automatic traction control

[magecanuck]

hi folks,

i drive a 2007 camry hybrid. i live where there is a lot of snow and unfortunately my only place to park is in the street. last winter, a couple of times i had an incredibly difficult time getting my car to move because the 'automatic traction control' would engage as i tried to pull out of the parking spot. there was a decent amount of snow, but if this automatic feature hadn't engaged, i would have been fine.

i know in the newer models, there is a button to push near the steering wheel that turns off this function. this is not the case with my car. is there any other way i can disengage this function?

in my haste last year i quickly read a couple of other messages suggesting i go through a series of depressing/releasing the brakes, followed by turning on/off the car etc etc (like a video-game cheat code!), however i had no luck.

any suggestions would be very much appreciated!
cheers!

[deadrx7conv]

If you're lucky, there might be a fuse for it. If there is, you can wire an external fuse and toggle switch.

Traction control is great when driving already. But, there are situations that you need to power out of. This is when it becomes annoying. We need some good ol' LSDs and posi's.

Dedicated snow tires also help much.

[AML]

Camry Hybrids are equipped with Vehicle Dynamics Integrated Management (VDIM) a more sophisticated, integrated system of ESP, traction control, ABS, EBD, etc. The manual explains and gives step by step directions on how to disable VDIM.

The process takes a couple of steps and may take practice to get right.

[magecanuck]

thanks you guys... i read about the VDIM system in the vehicle manual... i wasn't able at the time to disengage, however maybe i'll practice a couple more times.
i agree that these features CAN be very helpful, but sometimes those same 'helpful' features can really be a pain in the butt. good advice on the tires as well.... got a new set of four last month.
cheers!