Thai
Elite Member
One note of clarification on FJ Cruiser's ATRAC system. From reading up on FJ materials and reading their forum...
FJ has TRAC...ATRAC...rear locker.
FJ Cruiser comes with TRAC on all their models. It is a 4-wheel traction control for on-road (all-season) and mild-moderate off-road purposes. It is similar to 4runner's system. It canNOT be turned off unless you turn on ATRAC or rear locker.
When off-roading and in LOW range, you can turn ON ATRAC. ATRAC is very aggressive...it will brake a wheel to a near stop (or stop in short burst) to help with traction. ATRAC is like the off-road version of TRAC. It is NOT for use on-road nor at high speed. It is too aggressive for all-season use (may create instability due to aggressiveness). You can turn OFF ATRAC when you go out of 4-LO or press the ON/OFF button.
So, in summary, 4runner has the TRAC version on the FJC (even though we have all used "ATRAC" in the past to describe 4runner's system). FJ Cruiser goes one step further with an off-road-ONLY TRAC system, which is now referred to as "ATRAC." FJ Cruiser has TRAC and ATRAC (if so equipped). 4runner only has TRAC.
From factory: (more summary of above)
4runner = TRAC
FJ Cruiser = TRAC plus/minus ATRAC plus/minus rear locker
TRAC is NOT defeatable in 4runner. TRAC is NOT defeatable in FJC unless you lock the rear locker or turn ON ATRAC (both of which require you to be in 4-LO).
Therefore, the OFF ATRAC switch in the FJC does NOT turn off TRAC, just ATRAC. Therefore, a FJC still suffers from all the negatives of traction control as does 4runner on-road...and as does most vehicles nowadays because most have some sort of traction control.
FJ has TRAC...ATRAC...rear locker.
FJ Cruiser comes with TRAC on all their models. It is a 4-wheel traction control for on-road (all-season) and mild-moderate off-road purposes. It is similar to 4runner's system. It canNOT be turned off unless you turn on ATRAC or rear locker.
When off-roading and in LOW range, you can turn ON ATRAC. ATRAC is very aggressive...it will brake a wheel to a near stop (or stop in short burst) to help with traction. ATRAC is like the off-road version of TRAC. It is NOT for use on-road nor at high speed. It is too aggressive for all-season use (may create instability due to aggressiveness). You can turn OFF ATRAC when you go out of 4-LO or press the ON/OFF button.
So, in summary, 4runner has the TRAC version on the FJC (even though we have all used "ATRAC" in the past to describe 4runner's system). FJ Cruiser goes one step further with an off-road-ONLY TRAC system, which is now referred to as "ATRAC." FJ Cruiser has TRAC and ATRAC (if so equipped). 4runner only has TRAC.
From factory: (more summary of above)
4runner = TRAC
FJ Cruiser = TRAC plus/minus ATRAC plus/minus rear locker
TRAC is NOT defeatable in 4runner. TRAC is NOT defeatable in FJC unless you lock the rear locker or turn ON ATRAC (both of which require you to be in 4-LO).
Therefore, the OFF ATRAC switch in the FJC does NOT turn off TRAC, just ATRAC. Therefore, a FJC still suffers from all the negatives of traction control as does 4runner on-road...and as does most vehicles nowadays because most have some sort of traction control.