Traction Control Button

Iman74

Iman74

New member
I have a 2003 4 Runner Sport Edition I got back in December 2002 that has a button for to remove the traction control. The only thing that I can't find and nobody has been able to answer is why turn that off?
 
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because sometimes it's just fun to do donuts in the parking lot. seriously, it's always good to have a kill switch. maybe the computer is acting up or you just want to be in control of the car rather than the computer. i think it's good they put it in. even the audi's with the esp allow you to turn it off.

what i've always wondered is if you got into an accident with it turned off, would you be liable? i've always wanted to take the fuse for my subaru's abs out (subaru abs is terrible - but that's a different discussion board), but i'm afraid to incase i get in an accident, i don't want to be liable.

mike
 
Thanks for the quick reply.
So if I press the :50cal: kill switch, it flashes that symbol. Does that mean it's about to go inactive or does that happen right away? Do I need to be going at a certain speed limit? This stuff I might have read in the book but that was awhile ago and you are the first person to have an answer to this question. Not even the dealers could think of a reason.
 
sorry, i don't know about the 4runner traction control. my 4runner is an '89, so i don't know about any of the technologial advances in 4runners since then. i do know that in the audi (it's bosch's esp system, also in vw and mercedes, possible bmw), that when you press the off button it's off. there's no speed you have to worry about. it just tells the computer to quit correcting for your mistakes. i imagine that the atrac is the same, but i don't know for sure.
 
My 2001 taction control may be a bit different, but one time I was getting out of my office, which is on a VERY busy street. I saw a small opening and I punched it. The tires were on some gravel that most of been on the road, so when the tires lost traction, the dam thing slowed down and giving it more gas did not help. I wanted to move, not slow down. So at a crictal stop sign, I take the taction control off.

However, at least on mine, the traction control comes back on after 18 MPH, so it is not much good.

Another buggabo I have with the 4Runner thinking too much is my Brake Assit. Toyota feels people don't stop fast enough during panic stops, so they assit. What happens in real life is when you brake, it grabs and over brakes, so you learn to brake less and in a sense, you are changing your habits to defeat the brake assit, great huh......:50cal:
 
Peter is right. The kill switch is there to prevent engine dethrottling (lost of momentum) in situations where YOU are OK with slippage. Once traction control is OFF, you can spin your tires without the computer cutting your engine power. For example, this may be useful in getting out of a mud hole or trying to dig yourself out of snow.

Hope this helps.
 
you can not disable the TRAC off (4th gen 4runner)

Locking the center diff will only disable the VSC but not the TRAC.

If you figure out a way to disable the TRAC, let me know :)
 
My 04 4*4 LTD V8 does not have the Trac off button. Explanations? Guessing it has to do with fullt time 4*4 but, just a guess...
 
the 4th gen's don't come w/ the trac disable button :)

We only get the VSC button, the HAC( the hill thingie, forget what it's called - the one located on the center console - the one button I don't even touch).

The VSC will lock the center and disable the VSC so you it won't monitor the slipping when you offroad.
 
But there is a knock-out for it on the dash, (on left in 4 button section) and it's talked about in the 04 manual???
 
I believe the trac button only applies to the 2wd folks.

I know the tacoma prerunners have the trac button but all the 4wd vehicles don't so that may be the case for the 4th gen's as well.

I personally have the v8 4wd so I know I don't have that button :)
 
I think you're right, that was my guess, for 2wd folks, maybe one of our experts here can concur.

btw; nice trail shots, it's what these cars are all about!
 
Yes, 2wd models have TRAC OFF button. 4wd models do NOT have it. You have to lock center diff to disable VSC (but ATRAC remains ON).
 
when I had a 2003 2wd, if I just tapped the button, the dash lights would come on and say something like 'Trac Off' or something. but it would automagically turn it back on if I went over a certain speed. also, it wouldn't do anything unless I was under that magic speed. I believe the manual has the speed in it. easy way to see is stop and hit the button and see if the lights come on.
 
Thanks Kevin.

The little light comes on next to the "2" that indicates if you are in 2nd gear. I like the idea of being able to press this button to insure that I get maximum power when "racing" off the line.

I posted a pic of the switch up HERE.
 
hehe. no problem. I had to play with it to figure it out, myself! 'course now I don't have it to play with...but those other two "paws" in the front sure do change the way the thing drives. I have yet to have traction control kick in on the road anywhere--it did off the pavement, but have yet to have it kick in on pavement! :D

Kev
 
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