TOYOTA TACOMA 2009 Owners Manual (in English)

171
2-4. Using other
driving systems
2
When driving
Shifting between H4 and L4
■ Shifting from H4 to L4
Automatic transmission
Stop the vehicle completely.
Shift the shift lever to N.
Push and turn the front-wheel drive control switch fully clock-
wise.
If the four-wheel drive in dicator flashes and the buzzer
sounds, try the above steps again.
Manual transmission Stop the vehicle or reduce your speed to less than 2 mph (3
km/h).
Depress the clutch pedal all the way.
Push and turn the front-wheel drive control switch fully clock-
wise.
If the four-wheel drive in dicator flashes and the buzzer
sounds, try the above steps again.
■ Shifting from L4 to H4
Automatic transmission
Stop the vehicle completely.
Shift the shift lever to N.
Turn the front-wheel drive control switch counterclockwise.
If the four-wheel drive in dicator flashes and the buzzer
sounds, try the above steps again.
Manual transmission Stop the vehicle or reduce your speed to less than 2 mph (3
km/h).
Depress the clutch pedal all the way.
Turn the front-wheel drive control switch counterclockwise.
If the four-wheel drive in dicator flashes and the buzzer
sounds, try the above steps again.

172 2-4. Using other driving systems
■Shifting between H2 and H4
●Shifting from H2 to H4
Reduce the vehicle speed to less than 62 mph (100 km/h) and turn the
front-wheel drive control switch fully clockwise.
● Shifting from H4 to H2.
Turn the front-wheel drive control switch fully counterclockwise.
This can be done at any speed. You need not depress the clutch pedal.
(manual transmission)
■ If the four-wheel drive indicator lig ht or the 4LO indicator light blinks
● Shifting from H2 to H4
• If the four-wheel drive indicator continues to blink, drive straight ahead
while accelerating or decelerating.
• If the four-wheel drive indicator continues to blink and the buzzer sounds, stop the vehicle or reduce the vehicle speed to less than 62
mph (100 km/h). Operate the switch again.
● Shifting from H4 to H2
• If the four-wheel drive indicator continues to blink, drive straight ahead
while accelerating or decelerating, or drive forward or backward in a
short distance.
● Shifting to H4 or L4
Automatic transmission
If the 4LO indicator continues to blink when you operate the front-wheel
drive control switch to the H4 or L4 position, drive forward or backward in a
short distance, then stop the vehicle completely, shift the automatic trans-
mission selector lever securely into N and operate the switch again.
Manual transmission
If the 4LO indicator continues to blink when you operate the front-wheel
drive control switch to the H4 or L4 position, drive forward or backward in a
short distance, then stop the vehicle completely, depress the clutch pedal
and operate the switch again.
If the indicator light continues to blink even if doing so, contact your Toyota
dealer as soon as possible. There may be a trouble in the four-wheel drive
system.

173
2-4. Using other
driving systems
2
When driving
■Shifting to L4.
VSC is automatically turned off.
■ Four-wheel drive usage frequency
You should drive in four-wheel drive for at least 10 miles (16 km) each
month.
This will assure that the front-drive components are lubricated.
CAUTION
■Caution while driving
Never operate the front-wheel drive control switch if the wheels are slipping.
Stop the slipping or spinning before operating.

174
2-4. Using other driving systems
Active traction control system (if equipped)
When the active traction control system is operating
If four wheels spin, the slip indi-
cator flashes to indicate that the
active traction control system
has been engaged.
The active traction control system automatically helps prevent the
spinning of 4 wheels when the vehicle is started or accelerated on
slippery road surfaces.
■ System operation
Vehicles with an automatic transmission:
Stop the vehicle, shift the shift lever to N and put the front-
wheel drive control switch in the L4 position.
Vehicles with a manual transmission:
Stop the vehicle or reduce your speed to less than 2 mph (3
km/h). Depress the clutch pedal and put the front-wheel
drive control switch in the L4 position.
Press the A-TRAC switch to
activate the system.
At this time, the active traction
control system indicator will
come on.
To cancel the system, push the
switch again.

175
2-4. Using other
driving systems
2
When driving
■When the rear differential is locked (vehicles with the rear differential
lock system)
The active traction control system is activated only when the vehicle speed
is less than 3 mph (6 km/h).
■ Sounds and vibrations caused by the active traction control system
●A sound may be heard from the engine compartment when the engine is
started or just after the vehicle begins to move. This sound does not indi-
cate that a malfunction has occurred in the system.
● Vibrations may be felt through the vehicle body and steering. It may
occur when the system is operating.
■ If the brake system overheats
The system will cease operation, a buz zer will sound and A-TRAC indicator
blink to alert the driver. Stop the vehicle in a safe place. (There is no problem
with continuing normal driving.)
The system will be automatically restored after a short time.
CAUTION
■ The active traction control system m ay not operate effectively when
Directional control and power may not be achievable while driving on slip-
pery road surfaces, even if the active traction control system is operating.
Do not drive the vehicle in conditions where stability and power may be lost.

176
2-4. Using other driving systems
AUTO LSD system
When the AUTO LSD system is operatingIf the rear wheels spin, the slip
indicator flashes to indicate that
the AUTO LSD system has been
controlled the spinning of the
rear wheels.
The AUTO LSD system aids traction by using the traction control
system to control engine performance and braking when one of the
rear wheels begins to spin.
The system should be used only wh en one of the rear wheels spin-
ning occurs in a ditch or rough surface.
■ System operation
The system can be used on 2W D models and in 2WD mode on
4WD models.
Press the VSC OFF switch to
turn on the system.
At this time, the AUTO LSD
and VSC OFF indicators will
come on simultaneously.
To turn off the system, push
the switch again.
If the engine is turned off while
the AUTO LSD indicator is on
and then restarted, the indica-
tor will turn off automatically.

177
2-4. Using other
driving systems
2
When driving
■Automatic VSC reactivation
If the AUTO LSD system is turned on and the vehicle speed decreases, the
VSC system will turn off and the VSC OFF indicator will turn on. or, if the
vehicle speed increases the VSC system will turn on and the VSC OFF indi-
cator will turn off.
■ If the brake system overheats
The system will cease operation and a buzzer will sound to alert the driver.
Stop the vehicle in a safe place. (Ther e is no problem with continuing normal
driving.)
The system will be automatically restored after a short time.
CAUTION
■ To avoid an accident
●Do not use the AUTO LSD system in conditions other than the above.
A much greater steering effort and more careful cornering control will be
required.
● Do not drive with the AUTO LSD system continuously turned on.

178
2-4. Using other driving systems
Rear differential lock system (if equipped)
Using the rear differential lock systemAutomatic transmission 4WD models: Before using the rear differential lock system.
Stop the vehicle, shift the shift lever to N and put the front-
wheel drive control switch in th e L4 position to see if this is
sufficient. If this has no effect, additionally use the rear differ-
ential lock system.
Be sure to stop the wheels.
Press the RR DIFF LOCK switch.
After the rear differential is locked, the indicator will come on.
Gently depress the accelerator pedal.
Unlock the rear differential as soon as the vehicle moves.
To unlock the rear differential, push the switch again.
The rear differential lock system is provided for use only when wheel
spinning occurs in a ditch or on a slippery or rugged surface.
The rear differential lock system is effective in case one of the rear
wheels is spinning.
Press the RR DIFF LOCK
switch to lock the rear differen-
tial.
At this time, the indicator will
blink. Wait a few seconds for
the system to complete opera-
tion. After the rear differential is
locked, the rear differential lock
indicator will stop blinking and
remain on.
To unlock the rear differential,
push the switch again.

179
2-4. Using other
driving systems
2
When driving
Manual transmission
4WD models: Before using the rear differential lock system.
Stop the vehicle or reduce your speed to less than 2 mph (3
km/h). Depress the clutch pedal and put the front-wheel drive
control switch in the L4 position to see if this is sufficient. If
this has no effect, additionally use the rear differential lock
system.
Be sure to stop the wheels.
Depress the clutch pedal.
Press the RR DIFF LOCK switch.
After the rear differential is locked, the indicator will come on.
Slowly release the clutch pedal.
Unlock the rear differential as soon as the vehicle moves.
To unlock the rear differential, push the switch again.
■ Locking the rear differential
●When the rear differential is locked, VSC is automatically turned off.
(The rear differential lock and VSC OFF indicators come on.)
● The following systems do not operate when the rear differential is locked.
It is normal operation for the ABS warning light and VSC OFF indicator to
be on at this time. If the DAC switch turns on, the downhill assist cont\
rol
system indicator light flashes.
•ABS
• Brake assist system
•VSC
•TRAC
• Downhill assist control system
• Hill-start assist control system
■ The rear differential lock is disengaged when
●Shift the front-wheel drive control switch to H2 or H4 position. (4WD mod-
els)
Never forget to turn off the switch after using this feature.

180 2-4. Using other driving systems
■After unlocking the rear differential
To check that the indicator goes off, turn the engine switch to the ON posi-
tion, but do not start the engine.
CAUTION
■To avoid an accident
●Do not use the rear differential lock system except when wheel spinning
occurs in a ditch or on a slippery or ragged surface. Large steering effort
and careful cornering control will be required.
● Do not lock the rear differential until the wheels have stopped spinning.
Otherwise, the vehicle may move in an unexpected direction when the dif-
ferential lock is engaged, resulting in an accident. This may also lead to
possible damage to differential lock component parts.
● Do not drive over 5 mph (8 km/h) when the differential is locked.
● Do not keep driving with the RR DIFF LOCK switch on.