ATRAC Hack- Switch on/off (11 Viewers)

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abuck99

abuck99

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There are conditions when being able to switch ATRAC off would be helpful (not intending to debate that in this thread). I've read some discussions with similar questions about adding a switch to turn ATRAC on/off but it never got any further than that and I haven't found a definitive "how to" yet. I am not in favor of pulling the ABS fuse to defeat ATRAC, as ABS has its benefits in certain off road situations independent of the need for ATRAC. Not sure if its possible to isolate ATRAC out of the equation, but it is a switched feature on the FJ and I'd like that option on my 100.

Has anyone come up with a hack yet to switch ATRAC on/off?
 
I would think it's difficult, likely impossible, without disabling the inputs since it's all in the ECU. You'd have to look at the wiring diagram for the FJ, but my guess is it's straight to the ECU...
 
re_guderian said:
I would think it's difficult, likely impossible, without disabling the inputs since it's all in the ECU. You'd have to look at the wiring diagram for the FJ, but my guess is it's straight to the ECU...
Click to expand...
Thanks. I was afraid of that. I think the FJ has a newer version of ATRAC as well, so that might not be the best template to work from.
 
There is a very interesting post about this on a spanish lc forum. One guy went deep into the lc systems . would be nice if someone could come up with some good translation of it. Sadly the pictyres aren't displayped anymore.

HDJ Series

HDJ Series

HDJ Series
 
Hmm,

I know there was and still is a common mod in the Tacoma World that involves installing a simple single pole single throw switch into the ABS power circuit wire.

Now it's nice because it lets you turn off the ABS but even more delightful is it doesn't throw any type of a trouble code when the switch is closed again and the ABS has power to work normally.

I doubt there is a way to disable ATRAC w/out also ABS. I'll be honest I have an EDM for my 2000 model and might try and spend some time looking int this but I'm now a lot busier than usual so priorities are to family and such first. Vehicles second. I'll take e EDM to work with me over the coming week and see if I can deduce anything concrete.

Heck it may even be as simple as fooling the electronics it's in another situation or the like. In my Tacoma once you engage 4 low the VSC/electronic LSD systems all turn off. So you could indeed lock the tires down and have no ABS. So we have what's called the YWM, or Yellow Wire Mod which just fools the ECU into you being in 4hi when your in 4lo so you have the anti-wheel slip type traction aide while in 4lo. Works pretty well also!
 
syche said:
There is a very interesting post about this on a spanish lc forum. One guy went deep into the lc systems . would be nice if someone could come up with some good translation of it. Sadly the pictyres aren't displayped anymore.

HDJ Series

HDJ Series

HDJ Series
Click to expand...
When I go to these pages, there are no posts. Translation can be done on babblesfish if I can get the posts.
 
I was going to look into developing a simple circuit that could be switched On or Off to automatically disable TRAC/VSC control when you start the vehicle. On the shop's 2010 XSP DC Tundra 5.7L we had every once in a while I just wanted to get the rear end loose but you would have to turn TRAC off first which took some of the fun out of it. In that truck I think you could also turn off the side curtains or rollover air bags off but can't remember. I don't think you can turn off the ABS but I think it is the TRAC and VSC that are the bigger issues while off road and can be done with a microcontroller interface to the Skid ECM. The turning off the airbags if available could also save money so they don't go off when you hit a giant bump instead of saving them for when you get T-boned.
The way I was thinking about doing it all you would need to do is hit the TRAC button again to re-enable it if needed in that same trip.
I got a loaner AWD RAV4 stuck on some slick surface mud because TRAC kept shutting it down. All I needed was the damn wheels to keep spinning a little but I couldn't find the damn switch to turn it off in the dark.

How much interest and do you guys think there would be in something like this? We would likely need some help compiling all the different TRAC system vehicles and options for turning them off to start with.
 
hewitttech said:
I was going to look into developing a simple circuit that could be switched On or Off to automatically disable TRAC/VSC control when you start the vehicle. On the shop's 2010 XSP DC Tundra 5.7L we had every once in a while I just wanted to get the rear end loose but you would have to turn TRAC off first which took some of the fun out of it. In that truck I think you could also turn off the side curtains or rollover air bags off but can't remember. I don't think you can turn off the ABS but I think it is the TRAC and VSC that are the bigger issues while off road and can be done with a microcontroller interface to the Skid ECM. The turning off the airbags if available could also save money so they don't go off when you hit a giant bump instead of saving them for when you get T-boned.
The way I was thinking about doing it all you would need to do is hit the TRAC button again to re-enable it if needed in that same trip.
I got a loaner AWD RAV4 stuck on some slick surface mud because TRAC kept shutting it down. All I needed was the damn wheels to keep spinning a little but I couldn't find the damn switch to turn it off in the dark.

How much interest and do you guys think there would be in something like this? We would likely need some help compiling all the different TRAC system vehicles and options for turning them off to start with.
Click to expand...


Thanks for posting up. Ive had the thread active for 5 days- 11 posts, so I'm not sure how many interested peeps there are yet, but it doesn't seem like heaps of interest at this point.

I have read the FJ forum hack, and thanks to @DirtDawg 10 pages of a similar hack thread in the 4Runner forum. There is just enough variance in the 4Runner hacks depending on model year to not attempt to duplicate it on the 100 with out some further thought & research. My preference would be hacking the ECU, vs splicing wires under the hood, but one is a cheap mod the other maybe not? Understanding how the systems are interrelated and being able to disable one or the other at will would be an optimal situation. My main concern is not creating a permanent ECU system failure via a self induced wiring fault.
 
So much to lose, so little to gain with this mod...
 
To my knowledge there is no hacking of the Toyota ECMs right now. The product I was talking about would only disable the systems according to the already available manual way you would just be able to set it to do it for you automatically at startup every time or not. You would be simply tying into the wiring in the dash or overhead switches. Disabling ABS and the functionality of these systems is something altogether different and not something to be taken lightly.
To my knowledge there is no hacking being done to Toyota ECMS, that is the holy grail for all kinds of things.
They just aren't open source like a Subaru virtually is at this point.
 
Thanks Paul (hewittech).

I'm using the term hack loosely to describe a workaround externally to the ECU- like tapping the correct wire leading from it-

I like where you are going with the idea-how technical is your mod and what price point would you anticipate?
 
I look forward to someone coming up with this mod:clap::smokin:
If I could shut off TRAC I could have some fun in the rain with my PT LX470. Now TRAC kicks in and will not let the LX slide:( lock the center diff with the front hubs unlocked and A-Trac kicks in giving me ghetto posi.:(
 
If this mod is so simple for the tacomas, fjs, 4runners, it has to be somewhat simple for our 100 series. We just need to find the cleanest and least damaging way to do it.

Also an Ecu reading an incorrect reading would never cause it to damage itself. I'm going to study some wiring diagrams here in a little bit to see if this is possible.
 
If I remember right the ATRAC will not work with a malfunctioning wheel sensor,
Could one wire a switch into a wheel sensor to disengage the ATRAC?
Not sure what kind of wire or signal is on the sensor so may not be possible.
 
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