The 4 Sand Setup Steps - examples with a Suzuki JB74 Jimny including ROYCE ESC HACK!

#sanddrive #suzuki #jimny #jb74 #scronch #esc #royceeschack
These are the four easy steps you need to take to set up a vehicle for sand driving. I'm using the Suzuki JB74 as an example as it's a popular sand driving vehicle and needs a little bit of extra work with its ESC system - no more scronching! The hack shown is called the "Royce ESC Hack" after its inventor.
Don't forget 4x traction ramps, a tyre pressure gauge & compressor, and a shovel!
Post questions as comments!
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[@tindogmedia1216]

Finally ... an explanation of the JB74s quirks.

[@L2SFBC]

#sronch explained :-)

[@glenwillson5073]

I'm sticking with my 2006 Manual Diesel Hilux 4x4 ute. No electronic breaking of any kind. No buttons on the steering wheel. Not a computer screen anywhere to be seen. PARADISE!

[@overland_adventure_nz]

This is the best description and information of how the Suzuki electronic stability control is working when most people seem to get confused with traction control. Keep up the great work and I’ve shared it a few times. Thanks

[@L2SFBC]

Thanks for the compliment and also the shares. Yes that's why I made it. Not the first to show the hack but I felt the bigger explanation was either missing or wrong from what I have seen elsewhere. It's important to understand exactly what you're doing with such mods and that was my aim.

[@overland_adventure_nz]

@@L2SFBC Yes I totally agree, I have been getting frustrated trying to explain to people about how good the traction control is for off-road driving in the dirt etc and they just keep saying it’s stupid because it’s no good on the sand. Living with a Brain Injury I get frustrated, not be able to explain very well the electronic systems. Also not interested in sand driving after having driven across the Sahara desert from Morocco to Tunisia in the 1993 as an Overland Truck driver.

[@Chrisamic]

@@overland_adventure_nz I don't know about NZ, but driving on some of Australia's beaches and sand islands is one of the greatest joys; absolutely beautiful. You get to go places where normal tourists are not and the Jimny is so light it's almost impossible to get it stuck permanently. I've been debating with myself if I should get some sand tracks but I've never come across a situation where I need them.

[@overland_adventure_nz]

@@Chrisamic Hi I understand that but you have so many kilometres of the outback to drive. In NZ we do have a number of beaches that we can still drive on! (A number of idiots might in this very soon) and of course we have the 90 Mile Beach in Northland (which is about 90 kilometres long) and from the entry point to the exit point is 78 km approximately from memory as I drive down for one summer also.

[@clooperman3745]

@@L2SFBC Oh for the simplicity of my old Land Rovers and Range Rovers, select a gear, high or low range and off we go!

[@BBS426]

My Jimny arrives soon and I’m planning to do a lot of beach driving. This was very helpful!

[@L2SFBC]

Glad it was helpful!

[@HDvids101]

I had a Sierra in the 90's and went to Frazer Island and all I can say is keep the revs up mine was a 1.3l as well but lacked the power when laden. Go anywhere in the right gear 🙂

[@tpv59]

THANK YOU Robert. EXCELLENT. 10/10. Very Much APPRECIATED. YOU are wonderful!!!

[@L2SFBC]

You are very welcome please share!

[@robpaterson5274]

Good video. My Gen 3 Jimny was much better to drive on dirt roads than the Gen 4. The stability control on the Gen 4 is way too sensitive and is quite disconcerting to drive on loose surfaces. I have already done the wire hack on my vehicle, and it works fine.

[@briantungol1225]

Excellent video! Well articulated and easy to follow along. Was exactly the boost of confidence I needed for an upcoming beach driving trip!

[@L2SFBC]

Glad it was helpful! Please share :-)

[@MB11183]

You know your stuff The most useful & informative video I’ve ever seen on a car Subscribed & liked!

[@TilakRajVerma]

Certainly useful as always. I drive Jimny so it is really useful video. Thanks 👍

[@user-xx3og1fh1g]

Active stability control (ASC/DSC) off in soft sand is a must (in most 4wds low range turns it off and most have a button to turn it off in high range (it retards the throttle as well as braking wheels). With that off, the ABS programs for electronic traction control works very well in sand, from stationary and at speed through soft sand when traction is iffy as it distributes drive around nicely. I prefer traction control when towing in soft sand in particular but ASC/DSC ensures bogging in very soft sand. Cheers.

[@lucsa247]

Great video! Thanks for all the tips!

[@Bigcountry_littlelegs]

Great vid mate

[@alihsas]

Thank you from KSA.

[@MrRanma3030]

Another great video!

[@L2SFBC]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@justsayin899]

Far out. Been to Fraser 4 times in mine and I thought I had an aftermarket suspension issue. Horrible noise when we hit a soft patch. Thanks for the hack!

[@L2SFBC]

Now you know!

[@pim1234]

Just what I needed !! Tnx !

[@L2SFBC]

Glad it helped! Please share!

[@ahmedmounib9029]

Very helpful, thanks alot

[@L2SFBC]

You're welcome!

[@Chrisamic]

Spot on, good information. There are so many people who don't seem to understand how traction control and stability control work, and even confuse the two things. I do wish Suzuki had given us more latitude to turn ESP off at least for 4H. Below 80km/h would not be unreasonable. If I needed to do the maintenance mode hack often I would probably put a switch for the link on the dashboard. So far I have not used the hack at all, since most high speed beach driving is on hard sand. Another way to do it is to pull the fuse for ESP, but I believe that also disables ABS - I'm not sure if the maintenance mode has that side effect as well?

[@L2SFBC]

Yes disabled ABS too. Everything off...which is why I don't recommend it for onroad driving, or even other offroad driving.

[@olegserov6796]

@@L2SFBC you mean it's better to switch off all modes for off-roading?

[@L2SFBC]

Depends on the terrain only if it gets in the way

[@jorginhobrandao]

Hey, I'm very close to buying a Jimny. I'm from Brazil and here you have the Manual and Automatic version. The manual doesn't have headlight cleaners, the air conditioning isn't digital and it doesn't have cruise control. The automatic has everything that the manual doesn't have, however, I feel that a 4x4 car with only 4 gears is complicated, but at the same time being without all these items that the manual doesn't have leaves me with a lot of doubts. Help me 🙌🏻

[@L2SFBC]

Buy manual more fun and 5 gears not 4. Performs better.

[@GrenadierMichael]

I hear ya now. 🙂 Thanks for another great video. ✅ When I pick up my Grenadier in a week or two, one of the first things I’ll be testing is exactly how the stability control is set up. All I know so far is that it is “changed” when off-road mode is engaged, and that when it is switched off by holding the button down, it automatically re-engages if you hit 80km/h (which makes sense).

[@L2SFBC]

I've been offered private Grenadiaers for testing so I can figure this out if I don't get one direct on loan

[@GrenadierMichael]

@@L2SFBC I’m not sure where you're based, but you’re also more than welcome to test mine if you’re in (or visiting) Sydney. 🙂

[@Chrisamic]

80km/h is way more sensible than 30km/h. I wish the Jimny did that at least for 4H so we didn't have to hack around in maintenance mode. It makes you wonder if the designers have ever driven on loose sand.

[@L2SFBC]

Agreed Chrisamic...not for the first time I wonder what sort of offroad experience the engineers actually have. It's a terrible, terrible system and Suzuki should be ashamed of it. An absolute bodge job which has no place in a vehicle new in 2019.

[@L2SFBC]

Thanks, I'm in Melbourne but I do wander around :-)

[@351tgv]

not directly related but when ever I am on corrugated dirt roads I also switch off ESP/TC for my AWD SUV, I also put transmission into sports mode and control the gears via paddle shifters, I can drive all day long in 3rd/4th gear at higher speeds (example: in 3rd at 100km.h engine speed is 4,500rpm) and in 4th its 3,800rpm) and still have engine / transmission braking to keep the vehicle straight line, roll over mitigation stability is still on for extreme speeds when in higher gears like 5th and 6th but stability and TC are off, it also sharpens up your skills with regards to under (car wants to keep going straight when you want it to turn) and over (the rear end wants step out of line and drift) steer and you learn to balance the vehicle on throttle and gear shifting control and only using the brakes when need be. the same sorter trick also applies with tyres on corrugated dirt, lower the tyre pressures to around 20psi and you will be able to cruise at higher speeds that said the drive line and dampers (shocks) will get hot and might over-heat so every now and then back off on speed to keep everything working, no point doing 100km/h+ on a bad corrugated dirt road for extended periods you will kill the dampers.

[@zorangrof]

Great advise on tire pressure, many thanks. Can you turn off tire pressure monitoring system? If you drop the tyres pressure below 26psi the dash lights up like a Christmas tree and won't display anything else until you inflate the tyres.

[@overlandready]

Yey! sound! 😀

[@L2SFBC]

Thanks for letting me know about the other one...it was produced with sound, but somehow was lost in upload.

[@user-fs6sz2zv2x]

День добрый, у меня авто заводится с кнопки и всё сбрасывается, так что не получается отключить.

[@ozeltzex1]

Well demonstrated! Thank you! Do you recommend this hack for keeping momentum while mudding, or you prefer traction control assist in such cases?

[@L2SFBC]

In mud you are typically not going fast enough - 30km/h+ to warrant the hack, and you definitely want brake traction control. So no, I would not recommend this hack in mud.

[@vasdaris]

Great Video. Expecting mine in the coming weeks. Where I live there not that many long beaches to accelerate over 30 km/hr but the hack is useful anyway. I have one comment and one question... Rims and tyre size do affect how low you can go with the pressure. Also humidity. Morning rides might be easier. If i leave the pin in, does it affect anything when i restart the engine? I mena does it enables electronics until you manually re-disable them? Or do i have to manually remove it to use the default setings for the electronics?

[@L2SFBC]

The larger the tyre (not rim) the lower you can go. Rim size relative to tyre size is profile, refer to my Low Profiles video for more. I can't remember the exact details of the pin but pretty sure covered it in the video.

[@jankrzyzanowski6596]

Unfortunately, I cannot find a connector where I could bridge it as shown in this video. In my case, the accelerator pedal is simply a complete cable that is plugged into the module, there is nothing else there. Suzuki Jimny 2023 Europe

[@JulesTuffrey]

Awesome vid. I’m getting a white Jimny soon. What seat covers and roof racks are using please? Do you rate them? Cheers

[@L2SFBC]

Not my car, but more here kzbin.info/www/bejne/paDLoqKPqK-habs

[@feelingrich8426]

Nice rims what are those?

[@jackar1ah]

Hi Robert, Great video.. One quick question though, in which gears will the current crop of autos lock the torque converter up? Is it now whenever it needs to, at almost any speed bar a crawl, or still only in the taller gears? I know most older 4 speed autos the lockup was only in 3rd or 4th gear, and that some could overheat when worked hard on sand in 1st or 2nd due to the torque converter being unlocked. Engaging low range was an easy fix to keep it in the taller gears with the converter locked for lower speed work. Obviously a case by case basis, IIRC the first gen Grand Vitara I had the gearing was about the same in low range as the current model Jimny in high range - that thing must be screaming on the highway at 110

[@L2SFBC]

Yes modern autos lock up earlier and quicker in more gears. Engine braking is also much improved. However the JB74 auto is very old - 3 speed plus overdrive, that's a '90s design not worthy of a 2019-released car which should have manual-control 6 or 8 speed.

[@safius]

Great video! What is the process of re-engaging all the electronics once out of the sand? Is it simply removing the clip and repeating the same process to disengage maintenance mode? Thanks

[@L2SFBC]

Yes, remove the clip and power cycle the engine.

[@vecernik87]

@@L2SFBCthat is not precise. The clip can stay there forever - does not affect the car. It just allows the maintenance mode to be enabled (without clip, it can't be enabled). Then it is as easy as enabling it during start up and disabling by powercycling the engine. No need to ever go down there.

[@300bhpton]

Thanks for the video, it makes you wonder what the people at Suzuki were doing. Did they never actually test the vehicle on a beach or sand dune? As ultimately it is quite a horrible hacky workaround that is hugely compromised. Also in the UK/EU we have stupid EU regulated tyre pressure monitoring sensors, so if you drop the tyres pressure below 26psi the dash lights up like a Christmas tree and won't display anything else until you inflate the tyres. What a horrible implementation it is. BTW - what size KM3's are on that Jimny? It has a really good stance.

[@L2SFBC]

I agree, it's appalling design from Suzuki and how could they have not driven on a beach? Those tyres are 235/75/15. In the earlier video "Legal and Lightweight" it was running 215s.

[@jerrymyahzcat]

Generally High Range is best on Sand - in most, not all, cases. If you have a Sand Mode you don’t need to worry much about the ESC. Geez, I’d not be recommending a hack to disable. Ever. People will just leave it disabled. Old school 4WDers who hate modern tech WILL disable 100% and leave it that way as they think they know better than anyone else about 4WDing and certainly they think they know better than manufacturers who install this “diabolical” tech. You are getting yourself in hot water here even with a disclaimer. If they crash their car on the black top (or even the beach) Insurance will have a field day declining their claim as they have tampered with their vehicle. Robert, you of all people should know better. You are intelligent and have researched. The singlet wearing 4WDer doesn’t. Turning O/D Off only lets the car use the Bottom 3 gears 1-3 NOT the top 3, 2-4. You’ve got this round the wrong way. You did correct this in the next statement but still. Demonstrating Overdrive is Allowing gear 4, not locking it out. Also you can’t state this is how it works in an auto gearbox carte blanch; only some work like this. Mine only has P, R, N, D & S. No L or 2. I can use paddle shifters to select whatever gear I want (within engine and speed limits). Vehicle starts in 2 usually but will use 1 automatically when needed (steep incline, certain drive modes) but I can tap paddle down for 1 if needed. 1 is a granny gear and designed for crawling on the ZF 9-Speed.

[@alexandrospavlakos979]

Greetings from Greece! Another great video! I own a 2019 new vitara 2wd automatic, lifted with AT tyres. Recently on mud i switched off esp like you did ( indicator on etc), but when in deep mud where revs were about 5500-6000 esp flashed. Esp off indicator never went off. So, maybe not all the systems go off?? Again thats the case on vitara not in jimny. Thanks for your time!

[@L2SFBC]

Unsure, potentially a fault there?

[@alexandrospavlakos979]

@@L2SFBC I've done little research and found that esp off doesn't deactivate brake traction control. This module is on all the time.

[@351tgv]

@@alexandrospavlakos979 - its called roll Over Mitigation, it stays on all the time, only way to disable is to remove the relay switch in the fuse box, I don;t know enough about Jimny if that also disable ABS and other safety systems.

[@chrishurley5711]

What your opinion on treatments for the underbody to protect against salt?

[@L2SFBC]

Can work but lots of fresh water also good

[@jonnosjimny]

How far do those wires need to be pushed in. I tried this and was unsuccesful. I think I may not have inserted them far enough.

[@L2SFBC]

Quite a long way, try pushing in more

[@jonnosjimny]

@@L2SFBC that was it. Had to go further. But i also used a paper clip that was insulated. I had to remove more insulation

[@aron2199]

If you don’t have any lockers, on loose / soft sands, would you leave brake traction on ? Would BTC helps or hinders or makes no difference on progress, in your opinion and why? Same situation but your vehicle has rear locker like a prado, turning it on will lose BTC on front though- would you engage locker at rear? Thanks for your thoughts- as always informative video!

[@L2SFBC]

I've driven maybe 30 4x4s with electronic aids in sand, and seen many more. In no circumstance is BTC anything other than helpful. In every case when people have complained about 'traction control' it turns out to be ESC or engine traction control. If you think about it, BTC only works when there is excess wheelspin and curbing that is a good thing. I wouldn't use a locker on sand as there's no need; all it'd do is increase turning circles and therefore rolling resistance. The exception is a scalloped desert dune climb straight up.

[@aron2199]

@@L2SFBC I agree you on my own prado 150 testing - at the very least no worse on very loose sand - but i wasnt sure whether it was just a toyota thing - because my friend's Pajero sport BTC doesnt seem to work so well. thanks for the response!

[@user-xx3og1fh1g]

​@@aron2199strange as the MR Triton in Super Select models has excellent traction control (not quite a current model Land Rover in that regard, but nothing is). Cheers

[@cloud9eddie]

Should you turn off stability control when doing basic 4x4 in 4high

[@L2SFBC]

If you need to. Often yes.

[@markcottierkw950]

James Bond has a Jimny 😃🤣👍

[@L2SFBC]

Jenny Bond...

[@mrcsdamle]

On Tyre Pressure: Your test Jimny appears to have bigger tyres - not stock. So what tyre pressure guidelines to follow? To support the same load dynamics, bigger volume tyres should have correspondingly lower pressures? And then half that for sand driving?

[@L2SFBC]

You are correct yes, but the difference is not great enough to detract from the overall point and principle. Good pickup and nicely phrased, thank you!

[@JimmyCall]

Is there technical argument that letting tyres down does not do any thing but stress your tyres?

[@L2SFBC]

Pros and cons - it will stress your tyres if you drive fast, but conversely, there will be stress on the tyres by driving them over-inflated over rough terrain.

[@JimmyCall]

@@L2SFBC Ok cool. I made the statement as on motorcycles they claim to stick to manufacturers pressure levels for sand. 4x4 tyres have less ability to round, and you'd think the sides therefore would be stressed for no reason.

[@L2SFBC]

Definitely deflate on sand!

[@user-xx3og1fh1g]

If you don't deflate on soft sand you will get stuck (either sooner or later, probably sooner). Light truck rated tyres have a much stronger carcass and are able to withstand the low pressures nicely on soft sand. But moderate your speed and no sudden turns if you want to keep your tyres on the rims. Cheers

[@BorisEkner]

From experience - The stability control system in the Jimny is 100% crap. It’s so bad it’s utter dangerous. I have 225/70R15 AT tires. I also have auto diff-lockers from Kaiser front and rear. (No, of course I don’t drive in 4WD on paved roads.) In 2WD mode driving uphill at 70-80 km/h taking a left turn, and the damn “stability” control kicks in without warning. It’s-shit-my-pants-scary! Solution: In the right hand foot well, under the carpet is a white socket with one black and one beige cable. “Short cut” the cables by inserting a paper clip or equal in the socket. Inset the ignition key and turn it without starting the engine. When the control/warning lights turn off - press the Stability Control Button for 8 seconds. See symbols on dash panel. You are now in Stability Control Maintenance Mode. Ie., the “stability control” is disabled, but the ABS is still activated if needed. And the damn “safety feature” is disabled. When the engine is turned off the “stability control” is reset to normal mode when you start the car again.

[@L2SFBC]

Agreed and that hack is described in the video!

[@craigsparks1442]

Top tip... Don't use muds on sand

[@L2SFBC]

They work fine 👍

[@craigsparks1442]

Ummm.... Not really, I've been doing the off-road thing for a couple of decades now, Botswana, Zimbabwe, South Africa and Namibia. Muds are designed to dig and throw, any tyre slip and you'll dig yourself 4 holes very quickly. If you're going to be doing more sand than mud driving then muds are a proper waste of money.... Good advice would be to rather get a very good quality all terrain tyre, they'll cope with mud to an extent but do much better in sand and general purpose off-roading.

[@L2SFBC]

Agreed if you only or primarily do sand a mud is a waste of time. But muddies perform well in sand in my tests and others. It's all about the pressure not the tread pattern.

[@246goess]

Does these new JB74 have grease nipples like the toyota hilux

[@peterkeeton5055]

Bridging the connector & the vehicle in maintenance mode…. I’m thinking this would void warranty

[@L2SFBC]

I don't imagine Suzuki would be impressed, but I wouldn't say it'd automatically void warranty even if they knew.

[@DominicOrtiz-lv1ri]

😘 Promo SM

[@janmoolman]

Pppppppppppppaaa😊

[@maxgood42]

Should probably lable this video "How to Hack a Jimny"🤣 But on the serious side you may need to update all of this due to NEW beach speed limits comming out, so there may be no ummm "legal" reason for hacking your 4WD.

[@L2SFBC]

No such limits in the desert, or on many non-Australian beaches

[@maxgood42]

@@L2SFBC Ok yes, then that would explain why Suzuki have a plug , there is probably a switch option (Service would just use OBD canbus) and program mod for military or something maybe ?