Dumb question - what do these buttons do on an LX? (1 Viewer)

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The 5 buttons in a row. In particular, what does the one on the left do? I know what the one on the right does but anyway. Thanks.
 
1. Turn assist.
2. Crawl control / Multi terrain system. (See big knob below.)
3. Traction (vehicle stability?) control.
4. Centre diff lock.
5. ECT power (holds grears longer, slightly more aggressive mapping for towing) and starting/pulling-off in 2nd gear for low-traction situations.
 
1. Turn assist.
2. Crawl control / Multi terrain system. (See big knob below.)
3. Traction (vehicle stability?) control.
4. Centre diff lock.
5. ECT power (holds grears longer, slightly more aggressive mapping for towing) and starting/pulling-off in 2nd gear for low-traction situations.
5 is wrong above.

5. is ECT 2nd - second start feature for slippery situations. the transmission will not downshift to first .
 
5 is wrong above.

5. is ECT 2nd - second start feature for slippery situations. the transmission will not downshift to first .

Do the 16+ models no longer have the "ECT Power feature/component of that button"?
 
I don't believe my 18LX has it. Ive looked repeatedly. Hence the ...now I can't remember the name of the throttle tool many of us are using...

Good to know, wasn't aware of that.

You might be using a powercommander?
 
As operational questions like this come up, you can download the complete set of owners manual from the Lexus site for answers. You‘ll get accurate, vehicle and year specific information.

 
I actually download the PDF manual for my 2015 LC and read it cover to cover on a long flight to Asia.... amazing what info is in there and the trouble Toyota went to describe most of the functionality of the vehicle.
 
Unfortunately, for it (turn assist) to work you also have to put up with the noise/vibrations/intrusion of crawl. Honestly have no idea why anyone thinks crawl is a valid feature on any Toyota product. I would definitely use turn assist if it would simply act passively to tighten the turn when at full lock. Now that would be a great feature! The times that I've really wanted to tighten up the turn has almost always been where there is a severe penalty for driving errors (i.e. cliff edge, obstacle causing body damage, etc). In those situations I'm not about to let the automation control my destiny with it's herky-jerkiness. YMMV.
 
Unfortunately, for it (turn assist) to work you also have to put up with the noise/vibrations/intrusion of crawl. Honestly have no idea why anyone thinks crawl is a valid feature on any Toyota product. I would definitely use turn assist if it would simply act passively to tighten the turn when at full lock. Now that would be a great feature! The times that I've really wanted to tighten up the turn has almost always been where there is a severe penalty for driving errors (i.e. cliff edge, obstacle causing body damage, etc). In those situations I'm not about to let the automation control my destiny with it's herky-jerkiness. YMMV.
Crawl or turn-assist is not a valid feature? I use crawl all the time, but turn-assist never.
 
Unfortunately, for it (turn assist) to work you also have to put up with the noise/vibrations/intrusion of crawl. Honestly have no idea why anyone thinks crawl is a valid feature on any Toyota product. I would definitely use turn assist if it would simply act passively to tighten the turn when at full lock. Now that would be a great feature! The times that I've really wanted to tighten up the turn has almost always been where there is a severe penalty for driving errors (i.e. cliff edge, obstacle causing body damage, etc). In those situations I'm not about to let the automation control my destiny with it's herky-jerkiness. YMMV.

I can see where your situation would not be smart for CRAWL. However, there's definitely situations where its useful. Especially when the TC isn't doing a good enough job to distribute power correctly. Like the below situation I used it in.

 
What exactly do you think crawl accomplishes that proper driving and ATRAC don’t? It’s the same system but with a sloppy attempt at throttle management.
 
What exactly do you think crawl accomplishes that proper driving and ATRAC don’t? It’s the same system but with a sloppy attempt at throttle management.

I've been in a few situations on trails where proper management of throttle couldn't get me out. Tried multiple lines and nothing worked. I could've just bumped it and been fine. However I wanted to avoid that and crawl managed to work it's way up. I have also had times where crawl didn't have the traction either and had to bump it.

I don't know if there is something wrong with my ATRAC or what, but the power wasn't being sent properly to the wheel that had traction the entire time unless I engaged crawl control
 
To be fair, other than turning it on to check it out I've never used it. So my assessment of it's usefulness is based upon the objectionable noise and movement of the system. But then again, the times that I've needed more than good ol' driving were time that I needed maxtrax or winch.

FWIW, the way I was trained was to drive technical stuff two footed; constant power, modulate speed with the brake. This does a couple of things: 1) it helps to prevent driveline breakage (won't shock load the system because it's already loaded up against the brake) and 2) allows for more fine modulation of power. That, using the CDL, having quality tires, and aggressively airing down and the truck just does it's thing.

I do think that the multi-mode ATRAC (rock, sand, mud, etc) is a solid feature as it tailors the wheel slip allowance to the surface.

And I do thing that the turn assist would be valuable if it would act passively when at full lock. Requiring crawl makes it useless for me. Though I've often thought about that episode of XO where they used it to get their trailer around a tight corner.
 
To be fair, other than turning it on to check it out I've never used it. So my assessment of it's usefulness is based upon the objectionable noise and movement of the system. But then again, the times that I've needed more than good ol' driving were time that I needed maxtrax or winch.

FWIW, the way I was trained was to drive technical stuff two footed; constant power, modulate speed with the brake. This does a couple of things: 1) it helps to prevent driveline breakage (won't shock load the system because it's already loaded up against the brake) and 2) allows for more fine modulation of power. That, using the CDL, having quality tires, and aggressively airing down and the truck just does it's thing.

I do think that the multi-mode ATRAC (rock, sand, mud, etc) is a solid feature as it tailors the wheel slip allowance to the surface.

And I do thing that the turn assist would be valuable if it would act passively when at full lock. Requiring crawl makes it useless for me. Though I've often thought about that episode of XO where they used it to get their trailer around a tight corner.

But your two footed method cannot manage traction at each INDIVIDUAL wheel. That’s like saying if i pump my brakes many times (and pulling ABS fuse), it is just as good as ABS on a wet surface.

I am sure many has seen this:

CRAWL is not some useless dodads. It will find traction where there is none or minimal.

Or this:

Go to 10 min mark. Not LC but it does show that CRAWL is quite good.
 
Unless I'm completely mistaken, crawl is simply ATRAC + auto throttle. Subtract the auto throttle and you still have ATRAC. And I agree that is a very useful feature that comes very close to eliminating the need for lockers in all but the most extreme conditions.

Regarding two-footed driving: once mastered it's a very smooth, very controllable technique. ATRAC is still ready and available if needed.

I'll make it a point to try out crawl the next time I'm in a tricky climb just to get a better evaluation. Perhaps I'm the one missing out.
 
Unless I'm completely mistaken, crawl is simply ATRAC + auto throttle. Subtract the auto throttle and you still have ATRAC. And I agree that is a very useful feature that comes very close to eliminating the need for lockers in all but the most extreme conditions.

Regarding two-footed driving: once mastered it's a very smooth, very controllable technique. ATRAC is still ready and available if needed.

I'll make it a point to try out crawl the next time I'm in a tricky climb just to get a better evaluation. Perhaps I'm the one missing out.

While CRAWL is similar to ATRAC (same hardware), it’s calibration is different. It is far more aggressive at clamping down on wheel that has loss traction. It basically almost eliminate wheel speed differences between tires on the SAME axle...aka...very close to locker. BUT at same time, it controls throttle to EACH axle/wheel to get momentum...so, each axle may have different throttle input. This is something that is IMPOSSIBLE to do with your feet (or ATRAC for that matter). ATRAC relies on throttle apply thru the gas pedal by you. So, throttle input is same to both axle with ATRAC. With CRAWL, Land Cruiser computer controls axles/wheels INDIVIDUALLY to maintain momentum/traction...it can vary throttle and brake intervention down to individual axle or wheel.

And i may be wrong.......but once you apply brakes (via brake pedal in your two foot method), ATRAC shuts off....so, you then have open axle with no ATRAC intervention.
 
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