Traction Control

Frank Hudon · 07-23-2006, 05:59 PM

this is the smog check mode where the car can be driven on a dyno and have the emission system checked in States and Provinces that require the test other wise a 2 axle dyno is required. I believe that it's documented in the service manual.

jeromep · 07-27-2006, 01:48 PM

That traction control trick that is here on this thread is for service purposes only. It isn't there to allow you to drive on surfaces which cause an undue amount of wheel slippage.

There is no traction control defeat button on the Prius because the traction control's real job is to prevent electric motor overspin. I think the health and condition of the electric motors on the Prius are a lot more important than being able to drive on a beach. Consider that without the electric motors, your Prius goes nowhere. Break an electric motor and the Prius is a very expensive brick.

smartsense · 12-07-2007, 01:51 PM

I live in Stamford, CT and have a fairly steep driveway. When I get about half way up the car stops. This is when there is a small amount of ice on the driveway. With the Lexus we can shut off the traction controller and drive right up. They should have a disclaimer on the window that the car is not great in any snow. This is a real draw back that must be realized by Toyota and corrected. I can't imagine how dangerous this could be in the mountains. When the car gets to a slippery area it would stop and slide right off.

I don't see any reason why they can't limit the rpm's on the electric motor is it is necessary.

qbee42 · 12-07-2007, 02:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by smartsense

I live in Stamford, CT and have a fairly steep driveway. When I get about half way up the car stops. This is when there is a small amount of ice on the driveway. With the Lexus we can shut off the traction controller and drive right up. They should have a disclaimer on the window that the car is not great in any snow. This is a real draw back that must be realized by Toyota and corrected. I can't imagine how dangerous this could be in the mountains. When the car gets to a slippery area it would stop and slide right off.

I don't see any reason why they can't limit the rpm's on the electric motor is it is necessary.

The disclaimer should be for the OEM tires. Put some decent tires on that Prius and it will go up your driveway. Regardless of tires, with the Prius traction control, press the pedal to the floor if you want it to go on slippery stuff. It will spin the front tires in a limited way and allow you to drive like you do in the Lexus with traction control turned off.

Tom

wile-e · 12-08-2007, 05:51 PM

The sand is always a fun one when you have a traction control vehicle. Your safest bet for yourself and the vehicle is to lower the front tires by 10 - 15 psi. Don't shut off the traction control. Don't change the air in the back tires, you want them to carry along with the least friction. It got us out of the sand last year at the beach when a friend wanted to see 'how his Prius worked' in wet sand. With an incoming tide no less.

We were able to ease out quite smoothly by doing this. (With me driving.) At least we only had to limp a mile to get the tires aired up again..... I gave him an air compressor for his birthday.......... And a 60's pamphlet on the dangers of beach driving! }B*)

priusenvy · 12-08-2007, 06:43 PM

Only a Prius apologist would claim there is nothing wrong the the Prius traction control system. There is a wide range of speeds that would allow the Prius to climb a slippery incline while still protecting the electric motors. High rpm is not necessary or even desired in conditions where TC needs to kick in. Unfortunately, the Toyota engineers chose zero rpm.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1tSy5tHtT1g

Anyone who has evern been stuck on a slippery incline in their Prius would tell you they prefer slow over zero.

donee · 12-08-2007, 06:51 PM

Hi Priusenvy,

There is a belief that the 2006 and later cars have more lax TC tuning. Cannot say for sure. But driving in slow snowy conditions has not be a problem so far for me. This week I hit ice with the right wheel, and the left TC used the left wheel to pull me right along till the right wheel had traction again. Very similar to the SL2 TC.

fruzzetti · 12-08-2007, 11:29 PM

I've also had only good experiences with the TC in a 2006. It does not seem to get in the way like some more active TC models -- especially how some earlier cars over-did it: they were set up so the TC could make maneuvers the driver could already perform.

What I mean is that TC in the Prius seems to help out by making adjustments a driver could not, and only when it's to the clear benefit of unobstructed continuing through the maneuver.

Once I was on my way to being T-boned by a woman who was looking at the stop sign she was ignoring while I approached from her left. Clever. Anyway, I performed a quick dodge maneuver and noticed some things I was glad to have noticed when the TC kicked in (and I got the quick three beeps pattern, as expected):

(1) Considering the lateral motion in my dive, the car didn't slide at all. With those bike tires on it that I had at the time, I figured it would skid a bit

(2) I could swear by the lack of body roll that the suspension somehow stiffened. Maybe it was just the way the TC handled the new force.

~ dan ~

Apologies for the fact that I can't seem to explain anything concisely tonight.

priusenvy · 12-09-2007, 07:17 AM

aaaaarrrgh!!! Would You People Please Stop Confusing Vsc With Traction Control???

priusenvy · 12-09-2007, 07:18 AM

AAAAARRRGH!!! Would you people please stop confusing VSC with traction control???

07-27-2006, 01:48 PM	#12
jeromep Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Eastern Washington State Posts: 821 My Car: Model: Package: Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Friends: 0	That traction control trick that is here on this thread is for service purposes only. It isn't there to allow you to drive on surfaces which cause an undue amount of wheel slippage. There is no traction control defeat button on the Prius because the traction control's real job is to prevent electric motor overspin. I think the health and condition of the electric motors on the Prius are a lot more important than being able to drive on a beach. Consider that without the electric motors, your Prius goes nowhere. Break an electric motor and the Prius is a very expensive brick. __________________ It has been said: Hybrid drivers come in 3 flavors, greenie, techie and cheapie. Pick any 2. 2005 Prius, Millenium Silver over gray, package 5 (AI)

12-07-2007, 01:51 PM	#13
smartsense Junior Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Posts: 2 My Car: Model: Package: Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Friends: 0	Traction Control sucks I live in Stamford, CT and have a fairly steep driveway. When I get about half way up the car stops. This is when there is a small amount of ice on the driveway. With the Lexus we can shut off the traction controller and drive right up. They should have a disclaimer on the window that the car is not great in any snow. This is a real draw back that must be realized by Toyota and corrected. I can't imagine how dangerous this could be in the mountains. When the car gets to a slippery area it would stop and slide right off. I don't see any reason why they can't limit the rpm's on the electric motor is it is necessary.

12-08-2007, 05:51 PM	#15
wile-e Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 48 My Car: Model: Package: Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Friends: 0	The sand is always a fun one when you have a traction control vehicle. Your safest bet for yourself and the vehicle is to lower the front tires by 10 - 15 psi. Don't shut off the traction control. Don't change the air in the back tires, you want them to carry along with the least friction. It got us out of the sand last year at the beach when a friend wanted to see 'how his Prius worked' in wet sand. With an incoming tide no less. We were able to ease out quite smoothly by doing this. (With me driving.) At least we only had to limp a mile to get the tires aired up again..... I gave him an air compressor for his birthday.......... And a 60's pamphlet on the dangers of beach driving! }B*) __________________ 2005 Prius - 50.2 Avg (Yes, I speed.) BT Plate, K&M Air Cleaner, Ipod attachment, ScanGauge II, step bumper protector.

LinkBacks (?) LinkBack to this Thread: http://priuschat.com/forums/gen-ii-prius-technical-discussion/21652-traction-control.html
Posted By	For	Type	Date
Central Washington Jeep Trails, 1995 Jeep Chassis Lift Kit, Arizona Jeep Trails - Galenstudebaker	This thread	Refback	03-10-2009 09:16 AM
Mi Toyota Prius - PROCEDIMIENTO TEST EMISIONES ITV - FAQ Prius - foros.miarroba.com	This thread	Refback	06-02-2008 07:33 PM
A thread for fellow hypermilers - RoadBikeReview Forums	This thread	Refback	04-19-2008 05:00 PM

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Traction Control	adamwmcanally	Gen II Prius Care, Maintenance and Troubleshooting	8	05-14-2007 10:36 AM
Traction Control	dhoward	Gen II Prius Main Forum	22	04-27-2007 09:22 AM
Traction control TRAC	kkayser	Gen II Prius Technical Discussion	8	01-07-2007 06:46 PM
Traction Control	sparkymarvin	Gen II Prius Modifications	42	06-07-2005 02:38 PM
Traction Control	kevin54	Gen II Prius Main Forum	9	04-08-2005 11:12 AM

07-23-2006, 05:59 PM	#11
Frank Hudon Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2004 Posts: 4,144 My Car: Model: Package: Thanks: 0 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post Friends: 0	this is the smog check mode where the car can be driven on a dyno and have the emission system checked in States and Provinces that require the test other wise a 2 axle dyno is required. I believe that it's documented in the service manual.

12-08-2007, 06:43 PM	#16
priusenvy Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Silicon Valley, CA Posts: 1,758 My Car: 2005 Prius Model: Package: #6 Thanks: 0 Thanked 2 Times in 2 Posts Friends: 0	Only a Prius apologist would claim there is nothing wrong the the Prius traction control system. There is a wide range of speeds that would allow the Prius to climb a slippery incline while still protecting the electric motors. High rpm is not necessary or even desired in conditions where TC needs to kick in. Unfortunately, the Toyota engineers chose zero rpm. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1tSy5tHtT1g Anyone who has evern been stuck on a slippery incline in their Prius would tell you they prefer slow over zero.

12-08-2007, 06:51 PM	#17
donee Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Chicagoland Posts: 2,291 My Car: 2006 Prius Model: Package: #2 Thanks: 2 Thanked 63 Times in 56 Posts Friends: 0	Hi Priusenvy, There is a belief that the 2006 and later cars have more lax TC tuning. Cannot say for sure. But driving in slow snowy conditions has not be a problem so far for me. This week I hit ice with the right wheel, and the left TC used the left wheel to pull me right along till the right wheel had traction again. Very similar to the SL2 TC.

12-08-2007, 11:29 PM	#18
fruzzetti Customization-Obsessed Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Hayward, CA USA Posts: 358 My Car: 2006 Prius Model: Package: #7 Thanks: 0 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post Friends: 0	I've also had only good experiences with the TC in a 2006. It does not seem to get in the way like some more active TC models -- especially how some earlier cars over-did it: they were set up so the TC could make maneuvers the driver could already perform. What I mean is that TC in the Prius seems to help out by making adjustments a driver could not, and only when it's to the clear benefit of unobstructed continuing through the maneuver. Once I was on my way to being T-boned by a woman who was looking at the stop sign she was ignoring while I approached from her left. Clever. Anyway, I performed a quick dodge maneuver and noticed some things I was glad to have noticed when the TC kicked in (and I got the quick three beeps pattern, as expected): (1) Considering the lateral motion in my dive, the car didn't slide at all. With those bike tires on it that I had at the time, I figured it would skid a bit (2) I could swear by the lack of body roll that the suspension somehow stiffened. Maybe it was just the way the TC handled the new force. ~ dan ~ Apologies for the fact that I can't seem to explain anything concisely tonight.

12-09-2007, 07:17 AM	#19
priusenvy Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Silicon Valley, CA Posts: 1,758 My Car: 2005 Prius Model: Package: #6 Thanks: 0 Thanked 2 Times in 2 Posts Friends: 0	aaaaarrrgh!!! Would You People Please Stop Confusing Vsc With Traction Control???

12-09-2007, 07:18 AM	#20
priusenvy Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Silicon Valley, CA Posts: 1,758 My Car: 2005 Prius Model: Package: #6 Thanks: 0 Thanked 2 Times in 2 Posts Friends: 0	AAAAARRRGH!!! Would you people please stop confusing VSC with traction control???