Mode. With a 3rd Gen Tacoma TRDOR with automatic transmission, this is not possible. What was the author intending to convey? He seems otherwise very knowledgeable. I just want to confirm my understanding of the traction control logic. Also, it is my understanding that with MTS + locked rear diff, the brake modulated traction control still applies to the front axle, but not to the rear above 3 mph. Meaning you get good traction up front, limiting slip using brakes with the open diff, but the rear diff is locked implying no relative slip between the 2 rear wheels. Thanks in advance

 

MTS runs simultaneous with crawl control. Or think of it as crawl control includes MTS functionality inside of its own speed control functionality.

Yes MTS operates across the front axle when the rear diff is locked.