02 Traction Control-Don't Buy? or OK?

[bluecollarjock]

Sadly I had to sell my 98 4runner with lift, locker, 5 speed, 4.30 and winch bumper a few years ago due to hard times financially...

I miss it, but finding another one without tons of mileage is hard, and the rear locker is difficult at times to find on the ones that might be lower mileage...

I was going to look at an 02, asked the owner about the rear locker, he said no but it has traction control that works just like it...I never heard of it, skimmed some stuff on internet, and it seems like a nightmare if you want to drive in snow or wheel. It tries to control wheel spin and cannot be turned off?

If one is going to drive in snow, or plans on a mild lift and trails, rock climbing, hunting, camping trips....is an 02 with traction control something to pass on?

Is there any other buzz kills on the 02 compared to the late 90s 3rd gens?

Thanks...

 

[Gadgetguy]

I don't know much about the 02 vs. older 3rd gens but I went wheeling with a bunch of guys at Chinaman Gulch and one guy had a 4th gen T4r with a lift and traction control. You could actually see it working while he was driving up obstacles. I firmly believe it helped him on many occasions that day, but it definitely does not "work just like a locker" as that guy put it to you.

 

[Mgyver1]

I've never driven a 4Runner with the traction control, but I remember trying to get my Tahoe up the driveway in the snow and it would not with the traction control on. Luckily it has an off switch so I was able to spin the heck out of the tires (Well, tire really) to get it in the garage. One of the down sides of the '01/'02 is the more expensive brake booster, which seem to go out in most 4runners. Not that the '00 and below one is cheap or anything.

 

[4x4runner2002]

the traction control can be turned off pretty easily with a simple in-line switch. look up the andy mod.

i wheel with a 2002 and actually haven't done the mod myself but i don't drive in snow ever.

 

[JayRolla]

Sadly I had to sell my 98 4runner with lift, locker, 5 speed, 4.30 and winch bumper a few years ago due to hard times financially...

I miss it, but finding another one without tons of mileage is hard, and the rear locker is difficult at times to find on the ones that might be lower mileage...

I was going to look at an 02, asked the owner about the rear locker, he said no but it has traction control that works just like it...I never heard of it, skimmed some stuff on internet, and it seems like a nightmare if you want to drive in snow or wheel. It tries to control wheel spin and cannot be turned off?

If one is going to drive in snow, or plans on a mild lift and trails, rock climbing, hunting, camping trips....is an 02 with traction control something to pass on?

Is there any other buzz kills on the 02 compared to the late 90s 3rd gens?

Thanks...

The traction control can be bad. I can down power the motor and do stuff you dont want it to do. In my brothers 4th gen it will literally power you down in a mud puddle and brought us to a complete stop.

But there is a mod to disable it. He wired up a switch, click and its all off. ABS, traction and stability control. Its great after that, can do DONUTS again!

I would not let it deter you from buying. Just research the Andy Mod I believe it is and you will be fine.

 

[bluecollarjock]

Thanks guys I saw the Andy mod thing last night while googling this issue, but am not a techy guy so would have to pay someone to do it...

Some of the stories are downright scary, like folks hill climibing and it braking or whatever it does and dudes rolling...or getting stuck in intersections in snow or ice....

From what LITTLE I skimmed, the 01-02 traction control seems less sophisticated than the newer models so the systems might be different.

Do not kill me, but I do have an 05 Jeep Rubicon. It used to be my around town and wheeling vehicle, with the 4runner I had to sell being my commuter and long road trip car with room for gear and capable to wheel...now the Rubicon is my everything vehicle, and its not pleasant the rare times I take long road trips or want to lock things up hah.

So I am in this place of "if I can find another great deal on a 3rd Gen" or do I wait another year or so and buy a brand new 4runner or Tacoma (but the 16 Tacos I do not like the looks of at all and am bummed they changed), and they stopped making the FJ....I am sold on the reliability of Toyotas and off road ability. If I can score a great deal on a 3rd Gen that will give me lots of years of service I will do it....but sometimes I wonder if its time to just pull trigger on a brand new, warranty blah blah blah 4x4 for the long road trips and commutes (but then again if its brand new I won't wheel it! and to me $35-45k for a new 4x4 is absurd!). Somehow i got addicted to the 3rd Gen 4runner after owning just ONE ha!

Thanks for the input so fast!

 

[jgue467]

The 01-02 design is intended as a more 'universal' usage to more folks while the 99-00 with rear locker is aimed at a more specific market/user type (off roaders needing to lock both tires on One axle vs getting by with locking one front And one rear tire).

Rear lockers (or front) are not the same as the center locker. The center locker does help but not as much as the front and/or rear cuz of what is getting locked and not. But each has its purpose and you must know how/when to use them.

Of course the ESC and traction can be turned off yet only while in 4wd and by locking center diff (or the andy mod of course).

Living in central texas there is no snow but i get to offroad on a variety of surfaces like packed soil, small rock and larger ones plus sand and mud. Only times i've appreciated the ESC is while hauling azz on packed soil around moderate corners (out on a 5000+ acre ranch where I'm alone) the ESC has saved me more than once from sliding out, it brakes on the wheel spinning more than the others and tones down the engine which straightens the rear end out safely. I haven't managed to get stuck, yet. Heavy rains today so more mudding coming tomorrow.

So just depends on what type of locker you need whether you want this MY. The limiteds also have a panic brake function, that's come in handy in heavy stop/go traffic too for me. Luck deciding. :cowboy:

 

[bluecollarjock]

Thank you. I get lockers, I have a Rubicon with lockers front and rear, and had a 98 4runner with rear locker. Growing up on East coast with my K5 and buddies trucks, none of us knew about or would have been able to afford "lockers". There was no internet back then...we wheeled what we had....

Once I got a Jeep with a locker, then the Rubicon, and the 4runner....holy smokes, if you are rock climbing here in California, or in off camber situations where one tire might lift, or in muddy stuff where the tire that could have traction doesn't spin, and you hit a locker button DANG....night and day. My Jeep has 33" tires, with lockers front and rear (and me being a rookie in this rock climbing west coast environment as I grew up in lots of mud and wooded trails), I can follow trucks and Jeeps with 35-37s no problem. Just seems wild to me now that for many people, you can probably pass up on the more expensive mega lifts and tires, and just get a locker and go many places while still retaining a great highway ride and descent mpg.

So ideally, daydreaming, I would love to find a 4runner like my old one with a locker. Realistically, I am always off roading in my head, and reality is 5% of the time I am in the woods/desert/mountains and 95% on pavement. SO by chance if I found a 4runner that was a great deal with no locker, maybe it is worth grabbing...and figuring out this Andy mod and putting a locker in it, but that gets darn expensive too for a guy like me that does not do his own work. Hence why I liked Rubicons and the Toyotas with factory lockers, saves me money if I find deals on used ones!

If I got another 4runner, it would be mainly highway, but hopefully some trails here in SoCa, and possibly AZ, NM, and Colorado hunting trips in the near future. And I do not think I will live here for more than a few more years, and I most certainly would be headed someplace with snow and seasons so I can hunt more. Love SoCa, but the gun laws and lack of hunting is just a buzz kill!!!

Thanks, love the feedback and much appreciated.

 

[jgue467]

Got it, sounds like you're after a 99-00 then (with locker preferably)? :cowboy:

 

[4-Ripcord]

OP needs to read this thread: http://www.toyota-4runner.org/3rd-gen-t4rs/82033-3rd-gen-4runner-buyers-guide.html

And as others have said, the TRAC on the 3rd gens isn't quite as good as A-TRAC on later toyotas but still helps off road. When in 4wd with transfer case locked, the VSC is disabled but TRAC remains on. Can also be disabled with a switch mod.

 

[bluecollarjock]

Thanks Ripcord, been slowly working my way through that thread...

Just stumbled upon opportunity to see an 02 that does not look that shabby, when normally I am only tempted by ones that clearly have the rear locker. But often its 200-250k on the odometer....finding a lower mileage 4runner is getting harder and harder (3rd gen at least)...

I do not have tons of time for car shopping, but know what I would like for a highway vehicle, a 3rd Gen with a locker with lower miles. So I do scan the internet for "bargains" and I am going to try to read through the 3rd Gen buyers guide as time allows. But if people do wheel with 01-02s and traction control without major issues, I guess I am just looking for some affirmation that IF I see this thing and its clean, with a service history, low miles and I can try to give an offer that would be hard for me to walk away from, that I will not be one of these stories on the internet cussing the traction control because I nearly got killed driving in snow or was in a hairy situation rock climbing mild trails and it acted funny.

 

[lisamo31]

What would a good price be for an 02 4runner 4x4? I am looking at one too. Descent shape, not amazing, but not beat up. Totally stock. 140k miles.

 

[riverview]

I have a 02 limited, was completely worthless until I did the andy mod.

 

[D Farms]

I have the andy mod 2.0 and if im honest I make sure it is not disabling the traction control while im offroad, it can hugely help when going up a hill and when driving down a dirt road at high speed. going up hill you simply put the transfer case in 4 lo and lock the center diff, this automatically disables the vsc and it doesnt cut power to the engine in this mode. It works especially well when going up loose gravel and dirt when, infact my buddy whose 80 series has 37s and locked front and rear solid axle was sliding all over the place up a steep loosely packed dirt hill, my open diff truck with the traction control went straight up and I could feel hear and see the traction control keeping the truck in a straight line.

the only reason to disable it is for in town driving and drifting.

 

[98OzarksRunner]

Trac Loc/VSC aside, I love the multi-mode transfer case in my 2002 (also 2001). It's great in snow, or even rain. It acts like all-wheel drive until you lock the center diff, so you can just stay in 4WD all winter (not that you have any of that in L.A.). I also run it in that mode off road until things get dicey - then I lock the center diff.

I do disable Trac Loc/VSC when driving in snow or off-road. My 2002 with a Detroit True Trac LSD (or add the locker of your choice) is a great combination, IMHO. It give more driving versatility than just about any other combo.

 

[jpeaslee]

I did the VSC off mod (can't remember exactly what it's called), allowing vsc to be turned off and on via a switch while leaving TRAC still on. I haven't ever had a problem with the TRAC when wheeling, but VSC will take away all your power. Best mod I've done beside A/T tires.

 

[bluecollarjock]

Thanks guys...so it seems its not a horrific thing to avoid then. Forgive my ignorance because previously I only looked at ones that had the locker (and owned one with a locker). This 02 is close by with lower mileage 135k and made it easy for me to want to go see it.

Owner not budging on price, and it is worth every penny he is asking I think...just did not make me feel that "oh my gosh I want this bad boy!" kind of feeling. He has all the service records, it has NEVER been in 4x4 its entire life purely a around town and highway car for an older guy, timing belt and water pump done recently. So mechanically its all squared away it seems and never beat. Interior is so so, I am a bit anal retentive and despite wheeling vehicles I always keep the interiors clean, get details, etc...this interior was not terrible but it was not great or excellent either. Some stains and slight tears in cloth seats which again function wise not a biggie. I was just hoping he would budge on the price which would make it an absolute no brainer, and then I could buy it and not feel wishy washy about perhaps waiting until I find one that really tickles my fancy, and has a locker. If I put in a locker or True Trac, that is going to add at least $1k+ in parts and install to the price I get it for, on top of I would be wanting to lift it and put bumpers/skids too like every 4x4 I own.

And my gosh, I've had BFG ATs on many trucks/Jeeps, this thing had those BFG Rugged Terrain (not Rugged Trail) and they were LOUD on the road! I thought those tires were supposed to me milder than ATs!

 

[Unner]

My Rugged Terrains I used to have were also kinda loud for an A/T tire. I think it has something to do with those tires not really having any siping, they're like a mud tire but without the blocky form. They hummed/droned pretty bad around 48mph. My new BFG mud tires are quieter overall I think. I like the traction control stuff on my 01. It helps with pulling out in the rain, and when you lock the center dif it turns off the VSC and only leaves TRAC on which essentially simulates a locker as best as it can. It's helped out off road for sure.

I'd be a little leery of a truck that was never put into 4WD. Definitely try it out first several times if you do go back for it. I know mine goes into 4WD as soon as I touch the button, but it wasn't that case when I first got it. I can imagine it would be worse if it was never put into 4WD over the last 13 years.

 

[bluecollarjock]

yea I did not even try to put it in 4wd, was no gravel or dirt roads around...and I was not super pumped about the truck so did not want to spend more time if I was not excited. He was a nice guy said I could come back and drive it again or check it out anytime. Transfer case lever has NEVER been touched, literally. Which I would hope people do never use 4x4 still throw it in every once in a while and get it serviced, but around here in LA so many people own 4x4s with zero intention of wheeling or going anywhere they really need it. And they are clueless about 4x4 so do not even think to service the t case or throw it in 4x4 every once in a while to keep things moving and lubed (at least thats how people have always explained it to me).

The pros are its basically a one owner, never been beat, been taken care of with oil changes, timing belt, water pump. Low miles. I would imagine many on this forum would kill for a rust free low mileage 02 if they could get it closer to them for this price.

My BFG ATs were never that loud on K5s,4runner and Jeeps...and I have Fun Countrys on my Rubicon now and they are not as loud as those Rugged Terrains were! I was not a fan hah, would be changing those out ASAP if I did buy it.

 

[infamousRNR]

Lockers can be added... I retrofitted an earlier e-locker into my 2002..

Now I have the best of all worlds..

Center diff - works nothing like a rear diff locker

Rear locker -

No front... But that was never an option..


It's nice to have "options" and as far as I'm concerned...


I want a truck with low mileage and you can add what it doesn't have down the road..

As far as usability... Looks like lots have chimed in about there experience with driving conditions and the "Andy" mod to disable this traction control when you want


You guys think BF's treads are bad with noise??

Try any interco tires .. You will have droning while you sleep!! Lol