A-trac in 4lo on all 2016 4x4 Models Non Trd Offroad

RmikeD, in 4H the truck is normally in TRAC and when you push quickly the VSC button, you go into TRAC OFF which is Traction Control with engine regulation OFF. This is the same as AUTO LSD in H2, but on all 4.

Thechief86, the VSC OFF button is the one with a vehicle and swerving lines. A quick press enhances traction control if you have tire spin or are stuck. Stopping and holding in the button for 3 seconds+ turns off traction control and VSC. Press again or restart the truck and all goes back to the normal TRAC mode.

 

To reduce confusion we all should use the names Toyota uses and then add clarification . The button is not called Trac, but a VSC OFF switch . It switches the truck between TRAC , AUTO LSD , TRAC OFF , and VSC OFF. .

 

I haven't played with anything yet other than the button on the overhead console, but definitely noticed automatic brake modulation of spinning wheels to climb a difficult obstacle IN 4 WHEEL LOW, which I had read that the '15 and older base model trucks only did in 2hi and 4hi.
There is no way I could climb this section with street tires and no traction assistance, nor would the 2.7 be able to pull it up this obstacle in high range.

I'm not sure if it's supposed to be this way, or what this setting is actually titled as, I just know the effect was very comparable to my wrangler with lockers, although with different noises of obvious brake modulation.

 

Is this a fact? I was told they all share they same brake booster.

That might explain why my OR brakes buzz.

 

The Off Road 4x4s have a hydraulic brake booster to make the A-TRAC system work. The others have a vacuum brake booster.

 

So is there a definitive answer to the question here? Do the base model '16/'17 tacos have brake modulated traction control in 4lo, or am I nuts?
I'm still convinced my '17 SR 4cylinder 5 speed does, or how else would it have crawled up such a steep, rocky, off-camber obstacle? (This particular line raises a tire every time with my lifted, locked wrangler, and especially dramatic if I'm too lazy to disconnect the sway bars)
Taco Stocko walked up it like it had legs. No slip at all, really.

 

I sure hope to find out from you and other Third Gen off roaders.

In the short, I am still going with "no", that in L4 there is no traction control except for the A-TRAC button push or MTS dial turn and the rear locker (Off Road TRD and PRO Tacoma 4x4s only). You experienced enhanced "traction" feel because of the extra low gears of Low Range.

If you get on some deep ruts where one tire on each axle is in the air and they spin (and you stop moving), then the answer is no traction control.

If you keep progressing forward, even if tires lose contact with the ground, then you have traction control.

I think someone above mentioned about the 4 Lo Trac Mod ("Yellow Wire Mod")? It is possible to fool the computer into thinking you are in 4 Hi (which has TRAC limited slip) when you are in 4 Lo. This is the mod those with Sport TRDs use to keep up with us Off Road TRDs in the rough. TRAC (TRAC OFF) is very effective when off road compared to just open differentials in low range.

In fact, without that mod, one may do better staying in 4-HI with the traction control then going into 4-LO without!

 

Without traction control, 4lo simply increases torque by effectively "lengthening the lever" if the analogy for torque shows a lever and fulcrum, a longer lever with the fulcrum near the load can move a larger load.
Lower gearing does not aid traction other than reducing slip by slowing the Wheels down at a given engine rpm. It's similar to the difference between taking off in 1st gear rather than 2nd.
I most definitely had wheels in the air and maintained forward motion on a loose surface coupled with a steep climb, and obstacle that I would not have thought possible without lockers, since my other Toyotas couldn't do the same thing in 4 lo, and my jeep can only barely make it with BOTH axles locked.
I am an ASE certified mechanic with 20 years of mechanical and offroad experience, I assure you I didn't mistake the advantage of low range for brake modulated traction assistance.
I was just relaying my experience and asking whether anyone could actually verify whether or not the auto LSD stuff is supposed to work in 4lo on the 3rd Gen tacoma.
I realize it isn't A-Trac, but I'm thinking that Toyota may have done away with the need for the yellow wire mod on the base models for this year.

 

That would be wonderful, indeed.
With my 2nd Gen A-TRAC Tacoma, I found 0 reasons to not have traction control in low range as a standard mode. In fact, there is NO time I use L4 without A-TRAC on, it is just pointless. Sometimes the button either gets unpushed or deactivates and when my front tires spin, I know it!

 

BUMP.
Anybody else think their non-trd 3rd Gen taco has some level of traction control in 4lo?
EDIT: How am I the only person who has tried out 4lo in their new Taco? You sissies should have bought prises haha (just kidding, I know most people baby new vehicles for a while)

 

I played with the truck in 4lo again today.
The only traction/stability control inputs my truck has are the button on the overhead console that has a car with squiggly lines under it, and the actual 2h,4h,4l switch.
If I hold the button with the squiggly lines down for a few seconds while in 4lo, a light comes on saying "TRAC OFF". So does this mean it had traction control in 4lo before I turned it off? Or is it like the one guy says, where it just turned off throttle regulation with the auto lsd?
In 2hi and 4hi, the button turns on the "AUTO LSD" light.

 

Wow, interesting... before there was no brake assisted traction controls in L4, except for A-TRAC. The only change (I thought) for 3rd Gen was that A-TRAC was incorporated into MTS on the automatics.
AUTO LSD was ONLY in H2, and that elevated traction control was called TRAC OFF in H4.

We really need to see the tech sheet for brake assisted traction functions on the third gens, like we had for the 2009-2011 2nd gens.

I sure would like to take a drive in a 3rd Gen Off Road 4x4 to "chart" the functions!

In L4 (2nd Gen 2009+), there is no TRAC, NO TRAC OFF. Just open diffs except when depressed one or both buttons: you have A-TRAC and/or the Rear Locker activated.



With A-TRAC on, the VSC is off:



When the rear diff is locked, the ABS light comes on:

 

Second Gen:
In 2WD only (H2), a quick press of the VSC switch activates AUTO LSD (traction control without engine regulation) and the VSC goes OFF to 30 mph (then comes on/ and that light goes off).

 

This might help. Pretty good explanation I guess. Not 3rd gen but still. Think you pressed atrac?
https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/a-trac-trac-auto-lsd-explained-easy-to-understand-i-hope.70551/

 

3rd Gen Off Road 4x4 owners...

Please help us out and note the lights that go on or off: [modes named 2012-2015]

H2 at start up. [TRAC ON]
H2 press quickly VSC button, stopped or moving. [AUTO LSD, VSC OFF]
H2 with VSC pressed quickly and over 30 mph. [AUTO LSD, VSC ON (no light)]
H2 stopped and press and hold in 3+ seconds the VSC button. [VSC OFF]

H4 at start up. [TRAC ON]
H4 press quickly VSC button, stopped or moving. [TRAC OFF, VSC OFF]
H4 with VSC pressed quickly and over 30 mpg. [TRAC OFF, VSC ON (no light)]
H4 stopped and press and hold in 3+ seconds the VSC button. [VSC OFF]

L4 at start up.
L4 with A-TRAC button pushed (manual) or MTS dial selected to any/ all selections (automatics).
L4 with Rear Diff activated (but A-TRAC/ MTS not).
L4 with Rear Diff AND A-TRAC or MTS activated.

 

That is my thread from 6 years ago... we need something new for the third gens. Thank you!

 

I'm trying to find info for the NON OFF ROAD base model SR with the "convenience package "

I know I didn't hit the "A-TRAC" button, because mine doesn't have that. I'm aware that nobody buys the base model stuff, but those of us who did would like to know what's up when we dip off the pavement, cuz I'm Gonna!

 

The only useful information on this whole thread...

 

Well, the Off Road TRD has anything the Base has (just more).
In fact, you can still help with my quest (and could help your own) because the Base Tacoma has everything EXCEPT A-TRAC/MTS and the Rear Locker. So all the TRAC and VSC stuff applies to YOU, TOO!

 

3rd GEN "BASE" 4x4 Owners:

3rd Gen non-TRD Off Road 4x4 owners...

Please help us out and note the lights that go on or off: [modes named 2012-2015]

H2 at start up. [TRAC ON]
H2 press quickly VSC button, stopped or moving. [AUTO LSD, VSC OFF]
H2 with VSC pressed quickly and over 30 mph. [AUTO LSD, VSC ON (no light)]
H2 stopped and press and hold in 3+ seconds the VSC button. [VSC OFF]

H4 at start up. [TRAC ON]
H4 press quickly VSC button, stopped or moving. [TRAC OFF, VSC OFF]
H4 with VSC pressed quickly and over 30 mpg. [TRAC OFF, VSC ON (no light)]
H4 stopped and press and hold in 3+ seconds the VSC button. [VSC OFF]

L4 at start up.
*L4 plus press, as well as hold in, VSC button (to see if a light comes on).