Toyota GR86, 86, FR-S and Subaru BRZ Forum & Owners Community - FT86CLUB - View Single Post - Controlling the nannies in 2017 vs. pre 2017

WWFT86 · 10-02-2016, 08:43 AM

Alright here's my understanding after reading the MY17 manual. Comments/Corrections welcome but hope this will help clarify things:

Single press of the "Traction-off" button (leftmost button, looks like a car with skidmark and the word "off" at bottom): This is what Toyota/Subaru intended for "rough roads" , or in situations when you're stuck in mud/dirt/snow. This turns off the Traction Control (TC) system so it will not reduce power from engine to wheel, and in turn allow you to rock the vehicle in order to free it.
Indicator light so you know you're in this mode: "TRAC OFF"
TC will be enabled again when:
- Press of the TRAC button again
- regular key-start vehicle -- engine switch is turned to "LOCK" position
- push-button-start vehicle -- push button ignition turned off
- It'll automatically turn on when vehicle speed is more than 50km/h (~31mph)

Holding the TRACK button (rightmost button with the checkered flag) for 1 second or more get you into "TRACK" mode -- This is what Toyota/Subaru intended for "Sport driving" -- TC, VSC and Brake LSD tuned / conducive to spirited driving with good amount of wheel slip but will still steps in eventually if it thinks you've messed up (or in Toyota/Subaru own verbiage -- "to afford maneuverability closer to what a driver may desire, while a sense of security is retained" lol

The threshold of this TRACK mode nanny is more lenient than the "VSC Sport" mode in the 1st Gen FRS/BRZ where many complained the nanny is over-protective and intervenes too soon.
Indicator light so you know you're in this mode: "Car with skidmark and word OFF at bottom" and "TRACK"
To turn off this mode, simply press the TRACK mode button (rightmost) or "Traction-off" button (leftmost). This mode will also be turned off when:
- regular key-start vehicle -- engine switch is turned to "LOCK" position
- push-button-start vehicle -- push button ignition turned off
- note track mode will NOT turn off even after reaching 50km/h (~31 mph)

Holding the "Traction-off" button (leftmost button, looks like a car with skidmark and the word "off" at bottom) for 3 seconds while he vehicle is stopped get you into an ALL-OFF (aka. You're on your own) mode -- This is what Toyota/Subaru intended for completely turning off TC and VSC. Brake LSD will be off as well if it's a MT but in an automatic transmission the Brake LSD will be in "TRACK mode" still. In the first gen FRS/BRZ with MT, Brake LSD remained on in this mode and often cause interference when the driver wants to take full control. This is perhaps why there was a need for the pedal dance (someone from 1st gen pls confirm?)
Indicator light so you know you're in this mode: "TRAC OFF" and "Car with skidmark with word OFF at bottom"
To turn off this mode, simply press the "Tracktion-off" button. This mode will also be turned off when:
- regular key-start vehicle -- engine switch is turned to "LOCK" position
- push-button-start vehicle -- push button ignition turned off
- note this mode will NOT turn off even after reaching 50km/h (~31 mph)

Lastly for those with the automatic transmission -- You'll find two buttons in the middle that says "SPORT" on top and "SNOW" at bottom.

"SPORT" -- Note this is NOT the TRACK mode! If you are driving the AT truly as an Automatic (e.g. not Manual mode), in this mode lower gears are used and gears change at a higher engine speed. Note if you're driving the AT in "manual mode" and press this button, the word "SPORT" will come on but sport mode controls will not be carried out.

"SNOW" -- This simply starts the car in 2nd gear to prevent slippage / wheelspin in snowy conditions -- a trick commonly used by MT drivers.

Now if you have the AT -- you've got to try the "Manual mode" !! I've driven several MT transmission cars in the past 25 years and this AT with "Manual mode" is truly a pleasure to drive especially when you use the console shifter (with the + and -) and not the paddle shifter. For me you get the fun and control in gear selection of the manual transmission but without the hassle of the clutch in bumper-to-bumper traffic. (or if you run/exercise a lot and your feet need rest

The downshift blip rev matching is also very nicely done.

10-02-2016, 08:43 AM	#5
WWFT86 Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2016 Drives: 2017 BRZ Limited Location: Toronto Posts: 137 Thanks: 43 Thanked 72 Times in 35 Posts Mentioned: 1 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	Alright here's my understanding after reading the MY17 manual. Comments/Corrections welcome but hope this will help clarify things: Single press of the "Traction-off" button (leftmost button, looks like a car with skidmark and the word "off" at bottom): This is what Toyota/Subaru intended for "rough roads" , or in situations when you're stuck in mud/dirt/snow. This turns off the Traction Control (TC) system so it will not reduce power from engine to wheel, and in turn allow you to rock the vehicle in order to free it. Indicator light so you know you're in this mode: "TRAC OFF" TC will be enabled again when: - Press of the TRAC button again - regular key-start vehicle -- engine switch is turned to "LOCK" position - push-button-start vehicle -- push button ignition turned off - It'll automatically turn on when vehicle speed is more than 50km/h (~31mph) Holding the TRACK button (rightmost button with the checkered flag) for 1 second or more get you into "TRACK" mode -- This is what Toyota/Subaru intended for "Sport driving" -- TC, VSC and Brake LSD tuned / conducive to spirited driving with good amount of wheel slip but will still steps in eventually if it thinks you've messed up (or in Toyota/Subaru own verbiage -- "to afford maneuverability closer to what a driver may desire, while a sense of security is retained" lol The threshold of this TRACK mode nanny is more lenient than the "VSC Sport" mode in the 1st Gen FRS/BRZ where many complained the nanny is over-protective and intervenes too soon. Indicator light so you know you're in this mode: "Car with skidmark and word OFF at bottom" and "TRACK" To turn off this mode, simply press the TRACK mode button (rightmost) or "Traction-off" button (leftmost). This mode will also be turned off when: - regular key-start vehicle -- engine switch is turned to "LOCK" position - push-button-start vehicle -- push button ignition turned off - note track mode will NOT turn off even after reaching 50km/h (~31 mph) Holding the "Traction-off" button (leftmost button, looks like a car with skidmark and the word "off" at bottom) for 3 seconds while he vehicle is stopped get you into an ALL-OFF (aka. You're on your own) mode -- This is what Toyota/Subaru intended for completely turning off TC and VSC. Brake LSD will be off as well if it's a MT but in an automatic transmission the Brake LSD will be in "TRACK mode" still. In the first gen FRS/BRZ with MT, Brake LSD remained on in this mode and often cause interference when the driver wants to take full control. This is perhaps why there was a need for the pedal dance (someone from 1st gen pls confirm?) Indicator light so you know you're in this mode: "TRAC OFF" and "Car with skidmark with word OFF at bottom" To turn off this mode, simply press the "Tracktion-off" button. This mode will also be turned off when: - regular key-start vehicle -- engine switch is turned to "LOCK" position - push-button-start vehicle -- push button ignition turned off - note this mode will NOT turn off even after reaching 50km/h (~31 mph) Lastly for those with the automatic transmission -- You'll find two buttons in the middle that says "SPORT" on top and "SNOW" at bottom. "SPORT" -- Note this is NOT the TRACK mode! If you are driving the AT truly as an Automatic (e.g. not Manual mode), in this mode lower gears are used and gears change at a higher engine speed. Note if you're driving the AT in "manual mode" and press this button, the word "SPORT" will come on but sport mode controls will not be carried out. "SNOW" -- This simply starts the car in 2nd gear to prevent slippage / wheelspin in snowy conditions -- a trick commonly used by MT drivers. Now if you have the AT -- you've got to try the "Manual mode" !! I've driven several MT transmission cars in the past 25 years and this AT with "Manual mode" is truly a pleasure to drive especially when you use the console shifter (with the + and -) and not the paddle shifter. For me you get the fun and control in gear selection of the manual transmission but without the hassle of the clutch in bumper-to-bumper traffic. (or if you run/exercise a lot and your feet need rest The downshift blip rev matching is also very nicely done.