2015 TOYOTA TACOMA Owners Manual (in English)

177
2-4. Using other driving systems
2
When driving
Four-wheel drive system
: If equipped
Use the front-wheel drive control switch to select the following
transfer modes.
H2 (high speed position,
two-wheel drive)
Use this for normal driving
on dry hard-surfaced roads.
This position gives greater
economy, quietest ride and
least wear.
H4 (high speed position,
four-wheel drive)
Use this for driving only on
tracks that permit the tires
slide, like off-road, icy or
snow-covered roads. This
position provides greater
traction than two-wheel
drive.
The four-wheel drive indica-
tor comes on.
L4 (low speed position,
four-wheel drive)
Use this for maximum
power and traction. Use L4
for climbing or descending
steep hills, off-road driving,
and hard pulling in sand,
mud or deep snow.
The four-wheel drive and
4LO indicators come on.

178 2-4. Using other driving systems
Shifting between H4 and L4■ Shifting from H4 to L4
Automatic transmission
Stop the vehicle completely with brake pedal help down.
Shift the shift lever to N.
Push and turn the front-wheel drive control switch fully clock-
wise.
If the four-wheel drive indicator 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 and hold the clutch pedal.
Push and turn the front-wheel drive control switch fully clock-
wise.
If the four-wheel drive indicator flashes and the buzzer
sounds, try the above steps again.
■ Shifting from L4 to H4
Automatic transmission
Stop the vehicle completely with brake pedal help down.
Shift the shift lever to N.
Turn the front-wheel drive control switch counterclockwise.
If the four-wheel drive indicator 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 and hold the clutch pedal.
Turn the front-wheel drive control switch counterclockwise.
If the four-wheel drive indicator flashes and the buzzer
sounds, try the above steps again.

179
2-4. Using other
driving systems
2
When driving
■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 li ght 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 shift lever
securely to 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.

180 2-4. Using other driving systems
■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 shift the front-wheel drive control switch from H2 to H4 if the wheels
are slipping.
Stop the slipping or spinning before shifting.
● For normal driving on dry and hard surface roads, use H2 position. Driving
on dry and hard surface roads in H4 or L4 position may cause drive com-
ponent oil leakage, seizure, or other problems resulting in an accident.
Further, it may cause tire wear and increased fuel consumption.
● Avoid turning suddenly in H4 or L4 position. If you do turn suddenly, the
difference in turning speeds between the front and rear wheels may have
a similar effect to braking, thus making driving difficult.

181
2-4. Using other driving systems
2
When driving
Active traction control system
When the active traction control system is operatingIf four wheels spin, the slip indi-
cator flashes to indicate that the
active traction control system
has been engaged.
: If equipped
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.

182 2-4. Using other driving systems
■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 buzzer 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.

183
2-4. Using other driving systems
2
When driving
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.

184 2-4. Using other driving systems
■If the engine is turned off and restarted
The AUTO LSD system and the indicators are automatically turned off.
■ Reactivation of the VSC system linked to vehicle speed
When the AUTO LSD system is turned on, the VSC system will turn on auto-
matically if vehicle speed increases.
■ 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. (There 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.