Notable controls / defaults for MY17 owners

[WWFT86]

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
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. If you have the AT and wanted a more sporty/spirited drive -- you've got to try the "Manual mode" !! I've driven several MT transmission cars in the past 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. The downshift blip rev matching is also very nicely done.

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



On push-button start MY17s (e.g. Limited in U.S. / Sport-Tech in Canada), if you like to unlock both driver side and passenger side with one touch of the door handle, follow these steps:
Open the driver door to at least the first latch (if not fully open) with the car off, hold down the lock and panic buttons on the key fob for approx 5 seconds. When you let go the car should beep. Now both doors will unlock when you touch the door handle. Not sure if that works with the premium.


Also I found my MY17 car's alarm is left at default (e.g. alarm off) from dealer. Here are the steps to turn it on:
- close all doors and trunk
- push button to on
- open driver side door at least to first latch while holding the door lock button
- continue to hold button for 10 seconds
- 1x horn chirp means alarm is active
- 2x means it's disabled
- make sure the door is opened enough as a little gap will not trigger the change


Hillstart assist is also off by default. To turn it on:
- Park car in a flat location
- stop the engine
- start the engine and check that the ABS warning light and slip indicator are off
- Press and hold the "Traction-off" button (leftmost button that looks like car with skidmark and the word "off" at the bottom) for 30 seconds. Both VSC and Traction Control off indicator should illuminate and then turn off.
- Within 5 seconds after the indicator lights turn off, release the "Traction-off" button, then press the switch again within 2 seconds of releasing it.
- The hill start assist ON indicator will illuminate and then turn off.
- Turn the engine off, then restart the engine
- If done correctly the hill start assist ON indicator should now be illuminated.
- This is good for those just learning to drive Manual Transmission however I would suggest learning to start on the hill with the hand-brake. You'll appreciate having this skill later at the stop light "race me" scenario


BTW MY17 owners may notice a blue low engine coolant temperature indicator on engine startup. This can be safely ignored if it goes away within 1-2 minutes of driving.

[Akuma147]

Thank you for that long write up. I will try the passenger door unlock later today.

[FX86]

Originally Posted by WWFT86

"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. If you have the AT and wanted a more sporty/spirited drive -- you've got to try the "Manual mode" !!

I wonder if they changed how the Sport mode works on the AT for the 2017 model

On the older models it seems if you are in manual shift mode without sport mode enabled the car will be more docile the same as if you were in Drive without Sport mode, but if you put it in sport mode it will be more peppy and rev happy for both M and D modes

[WWFT86]

Pretty sure once you're in manual mode, the SPORT button does nothing even though the indicator comes on. This is because the driver is in charge of gear selection and decide when to shift. The user manual said so as well.

Originally Posted by FX86

I wonder if they changed how the Sport mode works on the AT for the 2017 model

On the older models it seems if you are in manual shift mode without sport mode enabled the car will be more docile the same as if you were in Drive without Sport mode, but if you put it in sport mode it will be more peppy and rev happy for both M and D modes

[FX86]

Originally Posted by WWFT86

Pretty sure once you're in manual mode, the SPORT button does nothing even though the indicator comes on. This is because the driver is in charge of gear selection and decide when to shift. The user manual said so as well.

hmm very interesting..it always felt sluggish to me in M mode with Sport mode enabled..must be a placebo effect then

[WWFT86]

Ought to be the placebo effect... especially the fact SPORT indicator does lit up even in 6AT manual mode.

[Jakinit]

Useful topic to those that don't read the manual :P. I enabled the unlock passenger door feature while still at the dealership filling out paperwork haha. Works so much better this way.

[Tcoat]

Originally Posted by Jakinit

Useful topic to those that don't read the manual :P. I enabled the unlock passenger door feature while still at the dealership filling out paperwork haha. Works so much better this way.

[WWFT86]

All but the "unlock both driver/passenger" trick are in the manual

[Akuma147]

Finally tried the passenger unlock code today and it works great. Now my gf doesn't get mad at me for not unlocking the door for her. I also found out that the little lines on the door handle is actually a touch sensor to lock the doors. What a great feature! Now I don't ever have to reach into my pants to grab the keyfob to lock or unlock the car. I should really read the manual this weekend to find any other features I'm missing out on.

[Tcoat]

Some of the below may not apply to the 17s but the vast majority have not changed:


http://www.ft86club.com/forums/showthread.php?t=63261

[WWFT86]

I feel the same way. IMO this should have been the default setting from factory and if anyone has concerns over security they can turn it off...

Originally Posted by Akuma147

Finally tried the passenger unlock code today and it works great. Now my gf doesn't get mad at me for not unlocking the door for her. I also found out that the little lines on the door handle is actually a touch sensor to lock the doors. What a great feature! Now I don't ever have to reach into my pants to grab the keyfob to lock or unlock the car. I should really read the manual this weekend to find any other features I'm missing out on.

[WWFT86]

Noticed something for the first time on the multi-information display..

So this morning was the first time it got near freezing temperature when I was heading out.. and saw a message on the MID warning that the road surface may be slippery. Checked out the thermometer reading right away and it reads 3 degrees celcius (about 37 Fahrenheit). Pretty cool and thought I share it here.

[Kabong]

+1 for the passenger unlock. I will need to do this later