VSC/TRAC/4wd hickup last night & this morning....

[westwind77]

Something interesting happened last night & this morning....

Engaged 4H on the way home from work yesterday, TRAC & VSC worked the way they should have, like they have time and time again for me.

Got to my road, pulled it back into 2H, but after drive down the road and into my driveway the dash icon was still illuminated that I was in 4H. Shifted into R for 50 feet, into N for a few seconds, then into D, still showing I was in 4H. Hit the gas and all 4 were spinning in the snow.

Put in in N, engaged 4L (TRAC & VSC off automatically), drove forward about 50 feet, back to N, back to 2H. Light(s) went off, pulled into the garage for the night.

Got up this morning, backed out of garage, let the 4R warm up in P for 10 minutes, pulled forward out my driveway (75') turned left gave it gas, tires spun & back end kicked around a decent amount (just like it did with my last SUV when I was playing and having fun in the snow). Then it hit me a little while later, WHY did TRAC & VSC not kick on!?!? The 4R has NEVER allowed that to happen before in 2H or 4H! It was like both systems were off, but the lights were not illuminated. Almost like the 4R thought it was still in 4L from the previous night.

I put it back into 4H, drove for a bit, then back to 2H, but after a mile the system was still lit, so I put it in N, coasted, then back to D, light went off telling me I was in 2H, drove another mile or so. Made a turn up a hill, hit the gas, she was still in 4H, but not according to the dash!

Pulled it into 4H (again), light came on, drove for about .5 miles, pulled it back to 2H (left it in D this time) and instantly the light went off. I stopped and hit the gas, confirmed with just the rears spinning that it was in 2H.

I guess I have 2 main concerns with this. After exiting 4L, with the shut down and restart and idle time, why did the VSC/TRAC system fail to activate....and why did the system tell me I was in 2H when it was still in 4HI?! The VSC/TRAC system did come back 'on-line' eventually (obviously hard to tell exactly when as the only time I could test was when at low speeds or around a corner with no traffic).

I drove this all last winter and the system never had an issue like this. I know it can take a little distance for 4wd to engage/disengage. During my day I drive up to 5 different 4wd vehicles towing/hauling so I have plenty of experience with it. I just found this situation a little strange. I will keep and eye on it and play with it to see if I can duplicate it again. I just worry about someone taking it out of 2H only to have the system ride in 4H for longer than they though, possibly on dry pavement (then again you should realize instantly when you try to pull into a parking spot that it still is in 4H). Wonder if any of this has to do with the front differential problems some people are having?

 

[ciaz]

I had the opposite happen last night. While on the freeway, I was going around a sharp turn at speed (take this turn at least 4-5 times a week). I hit the brake near the apex of the curve, and the VSC kicked in. Not only did the VSC/clicking scare the hell out of me, but it brought me dangerously close to the wall of the freeway. If this happens again I will be concerned.

 

[westwind77]

I had the opposite happen last night. While on the freeway, I was going around a sharp turn at speed (take this turn at least 4-5 times a week). I hit the brake near the apex of the curve, and the VSC kicked in. Not only did the VSC/clicking scare the hell out of me, but it brought me dangerously close to the wall of the freeway. If this happens again I will be concerned.

Vehicle Stability Control is a revolutionary technology that has helped reduce the number of accidents dramatically by assisting drivers in controlling lateral skidding. In fact, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has found that passenger cars equipped with VSC are involved in 35% fewer car accidents than those without the technology. For SUVs, the difference is even more dramatic – those with VSC are involved in 67% fewer accidents.

Toyota became one of the pioneers in developing vehicle stability control systems in the late 1980s by examining how tanks are maneuvered. Through a revolutionary technology designed to control the right and left brakes separately, Toyota took a new approach to brake design that reduces the chances of lateral skidding.

How Does It Work?

Sensors can detect that the vehicle is skidding sideways, and when this happens, Toyota’s Vehicle Stability Control system can apply braking force independently to any of the four wheels while automatically controlling engine output. Together, these careful adjustments help to prevent lateral skidding.

The VSC system electronically monitors speed and direction, and compares the vehicle's direction of travel with the driver's steering, acceleration and braking inputs. VSC can help compensate for loss of traction which can cause skids. It utilizes some components shared with the Anti-lock Brake System (ABS) and an electronically controlled engine throttle as well as a dedicated computer and sensors providing information to the VSC system. These include a yaw rate sensor, a G-sensor and a steering angle sensor. When VSC is active, a warning beep tone and instrument panel warning light indicate that the system is functioning. In many cases, VSC reacts well before the driver is aware of a loss of traction. As with other safety technologies, such as anti-lock brakes, it is important to drive safely, since Vehicle Stability Control cannot defy the laws of physics, nor can it provide more traction than exists in a given condition.

While VSC has revolutionized vehicle steering and traction control, it does have limits. The system cannot provide more traction than exists between the vehicle and the road surface, and it cannot prevent lateral skidding if the driver makes extreme steering actions.

VSC

Found that a week ago, thought it was a good read for people. Yes, in your situation it probably tried to straighten your 4R in relation to where you happened to have the wheel. Also for the VSC system to kick it it had to detect 'sliding', who knows without it you may have actually made contact with the wall? We will never know, just glad you didn't!!!

 

[sydbarrett]

let the 4R warm up in P for 10 minutes

Why? The car was in the garage, no?

 

[ciaz]

Vehicle Stability Control is a revolutionary technology that has helped reduce the number of accidents dramatically by assisting drivers in controlling lateral skidding. In fact, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has found that passenger cars equipped with VSC are involved in 35% fewer car accidents than those without the technology. For SUVs, the difference is even more dramatic – those with VSC are involved in 67% fewer accidents.

Toyota became one of the pioneers in developing vehicle stability control systems in the late 1980s by examining how tanks are maneuvered. Through a revolutionary technology designed to control the right and left brakes separately, Toyota took a new approach to brake design that reduces the chances of lateral skidding.

How Does It Work?

Sensors can detect that the vehicle is skidding sideways, and when this happens, Toyota’s Vehicle Stability Control system can apply braking force independently to any of the four wheels while automatically controlling engine output. Together, these careful adjustments help to prevent lateral skidding.

The VSC system electronically monitors speed and direction, and compares the vehicle's direction of travel with the driver's steering, acceleration and braking inputs. VSC can help compensate for loss of traction which can cause skids. It utilizes some components shared with the Anti-lock Brake System (ABS) and an electronically controlled engine throttle as well as a dedicated computer and sensors providing information to the VSC system. These include a yaw rate sensor, a G-sensor and a steering angle sensor. When VSC is active, a warning beep tone and instrument panel warning light indicate that the system is functioning. In many cases, VSC reacts well before the driver is aware of a loss of traction. As with other safety technologies, such as anti-lock brakes, it is important to drive safely, since Vehicle Stability Control cannot defy the laws of physics, nor can it provide more traction than exists in a given condition.

While VSC has revolutionized vehicle steering and traction control, it does have limits. The system cannot provide more traction than exists between the vehicle and the road surface, and it cannot prevent lateral skidding if the driver makes extreme steering actions.

VSC

Found that a week ago, thought it was a good read for people. Yes, in your situation it probably tried to straighten your 4R in relation to where you happened to have the wheel. Also for the VSC system to kick it it had to detect 'sliding', who knows without it you may have actually made contact with the wall? We will never know, just glad you didn't!!!

I've owned 3 other cars with VSC. This 4runner seem to the the least intelligent, which is ironic, since it's the newest. This also holds true with the brake assist feature.

 

[westwind77]

Why? The car was in the garage, no?

Yeah, kinda figured that question was coming. It was, but I swapped it for the wifes Escape, just left mine outside running, while I finished up a couple things inside.

 

[TheSentinel]

Well, since we're talking about 5th gen oddities...About a month ago, I was leaving my driveway, and I bumped my keychain with my knee, and the engine went dead and I had to shift to neutral to get her going again. When bumped, the key didn't rotate or come out. I'm guessing the chip on the key lost contact or something. Or...maybe it didn't want to go to the store, these vehicles keep getting smarter and smarter, soon they will no longer obey our commands!