4x4 / Off-Road TechThis section contains all discussion related to taking the FJ Cruiser in Off-Road situations, 4x4 applications and any armor modifications.
I'm not sure what Toyota's thinking was on this one...perhaps they weren't.
Easy...Toyota needed to keep FJC's base price down. And many people do not off-road (hence you can get FJC in 2wd). So, they chose a cheap all-season tire. If you want tougher rubber for off-roading, then you can either get on your own or option up to the TRD package.
This is seen almost everywhere. Jeep Wranglers come with crappy all-season Goodyears for the same reason.
OK, back to my original question.........is there a way to turn off the VSC without pulling a fuse??? I know the safety concerns, why it's there, what it does, and now....(Thai)how it works...I would just like to turn it off if I choose to do so!
I'm new to this forum, didn't mean to stir the pot! Thanks!
Aaron
Short answer: NO without having side effects (affecting other systems, Christmas lights on dash, etc.).
On manual tranny FJC, is there a center diff LOCK button?? And can you use it in 4-HI?? If so, then you can lock your center diff and do donuts in the snow. But, be careful, if you lock your center diff on anything short of slick, then you may ruin your transfer case.
To answer the original question, you can disable all skid-control features (VSC,TRAC,ATRAC,ABS) if you disconnect the rear-difflock-switch-position wire, which is located at connector A4, pin 26 (light-blue/yellow wire). This will cause the skid control ECU to think the rear diff is locked all the time. Simply put a switch on this wire and you can disable all skid-control features whenever you want, at your own risk. (side note: this does not interfere with the ability to lock the rear diff.)
Incidentally, this is the same wire you need to tap into for the "A-TRAC with rear locker" mod. But in addition to cutting the wire, you need to supply 12V on the wire leading to the skid control ECU. This will make it think the diff is unlocked.
I provide this information only to help those who want to experiment with the rig's capabilities by modding/hacking the system at their own risk. I'm an engineer and its in my nature to tinker with these things. (But I also won't perform these mods to my own rig until I decide I have a reason to.)
My wife hates traction control and asked me to disable it for her. I refuse because I think she needs to be "reeled in" by the safety systems, and I won't put her safety at risk. These stability features are very effective when it comes to making the truck go where you need it to go. There's not much reason to defeat them. But I've also seen, in my limited experience racing cars, that there are times when it's helpful to make the car do something that the computer wants to prevent. In those cases, a bypass is justified.
I'm skeptical that anyone has a need to defeat these systems in the FJ. But for those who want to experiment, go for it. Just please conduct your experiments off public roads so you don't risk sliding your FJ into the side of some poor Yaris.
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The Tank (aka "RED PILL") : 2007 FJ Cruiser, 4x4AT, black cherry - Expedition One bullbar bumper
- Expedition One rock sliders
- BudBuilt skids (front, mid, TC, crossmember)
- Bilstein 5100 front struts, set at 1.75" lift
- GoodYear Wrangler Silent Armor tires 275/70/R17
The Fighter Jet: 2001 MR2 Spyder, silver - 2ZZ motor/6spd swap
- TRD Sportivo suspension
- 3.0 Racing chassis bracing
- JDM Toyota hardtop, soft-top delete
There's a thread on ih8mud where someone has experimented with cutting the diff-lock-switch-position wire. See the posts by "freewheeling frank" and "Alex H":
Short answer: NO without having side effects (affecting other systems, Christmas lights on dash, etc.).
On manual tranny FJC, is there a center diff LOCK button?? And can you use it in 4-HI?? If so, then you can lock your center diff and do donuts in the snow. But, be careful, if you lock your center diff on anything short of slick, then you may ruin your transfer case.
I believe there is, but I'm not 100% sure. I believe you can only lock the center diff in 4L. I have the automatic. But if that was the case, I don't need to do donuts that bad. I rarely use 4wd unless I'm wheeling, I just like to slide around a little on the back roads (on the highway I could care less).
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07 Blue FJ (Traded)
07 Pirate Mica Double Cab TRD Tundra w/ 5.7
True stainless dual exhaust system w/ flowmasters
Lead foot
Thanks!- I only wish my unpopular opinion was greeted so eloquintly from the start! I understand and respect that they are not for everyone, but see it could be a waste of time, money rubber and MPG's for people to swap em out before they even give them a shot. I appreciate and very much agree with your comments above
sorry this thread is off topic VTFJC I'm not going to call you names or try to discredit you cause your opinion might be different from mine, or I might think I know more about a subject than you. I agree with Boston that stuff is childish.
I was a bit disappointed that the FJ didn't come with some kind of AT tires. I was going to keep the Dunlop's like you for a couple years cause I too didn't want to fork out more money to replace new tires. I will do much more street driving than off road driving so thought the Dunlops might be OK for awhile. Then I read the tirerack ratings, and I changed my mind.
OK, back to my original question.........is there a way to turn off the VSC without pulling a fuse??? I know the safety concerns, why it's there, what it does, and now....(Thai)how it works...I would just like to turn it off if I choose to do so!
I'm new to this forum, didn't mean to stir the pot! Thanks!
Aaron
NO, Toyota does not provide a "manufacturer endorsed" way to disable the VSC
Sorry for the ranting
Has anyone considered what the impact of Disabiling your VSC would have on insurance coverage if you get into an accident and heaven forbid you injure someone? S-C-R-E-W-E-D!
Its simply not worth it!
If you want to disable VSC so you can do donuts or drive the truck hard than you bought the wrong vehicle and you should consider buying a RWD miata or Mini Cooper.
Those vehicles are designed to be driven hard
OK, back to my original question.........is there a way to turn off the VSC without pulling a fuse??? I know the safety concerns, why it's there, what it does, and now....(Thai)how it works...I would just like to turn it off if I choose to do so! 
Linear Mode
