Toyota FJ Cruiser Forum

I can not believe that after all this time Toyota can not effectivly explain how this four-wheel drive system works. I'm sorry to those of you who acually know the truth I don't want to offend anybody, but its like listening to the Kennedy Assasination theories. I'm sure we've heard the truth, but it's surrounded by so much crap nobody knows what to believe.
(Okay take a breath)
As far as the switch is concerned, I have heard a lot of people put it in and the light in the dash works. However I can't believe that Toyota is foolish enough to equip all trucks with an expensive option that they are not paid for, then will allow the customer to activate it purchasing a relativly cheap switch. That is just my opinion. How is anybody supposed to test it when nobody nows for sure how the system acually works. (sorry I'm having a bad day.)

ATRAC is a fancy name for traction control. It work in conjuction with the ABS system and pulses the brake on the slipping wheel. It;s only expensive cause A) they are manufacturer. (prices went up 25% on the tacoma after it got Car and Driver truck of the year) B) it's packaged with other options C) most other manufactures do the same thing for easy of assembly.

Bri-guy, I have tried it and it actually does work. However there is some confusion between the two traction control systems. Every FJ has the standard traction control - that's the traction control that works full-time and goes BEEP-BEEP-BEEP when you are trying to do donuts on ice or other fun things. The A-TRAC only works in four-low and is basically used when you are high centered or something - or an instance when one of the wheels is left spinning in air or in greasssy mud. I have used it in greasssy mud. All it does is make sure (by using the brake) that the spinning wheel stops spinning and the power goes to the other wheels. That being said, if you are not a rock crawler, this function is somewhat redundant to the differential lock which can also only be used in 4 low. I get very little use out of either of them - but I'm a midwest mudder.