ATRAC operation question

I know that TRAC, ATRAC, VSC, etc. have been discussed many times on this forum and thanks to you all, I now sort of understand it all, but I still have one question.
When you engage ATRAC, in 4wd low of course, how do you know it is engaged?
Shouldn't an "A-TRAC" light be lit on the dash? The owners manual seems to say so.
I have a 2010 TRD off road and no light comes on when I hit the ATRAC button.
I don't know if it is on or not. So far I have only tried it it at a stop or rolling slowly back and forth in the driveway. Do you need to be moving or experiencing wheel slippage for ATRAC to engage? (although I don't think there is anything to actually "engage")
I took the vehicle to a mechanic who is Toyota factory trained, I also took it to the local Toyota dealer, they both gave me a not to convincing explanation that ATRAC would only kick in if I was experiencing wheel slippage. I am wondering if they were confusing ATRAC with TRAC.
The dealer service rep did point out that if you turn the ignition switch to on momentarily to illuminate all the dash lights, there is no A-TRAC light on the dash, so it must not have one.
thanks
Jon

 

I thought ATRAC was only on the 2012+ refresh

 

Page 181 of the 2010 Owners Manual has the Operation and Function listed.
It lists and Indicator for ATRAC and explanation of, and indication of, when the ATRAC System is operating.

OP the Owners Manual is free to download from Toyota.
https://www.toyota.com/owners/resources/warranty-owners-manuals/tacoma/2010

It also shows the Indicator Light in the Quick Reference Guide.

 

Thats the way I read it.
I know 4wd hi and low are working. The indicator lights come when you hit the "trac off" button, both single push and 3 second hold for VSC off, and I have used rear locker, it got me out of a bad spot, so that works.
But no indicator light when I push ATRAC. Can't tell if it is on or off.
Time to go back to the mechanic.

 

what ever happened to these ?

 

The ATRAC button is a push to engage / push to release button - like the fog light, or e-locker buttons. If the button is pushed its on

 

09+ TRD OR 4x4's came with a-trac

It will absolutely show an A-Trac light on the dash when its on. If there is no light, its not on. I have seen the switch below the 12v plugs in the dash go bad and not allow one to turn atrac on. You must be in 4low (no blinking lights on the dash) for atrac to engage.

 

Where are these 12V plugs in the dash?

 

They went away when plastic bumper covers, heated seats, and glove box door struts came along. Now we have power movement of a 10 lb tailgate available. I wonder what they're putting in the bed and I wonder if it weighs less than 10 lbs? Next up will be power loading and unloading of the cargo for the bed, including the lazy asses that can't open a 10 lb tailgate without whining. Lol jk

 

@SR-71A is correct, its a push engage, and its on.

Also its garbage and will not help you get unstuck. I have tried to see how it would help a few times. It does not, just forget about it.

 

the 12v power outlets (aka cig lighters).

I have absolutely had it pull me up over things that 4low and rear locked couldnt without being overly aggressive.

 

Ahh so the actual switch power going bad. Ok. I'm gonna try it again today to see if it works.

 

I have the same truck. If you are in 4lo, and press the atrac button, there is a light on the dash. The light will be on, but the atrac won't activate unless you are stuck/spinning tires. You will know when it engages. It sounds like a machine gun going off in the truck.

 

Were you stuck already, or just going over an obstacle? Big difference here. I was already stuck and it didnt help me one bit. I thought that is what it was for initially. After more playing with it, it seems like the pre-version of crawl control.

 

Watch videos on it. Its mainly for off-camber situations to allow an open diff to become an LSD. Stops wheel from spinning freely by braking to allow opposite wheel to grab. Crawl control makes the wheels turn stuttery slow to get out.

The big thing is Toyota trucks are made to offroad which i'd say 75% of ppl don't do so they don't understand what the tech does.

 

But I can engage LSD on my truck? Why have 2 buttons that do the same thing? I am not sure about that.

As it seemed to make my wheels turn stuttery slow.

 

A-trac is for the front wheels only I believe cause the back has rear locking diff already. And the "auto LSD" would be for the rear axle when you don't need the rear locker engaged. So many trick options and they all depend on different speeds you're going.

 

I was in a situation where my rear locker (+4x4) couldn't get me out of a rut. Turned on ATRAC, gave it some gas, and climbed out. I could hear it making its weird sounds. I wasn't stuck and I could've reversed out and tried a different line, but I was on a steep grade and wanted to give ATRAC a go.

And yes, my ATRAC light comes on when my button is pressed (in 4x4 4Lo)

 

Yup same. Wasnt fully stuck, but stuck from further forward progression. Tap atrac button and the extra forward bite from the non spinning front wheel kept me going.

 

Always been misconceptions with Auto LSD and Atrac.

First off Atrac only works in 4Low, either with rear locked (on front axle only for obvious reasons) or all 4 wheels without rear locked. With the rear locked in 4 low with atrac on, Atrac is only active at speeds of 5mph or less (on the slowest spinning wheel) due to the nature of how agressive it is and driveline shock with the rear locked.


Next, in 4low Auto LSD is not an option, so atrac is your only traction control aid (and is why the yellow wire mod exists for those Non 09+ TRD OR 4x4 trucks - which tricks the truck into thinking its still in 4hi - so they can get some help in 4low rather than just open diffs)