TE traction settings in snow?
- Thread starter simplemind
- Start date
jreiter
New member
Multi-Terrain Select is a special traction control setting for different situations. The first MTS setting works in 4HI, while the other 3 settings require 4LO. You don't really need MTS for driving in snow since TRAC/VSC work very well, although you can certainly use MTS if you like. I've tried it both ways and the TE handles great either way. If you want to use MTS in the snow, stick with 4HI and the mud/snow/sand MTS setting.
sandcrawler
Senior Member
i was messing around with it last week and both VSC and TRAC automatically turn back on over 30 mph. (even if you came to a stop and held down the button for 3 seconds; the only way to turn off both.)
Ryan_S
New member
I know I have had it function this way ^^ but I thought I could get it to stay off, I'll try it again.
FWIW the manual states that it can be turned off regardless of speed
I find with the part time 4 wheel drive that the rear wheels slip a lot on ice in 2wd mode. There are times I'm switching temporarily into 4wd just to get moving at an icy intersection without the traction control having a fit. I have Goodyear Silent Armors on my 4R TE. It was the same on my 08 FJ TT with the stock BFG AT KO tires. My only disappointment with the TE is that it doesn't have a center diff and full time 4wd.
Rob
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I second that !!
Ryan_S
New member
I have never changed pressure specifically for snow.
I believe the lower pressure theory is that you get a wider tire footprint, which wouldn't really help you in snow. On the beach where you want to float a wide tire would be great. In snow a really narrow tire should do better since you get more weight onto the surface and it will cut through to the hard pack below.
Regular pressure is fine. If anything, you'd want to increase tire pressure in snow, not decrease it.
My co-worker has a new silverado and his 4wd selector dial has an auto setting where the computer automatically enables and disables 4wd. I thought that was kind of a cool feature and it made me wonder why are we still stuck with these manual levers? I'm sure there's a manufacturing cost saving element involved there plus it's less complex perhaps. The manual shifter is not exactly what you would say are the most ergonomic feature of the truck.
Rob
I had a Tahoe 04 Z71 (off road package) lol.
It was push button style 4wd. it also has a setting for "AUTO 4WD" a setting for 2WD , 4hi and 4lo. the auto feature was great for driving in slippery (snowy) conditions or where there was patchy ice/snow. You just kept driving and never worried about the roads. It also had a built in feature to where if the AUTO setting was kicking on to much for road conditions it would beep and automatically put you into 4wd/hi.
Also had auto locking rear diff . It was pretty comfortable in driving in bad conditions , worked great all the time , second best 4wd system I HAVE HAD , my 06 4R was the top finisher but not by much.
I do not feel comfortable with my 11 TE (ON ROADS) that are snow covered. if i am running 4x4 hi then Im fine with it . Off road I am very comfortable getting through most anything.
It was push button style 4wd. it also has a setting for "AUTO 4WD" a setting for 2WD , 4hi and 4lo. the auto feature was great for driving in slippery (snowy) conditions or where there was patchy ice/snow. You just kept driving and never worried about the roads. It also had a built in feature to where if the AUTO setting was kicking on to much for road conditions it would beep and automatically put you into 4wd/hi.
Also had auto locking rear diff . It was pretty comfortable in driving in bad conditions , worked great all the time , second best 4wd system I HAVE HAD , my 06 4R was the top finisher but not by much.
I do not feel comfortable with my 11 TE (ON ROADS) that are snow covered. if i am running 4x4 hi then Im fine with it . Off road I am very comfortable getting through most anything.
sandcrawler
Senior Member
follow-up to my previous post: messed with it again today and VSC & TRAC stayed off. i held the button down for a solid four-count. not sure if that was it/what was different from the previous time, but it stayed off well past 45 mph (which is too fast for the dirt road I was on anyway
)
scanny
Senior Member
I agree that full time or auto 4x4 will be better. But for myself - if road is wet or little bit snow covered I turn on 4x4. Feels way more stable on the road. Besides I found that 4Runner is doing well on snow covered roads even with stock Bridgestones.
adoihcj
New member
I like having control over 4WD, so therefore I do not like vehicles with Auto 4WD mode. However, my wife misses our Explorer which had the Advance Trac system. I hated that system because sometimes it would kick in - especially if the tires were uneven. She's afraid to move the 4WD stick and has been complaining that she cannot drive in the snow like she used to with the Explorer. Since I love the 4R so much, I can't even think about getting rid of it, however I might need to move into a crossover if she keeps complaining about it. I'd go with an AWD Highlander if that happens.
Don't get me totally wrong . I do like the 4wd lever on the floor. It's kinda cool and you don't see that much of them anymore.
I am ok driving on wet roads , but still felt more confident with having full time 4wd like my 06 v8 4R had . it was just reassuring .
Since i wrote my last post we have had some small snows where the roads were covered and I said heck with this I need to make time (because of my job) and be confident doing it so I have just been throwing it in 4hi. I feel better then.
Sometimes I wonder though where the ideas for stuff comes from and why Toyota would think this is what they(consumers) want .
I am ok driving on wet roads , but still felt more confident with having full time 4wd like my 06 v8 4R had . it was just reassuring .
Since i wrote my last post we have had some small snows where the roads were covered and I said heck with this I need to make time (because of my job) and be confident doing it so I have just been throwing it in 4hi. I feel better then.
Sometimes I wonder though where the ideas for stuff comes from and why Toyota would think this is what they(consumers) want .
harper7
Senior Member
IMO....I think their ideas on dropping the Torsen full time in the TE's and SR5's were forced upon by the bean counters and the continuing fall of the Yen.Strictly cost cutting!The majority of owners don't go to forums and don't even know it's missing.
The Torsen is said to cost them $3000 more each and it had to be outsourced from JTEKT Torsen after it's merger . If they added that cost on to the TE it would have priced it too high for many targeted buyers and almost at Lexus prices.
With today's economies, it is a balancing act for Toyota to make money on 4Runners ,especially being that it's imported,there is a flood of SUV's and Crossovers now and 4Runners are targeted at such a small niche .
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sandcrawler
Senior Member
:iagree:
a fully loaded Trail is already flirting with the Limited's price point... throw a Torsen in? fuhgeddaboudit. customers won't want to pay for it and Toyota certainly isn't going to eat the additional cost.
a fully loaded Trail is already flirting with the Limited's price point... throw a Torsen in? fuhgeddaboudit. customers won't want to pay for it and Toyota certainly isn't going to eat the additional cost.
Ryan_S
New member
that just means you are driving too fast for the conditions and your and your vehicle's abilities.
