Disable VSC, TRAC, and ABS without damaging factory wiring

[emelianenkov]

(view my photos for what I am referring to): Toyota 4Runner Forum - emelianenkov's Album: VSC modification

Hi all,

It snowed recently where I live, and I decided that I wanted to frollic in the parking lots with my new truck. As I went to do a donut, the traction control decided to ruin my fun. I began to wonder if there was a way to disable the 'nanny' feature in my truck. I found a few methods, but they all required you to cut into the factory wiring. I want a solution that would keep my wiring original. Here is what I came up with

First you need to locate the pressure sensor connector on the master cylinder (drivers side of the engine bay, mounted on the firewall) which has 2 wires going into it (a green wire and a white wire).

When you find and unplug this connector, you'll see that there are two pins.

Cut 2 spayed connectors to fit onto the pins, extending them, and allowing you to make a break in the circuit

The bottom pole on the master cylinder half of the connector will be left how it is; just make a long extender piece to allow you to fit the rest of the wiring. Again, check the pictures to see what I mean.

The top pole will be different. Take one of the spay connectors with a wire soldered to it, to the pole. Take another spay connector and put it into the plug on the master cylinder body, creating a gap. The gap will allow the circuit to run through the switch wired in the cab.

Run your 2 wires through the gromet in your firewall. BE VERY CAREFUL! If you puncture the gromet, you will get leaks in the cabin, which will lead to mold or mildew.

Pop out one of the blank switch slots in the dash and run your wires through the slot.

Zip tie all the wires to the wiring harness to avoid clutter or an ugly looking engine bay (don't we all hate that?!).

Make your connections.

I know this is making no sense. Please respond if you have any questions. I can't think of how to explain this properly.

Thanks,
Alex

 

[thirstyturtle]

So this sounds really interesting to me. I currently have installed a switch to disable only VSC but this sounds better to me, I would love to be able to disable TRAC and ABS as well when I'm in a playful mood. What connector is this exactly? How does shorting it disable these three things?

 

[OrdnanceMarine]

Very nice! I'll have to add this to my list of things to do to my 4Runner right after I figure out how to install an override switch for the AC compressor.

Thanks for taking the time to put this together for the rest of us!

 

[00328]

This does sound interesting. Your install is a little hard to follow though.
When you flip the switch, what lights are lighting up on the dash.
I just ordered a factory switch because I am getting ready to do the VSC OFF mod, but I would much rather shut all this crap off!

 

[CJ3Flyr]

Great job! Nice clean mod.

I have the the VSC disable mod that leaves the ATRAC intact. I like it because it allows me to have limited-slip like function F&R without the system cutting the throttle.

This mod leaves you with open-diffs which has it's place too. After this last Atlanta storm and a few times 4-wheelin' I migh have preferred your mod.
I am actually contemplating a second switch so I can choose the level of Nanny-defeat. I am getting more convinced that's the 'right' answer.
:cheers:

 

[KBToys]

Let me see if I can understand what you are doing. For the top wire you are sort of just breaking the connection with the switch you installed, is that correct? I am also going to guess that when you use the switch to turn off the VSC you need to shut the truck off to rest it right?

 

[keitht253]

Today, after looking at this thread, I decided to tackle the abs, vsc, and a-trac disable mod utilizing the concept laid out here (which I think is essentially the AndyMod).

However, I did not refrain from "damaging" the factory wiring. Instead, I unplugged the connector mentioned above, cut the white/black wire about three inches back, and wired each end to a switch on my console.

Note: this is a 2005 SR5 4x4 v6 model.

Attached are some pics:

First one (red arrow pointing to the connector we're dealing with):

Second one (closer shot):

Third one (showing the wire cover being moved backwards/off the two wires):

Fourth one (showing the spot in the firewall that the wires were threaded through):

Fifth one (showing the wires spliced into the break in the white/black wire):

Then I just ran those two wires into the firewall to a two prong spst switch and mounted it next to the center differential button.

I'm happy to report that the mod worked, and the following lights illuminate: VSC OFF, ABS, VSC TRAC, ATRAC, and the parking brake light (since I believe it is the parking brake fluid sensor that was tapped into, not the pressure sensor). However, you must turn the switch off and then shut the car down, and restart it in order to remove this condition and go back to normal. If you have any questions, feel free to ask!

 

[corrado]

I am looking into this but wanted to see if there was another way (another wire to tap) to rid all the nannies but not trigger a light for the brakes on the dash. anyone know?

 

[emelianenkov]

I am looking into this but wanted to see if there was another way (another wire to tap) to rid all the nannies but not trigger a light for the brakes on the dash. anyone know?

Get a 4Runner that has a traction off switch...

 

[Radial GT]

Keith, I did the same thing. It disables most Trac control features, however the yaw sensor will still trigger the trac feature when doing hard doughnuts. But when needed you can spin the tires something fierce.

 

[corrado]

Get a 4Runner that has a traction off switch...

replacing the car seems a bit extreme. i posted in this thread because the process explained was more along the lines of my thinking. I'm fine with the vsc, trac, and atrac lights being on when those systems are defeated but for some reason i don't like the idea of a scary red BRAKE light being on. i also don't want the yaw sensor's correction either. i don't think runners with a trac off switch kill all the systems. i want everything off; vsc, trac, atrac, abs, and anything else that intervenes with driver inputs. they all have their place, and i would drive with them in operation 99% of the time, but not when i want to have fun, and not when i'm driving in extreme conditions with high consequence.

 

[emelianenkov]

replacing the car seems a bit extreme. i posted in this thread because the process explained was more along the lines of my thinking. I'm fine with the vsc, trac, and atrac lights being on when those systems are defeated but for some reason i don't like the idea of a scary red BRAKE light being on. i also don't want the yaw sensor's correction either. i don't think runners with a trac off switch kill all the systems. i want everything off; vsc, trac, atrac, abs, and anything else that intervenes with driver inputs. they all have their place, and i would drive with them in operation 99% of the time, but not when i want to have fun, and not when i'm driving in extreme conditions with high consequence.

I have driven thousands of miles with my truck like this. Never had a brake failure or anything. A little more squealing when slamming on the brakes, but no worries.

I can take the brake warning light out and replace it with a non-red LED if you want lol

 

[corrado]

i know the brakes are no more likely to fail, it's just a matter of possibly making people uneasy that a vital system may be compromised. regardless, it still doesn't achieve 100% intervention free driving, as RadialGT reports. would still like to know if that is possible by using a different wire.

 

[emelianenkov]

i know the brakes are no more likely to fail, it's just a matter of possibly making people uneasy that a vital system may be compromised. regardless, it still doesn't achieve 100% intervention free driving, as RadialGT reports. would still like to know if that is possible by using a different wire.

I have never had any intervention by my truck. But if I'm gonna roll it, I don't mind it stepping in. I just use it to spin tires when I'm off road.

Plus, if my passengers see the light, they already know I'm off road or driving like an ass. They can tell by my half-disassembled interior that some systems might not be working anyway lol

 

[emelianenkov]

Thanks for taking the time to put this together for the rest of us!

If you're referring to me, you're welcome. If not, I also say thanks to the other writeup of how to do this that made more sense lol

 

[CXS]

Interesting. It looks like you guys sre all running the v6, what advantage and/or disadvantage would it have for s v8 model? Sorry, I just don't know what differences there are between the two.

 

[BlackWorksInc]

Interesting. It looks like you guys sre all running the v6, what advantage and/or disadvantage would it have for s v8 model? Sorry, I just don't know what differences there are between the two.

You mean besides the fact that the V6's go Vroooooom, and the V8's go VROOM!

 

[CXS]

:lol:

I guess that sums it up well! I'll take a few minutes and give this mod a try tomorrow.

 

[emelianenkov]

V6 has RWD which means :driving: :lookout:

 

[MICA4R]

Interesting. It looks like you guys sre all running the v6, what advantage and/or disadvantage would it have for s v8 model? Sorry, I just don't know what differences there are between the two.

the v8 can haul a$$

95-110mph is comfortable for the v8
the v6 is struggling

however as a very smart person pointed out
the v6 engine can be found in landcruisers overseas, and it does just fine.