Has VSC ever really come in handy for any of you on the forum?
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Pirate VI
New member
I was on an offramp in the pouring rain and didnt realize that it was a bend. The car started sliding towards the barrier very fast. the vsc lit up and was beeping like crazy. without the vsc I may have hit it. Im not sure I woud have been able to avoid it in the slippery conditions with just brakes. I feel like it porbably helped me out.
Of course there are other times when I would love to turn it off.
Of course there are other times when I would love to turn it off.
TheBlueWave
New member
It saved my ass. Lemme tell ya all the story...
I was driving down a rural road in South Dakota during a March blizzard. It was windy, snowy, and about 34 degrees or so. I was going about 45 mph, in 4th gear, 4wd activated, diff unlocked. A big assed truck is coming down the other side, going very fast, hogging the road like an ******* bas****. I could see him coming from a ways out and muttered that to myself. Just before he flew by me, I cut the wheel to the right just a tad, but I started sliding toward the ditch. The lights and beeps were going crazy, but the slipping feeling went away, and the truck straightened itself out and I got right back on the road. If not for VSC, I would have ditched my baby! It has helped me on other occasions as well. One time I cursed it as I got stuck crossing a street, it was a close call. But it has saved me more times than not.
I was driving down a rural road in South Dakota during a March blizzard. It was windy, snowy, and about 34 degrees or so. I was going about 45 mph, in 4th gear, 4wd activated, diff unlocked. A big assed truck is coming down the other side, going very fast, hogging the road like an ******* bas****. I could see him coming from a ways out and muttered that to myself. Just before he flew by me, I cut the wheel to the right just a tad, but I started sliding toward the ditch. The lights and beeps were going crazy, but the slipping feeling went away, and the truck straightened itself out and I got right back on the road. If not for VSC, I would have ditched my baby! It has helped me on other occasions as well. One time I cursed it as I got stuck crossing a street, it was a close call. But it has saved me more times than not.
Cornfed
New member
I know the girl I missed t-boning Tuesday morning thinks it's great. I was heading home following a pickup at around 50mph, when it moved into the right turn lane and began to slow, as I was coming along side, a small sedan that couldn't see around the pickup pulled out to make a left turn across my path, she was watching the traffic in the far lane looking for a slot to enter and never saw me until I was on the horn. I hit the brakes hard and swerved , missing the front of her car by inches, cut in behind a car in the oncoming lane, and then swerved back into my lane. ABS worked, VSC I'm sure worked. What makes it more impressive is that it was raining pretty hard and I still have the stock dunlops.
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charlier180
New member
About one month after I purchased my 4Runner I was traveling in a construction area. The opposite lane had K-Rails on their curbside.
Apparently the person coming the other was got spooked by the K-Rails at a bend and crossed the center line into my lane.
Given my situation I had little choice but to take my 4Runner "offroad".
Unfortunately due to lack of space to stop I then had to try to get the 4Runner back on the roadway or hit construction materials and equipment.
During this whole experience the VSC and antilock systems did their job and saved my butt.
I was so glad I had read the owners manual and had learned that when the 4Runner is taking evasive maneuvers various dash lights flash and alarms beep.
Knowing that made the experience less stressful since I knew the flashing dash lights and beeping alarms meant the 4Runner's safety systems were working to help me.
Apparently the person coming the other was got spooked by the K-Rails at a bend and crossed the center line into my lane.
Given my situation I had little choice but to take my 4Runner "offroad".
Unfortunately due to lack of space to stop I then had to try to get the 4Runner back on the roadway or hit construction materials and equipment.
During this whole experience the VSC and antilock systems did their job and saved my butt.
I was so glad I had read the owners manual and had learned that when the 4Runner is taking evasive maneuvers various dash lights flash and alarms beep.
Knowing that made the experience less stressful since I knew the flashing dash lights and beeping alarms meant the 4Runner's safety systems were working to help me.
Driving to Aspen on I-70 at approx 40MPH in an icy, windy, snowy mess. I was just driving straight at on a slight downhill and without any yank on the steering wheel, i just starting sliding sideways. My rear came around my right side and I was suddenly going sideways down I-70 in two lanes in traffic. Beeping everywhere, Me counter steering, I was able to even myself out about 50 yards before a turn in the road and the inevitable guardrail. There was absolutely nothing I could have done to avoid this and VSC helped me tremendously. Not only did I not get in an accident, but I didn't crash into the guardrail. Saved my money and possibly my life.
boston_kevin
New member
I have been in both situations. I hit some sand on an off-ramp a bit faster than I should have and it kept everything in line and under control. I have also been in a situation where pulling out into traffic in 2WD, the tires could not get a grip and the system shut me down almost getting me hit from behind. I think the system would be much better with higher quality tires. Dunflops are the worst in wet/snow weather. Even on dry pavement they are questionable.
AlphaQup
New member
alaskaman said:
VSC = Vehicle Stability Control - anytime the computer senses wheel slip/slide, it's going to react to get your truck back into a straight line and get your rubber back on grip mode.
As for my experience, it's pretty much identical to boston_kevin's story. Rain was pouring like hell, I was on a tight one lane onramp that bended for days on end. At the section where the onramp met the freeway, I decided to throttle up a little (2WD mode) to pick up the pace in order to merge with freeway traffic. Right when I accelerated, I sensed my backend start to give, and immedieatly the VSC began beeping/flashing like crazy. It straightened my truck up real quick and got me back on track. Without it, I probably would've did a few donuts while merging with the freeway traffic. That would've been all bad. After that I understood the logic behind why Toyota gave us no "on/off switch" for the VSC; Idiot proof truck! :awais:
E
Even Steven
Guest
I watched a Chevy Trailblazer in front of me going around a sweeping bend in the middle of a hard snow storm. The guy ended up in a ditch, and he looked like he was being cautious. I figured he probably had crappy tires and continued on my way.
When I approached the same point in the road (very cautiously, I might add), I felt my 4Runner begin to lose traction. I started to hear beeping from the dash and quickly realized that the VSC was working its magic. It allowed me to maintain control around the bend and I didn't end up in the ditch next to the Trailblazer.
The road must have had ice under the snow on the bend, because I never expected it to be THAT slippery, but the VSC system saved my ass for sure, due to my own stupidity. I'll bet the Trailblazer owner wished he had VSC.
When I approached the same point in the road (very cautiously, I might add), I felt my 4Runner begin to lose traction. I started to hear beeping from the dash and quickly realized that the VSC was working its magic. It allowed me to maintain control around the bend and I didn't end up in the ditch next to the Trailblazer.
The road must have had ice under the snow on the bend, because I never expected it to be THAT slippery, but the VSC system saved my ass for sure, due to my own stupidity. I'll bet the Trailblazer owner wished he had VSC.
I detest this system. On two occasions, during simple lane changes in snowy conditions, the system engaged and kept forcing the vehicle to continue moving to the right. On the first occasion (with the original Dunlops) I had to stop my vehicle in busy traffic or the VSC would have forced me into the sidewalk. On the second occasion (with Revos), I was forced to make an unintended two-lane change onto an offramp otherwise I would have smashed straight into a barricade. I was very fortunate that the lane the VSC forced me into was clear.
Previous to the 4runner, I drove a Jeep TJ (Wrangler) with a rear limited slip differential. It drove in a far more predictable manner despite the short wheel base. If I felt the vehicle starting to fishtail, I simply let off the accelerator and it would "magically" fix itself. The 4runner gives me no such confidence.
Previous to the 4runner, I drove a Jeep TJ (Wrangler) with a rear limited slip differential. It drove in a far more predictable manner despite the short wheel base. If I felt the vehicle starting to fishtail, I simply let off the accelerator and it would "magically" fix itself. The 4runner gives me no such confidence.
Pincushion
New member
It has kicked in a couple of times to prevent a fishtail, but no stories worth sharing. I think that by 2010 or 2011, VSC will be mandatory on all vehicles sold in the US.
Q-V - I like my LSD on my LJ. It worked great during the ice storms last year. I saw Z71 Suburbans and H2s spin out of control. I drove 200 miles on solid ice that day and almost lost control only once. I let off of the gas and it straightened right up.
Q-V - I like my LSD on my LJ. It worked great during the ice storms last year. I saw Z71 Suburbans and H2s spin out of control. I drove 200 miles on solid ice that day and almost lost control only once. I let off of the gas and it straightened right up.
Kmvreter
New member
First snow of the season today. How short people's memory is when the weather changes.
Nice layer of snow with only a few fresh tracks. There is some joker that comes right on my tail for a few hundred yards and then keeps following me real close as I turn into an on-ramp, as if I'm holding up his progress. I take this route every day and know the radius of the turn tightens and then crests a hill prone to icing up. I've experimented with the VSC in this location in the past. It's a sweet spot and I know a sander hasn't been out. I give it a little just to pull away from buddy behind me. The back end started to swing out but the system kicked in just enough to take me back on track. I look back and there is buddy starting to go sideways and then hit the ditch.
Gotta love the Toy. You paid good money for it so learn to embrace technology and what it can do for you.
Nice layer of snow with only a few fresh tracks. There is some joker that comes right on my tail for a few hundred yards and then keeps following me real close as I turn into an on-ramp, as if I'm holding up his progress. I take this route every day and know the radius of the turn tightens and then crests a hill prone to icing up. I've experimented with the VSC in this location in the past. It's a sweet spot and I know a sander hasn't been out. I give it a little just to pull away from buddy behind me. The back end started to swing out but the system kicked in just enough to take me back on track. I look back and there is buddy starting to go sideways and then hit the ditch.
Gotta love the Toy. You paid good money for it so learn to embrace technology and what it can do for you.
uluafishing
New member
Came in handy with my Sequoia.
Sitting at an intersection, the light turned green. I stepped on the accelerator (not very hard, but the road was wet) and started my left turn.
Next thing I know the rearend starts to swing out, then the dashboard lights up, and things started beeping and clicking...and voila!! The Sequoia was back on track!
Voodoo magic I tell you!!!
Aloha!
Sitting at an intersection, the light turned green. I stepped on the accelerator (not very hard, but the road was wet) and started my left turn.
Next thing I know the rearend starts to swing out, then the dashboard lights up, and things started beeping and clicking...and voila!! The Sequoia was back on track!
Voodoo magic I tell you!!!
Aloha!
Pirate VI
New member
Q-V said:
My other daily driver is a TJ. I disagree with what you are saying. The TJ, while being the coolest vehicle ever built, is probably one of the worst handling ones ever built as well, mine fishtails and slides all the time, tires are always squeeling and everything, I drive it far slower than the 4Runner, yet it has gotten me into more sketchy situations than the 4runner. Im not saying the vsc is perfect, but I think it helps you to avoid many situations you may not even know would have happened had you not had it. Sure the vsc has done strange things and shut the power to me too, but I still feel much more confident driving the 04 4Runner than anything else I have ever driven.
