With our long-term RAV4 about to go visit the big dealership in the sky, I just had to try out something that has puzzled me every time I drove this great little Toyota SUV.
Just what in the heck does the "Auto LSD" button do? Sounds groovy, so I decided to press it to find out what it does...
Cue the In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida.
I was right. You gotta try it man.
James Riswick, Associate Editor @ 14,490 miles

2003expo says:
07:11 PM, 07/19/07
Soooooo.......what does it do, since this was quite uninformative! Any RAV4 owners out there know?
ewilfong says:
08:09 PM, 07/19/07
Auto Limited Slip Differential. I think you use it in a spinning tire situation.
hola_dan says:
10:47 PM, 07/19/07
hahaha great post!!!
2002blksle says:
07:14 AM, 07/20/07
Very cleaver. great post that you can only find in a blog.
pengwin says:
08:57 AM, 07/20/07
why wouldnt it be on at all times? a limited slip diff would just help with traction everywhere, even everyday driving.
mikemir87 says:
08:57 AM, 07/20/07
Wow that had me laughing out loud, that was a really great post...thanks for that ...
SubyTrojan says:
09:11 AM, 07/20/07
It's interesting to see that some people don't "get" this post. However, that's not necessarily a bad thing! :o)
boxermike says:
09:20 AM, 07/20/07
Hmm, that could help explain why my hat was found in the RAV this morning and I have NO recollection of ever being in the RAV.
....and why the hat is now tie-dyed.
scott65 says:
09:41 AM, 07/20/07
This post is awesome
comp386 says:
09:57 AM, 07/20/07
If it's auto, then why is there a button for it...
caroscuro says:
10:53 AM, 07/20/07
Ha! I KNEW it!!
autoboy16 says:
11:24 AM, 07/20/07
LOL LOL LOL!! I GET IT!!! and i only had to rear it over 3 times!
When they said the Rav4 had an addictive personality...
-Cj
ewilfong says:
12:39 PM, 07/20/07
It's funny. I googled auto LSD to see what other people had to say about the whole auto thing and found this discussion from Nov. 06. http://www.banterist.com/archivefiles/000418.html
(Note: this is one of those annoying pages that hangs inexplicably for 5 or 10 seconds. It'll let you scroll eventually.)
stingray454 says:
08:01 AM, 07/23/07
Trippy!
actualsize says:
10:34 AM, 08/ 3/07
The license plate is a nice touch. Just noticed that.
baccus49 says:
04:19 PM, 08/18/07
I haven't seen any new blog for the Rav. You guys returned the car back to Toyota ?
snowshoe1502 says:
08:07 AM, 09/ 2/07
LSD: Limited Slip Differential. In a 4x4 system powers front wheels only until those slip, then sends up to 45% of total power to rear wheels, depending on front-wheel traction. System can be manually locked into 4x4 mode with 55/45 front/rear power split for demanding conditions by pressing the LSD button.
So what does this mean to you? You don't have to worry about getting stuck in snow or mud If you have a 4WD RAV4... But a FWD RAV4 with LSD, once stuck, can send up to 55% power to front wheels and 45% to rear wheels so that you can get of a bad situation. One thing to remember (I believe) is that you should never engage the LSD button unless you are stuck or are in complete stopped position... I believe you need disengage it before driving.
BigFordFan150 says:
07:13 PM, 07/ 9/10
snowshoe1052 i dont think toyota would put a 4x4 system in a fwd car that can olny be used some times its probily a limited slip diff for the front wheels you want a open diff for normal driving a lsd really sucks in the rain in a unloaded 2wd pick up if you tun and give it the smallest bit of power youre totally sideways