4runner on road traction control... or lack there of!

This is probably one of the better VSC systems out there. I know you don't get much snow there but around here in the winter it will not let you get out of shape in 2 or 4WD. It does well.

Can confirm. Even with VSC off, the anti-skid control on my old '08 would still prevent any and all shenanigans in the snow and wet rods.

*BEEP BEEP BEEP* is how your 4Runner says "NOPE NOPE NOPE".
 
I believe the problem is the tires, especially if they are new.

I have experienced the back end trying to come around and kiss the front.

KJ CRD on factory ST's was the worst. Small Nissan pickup was the same.
JKUR with new kumho also slid. Currently driving wife's '06 H3 with the general grabber AT2's. First light rain with new tires was an experience. Slight down grade with a red light at the bottom in light drizzle with the new tires and the ABS did all it could but without traction what could it do.

Then after some thousands of miles everything is fine and would buy again except those first few thousand miles and slick texas asphalt covered in soot and oil.
 
Thanks, but not the tires... They were on the FJ first for about 15k or so. These guys are right, something's amiss. Even my 07 FJ (which has the absolute WORST ABS in the ****ing world) will not let you fishtail even the slightest. Intervenes with any wheel slip too and I expect the 14 4runner to have even better.

However, have an appointment with the $tealership next Sat so guess we will see.
 
Thank you for a courteous response. I butted in because, I believe, you mentioned you went from full time to part time four wheel drive. I did the reverse going from part time to full time. I eventually, if not going fast, would pull the transfer case lever in the rain.

Now with her H3, I just drive. The JKUR was traded in on a GX 460 for my wife. We both moved up. I'm here to decide to buy a TE or a GX and add a rear locker.

I enjoy the civilized discussion here and maybe one day get a "like" from 1engineer. Good luck. I'm sure we all want to read about your service visit.
 
No, thank you for a response... I remember when auto forums were places where people went to find honest answers from like minded people, and not to attempt to feel superior and assert "inter-web prowess". I like this board as it seems to have less static and more info. Having been a Moderator of one of the largest Rally car forums, member of many, many others, this one seems more "grown up" and to my liking.

The only real fault I can find for the Wife's 2014 TE Premium is the lack of full time 4WD for the Trail Edition like was standard on all 6MT FJ Cruisers (of which we had his and her's). And as I've mentioned, fix that and if it were about a foot shorter on the back end, I'd have one too.
 
Thanks, but not the tires... They were on the FJ first for about 15k or so. These guys are right, something's amiss. Even my 07 FJ (which has the absolute WORST ABS in the ****ing world) will not let you fishtail even the slightest. Intervenes with any wheel slip too and I expect the 14 4runner to have even better.

However, have an appointment with the $tealership next Sat so guess we will see.

Zues,

I pulled out the manual today and in section 4-5 it is detailed as to what takes place and when with the VSC & Traction Control.

I purposely tried to make mine do what you described (in your first post)today. The VSC and Traction Control took over immediately upon the slightest fishtail and wheel spin.
Power cut, Traction Control and ABS and no fishtail beyond my lane.

Something is amiss with your system methinks.
 
Any news or is the appointment tomorrow?

I tried donuts last week on an unused dirt well pad. With VSC in default (on) I could only get a 1/4 turn in before I felt the VSC kick in. I switched the VSC off, verified on the dash, turned the wheel fully left and dropped the hammer. I got almost 1/2 turn in before that terrible noise kicked in under the hood, the engine choked down, and VSC made my tight turn into an almost sedate circle.

Was driving in a steady rain in traffic yesterday. From a slightly uphill stop turning left into traffic and getting on the gas to get going so I wasn't impeding I did feel the left rear (inside) wheel break loose and spin for maybe 1/2 - 3/4 second. No fishtail, just spinning on slick road. Before I could correct the VSC did it for me. I didn't know whether to be disgusted because it did slow my acceleration attempt to get up to traffic speed, or to feel pleased because it kept me from spinning in place even though it slowed my acceleration attempt to get up to traffic speed. Anywho, it did provide a slight adrenaline rush for the day. And I'm running the exact same tire you are.
 
Any news or is the appointment tomorrow?

I tried donuts last week on an unused dirt well pad. With VSC in default (on) I could only get a 1/4 turn in before I felt the VSC kick in. I switched the VSC off, verified on the dash, turned the wheel fully left and dropped the hammer. I got almost 1/2 turn in before that terrible noise kicked in under the hood, the engine choked down, and VSC made my tight turn into an almost sedate circle.

Hey 3wbdriver....not trying to sound flip or anything similar, but did you just have the Traction Control off or the Traction Control and the VSC both off by holding the Traction Control button in for a full 3 seconds while stopped to override both systems? You will get 2 different lights indicated in the dash.
If that was done the noise shouldn't have been heard from under the hood & the motor should have never choked down if my memory serves me correctly.
 
First of all I would do the "chalk test" for the tires. A lot of people overinflate the tires for firmer ride and better fuel economy, but if thread doesn't fully contact the pavement traction suffers when it's slippery. The other thing is that in my experience 4x4 beats traction control al the time : ) Use 4hi when slippery. VSC in 4Runners kicks in only when truck don't go in the direction steering wheel tells is to go. Sort of last resort keeping your turning in control. Felt it on few occasions and it works very well in my opinion. TRAC is a different story - I see it as very non-intrusive thing which I've seen activates only in snow. I was able to spin wheels during rain but TRAC was never activated, I think it needs bigger threshold, something like wheels are spinning but vehicle doesn't move.
Sorry if I repeated well known things : )
 
Hey 3wbdriver....not trying to sound flip or anything similar, but did you just have the Traction Control off or the Traction Control and the VSC both off by holding the Traction Control button in for a full 3 seconds while stopped to override both systems? You will get 2 different lights indicated in the dash.
If that was done the noise shouldn't have been heard from under the hood & the motor should have never choked down if my memory serves me correctly.

No. Not flip at all. I honestly haven't read in depth about every Gewgaw this thing has yet. I did spend about a half hour trying out the multi-terrain, CRAWL, and A-TRAC functions while playing at an ORV park recently. But I haven't seriously tried to disengage the VSC function before, so I didn't know about that particular sequence. Thanks for the description.

I am old school enough I still have a 4 spd manual, 4wd, '72 Blazer. It turned 17 the year I bought it and was my daily driver for 15 years after that. Counting the brake booster it has 2 vacuum lines. The radio hasn't worked since the mid 90's, a/c is the side window vents flipped forward to scoop air in. This new 4Runner TE NON Premium has me feeling like I'm living in high cotton now!
 
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No. Not flip at all. I honestly haven't read in depth about every Gewgaw this thing has yet. I did spend about a half hour trying out the multi-terrain, CRAWL, and A-TRAC functions while playing at an ORV park recently. But I haven't seriously tried to disengage the VSC function before, so I didn't know about that particular sequence. Thanks for the description.

Here is what mine looks like when disabled:
 

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Nice! I thought I was the only one with thinking the traction was "lacking" on this. Last winter here in Seattle we had two days of a couple inches of snow and my 4Runner slid all over the place. Stock everything with around 20k on it. After the disappointment in the traction, I just sighed and decided it was going to be a grocery getting pavement king and nothing more.

After reading some of these "testimonies," I might have to drop by the dealership to have them give it a once over.

Background: I had the '07 FJC (same name on fjcruiserforums) and took that thing everywhere... I loved the confidence it gave me in the snow/dirt/rocks/ice. After it was stolen I picked up a Subaru Legacy GT. In the snow/ice I put Blizzaks on it and could hit highways speeds without pucker factor. Then go wifey preggo and traded the GT for something with more room, my 4runner TE.
 
It is in fact tomorrow... 0815hrs. Not looking forward to getting up after this week, but HAVE to make this appt.


Having read all of this, I have to say, my 2013 SR5 (part time 4x4) has worse traction than my 3rd gen this last winter. Even with new tires, it would just single wheel spin on flat ground. My TE has not been driven in the winter here yet, I wonder how it will do.......

Thanks for posting this, I will pay more mind to mine now, thanks to you.
 
Nice! I thought I was the only one with thinking the traction was "lacking" on this. Last winter here in Seattle we had two days of a couple inches of snow and my 4Runner slid all over the place. Stock everything with around 20k on it. After the disappointment in the traction, I just sighed and decided it was going to be a grocery getting pavement king and nothing more.

After reading some of these "testimonies," I might have to drop by the dealership to have them give it a once over.

Background: I had the '07 FJC (same name on fjcruiserforums) and took that thing everywhere... I loved the confidence it gave me in the snow/dirt/rocks/ice. After it was stolen I picked up a Subaru Legacy GT. In the snow/ice I put Blizzaks on it and could hit highways speeds without pucker factor. Then go wifey preggo and traded the GT for something with more room, my 4runner TE.

Having read all of this, I have to say, my 2013 SR5 (part time 4x4) has worse traction than my 3rd gen this last winter. Even with new tires, it would just single wheel spin on flat ground. My TE has not been driven in the winter here yet, I wonder how it will do.......

Thanks for posting this, I will pay more mind to mine now, thanks to you.

Guys c'mon! If you have decent tires you should be able to take this vehicle out in mud, snow, rain or anything else and have upmost confidence, even in 2WD, of it going exactly where you want it to go. Take it in.
 

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