I've noticed this more than once in my car, so I figured I'd check and see if anyone else had, and if there's a reason for it. I have a 2016 IS350 RWD F Sport, and a couple of times I decided to go somewhere open and deserted and slide around, usually while it's raining so as to minimize tire wear. Generally, in order to accomplish this, I set the car to Sport+, hold the traction control button to turn everything off, and put it into manual mode. I modulate the throttle, but keep it close to the top of the rev range, or shift the gear while performing such a maneuver, with the intention of abusing the car for maybe 5-10 seconds before letting off and allowing it to rest. It seems like, randomly, the engine cuts power almost completely. No flashing light or anything while this is happening, but the engine goes to about 15-20% power, no matter where I have the accelerator. Then, after 1-3 seconds or so of keeping my foot at the same spot, the power seems to gradually come back on. Does anyone know if this is some sort of failsafe built in? What is it preventing, but more importantly, what am I doing wrong to cause it? I'd think having a RWD sport sedan, I'd be able to be a hooligan every once in a while if I want to.

 

That's Lexus for you. You can't fully turn off the traction control. So it will allow wheel slip, but when it senses too much Yaw, it just cuts power. The last Gen there was a peddle dance you could do at start up to disable Traction control. Google around and see if there is something like that for the 2014MY-and up cars.

 

Well that's unfortunate. I thought holding the button actually completely disabled it on the 3IS.

 

Found this

https://www.clublexus.com/forums/is-3rd-gen-2014-present/703884-traction-control.html

Sounds like you can full disable it with a 5 second hold of the button. But car has to be in P or N. Try it out and see if it works.

 

Hmm. I'll give it a try in Park. From my experience, the yellow warning for traction control being off, comes on as long as I hold it for 5 seconds while I'm stopped, even if the car's in Drive. It won't turn off while the car's in motion. I'll have to try and see if it's any different doing it in Park. Thanks!

Edit:
Looks like, in the owner's manual, there's nothing that supports putting it in Park to turn it off.

Disabling the TRAC system

If the vehicle gets stuck in fresh snow or mud, the TRAC system may reduce power from the engine to the wheels. Pressing to turn the system off may make it easier for you to rock the vehicle in order to free it. To turn the TRAC system off, quickly press and release . The “TRAC OFF” will be shown on the multi-information display. Press again to turn the system back on.

■ Turning off both TRAC/VSC systems
To turn the TRAC and VSC systems off, press and hold for more than 3 seconds while the vehicle is stopped.
The VSC OFF indicator light will come on and the “TRAC OFF” will be shown on the multi-information display.*

Press again to turn the systems back on.

 

It won't work either. even at "full off" mode the traction still kicks in. You would have to take the traction fuse off the fuse box.

 

Such a bummer. At least when the full system is on, it's a smooth limit of the power. It's kinda scary being in the middle of a slide, or accelerating out, and suddenly the power goes from 100-20% instantly. Guess I'll have to leave the real shenanigans for the '88 Bimmer instead. ABS is as far as they could go back then, and I'm okay with that!