2WD? 4H? 4L? WHEN? WHY? Created some cheat sheets

[emerica243]

Being someone whos new to 4WD drivetrains, let alone advanced Toyota MTS systems. I Decided to spend some time last night and create some data sheets all around the drivetrain of the Tacoma for reiteration, familiarity and quick access. Hopefully its all accurate and may help others.

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[Taco Ji]

Appreciate your time and effort but way to over complicate things IMO.

 

[Jogo Bonito]

Like It!!!

 

[tnjwinters]

I disagree. Excellent job. If people understood the drive systems better, issues like TFL and Running 4 Tacos could have been avoided.

 

[lauren01]

Thank you for this effort. This is the exact kind of stuff I’m working to learn.

 

[GRIZZLYCOMA]

Really impressive break down, but does the steering angle affect the rear locker function? Just curious.

 

[px3_taco]

I disagree. Excellent job. If people understood the drive systems better, issues like TFL and Running 4 Tacos could have been avoided.

R4T knew it was going to break by doing what they did, they had already planned on replacing with aftermarket. They did it that way for YT clicks.

 

[stuckinsocal]

ATRAC doesn't work on the front wheels when the locker is engaged? How does that work on the 6MT where we don't have MTS?

 

[GRIZZLYCOMA]

ATRAC doesn't work on the front wheels when the locker is engaged? How does that work on the 6MT where we don't have MTS?

the three pedals and you are the MTS

 

[stuckinsocal]

the three pedals and you are the MTS

Kind of, but braking individual wheels helps a lot and is something only a computer to do. Additionally, you don't turn on ATRAC in these trucks, manual or automatic, it is part of the 4lo traction control programing. I don't know where OP got this info but I'd like to double check it......

Additionally some stuff online shows that ATRAC works on the front axle at low speeds with the rear locked on the last gen 4runner at least and I don't know why Toyota would remove that.

Again, nothing against the OP but I think sources or double checking is needed.

 

[stuckinsocal]

Being someone whos new to 4WD drivetrains, let alone advanced Toyota MTS systems. I Decided to spend some time last night and create some data sheets all around the drivetrain of the Tacoma for reiteration, familiarity and quick access. Hopefully its all accurate and may help others.

Hey OP, nothing against you, or your work, but do you have some sources where you got this info?Last I checked you don't turn on ATRAC anymore; it is part of the 4lo traction control system logic now and there is no longer a dedicated button.

Again, nothing against your effort or post, but something doesn't seem right for some of the stuff you posted.

 

[emerica243]

Hey OP, nothing against you, or your work, but do you have some sources where you got this info?Last I checked you don't turn on ATRAC anymore; it is part of the 4lo traction control system logic now and there is no longer a dedicated button.

Again, nothing against your effort or post, but something doesn't seem right for some of the stuff you posted.

Google, AI agents, forums, Toyotas manual etc.

There is a traction control button with the group of buttons. Press it once it turns the system off off, hold it, it turns more systems off via the reporting on the dash lights. What I don't know is if single press is a-trac and double is vsc or vice versa or what

 

[maxx075]

*Goes off-roading*


**

 

[jsuber]

2 wheel
You get stuck in 2 wheel use 4 wheel high
Go on your way
You get stuck in 4 wheel high use 4 wheel low.
Go back to where 2 wheel works.
use 2 wheel and go home.

 

[Texas Bob]

Alright, I'm sick of all the misinformation going on around 4th Gen Tacoma rear differentials and traction control systems. If you believe that A-TRAC is present on ANY version of 2024+ Tacoma, please reply with some documentation other than this pre-launch Toyota press release from May 18, 2023 which I believe is incorrect.

https://pressroom.toyota.com/2024-toyota-tacoma-is-the-ultimate-adventure-machine/

The above press release says "...four-wheel-drive models have an electronically controlled two-speed transfer case with high/low range along with Active Traction Control (A-TRAC) and an automatic limited-slip differential (Auto LSD). An electronic locking rear differential is standard on TRD PreRunner, TRD Off-Road, TRD Pro, and Trailhunter grades."

To back up my statement that the above press release is not correct, I offer the following from the owner manual of my 2025 TRD Off-Road (manual transmission) though the manual covers every model of 2025 Tacoma. Page 406: "Auto LSD System Operation: The system can be used only on 2WD models." Searching the entire owner manual PDF, there is not one instance of the acronym A-TRAC nor of Active Traction Control. As for the electronic locking differential, it is only selectable while in 4LO as they call it, can be engaged only with no wheels turning, and must be disengaged above 5 mph. So it is useful off-road but not at all on pavement.

My issue is that my truck cannot accelerate strongly at all from a stop, on dry pavement (much less wet or dirty pavement): the rear right wheel spins up quickly unless I am very gentle with both throttle and clutch. If the truck truly had A-TRAC or Auto LSD (or old-fashioned mechanical/viscous LSD) then I believe it would be much better. The truck does have traction control (TRAC) but that does not seem to control wheelspin from a stop. I don't know what it does.

If anyone out there has a manual transmission 4th Gen Tacoma and does not agree with my complaint in the paragraph above, please give some documentation. And if the comments are correct, then maybe (MAYBE!) there's something wrong with my truck. The final possibility is that the loose nut behind the wheel is the real problem, and I need to drive the truck the way an old man should (I am one). But I don't want to. I don't see how it can be justified that rear wheel drive Tacos have better traction, due to Auto LSD, than the 4WD trucks do.

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