TRC light flashes with alarm whilst in soft sand

[Jason_Crooks Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close Jason_Crooks]

Hi

When hitting the extra soft sand my 2011 Prado GXL (260K) has an audible alarm, flashing TRC light and buzzing sound coming from under the bonnet. It feels like the TRC is engaging, but only when I steer to the left.

I have the diff lock on and in high range 4WD.

Has anyone experienced this? I have recently bought the vehicle and am new to driving the Prado (which I love).

the manual says a flashing TRC light may be a sign of malfunction.

thanks
Jason

[JimmyC Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close JimmyC]

That's normal. The wheels try to spin but the car thinks it's crashing and sets all the TRC alarms off. If you press and hold the traction control button you can disable it all.

[Jason_Crooks Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close Jason_Crooks]

That's normal. The wheels try to spin but the car thinks it's crashing and sets all the TRC alarms off. If you press and hold the traction control button you can disable it all.

Great news! I thought I had it turned off but just read it needs to be held in for 3 seconds..

thanks for you help.

[JimmyC Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close JimmyC]

Yeah. If you leave it on, especially in sand you will overheat your trans

[Guest Close Guest]

What tyre pressures were you running?

[Ghandi Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Ghandi]

Yeah. If you leave it on, especially in sand you will overheat your trans

If you do get the Transmission overheating, is it worth replacing/flushing the fluid? I'm assuming it would throw a code? I know I struggled with TRC in soft sand when first experimenting with the car.

- ghandi

[JimmyC Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close JimmyC]

I had mine checked after I did it once and it was fine. It throws a warning light that goes away once the trans cools. Worth getting it checked before paying for replacement.

[trsmith Member Find all posts View Profile Close trsmith]

Dont forget the traction control will reactivate if you reach speeds above 40km/h (i think its 40)

[derek11 Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close derek11]

Dont forget the traction control will reactivate if you reach speeds above 40km/h (i think its 40)

Not if you turn both traction control and vehicle stabilising system off by holding down the button for 3 seconds

[Stoo Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Stoo]

Yeah. If you leave it on, especially in sand you will overheat your trans

Really? How does that work?

My understanding is that TRC uses the brakes to slow down wheels that are spinning freely - hence diverting power to wheels with more traction. Strange that this would cause the transmission to heat up.

[Jason_Crooks Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close Jason_Crooks]

What tyre pressures were you running?

Hi - 25

[Guest Close Guest]

Hi - 25

I would drop it down to 15psi so that the vehicle isn't labouring through the soft sand.

[Jason_Crooks Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close Jason_Crooks]

I would drop it down to 15psi so that the vehicle isn't labouring through the soft sand.

ok, thanks for the tip

[Symo Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close Symo]

Yeah. If you leave it on, especially in sand you will overheat your trans

No you won't, unrelated. I drive on the beach all the time with diff unlocked and both TRC and VDC on and nothing happens. Only when towing over a ton through Inkip and around Hook Point do I turn it off. It just comes back on though.

Just turn it off when needed. Forget about it most of the time.

[Howso77 Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close Howso77]

No you won't, unrelated. I drive on the beach all the time with diff unlocked and both TRC and VDC on and nothing happens. Only when towing over a ton through Inkip and around Hook Point do I turn it off. It just comes back on though.

Just turn it off when needed. Forget about it most of the time.

What vehicle settings and tyre pressures you run when towing at Fraser when towing.. I've got about a ton behind the prado with my camper and it certainly raises my blood pressure when hitting the really soft stuff. I typically run the centre diff lock and tyre pressures around 18 on the vehicle and 16 on the trailer..