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 have owned a BMW M5, 2 BMW M3, and a Mercedes E55 all of which had some kind of traction control system, and all of them had a button to disable it. I have never wrecked any of them when it is disabled and my E55 has 520 lbs torque, and 470 hp.
VERY well said Moby. Traction control is a great invention, especially with the majority of drivers on our roads being unskilled, but if you know how to handle an automobile you should be able to choose to turn that off. All cars with traction control systems should have an override, and many do. The ones that have switches typically work like this: traction control is on by default every time you start the car, if you want it off you have to hit the off switch every time you start the car. Good compromise between watching out for you and letting you have control when you want it. And given the FJ's power/weight, it wouldn't even resemble uncontrollable without the save-me-from-myself controls.
Good job san ant, keep up the pioneering. Just don't go cloning any sheep ok?
If the vehicle became so unsafe to drive without VSC, you'd think Toyota would kill the engine if those wires became disconnected.
This guy I work with just bought a Dodge Charger SRT8. It has some kind of traction control that you can't turn off witout a mod chip. I think the reason there is no switch to turn it off is that the manufacturers are scared of being held liable for providing a way to drive it with safety features disabled. Its the same reason that there are nag beeps for seat belts and no way to disable a driver's side airbag. Don't get me wrong, I'm all for seat belts and airbags, but unfortunately as-far-as VSC is concerned, it limits our ability to do donuts. It's just another place where our litigious society is sucking the fun out of life and defeating common sense and reason.
Edit: VSC not VCS (Veritas Cluster Server, got work on my brain)
Listen to that Old Fart Moby - sounds like he's been driving since the first Model T rolled off the assembly line!
But I know the truth - he is a young snapper head with an inferior liberal arts education!
But I will grant him that this time, for once , he speaks the truth a bit.
The idea is not to turn the VSC off to drive to the grocery store, the idea is to turn in off when you are wheeling in conditions where it would actually provide more control and performance if you could get it to slide around a bit (loose sand anyone?) if you have experience driving like that. And of course where are you going to get that experience if you have only driven vehicles with these electronic brain safety measures.
I won't turn off the VSC to defeat safety, but I would love to have this option for when it is appropriate to the driving conditions.
Heck, even the 2007 Jeep Rubicon has three settings for their version of this - Full On, Full Off, and Partial On and we can't give Jeep owners something to try and hang over our heads!
It's all good - in moderation.
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I got to play with a 4-runner that had VSC on it a few years ago.. Found a nice muddy hill, and went to go climb it.. it only took a short distance before the VSC completly stopped and stuck the vehical, it wouldn't let it do anything in the slick mud. The 4-runner had a button to turn off the VSC.. I hit it, spun the tires (oh no!!!), and climbed the rest of the way right up that muddy hill.
Turning off VSC has nothing at all to do with a safty issue, it's a driver issue. If you can't correctly handle a vehical without VSC you maybe need to go learn to drive somemore... And what the heck did all of you drive before VSC was around? It's an idoit system, designed to kick in and take over for idiots. Just like ABS. Take a driver that knows what they are doing and you can control the vehical better than the VSC. Read the FJ manual. Toyota even warns that the ABS system takes more distance to stop the vehical. A good driver without ABS can stop one much quicker and in a shorter distance.. Both systems allow you to be a lazy driver. If you are relying on VSC or ABS for anything to save your butt, you need to exam how safe you are driving and your skills to begin with. What are you going to do in a real emergency? Just grab your butts and hope the systems save it for you?
Ok, end of my rant for the day..
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David Hale 2007 Sun Fusion FJ Cruiser - Project T2 Full Icon suspension - 2.5" reservoir shocks front and rear, Icon UCA's, Icon rear links. 34" Goodyear MT/R's, Bandi Mount, Demello bumpers front and rear, Demello Front Skid plates, 4x150W roof mounted KC's and safari lights, ATRAC-Hack. 2007 Yamaha Grizzly 700fi 4x4 2007 Yaris S-Sedan (DD) http://www.offroadingadventures.com TTORA-Socal member #38 TTORA Forum Trail Crew Member
Moby is right...
Cars are made today for dumba$$ drivers who are too busy eating their Big Mac's while IM-ing on their phone...
Remember when ABS first started showing up in affordable production cars...I laughed my ass off. Why the hell would anyone need that, just pump the brakes dip$hit? I admit, the technology has become amazing, and even a race driver probably can't beat anti-lock or traction control anymore, but basic skills can never be learned through technology ( a treadmill won't teach a baby to walk).
I had some prior race driving before I hit the streets but even then my papa took me out to learn to drive the right way...on the edge! Squeeling tires, spinning, swerving, locking-up, you name it...we did it on dry, wet, snow, ice, dirt, hills...all of it. Now that's how you teach people to drive, and avoid stupid collisions.
Having said all that...I'll probably leave my VSC alone...
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I am wondering what are the pros and con in turning off the VSC on the FJ.
In what kind of situation that you want it to turn off. I am just curious what does the VSC system prevent us from doing? maybe some of you can answer my question. Thanks!
To my best knowledge - without looking it up. It essentially keeps you from losing control by controlling wheel spin. If you start to spin the tires, the little thing lights up on the dash alerting you that the computer is going to break the wheels that are spinning so that they do not lose traction on the road. Making things like doughnuts nearly impossible. I've gotten mine to kick on while trying to spin the tires or drift around a corner.
I gotta support the grouchy old guys on this one. I think you should be able to preference your vehicle without all the gadgetry. I don't want my computer to drive for me. I want the TOTAL driving experience. I want to get sideways around corners, I want to spin doughnuts. I also know how to drive. The first car I wrecked - I did so BECAUSE of ABS and it's inherent inability to allow me to control a skid.
I can't stand automated driving crap. You wanna know why the world is over-populated? It's because we made it child-proof. Take the safety off, turn off the gadgetry and let the morons die. Dead morons can't breed. Instead, we put all kinds of safety crap on everything. We ban lawn darts. We don't let kids play with guns anymore. I guarantee John Wayne is rolling over in his grave.
There are certain mods that will be done to my truck to give me the power back. But not until the warranty expires. Once they are done, I'll spend a few days playing in the dirt and playing on the pavement in an open lot with no one around so that I know how it is going to react compared to how it USED to react with all the safety crap on it.
You can keep your airbags too. I wanted a truck, not a damn marshmallow.
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2006 Tacoma Access Cab 4.0ltr V6 TRD Offroad, 6 Speed Manly-man-mandingoness "Too close for missiles, switching to guns."
Member #13 - no matter what that thing says.
Re: how to disable VSC (it works)
Linear Mode
