Weird ATRAC issue, troubleshooting recommendations? (1 Viewer)

[jaewastooshort]

So, for the past couple of days, I've had a few weird ATRAC related issues.

Time of day is not consistent, but once a day after a cold start (the car's been sitting for at least several hours) on my first tight right hand low speed turn I've had ATRAC activate. The first time I didn't realize what it was, felt almost like the tire was rubbing on the frame or something. When it happened this morning again, I saw the ATRAC light flash and realized it was the brake system activating because it perceived some sort of traction issue, kinda felt like ABS activation. Each time it occurred was on dry clean pavement, and it did not recur, even when I tried to get it to activate.

I'm assuming there's something not quite right, but not sure where to begin troubleshooting. My first thought is that I might have an issue with a front wheel speed sensor, but I'm getting no other signs.

 

[jaewastooshort]

well, I was hoping there would be some recommendations, but the issue didn't reoccur yesterday. Over the past few days I've been doing some fence work at my parent's house and have been driving through a muddy ditch to get closer to where I'm working (all tools in my LX, and using the tailgate as a work table), which has been activating the ATRAC on my way out, as well as getting quite a bit of mud all over everything. Even doing the primative trails in Arches and Great Sand Dunes parks last year I don't ever remember ATRAC activating, so maybe this isn't terribly unusual and just a result of the system actually working. I figure I'll get everything rinsed off and make sure I don't have any mud where it shouldn't be and we'll see if anything else unusual happens.

 

[jaewastooshort]

well, issue is back. I'm wondering if I've got some excessive play in my control arm bushings or something that's allowing the entire suspension to shift. Also have less than 50k on new OEM Toyota CV axles and have a distinct leak (boot tear?) from the inner joint on the passenger side, which seems to be the one binding, or doing whatever is causing the ATRAC to engage on hard right turns. I crawled under the truck on Sunday afternoon and poked/pulled/rocked everything I could looking for any amount of play or give and not really seeing anything, so not sure what to do from here besides set up a gopro style camera under the car focused on the suspension over there, try to replicate the issue, and see if I can get a visual on what is actually going on when this happens.

I'm about to install the diff drop bracket, front diff bushings, and UCAs anyway, so if there is something else messed up or needing attention I should be able to get a good visual while I'm doing all of that.

 

[OEMGUY0720]

ATRAC is dependent on ABS and ABS
is dependent on the abs/wheel sensors so you can start from there. Check if there’s anything unusual with the sensor itself (10mm bolt) on the spindle arm) next would be the wire if there’s any damage, stripped insulation or pinched part of it.

 

[Bisho]

Are you sure it’s ATRAC activating (green ATRAC light) and not the stability control (car with squiggly lines)? What you’re describing sounds like stability control, which is often triggered by worn steering bushings.

 

[jaewastooshort]

Are you sure it’s ATRAC activating (green ATRAC light) and not the stability control (car with squiggly lines)? What you’re describing sounds like stability control, which is often triggered by worn steering bushings.

Green atrac light flashing on cluster. Next time I drive it I'll see if I can replicate on camera

 

[Bisho]

Green atrac light flashing on cluster. Next time I drive it I'll see if I can replicate on camera

Then likely a wheel speed sensor. Rare, but not unheard of. Inspect all of the wires to make sure you don’t have one chaffing.

 

[jaewastooshort]

Then likely a wheel speed sensor. Rare, but not unheard of. Inspect all of the wires to make sure you don’t have one chaffing.

Honestly wouldn't be surprising, I've had to replace both of the rear sensors previously.

 

[2001LC]

 

[jaewastooshort]

I'll check wheel bearings again once I've got it up in the air to do UCAs. I checked them when I did the steering rack replacement a few months ago and they seemed fine... everything was fine until I did the swap. I keep thinking I must have done something wrong during reassembly (maybe pinching or over-stretching that ABS sensor wiring?) because this didn't start until after that work was done.