TRAC OFF and no reverse

M

Matt fe2o3

New member
So this AM, out of the blue the 2015 4Runner SR5 starts up, TRAC Off on dash illuminates and vehicle won't go in reverse.

At least this is what the wife tells me as she's waking me up because she can't get to work at 0530 today.

I make a couple morning choice greetings and stumble out to the car. It's cold for N. California - upper 40's, but nothing remarkable, that said it is the coldest day of this winter.

Anyway, sure enough start it up, TRAC off stays lit and when going in reverse makes a sounds like trying to engage but wont. rear camera inoperative. Just no reverse.

I put it in neutral, press the TRAC button up on the inside light control console, the TRAC Off light goes out and into reverse it goes. Sent her on her merry way.

I'm puzzled - if I turn off the car, key-off, the settings should re-set - that is even if the TRAC off button was pushed by wife or kid grabbing sunglasses or turning on an interior light by mistake, does that command not re-set on key-off / key on (like roll sensing for side airbags)?

TRAC Off - prohibits going into reverse is also strange.

What says the fountains of knowledge here?
 
Register to hide this ad
Matt fe2o3 said:
So this AM, out of the blue the 2015 4Runner SR5 starts up, TRAC Off on dash illuminates and vehicle won't go in reverse.

At least this is what the wife tells me as she's waking me up because she can't get to work at 0530 today.

I make a couple morning choice greetings and stumble out to the car. It's cold for N. California - upper 40's, but nothing remarkable, that said it is the coldest day of this winter.

Anyway, sure enough start it up, TRAC off stays lit and when going in reverse makes a sounds like trying to engage but wont. rear camera inoperative. Just no reverse.

I put it in neutral, press the TRAC button up on the inside light control console, the TRAC Off light goes out and into reverse it goes. Sent her on her merry way.

I'm puzzled - if I turn off the car, key-off, the settings should re-set - that is even if the TRAC off button was pushed by wife or kid grabbing sunglasses or turning on an interior light by mistake, does that command not re-set on key-off / key on (like roll sensing for side airbags)?

TRAC Off - prohibits going into reverse is also strange.

What says the fountains of knowledge here?
Click to expand...

that does not sound good at all, but if it is by chance computer related, perhaps pull the contacts off the battery for x number of hours to reset everything and see if it happens again?
 
tm965 said:
that does not sound good at all, but if it is by chance computer related, perhaps pull the contacts off the battery for x number of hours to reset everything and see if it happens again?
Click to expand...

So in looking at the manual on-line - I have to admit at 0530 I was not taking photos and such - the DAC button was what I pushed and what was lit on the dash with TRAC Off.

Sorry for leaving that nugget out. It's all warranty if its an issue [edit] = however I think DAC only works in 4L position on transfer case - correct? Thus if actuated in 2H transfer case mode it would not engage, thus why no reverse. Still wonder why no reset on re-start.
 
Last edited:
Still........ DAC or TRAC wouldn't prevent from going/engaging reverse! :wtf: :shrug: :50cal:
 
Runn4est said:
Happened with my 4th Gen. Wife took mine for the day, I got in the next morning, and she'd been driving with DAC engaged. Makes me wonder how the bright light on the dash goes unnoticed for so long...
Click to expand...

Wives either don't see those lights, or don't have a clue what they mean. My wife once said "honey (she calls me 'honey', believe it or not) there's a light on in my dash, what's it mean?". Me: "what's it look like:? She: "like a little tire that's flat on the bottom". Me: "Um ....."
 
1engineer said:
Probably what happened? Your wife started it up and hit that button. Not the night before.
Click to expand...

She once told me there was a weird "spider" light on the dashboard. I go look and reassure her that the light she spied was to indicate to her headlights were on.... She's a peach though. :girl:

jtc44 said:
True. Was curious and just confirmed this myself.......it will not, something isn't right.
Click to expand...

I totally agree she could have hit the switch this AM - but with a key-off recycle I figured it was very strange to still be on. I will have a look again tonight and report back.

Meantime my turduckens are stuck in Memphis.
 
And could not recreate the problem - however when key off and out, pressing the DAC button does actuate the dash light - that is get in, press the DAC button while everything is dark. Key on and start and low and behold the DAC light on the dash is lit.

Tried this half a dozen times. So there is power to them thar switches at key off.
 
Saker said:
Still........ DAC or TRAC wouldn't prevent from going/engaging reverse! :wtf: :shrug: :50cal:
Click to expand...

Hey Keith,

You're 100% Correct on that! But in this case I have a feeling that the problem is that the 'Power Train'-ECU hiccuped... caused by, sudden drop in ambient, temporary file/history log over-load, damaged/corrupted files in registry... who knows :noidea: but software driven hardware plays by it's own set of rules sometimes; and I haven't yet learned what rules/theory applie here! 'Best Keith,

rig
 
Matt fe2o3 said:
I totally agree she could have hit the switch this AM - but with a key-off recycle I figured it was very strange to still be on. I will have a look again tonight and report back.

Meantime my turduckens are stuck in Memphis.
Click to expand...



I'm a bit confused at this point with what was actually pushed when and by who, so looking again (NOT at 5 something in the am) would probably be good thing lol. As you're looking, you should become a bit more acquainted with the physical differences in the button push between DAC and TRAC. The TRAC, and A-TRAC for that matter, will both reset after a key cycle as you mentioned, but DAC won't. DAC has a physical "memory" (maybe [MENTION=66316]1engineer[/MENTION] or another member knows the correct term for a button with this kind of actuation.) Once pressed, the button stays depressed (and activated) half-way until you press it again, much like the window lock button. My point is DAC will NOT reset after a key cycle.

All of this is moot though as no button presses above 'should' prevent reverse from working. Makes me wonder about a couple of things: Is it possible you were in neutral? Also, you say it seemed like the truck was trying to engage reverse but couldn't. What sounds did it make?

Godspeed with the chicken-stuffed duck-stuffed turkey.........
 
Matt fe2o3 said:
And could not recreate the problem - however when key off and out, pressing the DAC button does actuate the dash light - that is get in, press the DAC button while everything is dark. Key on and start and low and behold the DAC light on the dash is lit.



Tried this half a dozen times. So there is power to them thar switches at key off.
Click to expand...



Sorry, you wrote this before I could finish my last post. About the DAC button, I doubt there's any power there at key off. Go out and check the DAC button again against the TRAC and A-TRAC buttons. It physically actuates differently......at least on my 2011 it does.
 
jtc44 said:
Sorry, you wrote this before I could finish my last post. About the DAC button, I doubt there's any power there at key off. Go out and check the DAC button again against the TRAC and A-TRAC buttons. It physically actuates differently......at least on my 2011 it does.
Click to expand...

No worries - for sure the DAC will switch with key off. Turn car on, off without depressing, no DAC light. Car completely off, key in hand press DAC button, start car and DAC light on.

When it would not go in reverse (the shift control would of course) there was a noise much lighter but similar to a syncro not engaging - almost a very soft version of not double clutching a 1969 fiat 500. Not gnashing or hair raising, but sound of something spinning and not engaging when in reverse.

I then put vehicle in neutral pressed the DAC, lights went off (both TRAC and DAC) back into reverse and rear camera came on (big illumination at 0530) and reverse worked. I keyed off, restarted - all was good.

Sent her on her way and reminded her she has AAA Premier :biggrin2:

I read some of the issues around cold and others around gas cap and what-not. I just cannot put the pieces together. I guess we will see tomorrow AM if there is a repeat.

Edit: I really miss my 06' V8 4Runner Sport. God by comparison that thing really moved.
 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.

Members online

Total: 215 (members: 1, guests: 214)

Forum statistics

Threads
278,306
Messages
3,554,044
Members
248,016
Latest member
Advally Service

Share this page

Trending content

Back
Top