System Outline

System Outline

1. Normal Operation
The VSC system helps prevent the vehicle from slipping sideways as a result of strong front wheel skid or strong rear wheel skid during cornering.
The followings are two examples that can be considered as circumstances in which the tires exceed their lateral grip limit. The VSC system is designed to help control the vehicle behavior by controlling the engine's output and the brakes at each wheel when the vehicle is under one of the conditions indicated below.
- When the front wheels lose grip in relation to the rear wheels (Strong front wheel skid tendency).
- When the rear wheels lose grip in relation to the front wheels (Strong rear wheel skid tendency).

2. Electronic Brake-Force Distribution
Skid control ECU with actuator distributes appropriate brake-force to front and rear wheels (Control of brake-force distribution to front and rear wheels) corresponding to the vehicle driving conditions. It also makes effective use of rear wheel brake-force to match loading condition and decelerating of the vehicle, resulting to reduce depressing of brake pedal and to ensure effective braking. In braking during making a turn, the ECU controls appropriate brake-force distribution to right and left wheels (Control of brake-force distribution to right and left wheels) to ensure stability and braking of the vehicle.

3. Downhill Assist Control Operation
The downhill assist control operation controls braking action of each wheel to help prevent out-of-balance vehicle posture when descending a steep hill or traveling at a speed exceeding the threshold of wheel gripping capability. When the downhill assist control is in operation, the brake system controls vehicle speed within the range of 5 to 7 km/h.
For the downhill assist control to be operative all of the following conditions have to be met:
- Downhill assist control switch = ON
- Transfer L4 selected
- Vehicle speed is 5 km/h or more, but less than 25 km/h.
- Accelerator pedal OFF
- Brake pedal OFF

4. Hill Start Assist Control Operation
When starting on a steep hill for ascending, the hill-start assist control automatically puts the brake on momentarily from the moment when the driver releases his foot from the brake pedal until he steps on the accelerator pedal to help the driver start the vehicle safely and smoothly.
Please bear in mind, however, that it activates the brake system for only 3 seconds.
For the hill-start assist control to be operative all of the following conditions have to be met:
- Shift position = D, 2, or L
- Vehicle not moving forward with some wheel(s) slipping
- Vehicle speed > 0 km/h

5. Active TRAC (4WD)
Active traction control system provides great effect of LSD (Limited Slip Differential) to deliver driving force lost due to the acceleration slip to each of 4 wheels by conducting the brake oil control on slipped wheels caused by acceleration during 4WD driving.

6. Auto LSD (2WD)
Auto LSD fulfills the function of LSD (Limited Slip Differential) by using the system of TRAC. It controls to focus on 'getting out', which ensures to recover from run-off condition and to take off on roads with much travel resistance such as sand.