How to turn the VSC TRAC off???

[ucthisgirl]

I have a 2003 sport V8 with all time 4wheel drive. I hate the VSC TRAC control!! We go 4wheeling almost every weekend and it's more of a hazard than a help. I've heard some people say that you can turn it off by turning on your diff lock. My only problem is that I can only turn the diff lock on in 2 low. Can someone please help me.

 

[NJshadow93]

Since you have the V8 you're always in 4WD. This means the diff lock should always work. If it doesn't, there's something wrong with that and you should get that taken care of. VSC is more of an on road feature, which is why Toyota put in the diff lock. If that's not working properly, well there's your problem.

 

[emelianenkov]

If you unplug the pressure sensor from the master cylinder, it disables your VSC and TRAC. I put a switch in to simulate unplugging the sensor after a near-death experience with a lifted F-350 two winters ago. My wheel slipped on ice while going to leave my school's driveway and my TRAC took over my throttle, making me crawl out slowly toward imminent danger. That experience sucked.

PM me if you want some how-to tips for installing a fancy little trac-off switch!

-Alex

 

[JB.]

My only problem is that I can only turn the diff lock on in 2 low.

It should either work or not. Hi or lo, any gear.

Are you saying that it works only in 2nd gear, low range? The diff lock light comes on solid only in that circumstance?

 

[aha2988]

When i first got my 4runner i took it to some offroading buddies house that had a good ditch to check out what kinda flex the truck had. we all laughed like hell when the first wheel spun the computer locked me out of the gas pedal, so i locked the transfer case up and then we all laughed somemore as when the vehicle picked a tire of the ground as it flexed out. the truck stoped wouldnt move an inch. all it would do is spin the tire up in the air. I knew if i had plans for taking the truck off roading i was gonna need complete control of my gas and brake pedal plus what "driver" out there wants there traction controlled by someone other than themselves.

The 4th gen 4runners have a yaw/descent control system that monitors angles of the vehicle if the vehicle is moving forwards and the system detects a preset roll over protection angle it cuts off your throttle and applies brakes to the wheels. If you have a tire loose traction the vehicle sends braking power to that wheel (kinda like the old off roaders would use an E brake for hoping to grab a little more traction) in attempts to control the vehicle if you were driving on ice and your back right wheel starts spining the vehicle drags that brake slightly to get the wheel speed back to what the other wheels are at and at the same time adjusting your throttle position reguardless of where your foot is. This is Great for someone who doesnt have experience controling a sliding vehicle or spinning wheels as it keeps them safe out of harms way and prevents them from endangering someone else around them with there ignorance. (no offence to anyone some people are good at math some people are good at driving) To add to this toyota gives you two indicator lights on your dash VSC off and TRAC off. when you lock your transfer case one of these lights comes on i can't remember which exactly right now. however that doesn't indicate that the entire stability control system is turned off. If you let off the brake and try to roll backwards down a hill in drive the system still utilizes your ABS system to hold the vehicle from rolling backwards and beeps at you while its doing it.

To completly turn off the stability control you have to fool the ECU. (no theres no on off switch sorry) I found this out when i had a throttle body recall from the dealership when they replaced the throttle body i had with the new one evidently the new one was faulty and caused my check engine light vsc light and trac off light to all come on once i cleared the check engine code the CEL went off but leaving the entire stability control system turned off. any way I took the car back to the dealership had them replace the throttle body again and reset the stability control so i could get the car inspected. Any way i had a thought If the computer was to see that the car wasn't in capable condition to control itself it turns off these safty controls because it doesnt have enough data to make dicisions for you. So i took my thought and went to my O2 sensors i just unpluged the back two sensor connectors after driving a few miles my car realized it didnt know what my O2 levels were. The CEL light came on and the trac lights came on forcing the computer to shut off the safty controll system. I drove around like this for a while cuz it allows you so much more control of your vehicle but inspection time came up so i plugged my O2' connectors back in and the check engine light went off but left the safty control off! :cheers:

to get the safty control back on you have to reset the zero points of the yaw/decent control system you can do this with an OBDII scanner or use a jumper wire and short out the obdII connectors proper terminals in a certain pattern of touch wires together pull apart so many times then switch the key on you can google intructions on how to do this. if you need to turn the system back on just google setting zero points of yaw/decsent control system toyota 4runner eather method the car has to be on level ground (ground with a grade no more than 1 degree in any direction)

with it off you can spin all you want!!
Muddin At Uhwarrie National park2.MOV - YouTube

Muddin At Uhwarrie National park.MOV - YouTube

03 4runner wins mud bog.mp4 - YouTube

Muddin At Uhwarrie National park3.MOV - YouTube

 

[aha2988]

I have a 2003 sport V8 with all time 4wheel drive. I hate the VSC TRAC control!! We go 4wheeling almost every weekend and it's more of a hazard than a help. I've heard some people say that you can turn it off by turning on your diff lock. My only problem is that I can only turn the diff lock on in 2 low. Can someone please help me.

If its a 4th gen i dout it has a diff lock.. unless aftermarket but They come with a transfer case locker switch to lock power transfer 50/50 between axles.

 

[aha2988]

If its a 4th gen i dout it has a diff lock.. unless aftermarket but They come with a transfer case locker switch to lock power transfer 50/50 between axles.

Yes I know the transfer case in these trucks is a torsen 3 which is tech. called a differenetial. But for clarity of what your controling when selecting the lock button on the dash I'm calling it a transfer case.

 

[emelianenkov]

To completly turn off the stability control you have to fool the ECU. (no theres no on off switch sorry)

I'd like to respectfully disagree with you. There is an on/off switch if you install something similar to what I have. If you unplug your pressure sensor from your master cylinder, your truck notices a fault in the safety systems. By pulling this sensor, it disables VSC and TRAC, and the brake warning lights come on. I know this disables everything safety-related because I can do donuts with my truck. If you try that with your truck in its normal mode (TRAC and VSC on), you'll get a lot of ABS ratcheting and the computer will take over your throttle.

Best thing is, I can smoke my tires in 2WD and have wheel slip in 'unlocked' 4WD. I am in control. :driving:

Just my very scientific findings.

 

[aha2988]

I'd like to respectfully disagree with you. There is an on/off switch if you install something similar to what I have. If you unplug your pressure sensor from your master cylinder, your truck notices a fault in the safety systems. By pulling this sensor, it disables VSC and TRAC, and the brake warning lights come on. I know this disables everything safety-related because I can do donuts with my truck. If you try that with your truck in its normal mode (TRAC and VSC on), you'll get a lot of ABS ratcheting and the computer will take over your throttle.

Best thing is, I can smoke my tires in 2WD and have wheel slip in 'unlocked' 4WD. I am in control. :driving:

Just my very scientific findings.

This was just my experience in getting mine to shut off I'm sure theres many ways to do it. By just unplugging the O2 sensors; however, the ABS system isn't effected you still maintain anti lock brake abilities. With the stability control turned off the ABS system won't interfere with anything. I'm running the V8 so unfortuntantly my full time AWD doesn't allow me the experience of smoking my rear tires i can only spin around in the mud and snow lol.

 

[emelianenkov]

This was just my experience in getting mine to shut off I'm sure theres many ways to do it. By just unplugging the O2 sensors; however, the ABS system isn't effected you still maintain anti lock brake abilities. With the stability control turned off the ABS system won't interfere with anything. I'm running the V8 so unfortuntantly my full time AWD doesn't allow me the experience of smoking my rear tires i can only spin around in the mud and snow lol.

To each their own ingenuity!

I hate how the v8 only has full time 4WD. it should have more drive train features/possible settings than the v6, not less.

I just like my switch because the only resetting of my truck's computer required is to simply flip the switch back into the on position and restart my engine.

 

[aha2988]

To each their own ingenuity!

I hate how the v8 only has full time 4WD. it should have more drive train features/possible settings than the v6, not less.

I just like my switch because the only resetting of my truck's computer required is to simply flip the switch back into the on position and restart my engine.

when you get a chance you should post pics of your wiring I'd like to try it out its def. a pain to reset the zero points and plug in those O2 connectors when the engines hot. thanks.

 

[emelianenkov]

when you get a chance you should post pics of your wiring I'd like to try it out its def. a pain to reset the zero points and plug in those O2 connectors when the engines hot. thanks.

I did a writeup about two years ago. I'll take ether pictures at some point and post them. It's really simple.