VSC OFF button on 2008 v8 Ltd 4Runner

C

cbrouse

New member
I recently purchased a 2008 v8 Ltd 4Runner. It's full-time 4WD and seems to differ from some of the other models... for example... there is no Auto LSD feature on the full-time 4WD models.

It is my understanding that pressing the VSC-OFF button once turns the active traction control system off. Holding it in for 3 seconds turns off the entire stability control system. However, if I hit the button once the active traction control system is turned off, but then seems to come back on by itself. When the entire stability control system is off it stays off until it is turned back on manually. I'm trying to get the specifics about why / when the active traction control system turns itself back on automatically.

Chuck
 
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I'm not 100% sure on this, but I believe it's when you go over a certain speed (15-20MPH, I believe) the system turns back on. It's a safety feature that Toyota put in. Also, when you start it back up, it will automatically reset.
 
Hum... I'm going to test the speed thing tonight... that should be easy enough. I also just heard that if you have TRAC off and the VSC activates it will turn TRAC on. If that is true, it seems like turning TRAC off by itself is fairly useless. Turning VSC off entirely is probably more useful since it stays off.
 
As I've complained about this many times , I've recently have found out there a three items involved here.

1.VSC - vehicle skid control ( which stay's on to stabilize the vehicle when driving) I'm starting to like that since I drive in snow every fricken day.
2. TRAC- Traction control ( that the one that cuts off power) from what I was told.
3.Atrac - which with brake anti-lock help created a limited slip type of feature .

I'm not sure if the button cuts off VSC or VSC & TRAC. ATRAC stays active all the time .

The one that shuts down the power if I am correct is the TRAC control which would together with the VSC for stability.

PLEASE CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG IF SOMEONE HAS ACCURATE KNOWLEDGE.

KOZ, chime in here you pretty knowledgeable on how this stuff works.
 
OK... i have far too much time on my hands. I did some testing last night and found that if TRAC is off it will come back on automatically when the vehicle reaches 30 mph. Thanks to some ice last night, the wheels can spin with TRAC off and it will remain off, but if they are spinning and the speedometer reaches 30 mph TRAC will go off. In VSC OFF mode it stays off regardless of the speed until you turn it back on. Furthermore, TRAC can be turned off while moving less than 30 mph, but VSC can not be turned off until the vehicle is stopped. Thanks for everyone's input.
 
cbrouse said:
OK... i have far too much time on my hands. I did some testing last night and found that if TRAC is off it will come back on automatically when the vehicle reaches 30 mph. Thanks to some ice last night, the wheels can spin with TRAC off and it will remain off, but if they are spinning and the speedometer reaches 30 mph TRAC will go off. In VSC OFF mode it stays off regardless of the speed until you turn it back on. Furthermore, TRAC can be turned off while moving less than 30 mph, but VSC can not be turned off until the vehicle is stopped. Thanks for everyone's input.
Click to expand...

Pretty interesting , I would kill to have that as an option.

Oh by the way I'm sure you hated being out in your 4R playing last night......:)
 
I thought that the VSC was the one that cut the power from the engine, as others have complained that when they try to pull out on either a slick road (snow or rain) or gravel they will often feel the VSC system come on and lose power. This has caused some posts about close calls on the highway.

I ran into a interesting situation the other day where I am sure it was VSC. I had driven off the pavement down a dirt road which was about 25 to 30% downhill right off the highway. I got down to a spot and realized that the road was blocked of, i.e. private and since I couldn't turn around I just backed up the hill. I was in 4H and figured I could make it up and get back on the highway. However right as I got near the pavement, I started to spin as there was a good bit of loose gravel there. I didnt' realize at first what was happening, but no matter what I couldn't get up the last bit of road, the truck just ground to a halt. :confused:

Then it hit me. this was an example of VSC coming on and slowing me down when I needed more power to get up the last part of the road onto the highway. I locked the center diff which turns off VSC on a 06 4WD and it was like night and day. I made it up the hill with no problems.

Normally when off road I lock the center diff but this time, I didn't think about it and it does make a considerable diference.

Paul C
2006 Sport V6 4WD
 
Falls said:
As I've complained about this many times , I've recently have found out there a three items involved here.

1.VSC - vehicle skid control ( which stay's on to stabilize the vehicle when driving) I'm starting to like that since I drive in snow every fricken day.
2. TRAC- Traction control ( that the one that cuts off power) from what I was told.
3.Atrac - which with brake anti-lock help created a limited slip type of feature .

I'm not sure if the button cuts off VSC or VSC & TRAC. ATRAC stays active all the time .

The one that shuts down the power if I am correct is the TRAC control which would together with the VSC for stability.

PLEASE CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG IF SOMEONE HAS ACCURATE KNOWLEDGE.

KOZ, chime in here you pretty knowledgeable on how this stuff works.
Click to expand...

I started fooling around with the 'VSC OFF' button today for the first time, and yes, TRAC is what cuts the engine power.

This is from the Toyota press release for the 2008 4Runner - "The Vehicle Stability Control (VSC) system helps keep the 4Runner going on the driver's intended course by detecting front-wheel slide and rear-wheel slide during cornering and attempting to control either condition with torque intervention and/or by braking individual wheels. A VSC-off switch allows the driver to disengage the system, which can be useful in certain driving conditions. The traction control (TRAC) feature helps reduce tire slippage during acceleration"

TRAC equates to the VSC OFF dash light. The same VSC OFF dash light illuminates when you push the Center Diff Lock button or hold the VSC OFF button in for 3 seconds. So, there are a LOT of options:

1) VSC OFF button one quick push, squiggly dash light illuminates solid, indicating the braking portion of the VSC system is disabled.

2) VSC OFF button push and hold, the squiggly dash light illuminates immediately, after 3 seconds the VSC OFF dash light illuminates solid, indicating both braking and engine cutout are disabled.

3) Center Diff Lock button one push, VSC OFF dash light illuminates, CDL dash light illuminates, squiggly dash light does not illuminate, indicating engine cutout is disabled, braking portion of VSC is enabled, Center Diff is locked.

4) VSC OFF button push and hold, squiggly and VSC OFF dash lights illuminate. Push Center Diff Lock button, CDL dash light illuminates. Now you have the Center Differential locked and both braking and engine cutout are disabled.

5) Center Diff Lock button one push, CDL dash light illuminates, VSC OFF dash light illuminates. Push and hold VSC OFF button for 3 seconds, squiggly dash light illuminates. Now you have Center Diff locked and both braking and engine cutout are disabled.
 
Last edited:
Question for 2008-2009 owners

Anyone willing to do an experiment for me?

Short Version: In a 4wd v6 2008-2009 4runner while in 2wd, can you SAFELY go to a gravel road/field/parking lot or similar and completely disable VSC? Then, try to get it to drift/spin out under braking/do a 4wheel-drift and see if the ABS activates or the VSC tries to stabilize the vehicle? Let me know, please...can you spin out/drift completely with no input from the computers or are they still trying to take control? You may hear the ABS pump shuddering or feel the vehicle's path being altered by the computers braking one or more wheels.

Long Version: Here is the background. I love sports cars but sold them to try to merely have 1 vehicle. I chose my 2006 V6 4runner 4WD SR5 as my only vehicle so that I can have fun powersliding/drifting/hooning in fields in 2wd so I can still have some fun and challenging car-control situations. It is no BMW but powerful enough and rear drive that I can theoretically have some fun. [Please refrain from lectures on safety, rollovers, etc. I am good to go there].

HOWEVER, as you all know from the many threads on the subject, ABS and VSC prevent you from having much fun at all in 2wd mode. I unplugged the gray connector near the brake reservoir like so many have done and that did indeed light up my dash with all the warning lights as it should. I was even able to slide around some more than normal which was great. Again, HOWEVER, I swear one or more of these systems is NOT deactivated fully; I still feel and hear the ABS pump kicking on while trail-braking (in the sports car sense, not on an offroad trail sense) and while accelerating out of a turn while powersliding/drifting. This was really frustrating me.

Next, just yesterday, I unplugged the small black connector next to the gray one which did nothing. Also yesterday, I unplugged the very big connector on the side of the brakebooster/reservoir assembly, the connector with the sliding clamp that holds the plug in place. The VSC/Traction lights went off and the ABS light and check engine light came on. I thought "great, this seems different then before" and went for another drive. SUCCESS!! There was no sign of VSC/TC/ABS working so I was having a blast until.....

....The brakes started feeling wooden and weak. I quickly realized the brake booster system had stopped working. I am not comfortable driving this way without the brake booster so I am back to square one. My question up top in the "short version" is to see if the VSC disable button on the 2008-2009 models actually disables everything. If so, I will sell my 2006 for a new model.

I did look into some of the mods offered by the members here but there was no certainty that the VSC and ABS would be completely disabled.

Sorry for posting to this thread, I am not allowed to post to a new thread. Please help me with my short version question, someone?
 
Last edited:
bmw325_num99 said:
Anyone willing to do an experiment for me?

Short Version: In a 4wd v6 2008-2009 4runner while in 2wd, can you SAFELY go to a gravel road/field/parking lot or similar and completely disable VSC? Then, try to get it to drift/spin out under braking/do a 4wheel-drift and see if the ABS activates or the VSC tries to stabilize the vehicle? Let me know, please...can you spin out/drift completely with no input from the computers or are they still trying to take control? You may hear the ABS pump shuddering or feel the vehicle's path being altered by the computers braking one or more wheels.

Long Version: Here is the background. I love sports cars but sold them to try to merely have 1 vehicle. I chose my 2006 V6 4runner 4WD SR5 as my only vehicle so that I can have fun powersliding/drifting/hooning in fields in 2wd so I can still have some fun and challenging car-control situations. It is no BMW but powerful enough and rear drive that I can theoretically have some fun. [Please refrain from lectures on safety, rollovers, etc. I am good to go there].

HOWEVER, as you all know from the many threads on the subject, ABS and VSC prevent you from having much fun at all in 2wd mode. I unplugged the gray connector near the brake reservoir like so many have done and that did indeed light up my dash with all the warning lights as it should. I was even able to slide around some more than normal which was great. Again, HOWEVER, I swear one or more of these systems is NOT deactivated fully; I still feel and hear the ABS pump kicking on while trail-braking (in the sports car sense, not on an offroad trail sense) and while accelerating out of a turn while powersliding/drifting. This was really frustrating me.

Next, just yesterday, I unplugged the small black connector next to the gray one which did nothing. Also yesterday, I unplugged the very big connector on the side of the brakebooster/reservoir assembly, the connector with the sliding clamp that holds the plug in place. The VSC/Traction lights went off and the ABS light and check engine light came on. I thought "great, this seems different then before" and went for another drive. SUCCESS!! There was no sign of VSC/TC/ABS working so I was having a blast until.....

....The brakes started feeling wooden and weak. I quickly realized the brake booster system had stopped working. I am not comfortable driving this way without the brake booster so I am back to square one. My question up top in the "short version" is to see if the VSC disable button on the 2008-2009 models actually disables everything. If so, I will sell my 2006 for a new model.

I did look into some of the mods offered by the members here but there was no certainty that the VSC and ABS would be completely disabled.

Sorry for posting to this thread, I am not allowed to post to a new thread. Please help me with my short version question, someone?
Click to expand...



Hey, I can help you out here. I have a 08 V6 with the VSC off switch. What I've found is that if you just press it a single time, it disables it some, not sure if it's ABS or VSC that it disables, but it basically lets you spin the wheels without it doing anything, but when you get the vehicle sideways it intervenes and ends your fun. BUT if you come to a complete stop, and then press the the VSC switch and keep it pressed for 5 seconds, it disables everything from what I remember. You can rip and roar all you want. It's been a while since I've gotten to use it, but I remember there's a big difference between the pressing it real quick, and then the pressing and holding. The 4runner drifts pretty well for an SUV too I must say [emoji48]


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
I have an update to my quest for disabling everything. Once I reach the post count I can create a new thread and publish my writeup. Stay tuned....
 
I can’t find where my VSC off button is. I have a 2006 V6 4runner sport 4WD. It’s a pain when I’m driving in snow 2WD and when I try to drive up a snowy drive way or make a right turn onto a road after complete stop my rear wheels spin and then the VSC kicks in killing power, no time to build up traction/momentum to move. In 4WD I’m fine for obvious reasons. I had vehicles in the past where I would shut off the VSC controls to avoid slow starts in the snow.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
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