Temporarily turn off traction control? 2007

[kalamitykatie]

Hi there... new owner of a previously owned 2007 Camry Hybrid. We had the dealer order an owner's manual for us, but despite reading that and searching the web, I have yet to find a means by which to temporarily turn off traction control. I have found other queries, but not topical responses.

I'm sure someone is going to respond "why?" so I'll just get that out of the way: there are times when I don't want the car to reduce power to the front tires when they spin. An example is when driving up a snow packed road with icy patches (as I will do every time I go home for about 7 months out of the year). In that case, losing momentum when one tire spins for a moment can cause one to lose traction, rather than improve it.

There are times when I, as the driver, need to be more in charge...

Thanks!

[jsseibel]

For those of us that want to disable TRAC (Traction Control) and VSC (Vehicle Stability Control) for a while, the following simple procedure will do it for sure on the TCH, unlike the other procedures on the net that I have seen:

Perform procedures within 60 seconds. (lots of time in other words)
(1) Turn the power switch on IG. (This means press the start switch twice to get the dash to light up while NOT pushing the brake pedal).

(2) Now push the brake pedal with your left foot, and fully depress the accelerator pedal with your right foot, twice with the shift P position.

Note: Pushing the brake pedal in these procedure is just to allow the ability to move the shift lever from P to N and back to P

(3) Fully depress the accelerator pedal twice with the shift N position.
(4) Fully depress the accelerator pedal twice with the shift P position.

The message "FWD Maintenance Mode" should be displayed on the multi-information display.

(5) Start the engine by pressing the power switch while depressing the brake pedal.

The multi-information display should alternate between "FWD Maintenance Mode" and "Check VSC" and a couple of other lights will be on.

Next time you shutdown, the system will be back to normal.
This does not shut the ABS system for braking.

[kalamitykatie]

I thank you for your answer. I find it very disappointing, though. With other cars with traction control, I can push a button at the bottom of the hill. With our car, I'll need to stop, turn the car off, and go through those steps. Not being able to turn it off without turning the car off is a major bummer. Oh well... at least I know now.

Thanks again. I'll go try it out in a few minutes.

~Katie

[lncshib]

It's true that you could turn off Traction control using the above steps but that is for "Inspection Mode" use only. It can't be use for driving normally otherwise it will destroy the transmission.


The reason why you can't just simply turn off Traction Control is because it's part of the VDIM system.
"The VDIM manages all functions, such as the ABS
with EBD, the BA, the TRAC, and the VSC. It is
operated by the Electronically Controlled Brake
system, which regulates a brake fluid pressure. The
regenerative brake cooperative control and steering
cooperative control functions are also available.
Thus the VDIM is able to perform the
comprehensive management"

unlike conventional systems where they are independent, the TCH integrated all those systems into one (VDIM)

[ukrkoz]

Originally Posted by kalamitykatie

I thank you for your answer. I find it very disappointing, though. With other cars with traction control, I can push a button at the bottom of the hill. With our car, I'll need to stop, turn the car off, and go through those steps. Not being able to turn it off without turning the car off is a major bummer. Oh well... at least I know now.

Thanks again. I'll go try it out in a few minutes.

~Katie

I think, starting 2010 models there's physical "turn off" button. definitely 2011, as I test drove one.

[williamsagency]

The 2010 model does NOT have that button option! Unfortunately.

[magecanuck]

Originally Posted by kalamitykatie

Hi there... new owner of a previously owned 2007 Camry Hybrid. We had the dealer order an owner's manual for us, but despite reading that and searching the web, I have yet to find a means by which to temporarily turn off traction control. I have found other queries, but not topical responses.

I'm sure someone is going to respond "why?" so I'll just get that out of the way: there are times when I don't want the car to reduce power to the front tires when they spin. An example is when driving up a snow packed road with icy patches (as I will do every time I go home for about 7 months out of the year). In that case, losing momentum when one tire spins for a moment can cause one to lose traction, rather than improve it.

There are times when I, as the driver, need to be more in charge...

Thanks!

katie! i live in buffalo, new york, also have a 2007 hybrid camry, and i have the sammmmmmme problem. i have tried the suggestions of depressing the brake etc (which reminds me of a video-game cheat-code) and it's never worked for me.... i've gotten stuck in minimal amounts of snow before because the tires simply will not turn... INCREDIBLY frustrating. thanks for starting this thread... i'm going to read some of the other suggestions because it truly is a pain in the butt (in an otherwise terrific car!).

[magecanuck]

Originally Posted by lncshib

It's true that you could turn off Traction control using the above steps but that is for "Inspection Mode" use only. It can't be use for driving normally otherwise it will destroy the transmission.


The reason why you can't just simply turn off Traction Control is because it's part of the VDIM system.
"The VDIM manages all functions, such as the ABS
with EBD, the BA, the TRAC, and the VSC. It is
operated by the Electronically Controlled Brake
system, which regulates a brake fluid pressure. The
regenerative brake cooperative control and steering
cooperative control functions are also available.
Thus the VDIM is able to perform the
comprehensive management"

unlike conventional systems where they are independent, the TCH integrated all those systems into one (VDIM)

geez... this is very interesting... i'll keep it in mind next time my car is stuck parked in the snow (this is when the auto-traction irritates me)... i keep a little shovel in my trunk to dig around the wheels/tires, but honestly if that system engages, there really don't have to be very much snow/ice for it to be triggered... any suggestions?

[lncshib]

Get a different set of tires for snow and ice, the OEM tires doesn't provide any traction. I switched mine to all-season tires.

quoted from an article on the net.
"Many people mistakenly believe that traction control will prevent their vehicle from getting stuck in the snow. This couldn't be further from the truth. Traction control does not have the ability to increase traction; it just attempts to prevent a vehicle's wheels from spinning. For drivers who routinely drive in snowy and icy conditions, traction control, antilock brakes, and snow tires are must-have safety features."

[magecanuck]

thanks lncshib... i just got a set of all-seasons a couple months back. i haven't had the traction control problem this year so far (there has been very little snow in buffalo surprisingly!). as for the quote from the article... my problem is not when the vehicle is in motion... what has happened a couple times now is that my camry is parked in the street (no driveway or indoor garage), and when i start her up and put her in drive, the wheels initially turn, slip on the snow and then stop turning as the automatic traction control engages.... just like that i'm completely stuck. unbelivably frustrating....
thankfully hasn't happened yet this year!

Originally Posted by lncshib

Get a different set of tires for snow and ice, the OEM tires doesn't provide any traction. I switched mine to all-season tires.

quoted from an article on the net.
"Many people mistakenly believe that traction control will prevent their vehicle from getting stuck in the snow. This couldn't be further from the truth. Traction control does not have the ability to increase traction; it just attempts to prevent a vehicle's wheels from spinning. For drivers who routinely drive in snowy and icy conditions, traction control, antilock brakes, and snow tires are must-have safety features."

[acco20]

Originally Posted by magecanuck

thanks lncshib... i just got a set of all-seasons a couple months back. i haven't had the traction control problem this year so far (there has been very little snow in buffalo surprisingly!). as for the quote from the article... my problem is not when the vehicle is in motion... what has happened a couple times now is that my camry is parked in the street (no driveway or indoor garage), and when i start her up and put her in drive, the wheels initially turn, slip on the snow and then stop turning as the automatic traction control engages.... just like that i'm completely stuck. unbelivably frustrating....
thankfully hasn't happened yet this year!

Perfect description of why the traction control should be able to be turned off. Have seen several different ways on this site that are supposed to accomplish this. I have not tried any of them, but would really like to know which HAVE been tried, and actually work. Thanks to anyone who has this information...

[kalamitykatie]

Well, Pacific Oscillation kept La Niña from delivering her gifts to us -- until yesterday, when she gave us all she should have given us for the last month in 12 hours (15" and counting). I couldn't pull out of a parking lot due to traction control. As soon as a tire slipped, ever so slightly, TC cut power and I came to a stand-still. If I could have let tires slip a little here and there, I could have made it out. I would have made it home just fine in the 2001 Nissan Maxima the Camry replaced. The Camry remains parked there, my husband had to come get me, and today I'm driving our 4 wheel drive, old decrepit Nissan Pathfinder, and getting around quite nicely.

The Camry has new good all-season tires.

Putting studded tires on, and thereby giving up fuel economy for months, to get around a problem that only occurs periodically, seems counter-productive to the whole point of driving a Hybrid. Being able to turn off traction control temporarily without doing damage is critical. This might be the last Toyota I own if Toyota doesn't figure out that people who live in snow need to be able to turn off traction control and give us that option/ability.

I anticipated the problem months ago but experienced it yesterday and I'm frustrated!

Furthermore, I find it quite UNSAFE to be unable to turn off traction control. If I had been silly enough to try to go out that convenience store parking lot on the other side to come at the road up our hill with momentum, and gotten stuck partway up the hill, I would have created a hazard and could have been struck. So, if Toyota thinks they are keeping us safe, I disagree!

That's the only aspect of the car I don't like, but it's a biggie!

[magecanuck]

Originally Posted by acco20

Perfect description of why the traction control should be able to be turned off. Have seen several different ways on this site that are supposed to accomplish this. I have not tried any of them, but would really like to know which HAVE been tried, and actually work. Thanks to anyone who has this information...

i desperately tried the combos of brake depress/release on/off etc etc... all that bs... didn't do squat! i literally dug myself out of a couple inches of snow and ice... it was ridiculous. but oh well... boo-hoo! it only happened once... i was madddddd as hell though.

[magecanuck]

Originally Posted by kalamitykatie

Well, Pacific Oscillation kept La Niña from delivering her gifts to us -- until yesterday, when she gave us all she should have given us for the last month in 12 hours (15" and counting). I couldn't pull out of a parking lot due to traction control. As soon as a tire slipped, ever so slightly, TC cut power and I came to a stand-still. If I could have let tires slip a little here and there, I could have made it out. I would have made it home just fine in the 2001 Nissan Maxima the Camry replaced. The Camry remains parked there, my husband had to come get me, and today I'm driving our 4 wheel drive, old decrepit Nissan Pathfinder, and getting around quite nicely.

The Camry has new good all-season tires.

Putting studded tires on, and thereby giving up fuel economy for months, to get around a problem that only occurs periodically, seems counter-productive to the whole point of driving a Hybrid. Being able to turn off traction control temporarily without doing damage is critical. This might be the last Toyota I own if Toyota doesn't figure out that people who live in snow need to be able to turn off traction control and give us that option/ability.

I anticipated the problem months ago but experienced it yesterday and I'm frustrated!

Furthermore, I find it quite UNSAFE to be unable to turn off traction control. If I had been silly enough to try to go out that convenience store parking lot on the other side to come at the road up our hill with momentum, and gotten stuck partway up the hill, I would have created a hazard and could have been struck. So, if Toyota thinks they are keeping us safe, I disagree!

That's the only aspect of the car I don't like, but it's a biggie!

sorry about all the snow! it's starting to hit the fan here in buffalo too the past week or so (it's a white-out right now as i sit at work waiting to drive home).
my friend has a 2009 camry and it has a convenient button to turn OFF traction control that apparently our 2007 models do not have.... grrrrr. i love the car though... this is my only major complaint. i signed up for an account on fuelly.com just now... gonna put in my camry info and compare with other drivers (fuel economy)... might be worth you to check out/sign up!

[kalamitykatie]

Following jsseibel's instructions, I successfully got into the "Maintenance FWD" mode on my first try. However, that was just a test. Then I read lncshib's cautionary note and haven't want to risk damage by driving in that mode.