2009 extra cab 4x4 with LSD H4, pulls, lurches, jerks on snow

Greetings all, I have an issue that I hope can be addressed with an adjustment or calibration. When driving in H4 on partially snow and ice covered roads the truck lurches, grabs, pulls and is actually dangerous to drive. If I select H2 it smooths out and is normal. No weird noises, no known issues. Any thoughts appreciated.

 

while turning? normal.

 

Yeah, as coopcooper says, if it's happening while turning it probably means you're getting good traction and your tires are fighting with you. It'll happen worse with sharper turns and better traction. Just how the 4wd works.

PS: Nice looking truck.

 

Straight line driving 50 mph.

 

Can you explain the lurching pulling bit some more? Is it trying to turn you?

 

It pulls to center, then reverses towards the ditch, It jerks the steering wheel and can’t be held on the road without two hands on the wheel and intense concentration. If the road is entirely snow covered, it is not as bad. If the road is just wet, not as bad. It seems to not be compensating correctly for uneven traction. Badly.

 

Do your the ABS come on?
And does it do it more so on turns, even slight curves.
Usually, when I hear “the steering wheel pulls me” it has been because of the VSC.

 

Straight and flat, steady speed. VSC was shorted for reset and calibration but I have no idea if it is calibrated correctly. Having been raped by dealers repeatedly, and hard, I am looking for DIY ideas. No ABS lights, no codes unless they are ghost.

 

I think you might be able to pull one of the ABS fuses and “disable” the VSC.
Just to see if this helps. I don’t have VSC. @Jimmyh might know of a work around.
I think he has a newer truck with VSC.

 

This. Pull the ABS Fuses and see if the pulling stops. If it does it is for sure the the VSC which is very touchy on the Tacoma during the snow season.

I have personally never had an issue with it, but I live in coastal SC hardly ever any snow or ice.

 

Here is your problem

4X4 is for harsh slippery conditions with poor traction. Use it in harsh conditions only. If the road is patchy with clear pavement you don't want to be in 4X4. It is more handicap than help. Use it to get started if you're spinning wheels, in deep snow, or up inclines. Use it sparingly as needed. If it is safe to drive over 20-25 mph you don't need to be in 4X4.

It is not AWD, they aren't the same thing. 4X4 is a low tech simple system pretty much unchanged for over 100 years. It can't compensate for uneven traction situations and it can't compensate for wheels turning at different speeds around corners. But it is still the best system for DEEP snow, deep mud or extreme off road conditions. Newer AWD systems are more high tech and can compensate for those things. They also cost more and don't do nearly as well in harsher conditions.

It ain't designed to be used on wet pavement either like AWD. Pulling a boat up a slippery boat ramp is about the only exception.

 

If you’re driving in a straight line none of the listed conditions should happen. Coming from someone that drives 100+ days in the snow the VSC system is not “touchy”. It only kicks in during a slide. So if you drive like shit all the time, then yah it’s gonna go off all the time. VSC is audibly heard, physically felt and accompanied by an idiot light.

Not being able to drive it and basing my opinion solely on your description I’m thinking your traveling on rutted out ice-covered bumpy roads and your truck is tracking based on those conditions. Add in the fact that you’re doing it at 50+ MPH you’re gonna have VSC activity.

 

I based my opinion off the cases where the guys with lifted trucks “didn’t” slide.
And had VSC would come on in curves.
And the symptom “steering jerks” sounded just like the OP stated.

Full disclosure, I don’t have VSC. I haven’t had the experience myself.

 

Yeah I drive my old 4runner in 4wd all winter and it never pulls me around or fights me unless I'm at slow speeds making tight turns with traction. Just drove the Tacoma home in 4wd without a pull on me at all. Roads here alternate between ice, snow pack, and scraped pavement.

 

I have owned 7 four wheel drive vehicles dating back to the 70’s. There is definitely something wrong with this system as it is very difficult to drive on snow and dangerous. My 2001 Tacoma 4x4 was smooth as butter on any road conditions and any wheel setting. Frankly, after doing the motor solder mod, flashing the VSC, and replacing the position switch I am looking at a Ford next time.

 

Just an update for future reference. I placed the truck in H4, park, and pushed the VSC button for 5 seconds to turn off traction control. Went for a short ride on partially ice, snow, slush covered roads. The truck handled much better without VSC. I am going to calibrate the VSC by shorting the pins and try it again. Further reading about the VSC system indicates that it can produce the issues I described. I am still not ruling out a wheel speed or ABS issue but for now I am squaring away the VSC. BTW, my 2009 doesn’t say VSC or trac anywhere I know of, just a picture of a skidding truck on the button. Thanks all!

 

Glad you're not experiencing those symptoms anymore. I don't have those fancy computer aids in my 06 .

Please don't switch to Ford, your truck is great and once it gets sorted can have a long life with basic upkeep. It could just be that the road is too variable right now and others have said VSC can do weird stuff in snow. Hope you find a permanent solution.