What does this button do...

...in laymens terms please. I read the manual, but it confused me to what it does. I got the impression my truck has some sort of wheel braking if a tire slips, and this turns it off?

If im right, in what scenario would you want to turn it off?

Oh, and ignore the RSCA button...I know what that is...its the other one circled.

Thanks!

 

I know what it is, I want to know what it does.

 

And why would I want to turn it off? When in snow/mud/rain? Towing and/or pulling a stuk car?

 

I had to do some looking around but here you go
https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/a-trac-trac-auto-lsd-explained-easy-to-understand-i-hope.70551/

 

Spinning your tires in mud (2 or 4 wheel drive), the VSC will kick in....it'll beep a few times & your anti-lock breaks will start engaging, slowing your wheel speed. Usually this is bad news in mud so it's best to disable the button.

 

The RSCA button turns off the roll sensing airbags. If you are going to be following some dirt trails at low speed you will want to turn this off or on a good tilt you might cause the airbags to go off when you don't need them.

 

You do enough playing in the dirt and you'll be glad you can turn it off.
Some just use it to do doughnuts

 

There is much confusion, and no simplistic answers... and partial replies can't cover it for most folks who want to know. Please click on the link in my signatures for more data, and I am happy to respond to additional questions...
In a nut shell:
VSC is a stabilizer to control your direction while driving at speed, not to move you from a stuck.
TRAC is short for Traction Control, and as the name says, it is to give you traction to move forward if your tires are spinning and you are stuck.
BOTH are controlled from that button of a vehicle with swerving lines below.

The other button (RSCA OFF) is to turn off side curtain airbags IF you are off roading and on a steep (sideways) trail that may activate the air bags if you don't push the button.

 

The link in my thread on the traction choices covers to 2011. In 2012, Toyota added another drive mode to the 4WD Tacomas... in H4: 'TRAC OFF' choice instead on standard... and the standard mode in H4 is the new TRAC which has engine output regulation (as it always has in H2). Here is my thread on the newer modes: https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/traction-controls-2009-2014.310726/

HERE is the 2012+ data:

2012 + (chages in bold)


Press Nothing...

H2= TRAC (Limited Slip with Engine Output Regulation)
H4= TRAC (Limited Slip with Engine Output Regulation, front and rear)
L4= No Traction Control
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Quick Press (VSC OFF SWITCH) moving or stopped...

H2= AUTO LSD (Limited Slip without Engine Output Regulation, VSC OFF to 30 mph)
H4= TRAC OFF (Limited Slip without Engine Output Regulation)
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Press and Hold In 3-5 seconds (VSC OFF SWITCH) while stopped...
H2= VSC OFF (No Traction Control)
H4= VSC OFF (No Traction Control)
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Off Road TRD:

Quick Press of RR Lock Switch= Rear differential Locker (L4 only on 4WD models)
L4 Only: Quick Press of A-TRAC Switch= Front and Rear near-no slip traction control. A-TRAC works the front below 3 mph when the Rear Locker is also on.
==========================================================================

What should you use?
Standard Mode until you lose traction, then quickly press the VSC OFF button to increase the power of your traction control (more engine RPM, stronger braking on the spinning tires).

In L4 (Low Range) and your tires spin, press the A-TRAC button (Off Road TRD only) to nearly lock-up any spin. I always have A-TRAC on in L4... unless you need to spin the mud out of the tires.

Emergency stuck if A-TRAC doesn't work in any situation, press the RR Lock button (works with or without A-TRAC working on the front tires). The rear locker connects both rear tires from inside the differential (0 spin). Turn off RR Locker, once you are unstuck.

1) H2 TRAC
2) H2 AUTO LSD (VSC OFF to 30 mph)
3) H2 VSC OFF
4) H4 TRAC
5) H4 TRAC OFF
6) H4 VSC OFF
7) L4 VSC OFF
8) L4 & A-TRAC
9) L4 & Rear Locker
10) L4 & Rear Locker & A-TRAC

 

Short answer is bump it once for "Auto LSD" for driving in somewhat slippery conditions like rain or a little snow on the ground.

 

Lets see if I got this...

My (non-TRD) truck has Traction Control (TRAC), yes? (I have no button for it)
My truck has Vehicle Stability Control (VSC)...when I push the VSC "off" button, it disables both?
My truck has a limited slip differential, yes? (I have no button for it). If yes, rear and front?

 

My truck is not a TRD.

 

You push that button when the wife is not in the car.

 

Huh? I turn the VSC off to turn on the LSD?? Now Im even more confused...

 

Yes. That's only 4-HI however.

Yes. Press and hold for five or so seconds with vehicle STOPPED to "mostly" disable VSC (it doesn't really disable, but becomes a lot less sensitive)

NO. You have what's called "AutoLSD" which is electronic actuation of one brake on the wheel that's spinning. Press the button once (as opposed to "press and hold") to activate AutoLSD. Basically, this means that when you stomp the gas on a turn and the surface is a little slippery and the inside wheel starts to spin, it'll apply a little brake to just that wheel to force more even distribution of power to the outside wheel where the traction is. But it won't cut power to the engine while doing it. When "AutoLSD" is NOT on - it'll do that and ALSO cut power to the engine.

 

I want to know about DAC since we are talking switches. I have pushed it when descending some steep hills and it does nothing. I though it was supposed to use engine compression or gearing to slow your descent. It is worthless in my book.

 

Gotta be in 4 lo.

I agree on worthless .

 

Please read my reply (#13 in this thread). It and the link explains/ shows it all.

 

Okay guys, Im really not a dummy by any means, but Im just not getting it, so thanks for bearing with me...

If I understand it, we dont really have a LSD at all, rather, a controlled braking system that will stop/slow a tire that has lost traction...VSC also uses the brakes, but more to control skids from over/under steer conditions (for example)...is that correct?

If so, then pushing the "skid" off button, basically places the truck in "open diff" mode (both systems off)...is that correct?

 

As jmaac said, it is a Low Range control for us A-TRAC equipped trucks, using the same braking system to prevent sliding sideways when you go down STEEP/ uneven or rocky trails. Press DAC at the top of a steep grade and just steer... the truck brakes automatically and won't go into a slide that regular human braking can do. It deactivates if you step on the brake or gas pedal.