How do I know if my VSC is working?

[lojeff]

I live in NJ where we got about 15 inches over the weekend. I took my 4runner to work this morning. (first time out all weekend) The plows take forever to get to my street so there was probably about 8-10 inches on the street when I left.

I wanted to test the VSC as I never had it kick on before and from what I read on this forum, it is fairly conservative and all sorts of bells and whistles start going off when it takes over.

Well, I made a left turn out of my driveway while giving it alot of gas and basically spun out like crazy. No warning lights, not VSC chimes, nothing....

Shouldn't something have kicked in?

As noted below, I have a 2004 Sport V8 with 4WD.

Thanks Jeff

 

[GatorGreg]

Did you have the center diff lock on? If so, I think that automaticlally turns off VSC.

 

[Northof49]

Go into an open parking lot, get some speed, let off the brake and the gas and crank the wheel hard......that should introduce you to VSC

 

[Hitman]

I tested it the same way as suggested..... got some speed up, and cut the wheel hard without accelerating or braking.

The VSC kicked in right away and helped maintain control during the turn.

If you didn't have your differential locked, your should do the same...

 

[sharp4runr]

Yeah it should engage in the situation the other guys suggested. It emits a beeping noise and the VSC light flickers on the dash. If you had the center diff lock, then it would have been disengaged.

 

[lojeff]

Thanks guys. I was able to make it activate itself. Driving straight and then making a turn did the trick. I think when I originally tried, since I was starting from a dead stop, it didn't activate.

 

[TranceKrayz]

yeah this mornign from a dead stop in my alley, i hit the gas and took a sharp turn out and the rear slid out. the vsc didn't kick in but there's this light that blinks indicating that you're skidding (duh!).

 

[Sac State]

I wanted to test the VSC as I never had it kick on before and from what I read on this forum, it is fairly conservative and all sorts of bells and whistles start going off when it takes over.



Thanks Jeff

Yes, mine sounds like an airplane before a stall. Bells, whistles, chirps and the dreaded brake pulsation.

 

[MicaBlue03]

lojeff, I'm still not sure your system is working right. The system works when you start from a dead stop, though it can take a moment to detect the slippage and start to do something. Even if the system works smoothly (in a turn or while going straight ahead) and you don't feel pulsing, you may feel the de-throttling and see the yellow indicator flashing. If your head was off to one side, perhaps your view of the indicator was obscured temporarily.

And of course there's the difference between traction control (which may be all that's active if the vehicle is not turning or spinning) and stability control (which kicks in when you're "experiencing an uncommanded heading change"). You'll frequently hear the chattering in the dash (from a chattering relay in the abs?), but I don't hear this every time.

Normally, if you get the tail sliding out you'll get the flashing and the beeping, unless the tail sliding matches which way you're pointing the front wheels. If I remember right, the beeping is a specific warning that the stability control system is unable to get/keep the vehicle traveling in the direction you are pointing the wheels.

Seems like this would justify more experimentation!

 

[Northof49]

If his system works on the conditions I suggested previously, then it is likely operating fine.

If you start from a stop while turning, or are going around a slow corner and lay into the throttle a bit, it often lets some spin/slip happen before it fully kicks in.

My understanding of the warning beeps, is that they are simply a warning that you are driving a little too aggressively for the road condition, incase you didn't notice VSC doing its thing.....

 

[G3 Trout Runner]

I have seen the light blink by itself and then blink with the alarms going off. I like to think the alarm is screaming, "Get off the gas jackass!" :bash: When I do, all goes back to normal.

G3

 

[URBUGGED]

HELP wanted. Traction control VSC DSC does not seem to be working

Hello everybody.

I'm having a real problem with my 08 4Runner Sport V6.
I live in the Caribbean and this machine has been a blessing the days following Hurricane Irma. But, I never remembered the traction control working.
I live on a steep hill that has a concrete road passing through. Whenever it rains i am skidding all the way up the hill to get home and it sucks.
To Make matters worse, our Toyota Dealership has been completely demolished since Irma and there is no building to date. It's flat just land no walls. It was pretty bad. So I have no direction on this matter and I'm asking for your help.
I recently fixed an ABS light that has been on for the past 2 years. It took a while to figure out on my own and quite a bit of money but the issue was a faulty brake light switch. The ABS light disappeared but the traction control seemed to not kick. When the road is wet it does not assist whether I'm moving after a full stop or climbing the hill home.
Down hill assist also doesn't seem right. Previously I had an incident when i was going downhill on soft terrain on a steep descent and my Runner just kept sliding down hill with no control, i had to hit a dirt pile on the way down to try to slow the descent just a bit more. 4 Lo and DSC was engaged.
In all of these incidents there were no blinking lights, no chirps, no buzzing, and no brake vibration.
I need your advice guys. Thanks in advance!