TRACTION CONTROL IS THE DEVIL!

sounds like you agree with the rest of us then


" but I am not fearful of technology when it work "

 

Stock truck here, all the traction control tech seems to work great for me, but I haven't been in any snow yet.

 

Seems I remember a thread talking about if you have over a 4" lift and large tires to have the dealer calibrate the VSC/ABS system? Not sure if true or possible but it just sparks a memory.

 

It doesn't have to be a 4" or over lift , it can happen with any amount of lift or just the addition of larger than stock tires

Here is the thread , there is a pdf file on the recalibration procedure in the first post

http://www.tacomaworld.com/forum/suspension/41215-lift-vsc-answer.html

 

I am going to have to disagree with this because I had my ABS kick on while on a icy highway and it locked my brakes up. I know that I did do a few things wrong while spinning out on the ice but when I put on the brakes the ABS kicked on then locked my tires because it sense them spinning anymore even though I was moving at a solid 50 mph.

 

Agreed. I think ABS does more harm than good on snow/icy roads. I find 4hi useless in my truck because of ABS while offroading. Constantly locks up the wheels. I usually switch straight to 4lo..

 

I used to drive a Subaru forester and I loved the all wheel drive it had. It made the thing a beast on wet roads with standing water. I really miss that part of my Subaru. If the tacos had that I think I would be in heaven

 

Yes

My last truck

 

ABS does not lock tires up that is what it does not do. It will not activate with out the brakes being used. The yaw control will activate the brakes when it senses your going side ways in an attempt to straighten things out. As a cop during accident investigation it was often hard to judge skid marks because the ABS systems seldom left skid marks like old brakes did.

 

The Tacoma ABS on snow / loose traction surfaces seems to not like to disengage , so essentially once it engages on snow , it won't disengage , it just continually pulses even if you let up on the brake pedal pressure

 

My experience with my abs on my base model taco is that it will lock up my wheels while one icy/ snowy conditions. I was playing around on ice on an empty parking lot just practicing ice driving since I had never done it before and coming from florida to wyoming I was going to need it. While in that parking lot straight line driving I hit the brakes to see what would happen. Then I could feel and hear abs momentarily kick on then it went off as soon as my wheels stopped spinning but not stopped moving. Since the ABS sensed that the wheels stopped spinning it kicked off but since I still had the brake pedal depressed the wheels stayed stopped causing me to start spinning out of control.

 

Yes, I do... got my license in 1973 and my first of 7 4WD vehicles in 1975. Only this last one (2010 Tacoma) had the traction systems over 4WD or lockers... and I find it superior to anything before... in ease of crossing sand (H4+TRAC) or climbing rocky/ rutted grades (L4+A-TRAC).

I always got unstuck sooner or later, or made the climb... but not without doing something extra like deflating for sand or spinning tires in a climb. The new stuff just adds a sense of security and comfort if you are wheeling solo (which I mostly do) that you won't get stuck and need help. Bravo Toyota for adding these systems to the Tacoma that were already in your other high end models or Lexus vehicles. Us poor, working class Tacoma guys like a little extra sometimes.

 

Mine is the base model sr5...I have no traction control...Tires tremble in fear...

Does the traction control actually shut the throttle down mid drift?

 

Got nothing to do with the base model vs TRD , it's because your truck is a pre '09

 

Still learning. Just glad I don't have it. Learned a lot without it.

 

If spinning tires and doing donuts is why you have a truck, then traction would be something you want to avoid.

If moving forward on a slippery surface is desired then traction control limits spin on one tire and transfers power to the tire that has traction (grip).

TRAC in H2 combines brake force AND engine output to limit slip.
AUTO LSD in H2 has NO engine output regulation, as does TRAC in H4 (pre 2012) or the new name TRAC OFF in 2012+
L4 you can have open differentials or A-TRAC (on Off Road TRDs), you choose!

 

^^^

 

So if I am driving on banana peels do I need A-Trac or a trunk monkey?

 

My 2011 does it as well. There are two particular sharp corners where the system feels the need to engage. Freaked me out the first time too.

I've resigned myself to driving like an old man, especially after my sway delete.

I also briefed my wife that the truck is in no way similar to her much sportier Subaru, and shouldn't be pushed through turns.

 

Turn off the VSC , I've made it part of my start up sequence now