VSC disengage by switch

[gizmopt2002]

Well, finally got around to trying a VSC switch. I've god some bad news and some good news. Heres the bad news. Even though each wire (on the older 4th gens) controls ABS, ATRAC, and VSC, if one of them is interrupted, then they are ALL disabled. I haven't tried all the different combinations yet. I have wired up a switch, and it works, flip the switch, a second later, VSC off ATRAC, and ABS go on, but to turn them off, you must turn off the car. I'm going to work on that later, too. Also, even though the dash says they are all off, doesn't necessarily mean that they are all disabled. On a rainy day I will try it out. It's nice that I can just flip a switch and do whatever I need, but your back to old time 4WD. Now I didn't have time, but I will see what current is going thru the wires at any given time, and see if I can fake it, so the computer "thinks" VSC is on, but really it's not. Now for the pics. I used quick disconnect on all three of the wires, then used a cable I found while cleaning out my junk drawer, along with a switch.

 

[HiVel-JR]

Something about this looks and feels dangerous,... But I like it!!! If you figure this out I will be doing the mod!!!

 

[Iron Clad Lou]

awesome gizmopt2002! let us know what else you find out!

 

[gizmopt2002]

Won't have time to look at it this week end, but all I can say is awesome. My only peeve is the issue where you have to start it again to get the lights to clear. I also found that if you flip the switch back after 3 seconds of flipping it the lights go off. May be on to something. My only guess is that it detects a current, and when that current gets higher, it sends a signal to the comp. and the comp figures out which tires to brake, and to cut power. Hopefully I can get this solved soon. I would love a SC off switch, but JUST for VSC. But so far there is ZERO problems. I've driven 30 miles so far and there is nothing out of the ordinary. maybe someone of greater knowledge can chime in about the three wires.

Oh yea, and anybody know where to find a switch close to stock? This one was 25 cents at the dollar store. lol.

 

[Iron Clad Lou]

Oh yea, and anybody know where to find a switch close to stock? This one was 25 cents at the dollar store. lol.

have you tried blipping the key instead of turning off the truck?

check pg 2 of this thread...there is a pic of a VSC off switch that I posted that should work for this application.

 

[retco]

My VSC lights are on, the dealer pluged it into a code reader and NOTHING, not showing any codes, they said bring it in so they can dig alittle deeper. When VSC is not working is that hurting me in 4wd, should my A-trac still be working, I know my prob isn't really the topic of this thread but yall seem to know alot about VSC. THANKS

 

[JB.]

Has anyone come up with anything to disengage the VSC ? A switch to turn it on & off. Damn it can be a dangerous function .

I know you really want this, but maybe my experience will change your perspective a bit.

I almost never encounter the kind of conditions that have prompted you to rail against VSC, but I do recall thinking that the diff lock didn't really seem like a full solution -- until now. I've been playing around with the differential lock on the road, lately. The infamous "binding" is nowhere near what I had assumed it would be. The truck handles the large radius turns typical of a continuous roadway with ease, and that ease extends all the way to a typical right angle surface street turn. When pointed straight, the truck goes in and out of center lock quickly, especially with a little practice, and easily allows for improptu off and on use at any speed. I wouldn't hesitate to use it one bit if I encountered any of the kind of circumstances you've described as dangerous.

Having spent a lot of time off-road with the center locked and feeling various levels of drivetrain resistance via steering feedback, I'm extremely comfortable with the small to nearly imperceptable amount produced on the road under the described conditions. Going through some turns a bit faster with varying degrees of throttle for experimentation, I noticed the handling changed a little from unlocked and it starts to push just a tad around corners, but it's very solid and predictable. I know you like to test things for yourself. I suggest you try it out and see what you think. As far as I'm concerned, the diff lock on/off button is a complete solution for VSC.

 

[Falls]

I have been getting more used to it with all the snow storms after snow storm here. I'm like the VSC for driving , just working my way through unplowded center crossings , but learning to lock before entering them.

Driving with the VSC on ( diff.unlocked) has been getting better and better since I've so much snow to constantly drive in and learning how the truck acts compared to my others I've had .

Still would like the VSC / Atrac on/off switch though would make it a nice thing IMO.

I never had stuff like this before on my trucks . No VSC , No traction control , no Atrac . Learning curve I guess.

 

[JB.]

Still would like the VSC / Atrac on/off switch though would make it a nice thing IMO.

It was a revelation for me and changed my perspective towards the 4runner setup quite a bit. Sorry you're still not completely satisfied.

One more thing that comes to mind, though. With a pure VSC off switch, it would be a lot easier to forget and leave it off, then not have VSC when needed.

 

[Falls]

It was a revelation for me and changed my perspective towards the 4runner setup quite a bit. Sorry you're still not completely satisfied.

One more thing that comes to mind, though. With a pure VSC off switch, it would be a lot easier to forget and leave it off, then not have VSC when needed.

I'm pretty satisfied as I've had A LOT of time to learn on road this winter ( to tell you the truth I've learned this winter to appreciate it ) , off road I really never had a problem.

Agreed with the switch and forgetting to switch it back on , or if someone else drives it and doesn't know.

How did it change your perspective ?

I was out in one of our recent snows with a female friend of mine , and she couldn't believe how it handled in snow even with the worn tires ...lol.

 

[JB.]

How did it change your perspective ?

Well, I'm sure you've seen the blanket rule repeated on every 4X4 site on the net -- "don't" "can't" "never" lock the center diff on dry pavement. Thinking that way, I couldn't envision the center lock/unlock button as a very good VSC defeat solution. What if you're sitting on slush but needing to turn onto a dry paved road? I would have formerly thought I couldn't lock the center diff in that situation 'cause I'd be turning on dry pavement. Finding out otherwise has been liberating and playing with the handling when locked on dry pavement has been eye-opening and fun. I now consider that I have a VSC off switch that works well.

 

[gizmopt2002]

Locking the center diff is like the 4WD on my '95 4Runner. You can enable it on dry, but there is no guarantee that you wont hurt anything when you turn. Gentle curves are fine but a 90 degree turn on dry pavement has a more likely chance of damaging something. Slush and slippery stuff is fine. A VSC defeat switch is a much better solution for me IMHO and I have even gone so far as to teach my mom how to handle it in the winter. For example while going up a semi-steep snow covered road, she couldn't get up it because of VSC, she switched it off and was on her way. Honestly, VSC was created for a good cause, but for my uses, and many others it just doesn't suit me. To each his own

 

[Falls]

Locking the center diff is like the 4WD on my '95 4Runner. You can enable it on dry, but there is no guarantee that you wont hurt anything when you turn. Gentle curves are fine but a 90 degree turn on dry pavement has a more likely chance of damaging something. Slush and slippery stuff is fine. A VSC defeat switch is a much better solution for me IMHO and I have even gone so far as to teach my mom how to handle it in the winter. For example while going up a semi-steep snow covered road, she couldn't get up it because of VSC, she switched it off and was on her way. Honestly, VSC was created for a good cause, but for my uses, and many others it just doesn't suit me. To each his own

I had to do the same thing with my wife. She freaked out when the power cut off a few times and was almost hit , she refuses to take the 4R in the snow . She like her Escape 4x4 and it does fine in the storms and is simple . She drives in Auto 4x4 mode which works well , and in deep snow stuff she switches to the lock feature . I've tested it on dry pavement with it locked ( because someone here said it does not lock and basically does very little ) well I got news , no 90* turns with that on dry pavement either , it binds to a stop.

 

[JB.]

Regarding 90 degree turns, what I stated was "typical right angle surface street turn". The turns alluded to were on the wide streets of my area and were performed with about 1/2 a steering wheel revolution which results in a mild steering angle and large turn radius of short duration that causes little to no steering effort as the tires easily absorb any small rotational differences. The driveline stress does ramp up quickly past certain steering angle/surface friction thresholds - especially at slow speed - so anyone wishing to familiarize themselves with center locked handling on a dry surface should do so in gradual steps and only if they have a basic understanding of the mechanicals of what's going on underneath. That said, I highly recommend it. A little practical experimentation was extremely enlightening.

Apologies if my posts were considered off topic. I thought the subject relevant since I, too, considered a pure VSC off switch valuable but then discovered some things which made it unnecessary to me and, perhaps, the thread author, as well as some others.