Driving your 120 off road

[Graz Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Graz]

I posted under the drive train section about my car and its ESP problems but not much feed back there.
So asking here what people do when off road regarding there diff lock button.
In the 10 years i have owned my Prado i think i have used it twice. Have never seen the need or been stuck enough to worry.
My understanding is you put the car in low range and go driving and ESP will kick in if things get to pear shaped.
Then if you want to disengage ESP you hit the switch to turn on the centre diff lock.
I had my car in at Toyota today because my ESP was coming on as soon as i loss traction , Something it has never done before.
Toyota are now telling me that the car is NOW working in the right way.
There saying thats exactly how it is suppose to work.
So do you all use the diff lock button all the time or is Toyota wrong ?

[tokhi Member Find all posts View Profile Close tokhi]

Hey Gra,

I guess it depends on what type of surface you're driving on at the time.....
- Most gravel roads I'll leave Centre Diff Lock (CDL) off, unless it gets really twisty and slippery.
- Sand and Sloppy Mud - CDL on
- Rutted/slippery up hill - CDL on
- Rocky up hill - CDL off

If I'm on a track and CDL off, and my rig loses traction, yes the ESP light comes on and beeping occurs.

If I have CDL on and I lose traction it sounds like I have busted a CV and momentum slows or stops.

This in only what I have and it doesn't mean it's right or wrong..... just whats worked for me.

Hope this helps


Cheers

Tokhi

[Graz Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Graz]

When you are doing rocky hills you dont use the diff lock right ?
Surely you loss traction there. So does the ESP kick in and limit your revs to 2000rpm till you can get to a point so you can restart car ?
I dont mind it kicking in and beeping then switching off. But once mine comes on it stays on and limits my revs till i can turn car off then restart it ?

[tokhi Member Find all posts View Profile Close tokhi]

When you are doing rocky hills you dont use the diff lock right ?
Surely you loss traction there. So does the ESP kick in and limit your revs to 2000rpm till you can get to a point so you can restart car ?
I dont mind it kicking in and beeping then switching off. But once mine comes on it stays on and limits my revs till i can turn car off then restart it ?

Yep, Diff lock off.

I lift my foot off the accelerator or apply brake till i get traction again until it stops beeping and I continue on.

If you have to turn it off for it to stop or reset then I assume you have a problem.

[Graz Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Graz]

Yes thats exactly what is happening and what i am trying to tell Toyota but they are trying to tell me its normal for it to do that.

[Guest Close Guest]

I turn CDL on when on rocky hills.

[gumboot Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close gumboot]

I turn CDL on when on rocky hills.

x2

Cheers
Robert