Hills

Stringer · 03-25-2006, 04:21 PM

I have noticed that my Prius falls back slowly on very high-gradient uphills if stopped (eg. at lights) and if the brake isn't pressed. It doesn't happen on low-gradient uphills. Is that normal behavior or should I contact Toyota to fix it?

DaveinOlyWA · 03-26-2006, 09:38 AM

any car will do the same if the hill is steep enough

**Tideland Prius** · 03-26-2006, 12:50 PM

mmhmm. Worse if it's a manual hehe. Unless it's a Subaru (can't remember the exact model. Maybe it was the Forester) which has a hill-hold feature. Same as the 4Runner. These vehicles have a system in wihch when you let of of the brake pedal on an incline, it still applies the brakes for a few seconds longer untli you press the accelerator.

Otherwise, yeah it'll roll backwards. Remember driver training class? hehehe.

mssmith95 · 03-26-2006, 01:50 PM

Yes, and since the Prius actually engages the electric motor to simulate the slight forward motion of a gas engine when the brake is released...it is actually using energy to maintain its position on the hill (go to the arrows screen and you can see it).

So, keeping your foot on the brake is not only safer, but it saves energy too.

ghostofjk · 03-26-2006, 02:16 PM

It's normal, Stringer.

Stringer · 03-28-2006, 10:29 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Tideland Prius@Mar 26 2006, 07:50 PM
Otherwise, yeah it'll roll backwards. Remember driver training class? hehehe.

[snapback]230463[/snapback]

Okay, good to know. I was worried because our local Toyota site says there is supposed to be hill-hold feature. But it doesn't say anything else about the feature and I guess they then meant the normal automatic transmission operation. Anyway, in this country, it is uncommon to drive the license with automatic transmission since it leaves a mark to the license. Hell, it is even uncommon to own a car with automatic transmission.

**Tideland Prius** · 03-28-2006, 11:10 AM

Yeah, it said so on the Canadian site too but apparently there were a few features taken out at the last minute before arrival in 2003. The hill-hold feature was one of them (unless, like you suggested, they meant the normal automatic transmission creep). The other was ASL which is now present on the 06 models.

Ahh, I see. Yeah you used to need to retake the driver's licence with a manual car if you wanted to drive manual. I don't think that's required now where I live.

aaf709 · 03-28-2006, 11:48 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Tideland Prius@Mar 26 2006, 09:50 AM
mmhmm. Worse if it's a manual hehe. Unless it's a Subaru (can't remember the exact model. Maybe it was the Forester) which has a hill-hold feature. Same as the 4Runner. These vehicles have a system in wihch when you let of of the brake pedal on an incline, it still applies the brakes for a few seconds longer untli you press the accelerator.
<div align="right">[snapback]230463[/snapback]

[/quote]

Studebaker had the same feature back in the 30s.

I just keep my foot on the brake pedal. I can go from that to the accelerator pedal pretty quickly.

Stringer · 04-24-2006, 05:42 AM

I have new information regarding this issue. I did find following sentence from our local Prius brochure:
"Mäkipidätin estää jarrujen avulla auton vierimisen taaksepäin ylämäessä liikkeelle lähdettäessä"

Translated it says something like
"Hill-hold feature uses brakes to maintain its position on the hill when user is going to drive forward"

daniel · 04-24-2006, 09:09 AM

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Tideland Prius @ Mar 28 2006, 09:10 AM) [snapback]231382[/snapback]</div>

Quote:

... The other [feature removed from the '04] was ASL which is now present on the 06 models.
[/b]

American Sign Language? For the voice-activated NAV perhaps?

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Some Hills just too steep?	NoMoShocks	Prius Technical Discussion	30	08-12-2008 09:13 AM
Snow and Hills	SayNoToAmericanCars	Prius Technical Discussion	13	11-19-2007 11:03 PM
Power Going up Hills	Marvinh	Prius Main Forum	9	08-29-2007 09:13 AM
Hills and mpg	gazz	Fuel Economy	6	04-26-2007 06:10 PM
MPG on San Francisco's hills	Micky Lee	CA - San Francisco Bay Area	1	06-14-2005 08:15 PM

03-25-2006, 04:21 PM	#1
Stringer Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Finland Posts: 74 My Car: Package: Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	I have noticed that my Prius falls back slowly on very high-gradient uphills if stopped (eg. at lights) and if the brake isn't pressed. It doesn't happen on low-gradient uphills. Is that normal behavior or should I contact Toyota to fix it?

03-26-2006, 09:38 AM	#2
DaveinOlyWA Opps !! I Did it Again!! Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: South Puget Sound, WA Posts: 9,633 My Car: 2006 Prius Package: #4 Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 5	any car will do the same if the hill is steep enough

03-26-2006, 12:50 PM	#3
Tideland Prius Super Moderator Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Canada Posts: 13,888 My Car: 2005 Prius Package: B Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 11	mmhmm. Worse if it's a manual hehe. Unless it's a Subaru (can't remember the exact model. Maybe it was the Forester) which has a hill-hold feature. Same as the 4Runner. These vehicles have a system in wihch when you let of of the brake pedal on an incline, it still applies the brakes for a few seconds longer untli you press the accelerator. Otherwise, yeah it'll roll backwards. Remember driver training class? hehehe.

03-26-2006, 01:50 PM	#4
mssmith95 "I think my Dad's gone CRAZY!" Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 533 My Car: Package: Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	Yes, and since the Prius actually engages the electric motor to simulate the slight forward motion of a gas engine when the brake is released...it is actually using energy to maintain its position on the hill (go to the arrows screen and you can see it). So, keeping your foot on the brake is not only safer, but it saves energy too.

03-26-2006, 02:16 PM	#5
ghostofjk Unrepentant Nattering Nabob of Negativism (V.P. Spiro T. Agnew) Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 981 My Car: Package: Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	It's normal, Stringer.

03-28-2006, 11:10 AM	#7
Tideland Prius Super Moderator Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Canada Posts: 13,888 My Car: 2005 Prius Package: B Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 11	Yeah, it said so on the Canadian site too but apparently there were a few features taken out at the last minute before arrival in 2003. The hill-hold feature was one of them (unless, like you suggested, they meant the normal automatic transmission creep). The other was ASL which is now present on the 06 models. Ahh, I see. Yeah you used to need to retake the driver's licence with a manual car if you wanted to drive manual. I don't think that's required now where I live.

04-24-2006, 05:42 AM	#9
Stringer Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Finland Posts: 74 My Car: Package: Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	I have new information regarding this issue. I did find following sentence from our local Prius brochure: "Mäkipidätin estää jarrujen avulla auton vierimisen taaksepäin ylämäessä liikkeelle lähdettäessä" Translated it says something like "Hill-hold feature uses brakes to maintain its position on the hill when user is going to drive forward"