Your 2nd Gen Controls And How They Work

If you already know how to use all your functions, this may not help. But a lot of you dont have a manual or are confused by it. The thing is crazy, so I wanted to break down how to use your controls, give a little info on how they work and offer a couple of my own opinions.

Just so you guys don't think I'm taking the crack and making this up, it's in the manual and you can get a PDF online if you don't have yours. It's not super clear, but it's there. So I'll break it down for you here. This applies to only second gen trucks. You 2014 guys have a different process, so look it up. If you were lucky enough to have an 08 model, you actually have one other choice, to turn all the other stuff off except traction control. I believe that's the 4th choice anyway. Check online or in your manual to make sure. But all other 2nd gen years, have 3 choices, while in 2wheel drive and a couple more in 4 wheel. You gotta have a damn degree to figure it all out! Just print this and keep it in your truck until you memorize it. It could really come in handy if you get stuck in something, especially without 4 wheel drive. Also, I've included at the bottom of my post some definitions to the terms below.

Here we go:

*One single press of the trac (driving or stopped on this doesn't matter) button gets you:
The system is in TRAC off, AUTO LSD on and VSC, Trailer Sway Control on mode.

*For the next two, you have to be at a complete stop. Doesn't have to be in park but stopped. The first time, try 4 seconds just to make sure, but it will say auto LSD on the right and in the rpm part of the cluster, you will see The vehicle icon with squiggly lines.
At this point it means:
The system is in TRAC off, AUTO LSD on and VSC, Trailer Sway Control off mode.

*Now while it's in the mode above, and stopped, press and hold for 3-4 seconds until you see the vehicle with squiggly lines icon and trac off icon. Your auto LSD icon is now off.
This means everything is off!!! (Accept your abs breaks, but they only work if you actually hit the brakes and skid.)
When it's all off, you have the full force of your trucks power and not of it's stability control, so this big honker can get out from under you real quick, so be careful!
While I'm at it, let me explain how your open differential works. Since everything is off, if your truck breaks traction with one of your wheels, the mechanics will be to divert all power to the wheel that loses traction, thus becoming a one wheel wonder... It's just how an open diff works. However, as long as your truck doesn't break traction, you have the full power divided between both wheels.

*When the auto LSD is on, that means you have toyotas version on a limited slip differential. It's electronically brake controlled, so when one wheel breaks traction, your brake is applied to that wheel and power is sent to the other wheel. It happens fast so be prepared... Some people bitch and moan that it's not a good system and not a true LSD. I have found that it works fine, but wish there was a setting to have it on and nothing else. Actually, that may be the 4th setting that an '08 has. Somebody may know, but you will just have to check.

*If you can't live with toyotas version of the auto LSD, you can always buy and auburn LSD from someplace like this: http://www.justdifferentials.com/AG5420134-PRO-p/ag5420134-pro.htm
If you did, you could shut off all the other electronic stuff and just have a nice mechanical LSD.

To help enhance driving safety and performance, the following sys- tems operate automatically in response to various driving situations. Be aware, however, that these systems are supplementary and should not be relied upon too heavily when operating the vehicle.

• ABS (Anti-lock Brake System)Helps to prevent wheel lock when the brakes are applied suddenly, or if
  
  the brakes are applied while driving on a slippery road surface.
  
  
• Brake AssistGenerates an increased level of braking force after the brake pedal is
  
  depressed, when the system detects a panic stop situation.
  
  
• VSC (Vehicle Stability Control)Helps the driver to control skidding when swerving suddenly or turning
  
  on slippery road surfaces.
  
  
• Trailer Sway Control
  
  Helps the driver to control trailer sway by selectively applying brake pressure for individual wheels and reducing engine torque when trailer sway is detected.
  
  Trailer Sway Control is part of the VSC system and will not operate if VSC is turned off or experiences a malfunction.
  
  
• TRAC (Traction Control) for 2WD models and 2WD mode on
  
  4WD models
  
  Maintains drive power and prevents the rear wheels from spinning when starting the vehicle or accelerating on slippery roads.
  
  
• A-TRAC (Active Traction Control) for 4WD mode on 4WD models
  
  Maintains drive power and prevents all wheels from spinning when starting the vehicle or accelerating on slippery roads.

Information overload yet? You may already know all of this, but there are a lot that don't, so if this is boring... Well, don't read on!! I've got a wild hair, so while I'm at it, I'll cover the settings for the 4 wheel guys.

Part two:

So your truck is stopped and all systems are on.

*You select 4 wheel High. At this point, your 4 high is on and you are in A-Trac mode, meaning traction control for all 4 wheels. If one wheel slips, the other three get the power. And your vcs and trailer sway control is on as well.

If you press the trac button once, no hold, you get:
The TRAC OFF indicator will come on.
The system is in A-TRAC off and VSC, Trailer Sway Control on mode.

Why would you want to turn the A-Trac off?
If the vehicle gets stuck in fresh snow or mud, VSC, Trailer Sway Control or A-TRAC may reduce power from the engine to the wheels. You may need to turn the system off to enable you to rock the vehicle in order to free it.

*Still in 4 high and you want to shut the A-Trac and the VSC off? Press and hold the trac button for 3-4 seconds until you see the TRAC-OFF light and the VSC icon (automobile with squiggly lines). At this point:
Your computers control is completely turned off and it's only in 4 high.

All 4 wheels work at once? Remember, there aren't lockers for the differentials on the Tundra, so if a wheel is slipping, power will go to that wheel in the rear, and since A-trac is off, the power won't be directed to one or the other wheel in the front.

Why shut all systems down? Again:
If the vehicle gets stuck in fresh snow or mud, VSC, Trailer Sway Control or A-TRAC may reduce power from the engine to the wheels. You may need to turn the system off to enable you to rock the vehicle in order to free it.

*Lastly, you may want to be in 4low. When you switch into this mode, your trailer sway control and you VSC is completely shut down. At this point all that is on is the A-Trac system. I like this, because it works well and you don't have to worry about your VSC kicking in. However if you want the A-Trac shut down, simply hold the trac button for 3-4 seconds and you will see the TRAC OFF indicator come on.

**Dont forget about your curtain shield airbags while off-roading!!!**

At a certain angle, your truck may think it's rolling over and deploy the curtain airbags.... I'm not even going to step in this pile of dog shat, so read the manual for yourself on this one. I don't want to be at fault for telling someone they should shut them off. You have to remember to turn them back on if you do. Or if you shut the truck off and turn it back on, it gets reset back on.

I downloaded a manual below. The curtain shield info is on page 134.

Like I said, this may all be basic info for you. But if not, I just thought I'd throw it out there for you!

 

Thanks

 

Hahaha!

 

Can't wait to I get back home! I did get this while up in Michigan

 

Thanks man! I just have one question, I didn't know about the trailer away control... Are you sure we have this? If Toyota built this into the trucks, don't you think they would have put a trailer brake in to control sway directly at the trailer? Is this only in our trucks with the tow package (4:30 rear end, transmission cooler, etc.)? Lastly, why wouldn't trailer sway control come on with the tow/haul mode button? Again, I'm not sure we have this function, if we do, it seems like Toyota dropped the ball and didn't complete the system by adding the integrated trailer brake...

 

if you have a tow package on your truck you definitely have trailer sway control. No there is not integrated brake control and if you're towing over a certain amount you need a mechanical sway control. the programming for sway control maybe on trucks with no tow package, but I'm not sure about that. So if you have a truck with no tow package you may want to look at your paperwork or call Toyota about it.

 

I have a tekonsha ps3 brake controller for mine. It works really well and will control all the different types of brake system for trailers. I paid 125 for it.

 

I'm going to go out on a limb and say that all our 2nd generation Tundras have the sway control. There are sensors in the vehicle that are able to recognize when a trailer gets waggy. They didn't put a brake controller in all tow package equipped trucks because not all trailers are required to have their own brakes. If a small trailer gets waggy, that controller won't do anything if the trailer doesn't have brakes. A reason that I'm inclined to say that all our trucks have it is because it would benefit a driver driving a truck without the tow package as well. Most, if not all, the sensors are likely already part of the ABS, A-TRAC, LSD, ect. systems and would need software rather than hardware (the controller) to implement. This way they can economically give everyone sway control rather than give everyone who has the tow package an added piece of hardware. There are probably far more owners that never pull a trailer or only a small one that doesn't require is own brakes than those that pull something that does.

I hope that all came out right, I read it aloud to myself and I'm still not sure.

 

Good point!!

 

Thanks, I do have the tow package, but was unsure about that. I do think Toyota should've built in a brake control for $40k, but whatever...

 

Yeah it would have been nice

 

Yep, certainly wouldn't have bothered me any.

 

Trucky did u get the job?

 

I did! They will give me a start date next week.

 

Congratulations Bro

 

thanks!

 

Hey Trucky how to clean senors on my 2012 for better milage? Thank Tommyboy123

 

What kind of mileage are you getting? What sensors?

 

Trucky got the k&n drop in filter And Magnaflow exhaust wating to see what milage does. Thanks for your insight and help Tommyboy

 

MAF and TB is what of read on mass air flow sensor and throttle body

 

Its pretty hard to improve your mileage with these trucks. Maybe 1-2 mph. If you are just driving in town, you'll probably avg about 11-13 mph. See what happens with your exhaust and drop in filter combo first.

 

Will do thanks again trucky

 

Great post!

 

So speaking of the various controls this question concerns the tow mode. I thought I either heard or read that if you are moving and push the tow button that it will not take effect although the tow mode light still lights up. So does the truck have to be in park for the tow mode to be activated? If so that's a real pain but I cannot believe that it would be designed that way.

 

Tow mode actually comes in handy when you are not towing something too. Example: When I was hauling ass up La Veta Pass, CO from 6200 to 9400 ft in just a few miles. Nannies all off and in tow mode. Scary power and fast. Gained speed all the way up. Actually had to back off a couple of times going up. Definitely don't need a SC. Only if I was dragging my truck on weekends.

 

No, if you hit tow haul it will work moving or not.