MikeZero

Im looking at 06-08 350's and notice the biggest difference is that the 06 doesnt have a "real" TC disable option. But, they do have the button to disable it to the right of the steering wheel. Whats this mean?

metaleckz

iTrader: (9)

You have to do the "pedal dance" to turn it off.
The button will only disable it till you reach 30 or 40mph

Well im jk i dont have 06 is350

Blizzak350

iTrader: (1)

metaleckz is right.. I have an 06 and in order to turn it off is doing the "pedal dance" at start up..
it is a real PITA and a feature I'd pay a little to implement in my own car.. but wouldn't let it steer me away from buying myself into an IS!

redspencer

iTrader: (1)

Supposedly, if you swap out your 06 Skid Control ECU with an 07+ Skid Control ECU, it will allow you to fully disable Traction Control with the long button press.

getafewliv

Is there anyone who has actually done this? I have debated doing it, but I feel like I read something about an error light being lit up because of the swap.

Also, to buy the ECU new is ridiculously expensive. Cheapest used I have seen was around $100.

Gville350

iTrader: (10)

^Yes, several have. Actually the cheapest I've seen is $200 on ebay. You have to look for the "VT" symbol on the box if I remember right :

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Lexus-IS350-ABS-Skid-Control-Module-8954053250-8954053251-8954053290-/300872241520?pt=Motors_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories&fits=Make%3ALexus%7CModel%3AIS350&hash=item460d621170&vxp=mtr
Now, about the OP's concern...yes, the '06 can disable the T/C for the duration of your driving cycle. You just need to do the infamous "pedal dance" before driving. HOWEVER, like I do quite often, if you hit the T/C button on the '06 from a dead stop, it'll stay off until you hit ~30mph. It helps you get out of a hole well or get around a corner aggressively from a stop.

bird333

Is this only on 350 or does it affect '06 250's also? What is this 'pedal dance' you guys are talking about?

MikeZero

So does all this mean that the ONLY differences between an 06 and and 07 350 is the traction control disable and the shark fin xm antennae?

jdubbsISF

iTrader: (2)

Yes, I have done this. I purchased a used 07+ ECU from eBay and installed it in my 06. Works perfectly, can hold the traction off button and it turns off traction/vsc/vdim completely, instead of doing the pedal dance. Worth EVERY penny (around $250). Install was super easy, took me 5-10min.

Yes, you will get a flashing red exclamation point when the traction is off as well as a "VSC TEST MODE" in text. It does not go away until you turn traction control back on. You can press the DISP button and it will show your mileage/temperature etc for about 5 seconds, then go back to "VSC TEST MODE". It's not bad at all and I'd recommend it for all 06 owners.

getafewliv

Good to know that the "VSC test mode" is only when traction control is off. When I heard about this, I wasn't sure if it meant that it was on all the time.

Makes me think I should have picked up the unit for $100 that I saw on eBay. Oh well... I will find one eventually.

FSportIS

iTrader: (13)

I advice don't swap the ECU because when you do the pedal dance on 06 IS350, you can still other information on the dash board such as what gear your car is at which is very helpful.

With the ECU where you disable it by holding 5 seconds (like the one on my IS250 2012), yes, you disable the traction control but you will always see the "TRAC OFF" text on the dashboard and no matter what information you choose to display, you will always see that "TRAC OFF" which is very annoying and useless. I made a thread about this not too long ago

mike33

iTrader: (1)

You can still do the "pedal dance" after the ecu swap if you want to be able to have the display function operate as normal... The nice thing about the ecu swap is disabling traction control at a moments notice if you get an urge...

liqB

Does anyone know if the TRAC button on a 2006 IS250MT acts the same? i.e upto 30mph or else do the pedal dance.

FSportIS

iTrader: (13)

Pedal dance is required to completely disable the traction control.

FSportIS

iTrader: (13)

Yeah, it works. However, I tried pedal dance on my IS250 2012 and still have the display showing "TRAC OFF" all the times.

I agree with you on the convenience of having the ECU, you can disable so quickly right at the stop light without having to restart the engine and do the pedal dance