Transmissions / Transfer Cases / Traction AidsThis area is for discussion, questions and problems with the FJ Cruiser's gear train, including topics on A-TRAC, VSC, locking diffs, gear ratios, manual vs. AT, etc.
Has anybody tried running loose sand with this mod, and if so, did you notice a substantial improvement? While at TDS last weekend, the FJ struggled to make it up the sand hill behind the main camp - the more gas you gave it the seemingly slower it went. Tacomas can fly past me on sand hills, but the Fj just plain blows in loose sand. I like the idea of this mod if it will help in this situation.
EDIT: Thanks Bugs for the writeup, electrical is not my specialty, and plain english with pictures really helps guys like me.
Last edited by RocKrawler : 03-08-2007 at 10:04 PM.
Hi.. i did the install and it works great.. just one thing though . is it common to need to turn the truck off and back on again in order to turn the vsc back on again?
When you do the mod this way, yes. The FJ thinks it is an error and stores it as such. Turning it off then on clears the code (unless you lose a wheel sensor or some such, then of course the error code would come back, the error is still there. By turning the VSC back on then cycling the FJ, it thinks somebody fixed it). I am still unclear why people are trying to re-invent the wheel here. The way I did it works, it works without having to cycling the FJ and it is part way to the A-TRAC/Locker hack (if you want to do that)
i'm a fl boy too, this helps in muddy or sandy terrain. i like this mod, do the indicator lights shut off when plugged back in?
If you are talking about the connector on the brake master cylinder, then "no" you will have to reset the error code by shutting off the FJ then re-starting it. The other way, the A-TRAC-Rear Locker hack way, then the lights shut off when you turn the switch back on (completing the circuit).
probably a numbskull question but do u mean by re-starting the same way as u do when close to oil change when you hold the trip button on the key turn or just shut off plug back in and re start?
Might have found a factory switch that will work, says TRAC OFF & is Toyota part number 84988-52040 & comes on the Scion xB - looks like the same size and have one on order to test fit. Will post pics when it arrives and is installed
Might have found a factory switch that will work, says TRAC OFF & is Toyota part number 84988-52040 & comes on the Scion xB - looks like the same size and have one on order to test fit. Will post pics when it arrives and is installed
Ya know I was wondering the same thing... the new Tundra has one on the left side of the steering wheel, can you check that one too? It looked pretty close to me.
OK - good and bad news:
Good News is the 84988-52040 Toyota switch does fit into a factory spot without modification to the switch or dash
Bad News is it goes into the spot where the dash light brightness switch goes.
Personally I dont play with the dash light brightness myself, I crank it to full bright and there it stays, so I popped it out and tucked it down into the dash where it can be accessed through the fusebox cover. Then the TRAC OFF switch popped right in, looking at it you'd never know it wasnt there from the factory (it is a factory Toyota switch after all). I took pics but left the card reader at work, I'll post the pics tomorow. Now we just need a wiring guru to look at the Scion xB wiring diagrams and see where to hook the wires to. The switch has 3 small flat connectors in the back, and it appears to be an electronic switch (when you push it, it doesnt stick "in" until you push it again, it returns to the same position as before.)
If any of you wiring wizards is game, the electrical diagrams are available here: ScionLife View topic - Scion xA/xB Electrical Wiring Manuals 04-06
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