ATRAC question for GX 470 compared to other models (1 Viewer)

This site may earn a commission from merchant affiliate
links, including eBay, Amazon, Skimlinks, and others.

@hineas Thanks for chiming in and I'm jealous of your ATRAC! It looked great in that video.

For those with a 2003-2009 GX470, are the brake noises in DAC similar to what I should be hearing with ATRAC? I've used DAC many times going down steep hills and I can hear the brakes loud and clear. Also, on starting the engine, I don't hear any weird noises for the ATRAC self check.

DAC_Info.jpg
 
No DAC is the most obnoxious and maybe only worthwhile for an extreme emergency. And sounds horrible. Yesterday I was dropping down insaine vertical rocks on Fins & Things where you feel like you are standing up in the Drivers seat. And I still prefer to be in control with the brakes myself.

Now the ATRAC doesn’t sound great either but you will get a weird trigger sound followed by some clicks that is hard to describe and lights will flash on your dash. You just kind of know it’s working.
 
@HomersCanyonero the best scenario that I can give that will test your A-TRAC is to find a small ditch somewhere. Doesn’t have to be large and can be on level ground but enough that is going to put you off-camber. Drive into it at a diagonal, unlocked. You may have to adjust your approach a few times until you find just the right scenario. Once you get it, there will be a point that you break traction in opposite front and rear tires. Once you’ve started spinning and are stuck. Stop, engage CDL, shift to 4LO and apply steady throttle. If your A-TRAC is working properly, you should hear the ABS start to click and chatter... Once this occurs, you will feel the truck catch and start to lunge forward. Don’t panic and maintain steady throttle as the truck walks out of the ditch.

You will know for certain that it is/isn’t working after that test. With the front and rear diffs being open, torque will be transferred to the path of least resistance consistently and your two tires without traction will spin freely. Once A-TRAC engages, it’s going to lock the free-spinning tires and redirect torque to the ones with traction. That’s when you will feel the lunging action as it is working. Hope this helps
 
@joabmc Thanks for the tips. I’ll be in Death Valley for a few days and I will test it there again. I’ve been off-road like 5 times in the last two months including a couple of overnight trips and I’m certain that it’s not working. I don’t see the slip indicator flashing nor the noises from the brakes.

@Bluetribal I know what you mean with the DAC and trusting it. I’ve been playing with DAC as much as I can, but still prefer my own brakes. One problem for me is that “L” doesn’t stick unless I hold the lever in that position. Now I realize that is a reason by DAC felt a hair too fast on steep downhills. I will test again with the transmission in L.

Anyways, if I determine that my atrac is not working, what’s the best way to troubleshoot the issue?

All my LEDs in dashboard work correctly and I don’t have any warning lights that something like abs, vsc trac, or anything else is wrong.

I did read something in the owners manual about tire size and wheels might impact atrac. I’ll try to find that section. It didn’t say if the warning light vsc trac would go on. It could be just legal disclaimer.
 
If your stick doesn't stay in L you need a new shift assembly. The track is worn down and the guide is jumping and causing a floppy shifter that won't stay in L.
 
Got it. I’m hoping Dan was right and I’ll see less wheel spin now that I’m using L in 4Lo and CDL locked. Previously using 2nd. Still in Death Valley exploring.

Mine shifts back to 2nd in both 4Lo and 4Hi.
 
Technically, Atrac works in 1st gear only, so yes it will initially work while the gear selector is in 4, 3 or 2. But understand, even though the selector shows you in 2/3/4, what you are really doing is just limiting how high the transmission will go - it's always going to start from a stop in first gear. As soon as it upshifts out of 1st (L) gear, Atrac will deactivate.
 
Technically, Atrac works in 1st gear only, so yes it will initially work while the gear selector is in 4, 3 or 2. But understand, even though the selector shows you in 2/3/4, what you are really doing is just limiting how high the transmission will go - it's always going to start from a stop in first gear. As soon as it upshifts out of 1st (L) gear, Atrac will deactivate.

Confirmed yesterday by chance. I was in 4lo, but trans in D and ATRAC still flashed and did it's thing getting out of a ditch.
 
Yeah I’ve only seen the slip indicator flash for less than a second once. I was in 4Lo and Holding it in L.

I’m waiting for my next outing to see if i see an improvement with with wheel spin when in 4Lo and L.
 
I’ve had much less wheel spin since I found out that I have to physically hold the shifter in the “L” position. I’ve been doing this while in 4Lo and CDL locked.

However, I have no video proof that ATRC is working better. I need to find a good rutted road and test it in L and in D
 
this might sound stupid, but do you mean you hold the gear shifter in L (as in "2L"), or the 4wd shifter in "L"?

I’ve had much less wheel spin since I found out that I have to physically hold the shifter in the “L” position. I’ve been doing this while in 4Lo and CDL locked.

However, I have no video proof that ATRC is working better. I need to find a good rutted road and test it in L and in D
 
Not the transfer case in 4Lo. The shifter in “L” which moves to “2” on its own unless I hold it
 
Not the transfer case in 4Lo. The shifter in “L” which moves to “2” on its own unless I hold it
AKA his keyway and shift pattern plastic in his shifter are screwed up :p
 
One thing that I wonder is would KDSS make a difference in the traction when off camber? Hmmm?

This video shows the Land Rover having really good traction control compared to the Toyotas. I've kinda experienced these wheel spinning issues on my GX470, but less now that I always air down, lock the center, and go 4Lo. Still, I wish my ATRAC was a good as the LR3/LR4. I don't like the reliability of the Land Rovers, but their traction control looks pretty good. Got it give it kudos.



And on this video the Porsche Cayenne looks like a mall cruiser, but does really well offroad. The GX'es in the video look very nicely lifted.
 
Last edited:

Users who are viewing this thread

Back
Top Bottom