VSC? Yes or NO?

Hey Guys,

I have a 2008 TRD Sport 4x4. Curious if I have the VSC for purposes of getting the proper Pro Comp Lift.

I do not have a light or switch for it, isnt it only on off-road tacomas??

Thanks

 

I 98% sure you don't have VSC. Neither do I and I am TRD off road.

 

i don't believe so, pretty sure that system came out in '09

 

Thanks for the info!

 

so i'm new to the forum and potentially a new taco owner. i'm considering purchasing a used 2005-2008 tacoma. however it's important for me to have VSC for safety considerations (wife will be driving regularly and roads are often icy up here in interior Alaska). from my research, i understand VSC was optional but non-selectable (ie no button) on 05-08 tacos... my question is how do i determine if VSC is included without a button or documentation?

 

my 07 has it

 

so does my 07....

 

Go do some donuts and see if it kicks in. If you get beeping and feel the brakes pulse you have it.

 

Not sure on the pre-'09s, but VSC has a beeper and light indicator when it is working... When you turn your key to on (without starting), do all the dash lights come on? Is there a VSC light?

If you take it in snow or on slippery roads, do some S turns at speed. The VSC will correct any fishtailing of the rear end and alert you with a beep-beep-beep each time (plus the dash indicator light comes on).

For me, it is a great bit of science on a pickup truck... when the bed is empty on slippery roads it often wants to go sliding around, when making turns, etc. Now with VSC the truck drives like it is in 4WD on wet roads... as far as handling and driving at speed is concerned. I used to put me previous two Tacomas into 4WD on heavy rain days... not anymore with VSC on my 2010.

 

Whats the difference between VSC and Atrac? Are they one in the same just different wording?

 

Totally different things...

VSC (Vehicle Stability Control) is on all Toyotas now... (Star Safety System) it is a safety feature developed from Bosch that automatically corrects the car/ truck when the rear end begins to slide out when you suddenly try to avoid hitting something while driving at speed... It prevents you from spinning out of control and keeps you going in the direction you want. There is a good video of this posted. My truck no longer spins out on slippery roads or when making fast turns.

A-TRAC (Active Traction Control) is only on Off Road 4WD Toyotas (2009+ Tacomas) and only works in Low Range... it is a traction enhancement system that puts all available torque to tires with traction by locking a spinning tire to the traction tire with the brakes on that tire... True 4 wheel drive, like automatic lockers front and rear... Only locks when the tire is off the ground or spinning faster than the other tire on the axle. This means steering control is not affected the way it is with locking differentials. With just one tire on firm ground, A-TRAC will pull your truck through. A-TRAC requires the stronger hydraulic brake booster over the standard vacuum brake booster.

I have a link in my signature to explaining the traction systems and video clips of A-TRAC at work...

 

VSC will help with traction on wet roads... but it's nothing like having 4WD... at all. I can still kick my truck out with VSC enabled if I wish (granted I could do it in 4WD too).

Honestly, I never cared for the system that much myself. In my G35 I'd start the car and immediately turn it off. On the Taco it's a little less annoying and really seems to go off only on slipping situations. It is handy in the rain, but nothing beats proper driving. My 2008 PreRunner never had it, and I never missed it.

 

Just so the facts are known... it is TRAC (traction control) that helps with traction on wet roads... this is a limited slip system that uses the brakes instead of the differential hardware.

VSC uses TRAC, but VSC is only a steering/ stability aid to keep you from spinning out of control. See the video... can someone post the Bosch clip on VSC here?

TRAC in 2WD works when you excellerate from a stop on wet or slippery roads... The amount of spinning on one tire is reduced and torque transfered to the opposite tire. TRAC in 4WD is a big improvement over the former only open differentials for traction.

 

Thanks David K....Im going to be reading your sigs.. I did a search, but so much came up, it was confusing.

 

Let me know if youi need any more details... My link on A-TRAC in my sig is pretty complete with the You Tube clips...

Remember, normal differentials (open differentials) divide the torque from the drive shaft (engine) to both tires equally. However, if one tire has less traction than the other, the torque is going to that easier to spin tire. This is allowing easy steering, but can get you stuck.

When a 4WD gets stuck, usually one sees one tire in front spinning and one tire in back spinning. Those two tires had less traction than the other two, so torque went to them. A 2WD stuck has one tire spinning.

To get unstuck, you want torque going to the tire(s) with traction.

Limited Slip Differentails were invented so more torque can go to the traction tire when the other one is spinning in a stuck or slippery surface. 'Posi-Traction' is one of the popular limited slip differentails.

Toyota's TRAC and AUTO LSD use sensors and brakes to slow the spinning tire and that gives torque to the traction tire.

Locking Differentials were invented so the torque goes equally to both tires, no matter what. This was a great advance to off roading.
Because no slipping of one tire over the other can happen, steering is difficult. Locking Differentials are recommended only in off road situations to get out of a stuck and no more than 5 mph.

A-TRAC is a more aggressive traction aid than TRAC that uses sensors to monitor wheel spin and a hydraulic brake booster to prevent any torque from being lost on a spinning tire. The non-traction tire rotation is nearly locked with the traction tire, as a locker does but steering is not affected because the locking is automatic as needed.

 

Here it is... everyone should watch this short video on what VSC is and how it works:



http://video.yahoo.com/watch/206114/689691

 

My 06 off road has VSC without the button. Best way to tell would be to check the dash lights with the key "on". There will be VSC off, VSC TRAC, and the truck with slippery tracks symbol. They only stay lit for a few seconds.