VSC/ABS Saved my Prius

unruhly · 04-04-2006, 10:37 AM

This past weekend, on my first long road trip to Raleigh NC, I was travelling a 2 lane rural road and out of nowhere jumps a deer right in front of me. I slammed the brakes and cranked the wheel to the left to avoid head on impact (fortunately no oncoming cars).

All I could think of was the damage that this stupid creature was gonna inflict to my car.

I heard the warning beeps from the VSC and felt the car 'settle' as the tire sqealing lessened and the loud thunk of the deer hitting the side of the car reverberated through my head. What a terrible sound that was.

But I also felt the car tweaking. There is no doubt that the car was actually twisting itself and I immediately thought about the BT brace and how it would have improved the feel of this defensive maneuver.

After my heart returned to a normal rate, I mustered the courage to inspect the damage to the right side of the car. Low and behold I couldn't find any. Nothing, nada. Not a scuff, scrape or even a clean spot from the previous day's rain film was there where the deer should have hit.

What happened? Did the deer actually miss my car and something underneath the car popped (stock stiffenting plate maybe) when the car tweaked? I'm still in total disbelief that the deer did not hit the car. It was such a loud THUNK.

I welcome your input/similar experiences.

BTW... 61 MPG average for a 350 mile round trip. Woohoo!

KTPhil · 04-04-2006, 01:35 PM

No slam intended, but I doubt you could feel the car being bent. More likely, you felt oddball steering response (given the power assist was being tweaked by VSC), as well as funny non-linear braking (again as VSC did it's thing). A little ABS brake thumping, and the kinetic inputs would obsure a driver's ability to feel the car bend, something I would doubt in the first place. A good idea to get it up on a rack and inspect for bent pieces, though. Maybe it weasn't the bodywork that was hit but something under the car (frame, exhaust, suspension, tire/wheel?).

**efusco** · 04-04-2006, 02:27 PM

RTFM!!!
I'm so tired of people posting questions who haven't fully read, memorized and transcribed into san skrit the entire owner's manual for the Prius.

If you had done those things you'd know that not only did you activate the ABS and VSC, but also the VFF--the Vehicular Force Field.

The "thunk" (such a crude word really) you heard was the MCC/ff--Master Capacitor Control circuit for the Force Field engaging. And anyone with a simple basic knowledge of force fields knows that you can't "hear" or feel any object striking the force field. The "bending" you felt was simply a small EMF pulse as the kinetic energy of the deer contacting the VFF was converted into electrical current....which, of course, was immediately sent through the MG2 inverter to your HV NiMH battery pack. Probably added at least 1mpg to your overall tank MPG average.

heliotropehead · 04-04-2006, 02:31 PM

First the you tag and now this. Efusco, you should be banned again!

/joke

hyo silver · 04-04-2006, 02:58 PM

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(efusco @ Apr 4 2006, 01:27 PM) [snapback]234787[/snapback]</div>

Quote:

...simply a small EMF pulse as the kinetic energy of the deer contacting the VFF was converted into electrical current....
[/b]

Did the deer get a charge out of it too?

unruhly · 04-04-2006, 02:59 PM

EFUSCO:

"Each year there are approximately 500,000 deer/auto collisions. This results in over 100 deaths and thousands of injuries. Deer/auto collisions cost the auto insurance industry about $2,000 per claim."

Having had a car totalled in a deer collision which nearly took the life of one of my children, I find your reply offensive and belittleing. I most certainly assume that wasn't your intention but c'mon. Do you see any smilies in my post? Save this s&%t for FHOP.

**efusco** · 04-04-2006, 04:08 PM

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(unruhly @ Apr 4 2006, 01:59 PM) [snapback]234820[/snapback]</div>

Quote:

EFUSCO:

"Each year there are approximately 500,000 deer/auto collisions. This results in over 100 deaths and thousands of injuries. Deer/auto collisions cost the auto insurance industry about $2,000 per claim."

Having had a car totalled in a deer collision which nearly took the life of one of my children, I find your reply offensive and belittleing. I most certainly assume that wasn't your intention but c'mon. Do you see any smilies in my post? Save this s&%t for FHOP.

[/b]

Seriously, get out a little, find a life...there was clearly nothing offensive in that post and if we can't laugh at life then we might as well quit completely.

I'll put you down as another vote to white wash the forum.

San_Carlos_Jeff · 04-04-2006, 04:20 PM

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(unruhly @ Apr 4 2006, 01:59 PM) [snapback]234820[/snapback]</div>

Quote:

EFUSCO:

"Each year there are approximately 500,000 deer/auto collisions. This results in over 100 deaths and thousands of injuries. Deer/auto collisions cost the auto insurance industry about $2,000 per claim."

Having had a car totalled in a deer collision which nearly took the life of one of my children, I find your reply offensive and belittleing. I most certainly assume that wasn't your intention but c'mon. Do you see any smilies in my post? Save this s&%t for FHOP.

[/b]

Wow! that is the most thinskinned response I've seen in a long time. Don't take this as a knock, but for your health's sake you should seriously think about getting off of the web. If a tounge in cheek (well written) response set you off like this there are many many other worse things on the web that may cause you physical harm via a stroke or heart attack.

etyler88 · 04-04-2006, 04:24 PM

Unruhly,

You are OK. If the car still has good alignment it is OK. Tires will skid before the car breaks. How is the deer?

And yes the VSC/ABS did a great job.

unruhly · 04-04-2006, 04:35 PM

GOT YA Back Evan! Ha Ha. I'm still the best damn PC poster of the year .!

Tag, your it. But seriously, the deer thing did happen this past weekend.

I'm just happy as all get out that my new Prius didn't get THUNKED!

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(etyler88 @ Apr 4 2006, 04:24 PM) [snapback]234884[/snapback]</div>

Quote:

Unruhly,

You are OK. If the car still has good alignment it is OK. Tires will skid before the car breaks. How is the deer? [/b]

I am going to crawl up under the car tonight if there's still a litle light left to check for venison remnants. I'll let you know.

04-04-2006, 10:37 AM	#1
unruhly Join Date: Jan 2006 Posts: 205 My Car: Package: Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	This past weekend, on my first long road trip to Raleigh NC, I was travelling a 2 lane rural road and out of nowhere jumps a deer right in front of me. I slammed the brakes and cranked the wheel to the left to avoid head on impact (fortunately no oncoming cars). All I could think of was the damage that this stupid creature was gonna inflict to my car. I heard the warning beeps from the VSC and felt the car 'settle' as the tire sqealing lessened and the loud thunk of the deer hitting the side of the car reverberated through my head. What a terrible sound that was. But I also felt the car tweaking. There is no doubt that the car was actually twisting itself and I immediately thought about the BT brace and how it would have improved the feel of this defensive maneuver. After my heart returned to a normal rate, I mustered the courage to inspect the damage to the right side of the car. Low and behold I couldn't find any. Nothing, nada. Not a scuff, scrape or even a clean spot from the previous day's rain film was there where the deer should have hit. What happened? Did the deer actually miss my car and something underneath the car popped (stock stiffenting plate maybe) when the car tweaked? I'm still in total disbelief that the deer did not hit the car. It was such a loud THUNK. I welcome your input/similar experiences. BTW... 61 MPG average for a 350 mile round trip. Woohoo! __________________ 06 Black Pkg-7, Dk Grey Interior. Took delivery 02/02/06. To date: 54.1 MPG avg. Best trip: 350 Miles R/T at 61 MPG.

04-04-2006, 02:27 PM	#3
efusco Troll Slayer Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Nixa, MO Posts: 12,933 My Car: 2004 Prius Package: #9 Nominated 1 Time in 1 Post TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 21	RTFM!!! I'm so tired of people posting questions who haven't fully read, memorized and transcribed into san skrit the entire owner's manual for the Prius. If you had done those things you'd know that not only did you activate the ABS and VSC, but also the VFF--the Vehicular Force Field. The "thunk" (such a crude word really) you heard was the MCC/ff--Master Capacitor Control circuit for the Force Field engaging. And anyone with a simple basic knowledge of force fields knows that you can't "hear" or feel any object striking the force field. The "bending" you felt was simply a small EMF pulse as the kinetic energy of the deer contacting the VFF was converted into electrical current....which, of course, was immediately sent through the MG2 inverter to your HV NiMH battery pack. Probably added at least 1mpg to your overall tank MPG average. __________________ Evan E. Fusco, MD Seaside 04BC9/OEM EVb/NAV & auto-BT/XM Radio, CAN-View, Shark Fin, BT Stiff. Plate, Skid Plate & Strut Support

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04-04-2006, 01:35 PM	#2
KTPhil Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 1,201 My Car: Package: Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	No slam intended, but I doubt you could feel the car being bent. More likely, you felt oddball steering response (given the power assist was being tweaked by VSC), as well as funny non-linear braking (again as VSC did it's thing). A little ABS brake thumping, and the kinetic inputs would obsure a driver's ability to feel the car bend, something I would doubt in the first place. A good idea to get it up on a rack and inspect for bent pieces, though. Maybe it weasn't the bodywork that was hit but something under the car (frame, exhaust, suspension, tire/wheel?).

04-04-2006, 02:31 PM	#4
heliotropehead Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: New Orleans, Louisiana Posts: 701 My Car: Package: Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	First the you tag and now this. Efusco, you should be banned again! /joke

04-04-2006, 02:59 PM	#6
unruhly Join Date: Jan 2006 Posts: 205 My Car: Package: Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	EFUSCO: "Each year there are approximately 500,000 deer/auto collisions. This results in over 100 deaths and thousands of injuries. Deer/auto collisions cost the auto insurance industry about $2,000 per claim." Having had a car totalled in a deer collision which nearly took the life of one of my children, I find your reply offensive and belittleing. I most certainly assume that wasn't your intention but c'mon. Do you see any smilies in my post? Save this s&%t for FHOP.

04-04-2006, 04:24 PM	#9
etyler88 etyler88 Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Dover, DE Posts: 443 My Car: 2005 Prius Package: #3 Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	Unruhly, You are OK. If the car still has good alignment it is OK. Tires will skid before the car breaks. How is the deer? And yes the VSC/ABS did a great job.