New 2008 4R, questions

[mcgrath]

Just picked up a new 4runner V6 2WD sport model and I'm pretty happy. Never owned a Toyota, but always felt they rode smooth and quiet. Coming from a Nissan Frontier, it's night and day! I hope I didn't make the mistake of getting a 2WD and not 4X4. Living in So. Cal. we never see snow. I do ski, and can envision taking it up to the mountains, but the routes are hardly ever covered with snow and chains work perfectly well for that. I used to live in MI, and still never drove 4X4.... always felt it was for serious off-roading. I do mountain bike, and take gravel fireroads to the trail head. Other than that, all paved roads for me. What do you all think?

Anyways, as the post says, I've got some questions. regarding the VSC I've been reading about, when would I disengage VSC? What about engaging LSD? Third question, if I disengage VSC, does LSD automatically engage?

I guess I understand why or when I would want to us the auto LSD, but wouldn't you have to be psychic to turn off the VSC?

It's kind of a pain too, You have to turn off the traction control, which engages the LSD, and then hold down the same button for 3 seconds and then VSC is disengaged.

Thanks guys, nice site too.

 

[CJ3Flyr]

LSD always works regardless of VSC status. The reason you might shut off VSC is if you were stuck or needed to spin the wheels a bit to get up a steep driveway etc. VSC will cut the engine power dramatically to help stop excessive wheelspin; sometimes you need to be able to spin the tires. Sometimes it's just fun:biggrin2:

Congrats on the new ride!

 

[mcgrath]

LSD always works regardless of VSC status. The reason you might shut off VSC is if you were stuck or needed to spin the wheels a bit to get up a steep driveway etc. VSC will cut the engine power dramatically to help stop excessive wheelspin; sometimes you need to be able to spin the tires. Sometimes it's just fun:biggrin2:

Congrats on the new ride!

So, there'd be no way to get up a hill that was loose with VSC huh. The engine would just cut out.

I'm not 100% but I think the only way to activate the LSD is to turn traction control off. If I press the button with the squiggly tire tracks , ie traction control, the "Auto LSD" light turns on.

Thanks for the reply, and thanks for the congrats.

 

[CJ3Flyr]

So, there'd be no way to get up a hill that was loose with VSC huh. The engine would just cut out.

I'm not 100% but I think the only way to activate the LSD is to turn traction control off. If I press the button with the squiggly tire tracks , ie traction control, the "Auto LSD" light turns on.

Thanks for the reply, and thanks for the congrats.

If I understand it correctly (and I am pretty confident on this point): You do have LSD with the VSC on but you probably won't notice it as much as you'll notice the engine cutting back instead. I understand what your annunciator lights are trying to tell you when the VSC is off, "careful dummy, the LSD may cause fishtailing":awais: . I suspect that was Toyota's way of avoiding liability and it won't fishtail much with the VSC on because it won't make sufficient power. The annunciator comment is just a guess though... Who really knows what they were thinking. A few pounds in the back and good tires and I'll bet it's pretty good in the snow.