2008 TOYOTA 4RUNNER Owners Manual

181
When you push and hold the VSC OFF"
switch for 3 seconds or more with the
vehicle stopped, turn off the vehicle stabil-
ity control system. See Vehicle stability
control system" on page 183 in this Sec-
tion.
CY16076
The slip indicator light blinks when the
system is controlling the spinning of the
rear wheels.
The AUTO LSD" and slip indicator lights
come on for a few seconds when the
engine switch is turned to ON". If the
indicator lights does not come on when
the engine switch is turned to ON", con-
tact your Toyota dealer.The brake actuator temperature increases
during continuous operation of the AUTO
LSD" system, the traction control system
and the vehicle stability control system
such as on slippery roads. If the brake
actuator temperature becomes too high
while any of the systems is operating, a
buzzer will start to sound intermittently to
indicate that the AUTO LSD" system can
no longer operate. In this case, immedi-
ately stop your vehicle at a safe place.
If the system continues to operate, the
buzzer sound changes from intermittent to
continuous. (The continuous buzzer
sounds for about 3 seconds.)
At the time the slip indicator light will
come on and the AUTO LSD" system
temporarily stops operating in order to
protect the brake actuator. (Although the
AUTO LSD" system does not operate, it
is no problem to continue driving.) The
system will be automatically restored after
a short time and the slip indicator light
goes off.

182
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VSC OFF" warning light
The light flashing warns that there is a
problem somewhere in the following.
AUTO LSD" system
Vehicle stability control system
Traction control system
(two−wheel drive models)
Active traction control system
(four−wheel drive models)
Downhill assist control system
(four−wheel drive models)
Hill−start assist control system
Traction control system
Vehicle stability control systemWhen the system is normal and the en-
gine switch is turned to the ON" position,
the light will come on and will go off after
a few seconds.
If the VSC OFF" warning light flashes
while driving, the AUTO LSD" system
does not work. However, as the brakes
operate normally when applied, it is no
problem to continue your driving.
In the following cases, contact your Toyota
dealer:
The warning light does not come on
after the engine switch is turned to the
ON" position.
The warning light remains on after the
engine switch is turned to the ON"
position.
The warning light flashes while driving.
NOTICE
Do not drive with the AUTO LSD"
switch continuously turned on.

183
The vehicle stability control system
helps provide integrated control of the
systems such as anti−lock brake sys-
tem, traction control, engine control,
etc. This system automatically controls
the output of the brakes or engine to
help prevent the vehicle from skidding
when cornering on a slippery road sur-
face or operating steering wheel abrupt-
ly.
The vehicle stability control system is acti-
vated when the vehicle speed is more
than 15 km/h (9 mph).
You may hear a sound in the engine
compartment for a few seconds when the
engine is started or just after the vehicle
begins to move. This means that the sys-
tem is in the self−check mode, but does
not indicate a malfunction.CAUTION
Do not rely excessively on the ve-
hicle stability control system. Even
if the system is operating, it cannot
completely eliminate the possibility
of an accident. Always keep safe
driving in mind, as reckless driving
increases the risk of an accident. If
the slip indicator light blinks, spe-
cial care should be taken while
driving.
Only use tires of specified size. The
size, manufacturer, brand and tread
pattern for all 4 tires should be the
same. If you use the tires other
than specified, or different type or
size, the vehicle stability control
system may not function correctly.
When replacing the tires or wheels,
contact your Toyota dealer. (See
Checking and replacing tires" on
page 443 in Section 7−2.)
CY16073
If the vehicle is going to skid during driv-
ing, the slip indicator light blinks and an
alarm sounds intermittently. Special care
should be taken while driving.
If the brake pedal is depressed while the
vehicle stability control system is active,
the brake pedal will become hard at an
earlier position than usual. However, the
brakes will respond to the pedal force if
depressed further.
The slip indicator light comes on for a few
seconds when the engine switch is turned
to ON". If the indicator light does not
come on when the engine switch is turned
on, contact your Toyota dealer.
Vehicle stability control
system

184
CY16061
Four−wheel drive models only
Pushing the center differential lock
switch automatically turns the vehicle
stability control system off. At this
time, the VSC OFF" indicator comes
on with the center differential lock indi-
cator light.
The VSC OFF" indicator light comes on
for a few seconds when the engine switch
is turned to ON". It will come on again
when you push the center differential lock
switch to turn on the system.In the following cases, contact your Toyota
dealer:
The indicator light does not come on
when the engine switch is turned to
ON".
The indicator light remains on after the
engine switch is turned to ON".
The indicator light comes on when the
system is on while driving.
NOTICE
Make sure that the center differential
lock indicator light goes off before
normal driving.
CY16075
When getting the vehicle out of mud or
newly fallen snow, etc., turn off the
vehicle stability control system. This
system that controls engine perfor-
mance interferes with the process of
freeing rear wheels (two−wheel drive
models) or 4 wheels (four−wheel drive
models).
To turn off: First, push the VSC OFF"
switch to turn off the traction control
system and check that the AUTO LSD"
and slip indicator lights come on. Then,
push and hold the VSC OFF" switch
for 3 seconds or more with the vehicle
stopped.
The VSC OFF" and slip indicator lights
will come on.

185
To turn on: Briefly push the VSC OFF"
switch once again.
The VSC OFF" and slip indicator lights
will go off.
If the engine is turned off while the VSC
OFF" and slip indicator lights are on and
then restarted, the indicator lights will turn
off automatically.
When you briefly push the VSC OFF"
switch, turn off the vehicle stability control
system. See Traction control system" on
page 175 in this Section.
The VSC OFF" and slip indicator lights
come on for a few seconds when the
engine switch is turned to ON". If the
indicator lights do not come on when the
engine switch is turned to ON", contact
your Toyota dealer.
CAUTION
Do not drive with the vehicle stability
control system continuously turned
off.
CY16074
VSC OFF" warning light
Vehicle stability control system
Traction control system
(two−wheel drive models)
Active traction control system
(four−wheel drive models)
AUTO LSD" system
(two−wheel drive and multi−mode four−
wheel drive models)
Downhill assist control system
(four−wheel drive models)
Hill−start assist control system
This light flashing warns that there is a
problem somewhere in the following. The light will come on when the engine
switch is turned to ON", and will go off
after about a few seconds.
The light may come on for 60 seconds
after the engine switch is turned to ON".
It is normal if they go out after a while.
Depressing the brake pedal repeatedly
may turn on the light. It is normal if they
go out after a few seconds.
If the light flashes while driving, the ve-
hicle stability control system does not
work. However, as normal braking oper-
ates when being applied, there is no prob-
lem to continue your driving.
In the following cases, contact your Toyota
dealer:
The warning light does not come on
after the engine switch is turned to
ON".
The warning light remains on after the
engine switch is turned to ON".
The warning light flashes while driving.

186
The downhill assist control system is a
system that assists the deceleration of
the engine brake when you drive down
a steep hill. When you are driving down
a hill with the four−wheel drive control
switch knob (full−time four−wheel drive
models) or multi−mode control switch
knob (multi−mode four−wheel drive
models) in the L4" position, push the
DAC" switch to limit the vehicle’s ac-
celeration. If the vehicle is traveling at
a speed of 25 km/h (15 mph) or less,
you can descend at a constant speed.
CAUTION
Do not rely excessively on the down-
hill assist control system. It may not
be able to maintain a low speed over
road surfaces or off−road surfaces on
which sliding can easily occur, such
as extremely steep slopes or icy or
muddy roads.
TO ACTIVATE THE DOWNHILL ASSIST
CONTROL SYSTEM1. Full−time four−wheel drive models Turn the four−wheel drive control
switch knob to the L4" position.
The system will not operate if the four−
wheel drive control switch knob is in the
H4" position. Multi−mode four−wheel drive mod-
elsTurn the multi−mode control
switch knob to the L4" position.
The system will not operate if the multi−
mode control switch knob is in the H4"
position. 2. In order to make full use of the en- gine brake, putting the transmission
in L" or 2" is recommended.
The system will operate even if the trans-
mission selector lever is in D", 4", 3"
or N". However, when it is in L" or 2"
the engine brake can also be utilized en-
abling the system to operate more effec-
tively.
CY16020
3. Push the DAC" switch to turn the system on. The downhill assist con-
trol system indicator light on the in-
strument panel will come on.
Full−time four−wheel drive modelsIf the
downhill assist control system indicator
light flashes, the selector lever may be in
N" or the four−wheel drive control switch
knob may be in the H4" position.
If the indicator light does not come on
when the switch is pushed, contact your
Toyota dealer.
Downhill assist control system
(four−wheel drive models)

187
Multi−mode four−wheel drive modelsIf
the downhill assist control system indica-
tor light flashes, the selector lever may be
in N" or the multi−mode control switch
knob may be in the H2" or H4" position.
If the indicator light does not come on
when the switch is pushed, contact your
Toyota dealer.
CY16073
With the vehicle traveling at a speed of
25 km/h (15 mph) or less, release your
foot from the accelerator or brake pedal
to activate the system. The vehicle will
descend the hill at a low speed. While the
system is operating, the slip indicator light
on the instrument panel will flash and the
stop lights and high mounted stoplight will
be lit.
If you push the DAC" switch to turn the
system off while it is in operation, the
system will stop operating gradually. The
downhill assist control system indicator
light will flash to alert the driver. To con-
tinue driving at a low speed, push the
DAC" switch to turn the system on. The slip indicator light and downhill assist
control system indicator light come on for
a few seconds when the engine switch is
turned to ON". If any of the indicator
lights does not come on when the engine
switch is turned on, contact your Toyota
dealer.
The brake actuator temperature increases
during continuous operation of the h
ill−
start assist control system, the active
traction control system and the vehicle
stability control system. If the brake ac-
tuator temperature becomes too high while
any of the systems is operating, a buzzer
will start to sound intermittently to indicate
that the downhill assist control system can
no longer operate. In this case, stop your
vehicle immediately at a safe place.
If the system continues to operate, the
buzzer sound changes from intermittent to
continuous. (The continuous buzzer
sounds for about 3 seconds.)

188
At this time, the slip indicator light will
come on, the downhill assist control sys-
tem indicator light flash and the downhill
assist control system stops operating tem-
porarily in order to protect the brake ac-
tuator. (Although the downhill assist con-
trol system does not operate, it is no
problem to continue your driving.) The
system will be automatically restored after
a short time and the slip indicator light
and the downhill assist control system in-
dicator light go out.
CY16074
If there is any abnormality in the sys-
tem, the VSC OFF" warning light will
flash. When the DAC" switch is
pushed, the downhill assist control sys-
tem indicator light also flash.
If the VSC OFF" warning light flashes,
there may be an abnormality in any of the
following systems in addition to the down-
hill assist control system.
Hill−start assist control system
Active traction control system
Vehicle stability control systemVSC OFF" warning light
When the system is normal and the en-
gine switch is turned to ON", the warning
light will come on and will go off after a
few seconds.
It is not a malfunction that the warning
light may stay on for 60 seconds after the
engine switch is turned to the ON" posi-
tion.
Depressing the brake pedal repeatedly
may turn on the light. It is normal if it
goes out after a few seconds.
If the warning light flashes while driving,
the system does not work. However, as
normal braking operates when being ap-
plied, it is no problem to continue your
driving.
In the following cases, contact your Toyota
dealer:
The warning light does not come on
after the engine switch is turned to
ON".
The warning light remains on after the
engine switch is turned to ON".
The warning light flashes while driving.