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

OK, I will try to work on a nicer table format tonight, to see what I can make that looks pretty. How much data do you think in the table? I want to keep all the dash lights, etc, but it seems kind of superfluous for the average user. Maybe I will put all that data on the RH where nobody looks just as reference, or a separate table. I also don't want to get into pissing matches about LSD terminology, but I will see what wording I can come up with.

 

I think your spreadsheet is great. Swapping left and right would be fine? Maybe for the dash lights, if others thinks so, use On and Off or filled in cells when they are on?

Again, I think it is great as is, just buried in this thread.

 

If you are using excel, put the 4WD functions in rows and the vehicle type (SR, SR5, TRD Sport, Limited, TRD OR, TRD PRO) in columns. That way, its easy to compare. Make each function definition the same one that is used in the owner's manual for simplicity and continuity.
If a function works in both 4HI and 4LO, define that in the function description.

 

I understand my truck so I don't need a spreadsheet. I was just suggesting a method to layout all trucks with all 4WD options. I have had three 5th Gen 4Runners since 2010 and all these modes are used by the 4Runner too.

 

OK, I have my walking orders. I will focus on it tonight. Out of the house for now. Good idea &Tonered , my spouse would yell at me for not using Conditional Formating.
I will try and make one master table that lists all models and the modes it has (to be populated with what we know, and blank for remaining trims), and then a separate table with each trim with all dash lights, etc.

Wont know how it will turn out until try....

 

Let me add to the suggestion that there is a summary post / spreadsheet that wraps in all Tacos and modes. But! That is going to be damn confusing versus someone grabbing the one that pertains to the Taco they own.

Before I stumbled across this thread and after RTFM, I thought that the TRAC / VSC Button only had an affect in 2Hi. I honestly never thought to push it in 4Hi or 4Lo.

Knowing is half the battle. Hahaha!

Edit: I uploaded the spreadsheet to represent my Sport MT. Just in case you are doing revisions. I deleted the bottom row for 4Lo with Diff Lock. If you want to keep them for consistency that is fine with me.

I will try to get the rest of the testing in this week.

BTW, when you jacked on your LCA, did you have a piece of wood in there or just the jack? I am thinking of wood to not damage it but also none just in case it slips.

 

Thanks for table, haven't looked at it yet. That will help.

My LCA is already scratched pretty good, so I didn't worry about finish protection. It seemed beefy enough to not dent. I stuck a short big (like 7/16 or so dia) bolt in one of the holes and jacked on that, so the jack wouldn't slip off. Make sense?

 

Good luck and have fun with it! I built a table on tire fitment over on the 4runner forum for the 5th gens and, even though it is now six years old, people use it every day!

 

No problem.

Sounds good. I will give that a shot.

 

Do we have verification that this “TRAC” works is 4 H? I was pritty confident it didn’t. I might have to do some research on my next job site.

 

On my SR 2.7/5MT this is what I got on my dirt road.

4H "TRAC OFF" light lit/on: left front and right rear tire spin, "slip" light did NOT come on

4H no lights lit, so assuming TRAC was ON: 1 second or less of tire spin, "slip" light flashed, then traction w/o any spinning.

 

Ok test confirmed. TRAC works in 4wd High range. Steve urquell wrote it up right, no need to duplicate. Slip indicator flashed on dash as system was working. VSC off light is not on, I assume because most people would use 4H on roads so it makes sense to leave it active.


I made it up pritty high onto the pile of loose dirt.




And the new test video.

https://youtu.be/aX4JQW2uAQo

 

H4 (4WD High Range) has three possible modes:

TRAC (standard mode) which is traction control (braking of spinning tires) with engine output regulation (throttle cut). Light limited slip.
TRAC OFF (quick push of switch) which is traction control without engine regulation. Stronger limited slip.
VSC OFF (stop, push, hold-in 3+ sec.) which is both traction control and stability control turned off. No limited slip, ie. "open differentials" with no slip controls.

NOTE:
H2 (2WD High Range) has the same three modes but TRAC OFF is also called "AUTO LSD" and the VSC is off to 30 mph, then comes on automatically.

2009-2011 Tacomas have TRAC OFF as the standard mode in H4, with no button push and no light coming on, it was called TRAC but did not have engine regulation as it does in H2.

 

This is incorrect, on my 2017.

4wd high range
TRAC OFF- no traction aid is active as the light on sujusts. Just tested, burning rubber from front and rear tires no traction control.

 

That bolded part is not right for 3rd gen. I can spin the shit out of my tires in "TRAC OFF" mode in 4H and never kick in traction control. "TRAC OFF" in 2WD is auto LSD which is stronger traction control but NOT in 4H or 4L.

 

TRAC OFF (and AUTO LSD) allows the spinning because the engine regulation is turned off.
Engine regulation (in TRAC) will cut the power if your tires spin, as spinning doesn't typically get you anywhere. However, TRAC OFF/AUTO LSD (you manually push to get) is for when you want to FORCE full power to make the tires climb over or pull through whatever resistance you are getting.

Think outside the box with these computer controlled systems! TRAC OFF is a TERRIBLE NAME.
I recommend TRAC OFF MODE when wheeling, but no heavy pedal... Use the traction of 4WD and not speed to move. If your tires spin it very well could be because you DIDN'T DEFLATE your tires! Too much air (street pressure) will lose you all sorts of traction benefits.

Edit: Let me add that through weird design, the TRAC OFF light also remains on when you are in VSC OFF MODE. VSC OFF MODE (but not always the VSC Off light) in no traction control.

It is like they are telling you with that light, normal TRAC is off both when it is in the stronger TRAC OFF MODE, and when you are in the no traction assist at all VSC OFF MODE.

YES, CRAZY!!

 

IMO it's totally backwards, Toyota complicated things unnecessarily by having the light tell you it's off instead on telling you it's on.

That, and not being clear and thorough in their manual. Thanks to the people here collecting the data and creating a useful spreadsheet.

 

I wish they just continued to use the name AUTO LSD in 4WD for the enhanced TRAC, instead of TRAC OFF. I kind of hate the name Auto LSD, because the differential is not involved... but they picked it for 2WD, non-regulated traction control. Why not keep the same name and light when in 4WD? Ugh, so we have TRAC off light when there is more traction control (TRAC OFF MODE) and TRAC off light when there is no traction control (VSC OFF MODE)!

 

I'm posting what I know from actually getting in my truck, a 3rd gen, and trying the settings. I'm off work today and just went out and spun the shit out my tires one more time for you retards.

Auto LSD in 2WD: spins BOTH rear tires just like my old mechanical LSD/posi Chevy rears and lights up the "slip indicator" light. Not a true LSD but acts just like one.

4H TRAC OFF lit: Spins left front and right rear tires--NO "slip indicator" light lights up doing this.

4H TRAC OFF and VSC OFF lit: Spins left front and right rear tires--NO "slip indicator" light lights up doing this.

4H NO Lights Lit: "slip indicator" lights up when spinning, spinning stops as traction control kicks in

According to Toyota:
"If the vehicle is in danger of slipping or if any of the drive wheels spins, the slip indicator light flashes to indicate that the VSC/TRAC systems are operating. Depending on the vehicle, a buzzer (intermittent) may sound to indicate that VSC is operating."

That tells me that there is NO TRAC/traction control happening when the TRAC OFF light is lit on my 2017 2.7/5MT SR

 

There is no stronger mode of traction control on my 3rd gen. Maybe there is a difference between the Second and third gens.

My tires spun when the were in the air and did burn outs when contacting the ground, when I pushed trac vsc button once quickly and TRAC OFF was illuminated on the dash.