can you turn off the vsc?

runner6m said:
I think that's a good way to think of it, and call the engine throttle control "trac".
The systems must be different, as the switch on the '08 4r's allow you to control them sort of separately.

We finally got a small amount of ice on the grass the other day, and I was able to test how the switch worked, as the wording in the owner's manual was confusing.

According to the manual, pressing the VSC disable switch does not disable VSC. If you just press it briefly, it disables TRAC, enables Auto LSD on the rear wheels (even in 4x4), and leaves VSC activated.
The "auto lsd" part confused me, as I thought atrac already did this. The manual also states auto-lsd will make turning more difficult.

If you hold down the vsc disable switch for 3 seconds, it disables TRAC, disables VSC, and enables Auto-LSD.

When testing (in 4x4, with center diff unlocked), I found that indeed, pushing the switch disables ALL engine throttling, even with VSC still enabled. Even when VSC kicked in during a deliberate fishtail, it still didn't cut throttle. I couldn't feel any dethrottling, and my scan guage verified the throttle wasn't being touched by any system except me. The VSC still worked great without any de-throttling.

Holding the switch down for three seconds, VSC cut off. Again, verified by some creative driving on ice covered grass. No engine throttling.

The auto-lsd thing seemed to be a more, much more, aggressive implementation of atrac on the rear wheels. When taking off in a straight line, the rear brakes went nuts, much more so than before I turned on the auto lsd.
Now, this could have been because the engine wasn't cutting power so the brakes had to work harder... I'm not sure. All I can say is that ATRAC lsd works in 2wd, 4wd, and turning on auto-lsd seems to make the ATRAC more aggressive on the rear wheels.


Yay, first post on this forum!
Click to expand...

Damn you! Now I am back to wanting an '08:D That's cool that Toyota set it up to disable VSC in stages. Welcome to the forum.


:cheers:
 
Based on CJ3Flyr's test, it looks like the T4R "TRAC OFF" button is the same system used in Lexus that came out a year earlier. On my '07 IS350 I can tap the Traction Control button to disable it leaving me with full throttle control...spin tires, burn outs, you name it. If I hold down the button for 3 seconds it not only disables TRAC but also VSC (a feature not offered in '06 IS models). Without VSC, the computer won't interupt my driving by applying brakes during lateral wheel skidding (i.e. if oversteer or understeer is sensed while turning).
 
So if the new 4R have on "opt out" button, is there some way to have the dealer aftermarket one into my '05? As it seems a multiple step process dealing with multiple systems I would assume some reprogramming is involved.

Ya know I have an '06 Taco and don't seem to have any of these issues. I know different vehicle but I much prefer the drivabililty of the Taco (and if I ever take the ladder rack off and go wheeling with it, it's got a real rear locker!)
 
could you just pull the fuse for vsc and track. i had an older corolla and the fog light switch stuck in the on position. instead of payingthe steelership outrages labor charges, i just pulled the fuse for the fog lights- problem solved.


i dont know if pulling out the vsc fuse will interfear with critical engine function or not. i could probably try it and see what the engine says on my diagnostic scanner
 
so after reading all this... If a guy wanted to mess around on some snow and Ice, he could just lock the center diff and that would turn off VSC?

and the other example of pulling out of a driveway on a icy road.. could you not just lock the diff (turning off the VSC) and peel out on to the road, and then when you're crusing on the road just unlock the diff..?

I really want to find a decent way to disable the vsc and the a-trac. I dont want to have a "false center diff locked" light flashing on my display though.
 
Good first post:D

That's pretty interesting about the ATRAC being more aggressive when the VSC is fully off... Sounds like they swiped some programming ffrom the FJC's:reddance:
 
Sorry for dumb questions

I just have a 2wd v6 and will not be doing any crazy wheeling.. but the other day it was raining hard and I saw a huge mud pit and wanted to get my ride a little dirty and have some fun in the mud but I couldn't even get my tires to spin. Is there any EASY fix to this... I didn't really understand the stuff everybody was talking about.. again sorry for the ignorance
 
Tdub said:
I saw a guy do this on an IS - I tried it many times with instructions in hand but I wasn't able to make it work in the T4R. We should all just have switches from the factory!
Click to expand...


Bummer

I wonder if there is some variation on this that will work on the 4R?
 
Tried the cheat on my RAV4 and it does disable the VSC :lol:

It resets itself as soon as you shut down and restart. Good to know at least as far as the RAV4 is concerned. Looks like I'll have to put a switch on the 4R. The Matrix my son is driving has the button to disable VSC and TRAC.
 
BLK_LBL said:
so after reading all this... If a guy wanted to mess around on some snow and Ice, he could just lock the center diff and that would turn off VSC?

and the other example of pulling out of a driveway on a icy road.. could you not just lock the diff (turning off the VSC) and peel out on to the road, and then when you're crusing on the road just unlock the diff..?

I really want to find a decent way to disable the vsc and the a-trac. I dont want to have a "false center diff locked" light flashing on my display though.
Click to expand...

I used to lock the center diff to disable VSC but it doesn't always engage right away and having the center diff locked can be a disadvantage sometimes.

No doubt you're familiar with the VSC disable mod that's been seen in all the Toyota forums. One variant I've not seen published yet is to interrupt the magic mod wire instead of pulling it to ground. This will disable VSC and ATRAC without illuminating the diff locked light. The only down side I've found is that you can't switch it back to normal on the fly, you have to shut the engine off and restart.
 
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