Something Hindering T4R In Snow

thirstyturtle

thirstyturtle

New member
Alright, so this is my first big snow with the 4Runner (we got slammed last night in NC!) and I had to tow my uncle out of my driveway last night, yay! Anyways, I installed a switch to turn off traction control so I could spin a little bit trying to tow him up the hill but something was still hindering me, it sounded like ABS kicking in, is this ATRAC? If so, I didn't like it and is there a way to turn it off? Let me know guys, the 4Runner is doing great though!
 
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Well I have the DIY switch for VSC Off but it doesn't turn off ATRAC, at least, not all the time, after a while today it turned off ATRAC and then I was rocking a rolling, any ideas how to force ATRAC off?

Sent from my ADR6300 using Tapatalk
 
thirstyturtle said:
What? I don't understand why that "seriously?" had an undertone of me being an idiot.

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Well, i doubt he was calling ya an idiot. Your 4runner has open diffs, unless its a sport, or you have had lockers installed. You need the atrac to keep the will spin in check. Without it, generally in the slick mud or snow, if a front tire and a rear tire break loose. You will sit in one place spinning the wheels with no traction. The atrac uses the brakes to stop the spinning wheels and allow power transfer to the wheels with traction. Its just the way it works. I learned a while back. The runner is not designed to throw rooster tails in the mud bog. It was designed to cross the mud bog. You just have to sit back and let the unnerving atrac click away. In the end its capability will surprise ya, and you'll realize it bad ass.
 
I hear ya man, it is in fact a Sport but after driving in the snow a lot today I think I've realized that ATRAC is pretty legit, thanks for the response man.

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There's also a difference between ATRAC and TRAC. It sounds like you want trac to go away, thats the one that cuts power when it detects wheel spin. ATRAC is the helpful one, it applies the brakes like others have said to the spinning wheel to force the non-spinning wheel to rotate as well. I will second what others have said as well...lock your diff and let the electronic goodies work for you. Also, not sure what year your truck is but on the newer ones at least, if you press the button next to your steering wheel with the car and the squiggly lines (VSC on/off) for more than 3 sec it will turn off TRAC & VSC allowing you to spin away with no electronic intervention.
 
Like you, I also got the first real snow test in my 07 last night. It was a great experience and i used every single feature on the truck. Leading up to that and based on an experience in VT last weekend, I was already looking into VSC defeat switch. I come from an audi, i love the Torsen and don't want to lock the center diff every time it snows. Well last night i learned a lot about the system(s). I will say that I was VERY impressed with some of the intervention. ABS and ATRAC seemed to perform well in most road situations, most notably when say trying to take a right turn too fast and locking up the brakes and being able to slow/skid/turn the truck in the direction its pointed. On the other hand i was somewhat disappointed with the amount of intervention with center diff locked. I thought it would be a little more aggressive and allow some sideways roost type maneuvers. It did help over the VSC, as it would never just quit on you, but i truly believe that i could have powered right out of some of the drifts if it had let me opposed to grinding, shifting and rocking my way out. I will leave ATRAC for now and definitely try the VSC over-ride toggle.

Does anyone know which system gives you the "fail beep" when you go sideways?
 
I know that my DIY VSC defeat switch removes that alarm, so I assume it's VSC.

Also, my VSC defeat switch occasionally cuts off the "VSC" AND "VSC Trac" which really enabled me to have fun in some parking lots.

I just hate that I got stuck going up a snowy hill and while gassing it I just heard "clickity click clickity click click" from the ABS I guess, I really felt that a little wheel spin would have helped me, but I'm not really sure.

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3TonMike said:
Well, i doubt he was calling ya an idiot. Your 4runner has open diffs, unless its a sport, or you have had lockers installed. You need the atrac to keep the will spin in check. Without it, generally in the slick mud or snow, if a front tire and a rear tire break loose. You will sit in one place spinning the wheels with no traction. The atrac uses the brakes to stop the spinning wheels and allow power transfer to the wheels with traction. Its just the way it works. I learned a while back. The runner is not designed to throw rooster tails in the mud bog. It was designed to cross the mud bog. You just have to sit back and let the unnerving atrac click away. In the end its capability will surprise ya, and you'll realize it bad ass.
Click to expand...

What you mean "4runner has open diffs, unless its a sport" ???
 
gbc said:
What you mean "4runner has open diffs, unless its a sport" ???
Click to expand...

Too much egg nog, I mispoke. The 09 trail edition has a rear locking diff. Thats what I was thinking, when I typed "sport". All 4th gen 4 runners have open diffs. Excluding that model, or otherwise installed aftermarket.
 
My 4Runner WILL not spin for very long. The traction control beeps and it corrects. Will locking the center diff in anything other than a major mess hurt the vehicle?
 
rockwall said:
Will locking the center diff in anything other than a major mess hurt the vehicle?
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You want the road conditions to have less traction than clean, wet pavement or it will bind in turns and stress the t-case somewhat.

The other thing to consider is that you lose VSC when the center-diff is locked (I know that's the point but...). With no VSC if you're cruising along and begin to slide you'll have no help from the vehicle to correct the skid. You're on your own. That's not a bad thing but you need to know it in advance:D
 
All of this talk is making me anxious... I've not had any real opportunity to test out this 4Runner in the snow! :( I think that I already know I want to add the "VSC OFF" switch for certain situations, but I really want to experience these systems. I know that they all must work pretty well after reading all of the rave reviews, but these somewhat negative comments have me a little concerned... just a little bit though. :p

Waiting for some winter weather,
~Doozi
 
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