4 Wheel Drive Selection and ATRAC Cancel

These vehicles are becoming so sophisticated and complex, I just want to be sure I understand correct procedure.
Anyone run this thread up or is it just me? I just purchased one of these marvelous machines, a 2012 4Runner, and reading through the manual on page 241 it states for full-time 4wheel drive: "When the four-wheel drive control switch is turned to L4L, VSC and TRAC are automatically turned off."
This makes sense, but is it a contradiction in the operation of ATRAC to what it states on page 243, or does it allow manual override of the auto-off ATRAC in the L4L position?
Quote: "Full-time 4WD models "Stop the vehicle, shift the shift lever to N, and then push and turn the four-wheel drive control switch to L4L.
Press the “A-TRAC” switch to activate the system. At this time, the “A-TRAC” indicator will come on."
Thus, ATRAC can be manually engaged in L4L? Go ahead, ask me why I would want to do that? Tell me.
Thanks.

 

Here's a pretty good demo of A-TRAC vs no A-TRAC.

 

I believe that A-TRAC will only work in L4L. The traction control is automatically turned off in L4L as well, to allow the A-TRAC system to function properly when the driver does need to engage it. ^^Video pretty much covers all the examples.

 

Doublewide, thanks for the reply...the video shows a definite difference in the wheel spin/no spin with A-TRAC.
I understand that A-TRAC is auto-off in L4L, am asking if anyone has tried the procedure as stated in the manual to turn-it-on/engage it when in L4L?
Or is the owner's manual conflicted?

 

What do you mean by this? I r cornfused....

(running to grab the manual out of the truck)

 

On my 2012 Limited (Full time 4wd) VSC-vehicle stability control, TRAC-traction control: These two systems are tied together. You can turn them on and off in H4F and H4L. They are automatically disabled in L4L. They are a different system than A-TRAC which is only available in L4L. I may have misunderstood your question though.

 

Just looked at the manual it is a little confusing.

 

This is how I turn my VSC and traction control off in H4F and H4L. Then I have to shift into L4L to engage A-TRAC with the separate button.
https://www.youtube.com/embed/iJ82Kray0GE

 

Here's what my manual sez....
Doesn't seem confusing to me, maybe they changed the wording in recent year vehicles??

 

Thanks MI FL off roader for that demonstration...you went where I didnt want to go..fearing some kind of clunk-bang! while engaging parts (even in neutral)
I'm just trying to figure it out...outside of just pushing buttons and seeing what happens (which might be the way to sort it out as you have)
just looking for someone with a lot more 4Runner, 4-wheel drive familiarity to figure this out. I think the manual could have been written to state that A-TRAC is optional whether in L4L or not...simple text.
Step 2, Page 243 is the correct procedure, however, Go to Manual page 241...
It states: "When the four-wheel drive control switch is turned to L4L
VSC and TRAC are automatically turned off."
However, why would the engineers have it go Auto-Off? It doesn't make sense and seems a contradiction in the manual instructions, or they were so smart they made it operable even with the auto-off feature when selecting L4L.
I guess that's all there is to it. It CAN DO BOTH, right? I was looking for confirmation that it is okay, as it states on page 243, to manually turn the A-TRAC on while in L4L. {which makes sense to me as no wheel spin would be the result as demonstrated in doublewides' video) and MI FL off-roader's demonstation pretty much proves the point of actuation.
Now, I'm going to go out there and destroy my center differential.

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pRes2hdr8Lc


There are a lot of "how to" videos on youtube from the factory about the 4Runner.

 

Thanks to the comments and help from our other forum members who have taken the time to share here, I now understand the difference between VSC and TRAC in H4F, and the use of A-TRAC in L4L.
WallyT4R, thanks for locating the Toyota video versions of how their 4Runner drive systems work. Now Im going to go out and torque it up.