traction control on sand

small house · 02-09-2008, 06:28 PM

have just had a bad experience with the traction control? . at roadworks a layer of fresh sand was laid, and the prius stopped dead, would not move across this sand . all the other cars in the queue made it through easily . i am assuming that wheelspin/traction control was to blame. i notice a lot of threads about a similar problem on snow/ice. has anyone had this problem, or know of a solution ? it was an uphill gradient, we were first to cross the freshly laid sand (3" deep) . nothing i tried would make the vehicle move forward !.

**Tideland Prius** · 02-09-2008, 06:47 PM

Another 05 with the old TRAC ECU. Here's another one jayman.

Edit: How rude of me. I should also reply to this.

small_house, welcome to PriusChat!

Yeah the earlier models seem to have the "slip and die" TRAC. The 06+ models have the "slip and grip" where it allows a little wheelspin to help you get moving.

I used to have the same system as yours. No amount of prodding of the accelerator would get the car moving. I had to shift to R and then back to D (I assume shifting to N or P then back to D would work too). The only reason why mine changed was my ECU was fried and the dealer gave me a new one. Although Galaxee (our resident Prius tech's SO) said her DH said there weren't any changes he's aware of to the TRAC in the new ECU.

Either way, mine changed somehow somewhere and I have no idea how to get the rest of you to "upgrade" to the new TRAC programming.

seasalsa · 02-09-2008, 08:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by small house

have just had a bad experience with the traction control? . at roadworks a layer of fresh sand was laid, and the prius stopped dead, would not move across this sand . all the other cars in the queue made it through easily . i am assuming that wheelspin/traction control was to blame. i notice a lot of threads about a similar problem on snow/ice. has anyone had this problem, or know of a solution ? it was an uphill gradient, we were first to cross the freshly laid sand (3" deep) . nothing i tried would make the vehicle move forward !.

Were you moving when you came to the sand or did you stop on the sand and then try to accelerate across it? If you stopped on the sand and then tried to proceed, it sounds like a case of too much throttle. The Prius has a built-in creep that will move you forward with no throttle unless you have your foot on the brake. All you needed to do was let off on the brake and the car would have crossed the sand easily.

small house · 02-09-2008, 09:10 PM

the car was moving, then stopped abruptly on the sand .i tried many combinations to get moving , to no avail : light throttle , heavy throttle, reversing then accelerating . its possible there may have been a way , but with 12 angry drivers waiting behind me turning around seemed the polite option.

seasalsa · 02-09-2008, 10:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by small house

the car was moving, then stopped abruptly on the sand .i tried many combinations to get moving , to no avail : light throttle , heavy throttle, reversing then accelerating . its possible there may have been a way , but with 12 angry drivers waiting behind me turning around seemed the polite option.

So, how did you get enough traction to turn around?

small house · 02-10-2008, 01:24 AM

3point turn in reverse. the car would go backward and sideways on the sand, just not uphill .

02-09-2008, 06:28 PM	#1
small house Junior Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: australia Posts: 5 My Car: 2005 Prius Model: Package: Base Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Friends: 0	traction control on sand have just had a bad experience with the traction control? . at roadworks a layer of fresh sand was laid, and the prius stopped dead, would not move across this sand . all the other cars in the queue made it through easily . i am assuming that wheelspin/traction control was to blame. i notice a lot of threads about a similar problem on snow/ice. has anyone had this problem, or know of a solution ? it was an uphill gradient, we were first to cross the freshly laid sand (3" deep) . nothing i tried would make the vehicle move forward !.

02-09-2008, 06:47 PM	#2
Tideland Prius Moderator of the North Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Canada Posts: 19,633 My Car: 2010 Prius Model: N/A Package: Technology Package (Canada) Thanks: 229 Thanked 346 Times in 245 Posts Friends: 23	Re: traction control on sand Another 05 with the old TRAC ECU. Here's another one jayman. Edit: How rude of me. I should also reply to this. small_house, welcome to PriusChat! Yeah the earlier models seem to have the "slip and die" TRAC. The 06+ models have the "slip and grip" where it allows a little wheelspin to help you get moving. I used to have the same system as yours. No amount of prodding of the accelerator would get the car moving. I had to shift to R and then back to D (I assume shifting to N or P then back to D would work too). The only reason why mine changed was my ECU was fried and the dealer gave me a new one. Although Galaxee (our resident Prius tech's SO) said her DH said there weren't any changes he's aware of to the TRAC in the new ECU. Either way, mine changed somehow somewhere and I have no idea how to get the rest of you to "upgrade" to the new TRAC programming. __________________ 2005 Tideland Pearl Premium Package 25/10/04 VVT-i Emblem, Sport Pedals, All-Weather Mats, Cargo Mat, EV Mod, JDM Prius Footwell Lighting, DICE iPod Kit 2008 Deep Black smart fortwo passion coupé - sold (6.1L/100km) 2010 Blue Ribbon Metallic Technology Package 29/08/09 All-Weather Mats, Homemade Console Pads, LED lighting "Ask an Expert" on Facebook I am not employed by Toyota, and the opinions expressed by me as a Prius Expert are not those of Toyota. Last edited by Tideland Prius; 02-09-2008 at 06:50 PM.

02-09-2008, 09:10 PM	#4
small house Junior Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: australia Posts: 5 My Car: 2005 Prius Model: Package: Base Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Friends: 0	Re: traction control on sand the car was moving, then stopped abruptly on the sand .i tried many combinations to get moving , to no avail : light throttle , heavy throttle, reversing then accelerating . its possible there may have been a way , but with 12 angry drivers waiting behind me turning around seemed the polite option.

02-10-2008, 01:24 AM	#6
small house Junior Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: australia Posts: 5 My Car: 2005 Prius Model: Package: Base Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Friends: 0	Re: traction control on sand 3point turn in reverse. the car would go backward and sideways on the sand, just not uphill .