LE owners chime in? Traction control fully off when driving in snow?

[PatrickBateman]

Got a lot of snow here in Tennessee and on my way home I decided to engage 4-hi with traction control fully off. Handled perfectly and got home safe as it was a 25 mile drive mostly hwy. How are others with the LE models doing it? Probably didn't even need to engage the 4-hi but wanted to since I never ever used it. Enjoyed drifting it on local roads with no one around also.

 

[Antman]

Best bet in snow is only to engage 4hi on your LE if you are stuck and leave the traction control on.

The traction control system on these things works GREAT and will absolutely save your a s s if you start to slide and almost impossible to spin.

 

[dhylander]

I always have the traction control on, and usually drive with the center diff unlocked. If the snow gets deep, 10" or more, I'll lock the center diff.

 

[NoDak]

man you guys have no fun.

turn off vsc/trac and center locked and have fun in the snow/ice (within reason though)

 

[JayceeP]

I'm full-time 4wd. I lock the center-diff if I'm driving long distances in stormy weather on the highway. I don't like how more power gets sent to one axle in snowy conditions. Makes the back end feel loose- locking the center-diff makes the ride feel more planted.

I turn turn off VSC/TRAC when going up steep hills as some of them around here are tricky. I also turn it off to drift through parking lots and around corners.

 

[tobyson21]

My 2 cents

The traction control and skid control serve their purpose, but they are bit like blue balling yourself. When it gets fun it shuts down.

I leave it all on when the kids/family are in the car. When they are not or I'm in a safe place, I turn them off. Hanging the tail out a bit is fun!

I've never locked the center diff though. I should try that just to see how it changes the handling.

T

 

[mattr]

I got to run my new LE on a poorly maintained road when I was breaking it in. It was all gravel and generally has a couple inches of hard packed ice / snow which is effectively the road surface for the winter. When I was up there though the temperatures had shot up to +12C (53F), and it was a slushy muddy mess, a great time to test out the difference between H4F and H4L. There is a noticeable difference, I was kind of surprised to be honest. I was getting a lot of slip and some fishtailing and once I flipped to H4L it was planted and stable. I would only bother with H4L if you're on a really slick surface or in very deep snow (10"+ or so) and you are feeling lateral slip of some kind.

I leave traction control on unless I'm having fun and trying to slide, Traction Control / VSC will save your butt before before you have time to pucker. I would turn if off maybe for really deep snow on a trail where I decide that I want wheel spin if I need it, but would probably never turn it off otherwise. Traction control is the best winter technology to come to vehicles in a long time. The guys with RWD BMW's and snow tires are doing fine now in Canadian winters and it's totally thanks to traction control and VSC.

 

[Bilbo]

See this thread from about a year ago by Whiplash Willy, VSC Saved Me:
http://www.toyota-4runner.org/5th-gen-t4rs/157195-vsc-saved-me.html

 

[NoDak]

just wish there was a way to turn off only traction control and leave VSC on instead of the 34 mph limit.

reason I say is cause you need a running start up some hills here, and while going up you tend to lose some speed to the point your below 34 mph the last 1/4 of the hill and start getting slip. yeah I know push the button again, but when your negotiating parks vehicles you don't have the luxury at times to take your eyes off the road to fumble with a button.

the 5 second button push turns off VSC and traction control but I just wish it would only turn off traction between starts.

 

[ScoMey]

My experience so far (1 1/2 winters) with the LE's full time system is that it's surprisingly capable when the center diff is left unlocked and the traction control / vsc is left on to do it's thing. We had tons of snow last winter here in the twin cities, and I very rarely felt the need to lock the center diff, much less turn off the trac control for more traction or control. So far we've had a pretty tame winter this year, so it's not been much of a challenger getting around. And I'm still running the stock 20" tires (Yokohama's).

I think a lot of what we all perceive as feeling more or less stable, or planted, or however you want to describe the feeling of being in control is going to vary. Lots of varied responses here already. Use what works best for you.

-sjm

 

[bythehour]

You crazy yankees

 

[scottp999]

I leave it in 4wd unlocked center diff with traction control on for 99% of the time in snow. Only time in snow when I lock the center diff is when it is deep, like when the snow plow puts a mound behind my parking space. I use traction control at all times possible.

 

[dekeman]

4H locked and unbridled, deep snow can't hold back an LE....though engaging first and second gear helps.

 

[perkdog258]

Would have to agree with most everyone here. I drive 99% of the time with everything in normal. Only rarely do lock the center diff. This year I did a few times getting out to a few cell site but that was because we had a good 4 feet of snow on the ground there. I have never really seen much of a need other then true off-roading to change the drive setup. I do every now and then for more of a maintenance purpose but not for better handling.

 

[Jhalko]

After the discussion about this last year i have tried it mutiple ways, most of the time just leaving unlocked is best, especially for turns. When the snow gets deeper and slicker(whatever that means) I lock and it does seem a bit better, it's the exception more than the rule.

I was able to get the back end to break out twice in the last few days with center diff unlocked to my surprise, once almost a complete 90 degrees. Vsc didn't seem to jump in as I was expecting...

 

[blakjack23]

Yeah, I'm surprised how easily the back end can slide out in AWD with the electrical 'nannies'. I can definitely get the back end to spin 90 degrees if I try (with the diff unlocked). But its usually only about 45 degrees or less under normal driving on snow packed roads.

 

[1engineer]

Yeah, I'm surprised how easily the back end can slide out in AWD with the electrical 'nannies'. I can definitely get the back end to spin 90 degrees if I try (with the diff unlocked). But its usually only about 45 degrees or less under normal driving on snow packed roads.

You need to take it to the shop then because every one I have driven will NOT let you get sideways with VSC on, even the SR5 in 2WD. The LE I drove was the same. This is driving normally, not like a dirt track racer. You have something broke dude.

 

[blakjack23]

That's a possibility. I've only had my current ride about 4 months now. Its good most of the time, but it stills breaks loose more than I thought it would. I'll have the Toyota check it out at my next oil change.

FWIW, I meant that most of the time it's 45 degree's or less..... when it does break loose. Not that it breaks loose 45 or less on every turn.

 

[Jhalko]

You need to take it to the shop then because every one I have driven will NOT let you get sideways with VSC on, even the SR5 in 2WD. The LE I drove was the same. This is driving normally, not like a dirt track racer. You have something broke dude.

It's been the same circumstances each time I've been able to do it, center diff unlocked, making a slow but tight turn on slick snow, stay on the gas and it allows the back end to come out. What I assumed was happening is that because I have the wheel turned so much and don't let off the gas the car can't tell that I don't intend to continue turning in a circle and the system isn't kicking in. I'm not flooring it either, just a consistent acceleration out, I know it happens so I can control it very easily by not accelerating while making the turn, haha. All other times it seems to kick in as intended.

 

[blakjack23]

Actually, that's about the exact same circumstances mine does it in. Usually from a stop sign or slow stop. On slick snow or ice, crank the wheel, give 'r some gas and the back end comes out.

It's better than the random 'stall' I would get in my 2007 when pulling onto a snowy street and hitting the gas. That little dangerous quirk always pissed me off when it happened.