Years ago when somone used the term traction aids they were referring to weights and pulleys to put tension on a displaced bone or joint. The reference still exists in medical vernacular. Today, traction aid is a buzz term for any of the new technologies for cars and trucks that help guide them along their path safely with driver control.

Most of the new systems are seamless and mostly automatic to offer the driver options for dealing with just about any low-traction situation. As with many new technologies, there can be confusion as to what they do and when they should be employed.

TRACTION AND CONTROL

Maximum traction is not always the desired result. There is a problem designing a system for both optimum control and maximum traction. The reason is that tires are required to generate both traction forces and cornering forces. Although they can do both at the same time, they cannot generate 100 percent of both at the same time. If a tire is asked to maximize traction, its cornering capability will be significantly reduced, and visa versa. This is the main reason Auto LSD works separately from TRAC. TRAC is geared more toward control, while Auto LSD is all about traction. So what are the differences?

VSC is the default mode on many Toyota vehicles and incorporates TRAC. It is referred to as VSC+TRAC. These two systems are functional in 2WD  vehicles, or 4WD vehicles in 2WD mode.

TRAC - Helps improve traction by limiting rear wheel-spin with throttle reduction and/or by applying the rear brakes. It is programmed to help improve traction and limit the chance of losing control of the vehicle due to too much rear wheel-spin say as you drive along a wet road.

A-TRAC- Is TRAC for 4WD vehicles. When in 4WD, A-TRAC monitors wheel-spin on each axle. It uses the brakes to limit wheel-spin on opposing tires, thus transferring torque from the spinning wheel to the non-spinning wheel, helping to improve traction on that axle.

VSC- Helps control the vehicle during cornering and has virtually nothing to do with traction. It is designed to counter-steer the vehicle in case of loss of control in a cornering situation by applying individual brakes. This helps the vehicle stay along its intended path. The steering effect is much like steering a wheelchair by grabbing /braking one of the wheels.

VSC OFF- Helps give the driver control over wheel-spin for conditions that require more slip, such as deep snow with tire chains. It also allows “rocking” of the vehicle if stuck. This is accomplishing by holding in the VSC Off button for more than three seconds. Both the VSC Off and slip indicator light will illuminate. VSC can be turned on again by simply pushing the VSC Off button.

AUTO LSD Designed for maximum longitudinal tire traction, is only functional in 2WD vehicles or 4WD vehicles in 2WD mode. The electronic programming of Auto LSD uses the brakes to slow a spinning rear tire which redirects the power to the tire with grip, just like TRAC, but without power reduction. Auto LSD need only be used when the VSC-TRAC system is not sufficient for conditions such as pulling a boat up a wet ramp.

The system can be engaged any time by tapping the “VSC OFF” switch. An “Auto LSD” light appears in the gauge cluster. Auto LSD only functions below about 30 mph; above that, TRAC takes over regardless of the indicator lights. To turn Auto LSD off, simply tap the switch again.

Whether the goal is improving control or traction, these systems do an outstanding job and are standard on many Toyota vehicles, Tundra and Tacoma.

There are those who think that Toyota has taken a  nose-dive  that could take years to bounce back from. …We’re thinking a month or so.

Even with mysterious gas-pedal issues, claims of deadly “sudden acceleration” incidents, and the global recall of more than 8 million vehicles, millions of drivers continue to consider Toyota the gold standard for automobiles, with quality and reliability that exceeds others.

What’s different about Toyota, though, is that it knows how to recover quickly. The automaker has deep pockets and tons of talent. Executives work around the clock to  lead Toyota through the worst crisis in its history, and sooner rather than later the company will regain control and get back on the pavement. It will end up a better company than before. Meanwhile, Toyota automobiles could be a smart buy, with dealers offering discounts and other incentives to get things moving. If the price seems right, there are several other good reasons to buy a Toyota:

Safety concerns are exaggerated. The problems are serious, but political posturing in Washington and media hype have created the impression that every Toyota is dangerous. That’s ridiculous. The sudden-acceleration incidents at the center of the controversy have been “linked” to 34 deaths over the past decade or so. Toyota has sold more than 20 million vehicles in the United States during that time. By those numbers, rough math suggests the odds of a sudden-acceleration fatality in a Toyota vehicle are on the order of 1 in 600,000–not exactly a death wish for somebody buying a Toyota. And those odds could end up much lower. Deaths now considered linked to sudden acceleration could later be proved to have been caused by something else–including drivers who were pressing the gas pedal instead of the brake. No driver wants to admit doing that, but the fact is, it happens.

None of that is meant to disparage people who have been killed or hurt in a Toyota, and recent revelations depict a company that seemed unsympathetic to genuine complaints from customers. But the acceleration problem could turn out to be far less widespread than current hysteria suggests. It’s worth recalling that the Audi sudden-acceleration incidents in the 1980s–at first thought to be related to vehicle flaws–were later proved to be entirely the fault of drivers. Meanwhile, by virtue of its woes, Toyota is probably paying more attention to safety right now than any other automaker, to include the extraordinary step of shutting down factories to retool the gas-pedal assembly in many popular models. Toyotas coming off the assembly line these days are probably subject to more quality control than most other cars on the market.

Recalls aren’t the whole story. Being forced to recall millions of vehicles is a big deal, but Toyota still seems to perform better than other automakers when it comes to the kinds of complaints that lead to recalls. Data analyzed by Edmunds.com, for example, show that there have been many more complaints lodged against Toyota for sudden acceleration since 2005 than for any other automaker. But overall, Toyota has drawn far fewer complaints than most competitors, which is consistent with its once sterling reputation. Edmunds found that over the past 10 years, Toyota accounted for just 9.1 percent of all complaints filed with the government, even though it racked up 13.5 percent of all car sales. So despite the acceleration issue, Toyota still performs better than most in terms of complaints.

Toyota’s not alone. Internal documents showing that Toyota boasted of saving $100 million by avoiding a series of recalls make the Japanese automaker seem singularly sinister. But all automakers try to avoid recalls. Toyota just happens to be the one that got caught boasting about it, since it’s the company under investigation right now–and subject to subpoena. And all carmakers know that the Obama administration is “not industry friendly,” as another embarrassing Toyota document put it. Obama, like Bush, is requiring steep improvement in fuel economy, which will force all automakers to invest heavily in new engine technologies. That arguably hurts the Detroit automakers most, since their fleets get the worst gas mileage and they have the farthest to go. And anybody who still has doubts should ask Rick Wagoner or Fritz Henderson if the Obama administration is industry friendly; they were both forced to resign as CEO of General Motors, in the midst of the company’s bankruptcy and federal bailout.

The cars are still good. Of 18 Toyota vehicles, seven rank in the top three in their category in the U.S. News Best Car and Truck rankings, including the Avalon sedan, Sienna minivan, Sequoia SUV, and Venza crossover. Five of 12 Lexus vehicles rank in the top three. In its latest quality ratings, J. D. Power & Associates ranks Lexus first and Toyota seventh, out of 37 automotive brands. Consumer Reports named the Toyota Prius one of its 10 “Best Picks” for 2010, despite a recall involving brakes. And CR is poised to restore its coveted “recommended” status to eight vehicles it suspended from its ranking in the midst of the mushrooming recall controversy: the Avalon, Camry, Corolla, Highlander, Matrix, RAV4, Sequoia, and Tundra. Toyota’s overall quality has slipped from the stratospheric highs of a few years ago, but there are still few automakers that can match its record across their entire fleet.

White-glove treatment. To win back customers and alleviate safety concerns, Toyota will pick up and return some recalled cars, so worried owners don’t have to drive to the dealership. Toyota is also offering rental cars or rides to work to some owners getting their cars fixed. And CEO Toyoda has said that the company must start paying more attention to customers. Toyota certainly has room to rise: It ranks 17th out of 23 on J. D. Power’s customer-service index. If Toyota is serious about rebuilding its business, it has to start by wooing skeptical consumers. That’s a boon for buyers.

Lifetime Warranty Available. Select Toyota dealers around the country sell New Toyota vehicles with an Exclusive Lifetime Warranty with Unlimited Miles and Unlimited Time honorable anywhere in the United States. Find out more about Lifetime Warranty below:

Tacoma and Tundra Owners spend more money per vehicle modifying their trucks than Ford, Chevy, GMC and Dodge owners according to Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA),

The information can be found in SEMA’s 2008 Light Truck Report. SEMA surveyed more than 1,600 light-truck owners to determine the amount of money spent on different products and accessories. All the respondents owned or leased a 2007 or 2008 model-year pickup. The range of products asked about included suspension lift kits, audio upgrades, bedliners and more. Here are the results:

The Cadillac Escalade EXT is skewed quite high because it is a low-volume truck (about 4,700 units sold in 2008) and it’s a popular urban ride, so expensive 24- and 26-inch rims are quite common. More than 70% of Escalade owners earn over $100,000 annually. That’s the highest percentage of wealthy owners for any pickup, according to SEMA.

SEMA says all full-size truck owners spent an average of $1,831 on accessories while compact truck owners spent an average of $835 on aftermarket equipment.

Previous SEMA surveys show that cold-air intake systems, exhaust kits, bedliners, performance fluids and window tinting are among the most popular modifications for pickup owners. Tundra owners have also indicated that supercharger kits, winches and grille brush guards are popular items. Tacoma owners are into ski racks, wheel flares, upgraded brakes and lift kits in addition to the more traditional modifications.

We’ve grown accustom to technology applications on a daily basis that were nowhere insight just a few short years ago. Cell phones, Hand-held Computers, IPhones, Go To Meeting Video Conferencing, Ipods, Flat Screen Lcds, Blue-Tooth Hot Spots are all very recent marvels.

All of these things began with a simple thought from someone’s mind. Did that thought originate with some geeky kid autistically gifted in one direction? Or was it someone else….

Take a look at the  Picture Below:

In this futuristic workplace, there’s a videoconferencing box on every desk, and assistants helpfully visualize essential business data on giant screens. All the while, distant smokestacks gracefully pump toxic fumes into the atmosphere. There is reference to records which “appear as if by magic” from automatic files referring to robotic filing cabinets or hard disks. We are also intrigued by the several unmentioned gizmos on the desk. Maybe they include a proto-iPod, a rudimentary Flip, and a pseudo-BlackBerry.

The Image was created by a Futurist circa 1945…Take a look at another illustration below:

“Today’s weapon, tomorrow’s convenience!” The article accompanying this illustration from 1944 explained that the wireless phone was already in use by the armed forces, and would soon become a consumer product; it ended up taking 50 plus years before cell phones became truly common. In this demonstration, a fisherman phones his wife to relay good news about his catch and ask her to invite the neighbors for dinner, and then calls her again from his Car to tell her what time to expect him. He’s using a pocketwatch-like handset on a cord.

Each of these depicts a miracle that would transform postwar America. They’re fascinating and entertaining and they sort-of-accurately predict scenarios that eventually came to be, such as the rise of the cell phone…

Here’s a Tutorial Article about how Our Perception of Our Automobiles is influenced by specific assigned vehicle sounds or “Signatures” and how Vehicle Sound Signatures are used to Market Our Vehicles to Us.  

Vehicle sound is one of the primary drivers of consumer perception of overall vehicle quality. Tuning a sound signature requires research, where listeners in audio laboratories are queried about what attributes create positive impressions of a vehicle’s sound.

The two areas of the vehicle that tune the sound of the engine are the engine induction system and the exhaust system. By applying engineering expertise to analysis of consumer market research, companies such as Visteon, Inc. provide vehicle manufacturers with carefully calibrated engine induction systems that deliver unique Acoustic Sound Signatures.

These cost-effective solutions help manufacturers differentiate their vehicles, reinforce Positive Brand Images, and Market their Vehicle Models.

Vehicle-specific Signature Tuning
Consumers of different types of vehicles expect different types of sounds from their vehicles, and Automotive Acoustic Engineering suppliers recognize the importance of meeting these expectations.

For instance, sports car drivers expect a deep, V8-engine sound while owners of work trucks expect a heavy, rumbling sound. Some passenger-car owners prefer just enough rumble so that their vehicle sounds sporty. Luxury buyers, on the other hand, prefer silence. Sound Engineers like Visteon, Inc have experience working with vehicle manufacturers to deliver the desired Sound Signature consumers want from their vehicles.

Providing this type of acoustic distinction is more important, and even more difficult, when working with broad vehicle platforms that support multiple brands and vehicle types. In these cases, it becomes important to maximize common components for cost efficiency while providing the different outputs required for creating brand distinction. For example, the new 2011 Toyota Avalon Sound Signature  is very quiet and smooth as silk, where the new Tundra is smooth yet with a very seamless “Powerful” sound.

Calibrating Sound
After consumer preferences are assessed and documented, vehicle manufacturers establish sound targets for specific vehicle makes and models. While sound attributes can be calibrated to support the specific needs of a vehicle or brand, they also have a direct relationship to performance of the engine.

Sound Engineering Companies such as Visteon use unique applications of Computer-Aided Engineering (CAE) and other analytic tools, that allow engineers to fully comprehend the trade-offs between performance and acoustic tuning, and allow them to optimize the system to meet necessary targets without adversely impacting engine performance. These tools also allow Engineers to support manufacturers by providing sound files of the predicted sound, so it can be verified that the consumer desired sound is being created.

Systems-level Expertise
Additionally, specific systems-level understanding of engine induction helps engineers understand how other engine induction components, such as the intake manifold, air cleaner and air inlets, can impact vehicle noise, vibration and harshness. This expertise helps engineers optimize placement of devices such as Helmholtz resonators and quarter-wave tuners. However, the requirements of the customer can call for more tuning than standard resonators and wave tuners provide, so companies such as Visteon, Inc. are developing even more sophisticated solutions. These new technologies merge a company’s knowledge of engine induction systems, automotive electronics, and the total vehicle into systems that can change Acoustic tuning.

DENSO has developed Blue Harmony, an in-vehicle communication and entertainment system or, using the current key buzz-word,  ” Infotainment System”. It allows drivers to manage music, directions, e-mail, Internet radio, news headlines and other infotainment options through voice commands. It is displayed on a touch-screen mounted in the center of the dashboard and  allows users to customize the touch-screen layout, and download Denso-developed applications to run services like Pandora Internet radio, social networking Web site Facebook and photo sharing Web site Flickr.

We recently showed an appliction of the Qi Wireless Technology displayed in the dash of an upcoming Toyota Avalon, an illustration of things to come. Blue Harmony technology expands these technologies in multiple directions.

Unlike some voice-activated infotainment systems on the market now, Blue Harmony does not require several specific prompts to play a particular song over the vehicle’s sound system.

For example, a Blue Harmony prototype demo at the 2010 North American International Auto Show allowed the creation of a new station on customizable Internet radio station Pandora by saying “I want to make a new Pandora station.”

Still in development, the Blue Harmony system promises to have USB ports for connecting different types of devices, and use 802.11 WLAN technology to service customers’ portable devices as a Wi-Fi hotspot and to get data from other Wi-Fi networks into the vehicle. DENSO said it is working on a Bluetooth protocol to integrate navigation applications from portable devices into the car.

The system is expected to go to production in 2011.

A new website dedicated to providing update information about the most recent Toyota recall has united Toyota owners from all over the country who are looking for answers to many of their questions. 

 With millions of Toyota vehicles recently recalled, Toyota owners are turning to this website to find Toyota recall update answers to their questions and express their feelings and opinions with fellow consumers.

The dedicated Toyota recall website, http://www.toyotarecall.org, is an independent, consumer to consumer website that is not affiliated with Toyota or the government. It was launched as a way to collect the massive amount of questions and answers that exist online and bring it all to one simple destination for consumers.

The website provides an outlet for Toyota owners through various forums through which consumers can share their comments, opinions and experiences. Current forums being discussed now include:

• Confusion About Toyota Recall Letters
• How Will This Recall Impact Toyota’s Reputation?
• Share Your Experience with Toyota Recall Repairs

One of the most active areas of the Toyota recall update website is the Q&A section where an outpouring of emotions and frustration has been seen.

One consumer wrote in, “Me and my family’s lives are not worth it. In the interest of public safety, none of these cars should even be on the road. The question is whether Toyota is going to do the right thing and allow people out of their contract or is it still going to stonewall everyone and claim that they’re going to work it out.”

Another consumer posed the question, “What is a consumer to do when the dealerships tells me that a letter will be sent out sometime next week/next month to address this problem? Do we keep driving this death trap?”

The website demonstrates visible anger and frustration on the parts of millions of Toyota owners.  Toyota owners who would like to share any information they have received can take part in the online forums by visiting http://www.toyotarecall.org/

Consumers who would like information from Toyota directly can call the official Toyota Customer Care phone number at 1-800-331-4331.

Frequently Asked Questions For Sticking Accelerator Pedal Recall and Suspension of Sales

• Certain 2009-2010 RAV4,
• Certain 2009-2010 Corolla,
• 2009-2010 Matrix,
• 2005-2010 Avalon,
• Certain 2007-2010 Camry, 
• Certain 2010 Highlander,
• 2007-2010 Tundra,
• 2008-2010 Sequoia

Toyota is suspending U.S. Sales on 8 popular Car and Truck models to fix a potential Accelerator, Throttle, Gas Pedal Problem. These models include the following: the 2009-2010 RAV4, the 2009-2010 Corolla, the 2007-2010 Camry, the 2009-2010 Matrix, the 2005-2010 Avalon, the 2010 Highlander, the 2007-2010 Tundra and the 2008-2010 Sequoia.

This is a Good Thing…There is a passage from (Jeremiah 6:16) that says:”Stand at the crossroads and look; ask for the ancient paths, ask where the good way is, and walk in it, and you will find rest for your souls.”

The Toyota Production Process operates on a set of its own foundation principles and paths somewhat ancient in origin and involve process concepts of Jidoka, Andon, Genchi Genbutsu, and a few others. Jidoka is a term that has evolved to mean automation with a human touch or the ability to stop production lines anytime at the sight of a problem. Andon refers to realtime visual and physical controls about current production state of affairs; Any Toyota worker can stop the production line  any time at the sign of trouble by pulling an “ANDON CORD”. Genchi Genbutsu is to “Go and See” and is the belief that practical experience is more valuable than theoretical knowledge; “One must see the problem to know the problem”.

Toyota is calling upon its own successful ancient paths of experience by taking Bold Action to pull the “Andon Cord” on Sales and Production of 8 U.S. Popular Core Product Vehicles so that they can apply “Genchi Genbutsu” to quickly and effectively solve and eliminate once and for all any Accelerator problem it may have with the suspended vehicles. Toyota is willing to do this for as long as it takes to eliminate any problem that might exist.

Yes, this is a Bold and Risky Move; yet a move that Must Be Taken and one that is True to the Heart Of Toyota Integrity. Think about it, instead of continuing to build and sell football field after football field full of defect laiden product like domestic manufacturers have done in the past, Toyota is stopping everything to get it right, “Nip It In The Bud”, before they allow business to continue. What a novel concept,,, stopping everything to get it right before allowing business to continue…Come to think of it,,, the U.S. Government could learn a few things here…….

Toyota is going the extra mile to reassure people that they really care about the customers. This is something that is going to be a short-term hardship on Dealers and Toyota; yet, in the long-term a homerun for Toyota , Dealers, and Customers.

God said follow the ancient paths. He probably taught Barney Fife to “Nip It In the Bud”. Toyota is using both to solve this one…

Check out the Toyota Avalon Interior with functional spots for two phones…,  A cool display by Fulton Innovation demonstrating the industry standard angle eCoupled called Qi.

Qi’s going to be backed by some really big names including Motorola, Nokia, RIM, Energizer, Duracell, Samsung, and Phillips along with others.

The goal of Qi is for all kinds of wireless technology to seamlessly play together,,, And what a great way to present the concept by using a Toyota !

There are thousands of older Toyota vehicles in service and most of them have a timing belt that eventually wears out and must be replaced.Timing belt replacement is crucial to the life of your engine.

Of course the time to change a timing belt is before it breaks. Fortunately for Toyota owners, most of the timing belts in our vehicles are non-interference belts. Interference type engines can suffer expensive damage in the case of timing belt failure. Most Toyota vehicles will just stop running at belt failure with no harm. Murphy’s Law loves this kind of situation, though; thus, this occurrence will invariably happen at the wrong time in the wrong place…

Here is a brief Chart for Toyota Timing Belt Replacement Intervals:

Have you seen those Toyota engine codes or been asked what engine code a motor was? Have you ever wondered exactly what the jumble of letters and numbers meant?

First of all, one needs to realize that Toyota, like GM, Ford, etc., has engine “families”. However, rather than calling them names such as “big block” or “small block,” Toyota assigns them a letter code. The engine family code is the first letter (not the first numeral).

The first letter or letters in the code represent the engine family, for example, 1JZ-GTE & 2JZ-GTE are both JZ motors. 4A-GE, 4A-GZE, 7A-FE are all A series.

The numbers that come before these engine family letters designates the version of that engine, starting with 1 & going up to as much as 22. The higher the number the newer the version.
Often the higher the number the larger the capacity, but this is not always the case. Eg, 1UZ-FE, the first of the UZ V8s, is 4L & uses an alloy block. 2UZ-FE, the second UZ, & is 4.7L & uses an iron block. 3UZ-FE, the 3rd UZ, but is 4.3L & again uses an alloy block.

The letters that come after the dash is mostly concerned with the head & intake system used, & is quite varied. The basics are:
G= wide angle sporty twin cam head,
F= narrow angle economy twin cam head,
T= turbocharged, twin or single, no differentiation between the two, as opposed to Nissans RB25-DET & RB26-DETT,
Z= supercharged,
E= electronic fuel injection,
S= direct injection,
i= single point fuel injection (pretty much obselete these days),
C=Californian pollution control (didn’t only come out in California),
U= Japanese pollution control.

There are a number of other codes, but most of them are only applicable to much earlier engines. If there’s no codes and no dash, Eg, 18R, you can be pretty sure the motor has a single carb & single cam.

So from all this info, you can deduce that a a 1JZ-GTE is the first of the JZ series, has a twin cam head, is turbo charged and is electronically fuel injected. Whereas a 1JZ-FE has the same bottom end but a narrow valve angle twin cam head, no turbo & electronically fuel injected.

Some of the Family block types are:
JZ- inline 6
A- inline 4
G- inline 6
UZ- V8
MZ- V6
GZ- V12
FZ- inline 6
VZ- V6
S- inline 4
R- inline 4                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  

GR-V6

AZ-2.4L. 4