'01-up 4wd System (A-TRAC, VSC) and TORSEN T-3 - Page 4 - Toyota

HiluxSurf SSR-G · 05-24-2004, 08:33 AM

Thank you very much Thai!

You have been very helpful to a newbie!!

Cheers!!

yabedude · 01-08-2005, 03:01 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Thai

3. Once you lock the center diff, your VSC is turned OFF. The reason you still see lights flashing and weird noises is because 4-WHEEL TRACTION CONTROL (ATRAC) is still operating, braking the wheel(s) that are slipping.

The faster your rev your engine, the less traction control intervenes. For example, if you're gunning up a muddy hill, then you need to be more aggressive with the gas pedal. I think that ATRAC cuts down it's braking above 2500-3500 rpms. So, you can power up the muddy hill, with all wheels spinning. ATRAC is mostly for lower speeds.

"Revs of 2500-3500 ..." that seems to explain why there are times this rig seems to have the VSC/TRAC disabled and other times it's a pain in the a**. I have to experiment with this concept and stomp on the pedal rather than assume the rig will automatically rectify things.

Has anyone managed to install an override switch to disable the features? Is that even possible? Revs of 2500-3500 or higher on an icy snow-covered narrow trail and then suddenly hitting a non-slipper patch could lead to being tossed off the trail by sending the rig sideways into a worse condition.

MicaBlue03 · 01-08-2005, 11:15 PM

I did some experimenting on very slick surfaces in 2WD and 4WD a while back and discovered one possible reason why the Toyota system is so conservative about wheelspin.

I was going up a small rise in 2WD to see how much good the traction control could do without switching to 4WD. The hill was too much for 2WD (no surprise) and I eventually ground to a halt. The brakes and de-throttling were preventing any significant wheelspin.

The hill had a sideways tilt to it, though, and I discovered that one big benefit to the Toyota system's severe limits on wheelspin was that I didn't slide sideways virtually at all. I can see the logic here. In many ordinary slick situations where you aren't going to make it up the hill anyway, it's better not to get the wheels spinning and slide sideways into a curb or parked car or pole or tree, etc.

I still gripe sometimes about how conservative the Toyota system is, but I respect their approach. I just wish they gave an extra button or two to control it. I'm sure that they hesitate to do that because they think too many folks would get confused and blame them.

yabedude · 01-08-2005, 11:34 PM

Just downloaded a 2005 Pocket Reference Guide from http://www.toyota.com/html/owners/.

There seems to be an Active Traction Control (ATRAC for 4WD as opposed to TRAC for 2WD) button on the '05 model. Anyone know about this yet? It appears to be a button that will do what we're searching for on the 4th gens.

jkpower21 · 06-29-2005, 08:52 PM

does this mean that lets say that i'm driving 10 mph..but i want to go to 4wd hi..can i just switch it as long as i dont exceed over 55-60 mph?

tcpoob · 06-29-2005, 10:47 PM

yes. and you are surprised?

Quote:

Originally posted by jkpower21
does this mean that lets say that i'm driving 10 mph..but i want to go to 4wd hi..can i just switch it as long as i dont exceed over 55-60 mph?

4reak · 06-27-2007, 10:35 PM

WOW Thai! This forum is great! Its very useful! I have a question though, does all of the information apply to the 2000 Limited 4wd.I noticed the cut off was at 2001. And I remember seeing a picture of another 4runner's transfer case, and theirs shifted in a straight line up and down, whereas mine goes in a U-shape. does this make a difference in ease of shifting? Thanks for taking your time and contributing to this forum.

Thai · 06-28-2007, 07:02 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by 4reak
WOW Thai! This forum is great! Its very useful! I have a question though, does all of the information apply to the 2000 Limited 4wd.I noticed the cut off was at 2001. And I remember seeing a picture of another 4runner's transfer case, and theirs shifted in a straight line up and down, whereas mine goes in a U-shape. does this make a difference in ease of shifting? Thanks for taking your time and contributing to this forum.

Your 2000 4runner does NOT have VSC nor ATRAC. Your 4wd system is basic...you can lock the center diff. If your 4runner comes with the rear locker, then you can lock that too.

Thai · 06-28-2007, 07:03 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by yabedude
Just downloaded a 2005 Pocket Reference Guide from http://www.toyota.com/html/owners/.

There seems to be an Active Traction Control (ATRAC for 4WD as opposed to TRAC for 2WD) button on the '05 model. Anyone know about this yet? It appears to be a button that will do what we're searching for on the 4th gens.

The TRAC OFF button is only on 2wd models.

904-DUVAL-SR5 · 06-28-2007, 10:13 PM

Any way to turn ATRAC off in 2wd for some burnouts/spraying mud on someones car.

Maritimer · 08-22-2010, 06:36 PM

I can't figure out why the owner's manual doesn't cover all this in detail. If I can damage the vehicle through some of the 4WD usage, wouldn't that be more important than learning about how to use the audio system?

I don't have the hard-copy of a manual yet, as I pick up my car this week, but the pdf version I was reading online has nothing about using 4WD in all the 250 pages of it. Was I looking at a 2WD manual?

I'm getting a 2001 SR5.

CJ3Flyr · 08-22-2010, 07:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Maritimer

I can't figure out why the owner's manual doesn't cover all this in detail. If I can damage the vehicle through some of the 4WD usage, wouldn't that be more important than learning about how to use the audio system?

I don't have the hard-copy of a manual yet, as I pick up my car this week, but the pdf version I was reading online has nothing about using 4WD in all the 250 pages of it. Was I looking at a 2WD manual?

I'm getting a 2001 SR5.

Who knows why they include some stuff and leave important stuff out... Glad you're reading this

Congrats on the new-to-you '01.

01-08-2005, 11:15 PM	#48 (permalink)
MicaBlue03 A guy Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Seattle Posts: 227	Interesting effect of ATRAC I did some experimenting on very slick surfaces in 2WD and 4WD a while back and discovered one possible reason why the Toyota system is so conservative about wheelspin. I was going up a small rise in 2WD to see how much good the traction control could do without switching to 4WD. The hill was too much for 2WD (no surprise) and I eventually ground to a halt. The brakes and de-throttling were preventing any significant wheelspin. The hill had a sideways tilt to it, though, and I discovered that one big benefit to the Toyota system's severe limits on wheelspin was that I didn't slide sideways virtually at all. I can see the logic here. In many ordinary slick situations where you aren't going to make it up the hill anyway, it's better not to get the wheels spinning and slide sideways into a curb or parked car or pole or tree, etc. I still gripe sometimes about how conservative the Toyota system is, but I respect their approach. I just wish they gave an extra button or two to control it. I'm sure that they hesitate to do that because they think too many folks would get confused and blame them.

06-27-2007, 10:35 PM	#52 (permalink)
4reak Registered User Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Garden Grove, Orange County-----Daly City, San Francisco Posts: 114	WOW Thai! This forum is great! Its very useful! I have a question though, does all of the information apply to the 2000 Limited 4wd.I noticed the cut off was at 2001. And I remember seeing a picture of another 4runner's transfer case, and theirs shifted in a straight line up and down, whereas mine goes in a U-shape. does this make a difference in ease of shifting? Thanks for taking your time and contributing to this forum. __________________ 2000 Limited 4wd Dersert Dune Metallic Silver Future Mods in Mind: Navigation System Lift Tires HIDs LEDs (interior and exterior) (\__/) (='.'=) This is Bunny. Copy and paste bunny into your (")_(") signature to help him gain world domination.

06-28-2007, 10:13 PM	#55 (permalink)
904-DUVAL-SR5 Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Jacksonville, Fl Posts: 31	Any way to turn ATRAC off in 2wd for some burnouts/spraying mud on someones car. __________________ I have your "jeep thing"...and now it hurts when I pee.

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05-24-2004, 08:33 AM	#46 (permalink)
HiluxSurf SSR-G Junior Member Join Date: May 2004 Posts: 18	Thank you very much Thai! You have been very helpful to a newbie!! Cheers!!

01-08-2005, 11:34 PM	#49 (permalink)
yabedude Member Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: BC Posts: 313	Just downloaded a 2005 Pocket Reference Guide from http://www.toyota.com/html/owners/. There seems to be an Active Traction Control (ATRAC for 4WD as opposed to TRAC for 2WD) button on the '05 model. Anyone know about this yet? It appears to be a button that will do what we're searching for on the 4th gens.

06-29-2005, 08:52 PM	#50 (permalink)
jkpower21 Junior Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Posts: 1	does this mean that lets say that i'm driving 10 mph..but i want to go to 4wd hi..can i just switch it as long as i dont exceed over 55-60 mph?

08-22-2010, 06:36 PM	#56 (permalink)
Maritimer Registered User Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Nova Scotia Posts: 58	I can't figure out why the owner's manual doesn't cover all this in detail. If I can damage the vehicle through some of the 4WD usage, wouldn't that be more important than learning about how to use the audio system? I don't have the hard-copy of a manual yet, as I pick up my car this week, but the pdf version I was reading online has nothing about using 4WD in all the 250 pages of it. Was I looking at a 2WD manual? I'm getting a 2001 SR5.

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