Has anyone set off the VSC?

DocVijay · 06-26-2006, 12:47 PM

Just wondering if anyone has set off their VSC while driving? If you have, what were you doing at the time? I see the Traction Control light flashing at least a dozen times a day, but I have never seen (or felt) the VSC system activate. I guess I need to drive much harder than I already am to get it to go off. Just curious.

mikepaul · 06-26-2006, 01:00 PM

Only time I noticed it, I was taking an on-ramp too fast in the rain, and the light on the dash caught my attention for the moment it lit.

Nothing else memorable about the incident, so I guess it did its job well...

tmorrowus · 06-26-2006, 01:02 PM

In three years of driving I only set off VSC once, when I was cornering on a wet road. It felt like the brake was being applied strongly but very briefly on one of the wheels.

Of course I've set off traction control many times.

TheForce · 06-26-2006, 01:03 PM

I've only seen it come on when going over large bumps. I've never felt it do anything other than kill the engine. When I got my car back in January we never got enough snow to try it out. I'm hoping to try it out this winter if we get some snow. That is I hope to try it out in a empty parking lot and not out on the road somewhere.

**efusco** · 06-26-2006, 01:04 PM

Couple times when trying to maintain momentum on my gravel road turning into my driveway and a couple times on snow just 'testing'.

There's a triple beep and some very quick changes in the steering and some power very quickly adjusting the wheels and then it's over in less than a second.

Never had it activate during "real driving"--ie highway speed or under unexpected conditions.

snowman83 · 06-26-2006, 01:14 PM

The roads around here are sometimes in fairly poor condition, and there are many things like drainage grates in the middle of the road that take away the car's traction. I've had the VSC activate probably about 5 or 6 times, usually hitting one of said obstacles in the rain. It's very disconcerting at first, as it jerks the car by taking away your ability to accelerate, but I guess if it were ever a situation where the car were really slipping, it would be helpful.

Betelgeuse · 06-26-2006, 01:14 PM

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(theforce @ Jun 26 2006, 01:03 PM) [snapback]276855[/snapback]</div>

Quote:

I've only seen it come on when going over large bumps. I've never felt it do anything other than kill the engine. When I got my car back in January we never got enough snow to try it out. I'm hoping to try it out this winter if we get some snow. That is I hope to try it out in a empty parking lot and not out on the road somewhere.
[/b]

I'm pretty sure you're refering to the Traction Control and not the VSC. I've definately noticed my Traction Control coming on when I go over a big bump from time to time. As Evan said, the VSC is aparently quite noticiable when it comes on, since the car beeps at you.

finman · 06-26-2006, 01:14 PM

I just had to try it out the first Prius winter (Nov. 2004)...in an empty parking lot...new snow, maybe 3 inches, a few tracks which meant some flattened icy areas. Factory Integrity tires, maybe 5,000 miles. NOT the greatest traction tire in snow/ice!

I got up to about 25 MPH and swerved fairly hard to the left and the car beeped at me (maybe three quick beeps, like the "no, I can't let u go into forced EV mode"). I felt a power loss and the car slowed and definitely stopped moving (sliding) to the left. Still moving forward. I didn't feel braking per se but then the power loss slowed me and probably was a combo of braking and the power loss. My foot remained on the accelerator and I continued to drive forward.

I tried this several times both to the right and left and could not get the thing to tailspin or donut or spin. It always beeped at me.

Only sometimes while doing this would I get beeps AND the Traction Contol light (the 'slippery car icon') to flash on the dash. The TRAC icon always flashed when getting up to speed during my "tests". It doesn't let u spin the tires getting going, that's for sure.

It seems the natural tendancy in a skid is to let up on the accelerator and then attempt to brake to slow down. Well, this system does that in a blink of an eye, before I could react. Didn't seem like the steering wheel was controlled, meaning the wheel didn't turn on it's own, but I wasn't paying attention if the wheel was harder or easier to turn (as I've read is a part of the VSC?)

All in all I thought the system responded well to all I was doing to drive out of control. I'm glad the system is there if I hit black ice and can't respond fast enough or somehow do the wrong thing to bring things under control.

Cheers,

Curt.

PS I have snow tires now but didn't test them in the same manner as the originals. Maybe next winter...'cause I can. I did experience less wheel spins with better traction tires.

rufaro · 06-26-2006, 01:28 PM

Next question...Do all '06s have traction control and what does it do?

200Volts · 06-26-2006, 01:30 PM

Yes,
2 lane road, 45 mph and 90 degree turn. What was that plastic can on the shoulder I just passed?
Oh crud..... VSC kept me from sliding off the road.

I turned around and looked at the can... transmission fluid-fell off the back of some farmer's truck and was covering half the lane. So two of my tires went through it-and kicked it up on the lower side of the car and wheel wells.

06-26-2006, 01:14 PM	#8
finman Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Harrisburg, PA Posts: 931 My Car: 2004 Prius Package: #7 Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	I just had to try it out the first Prius winter (Nov. 2004)...in an empty parking lot...new snow, maybe 3 inches, a few tracks which meant some flattened icy areas. Factory Integrity tires, maybe 5,000 miles. NOT the greatest traction tire in snow/ice! I got up to about 25 MPH and swerved fairly hard to the left and the car beeped at me (maybe three quick beeps, like the "no, I can't let u go into forced EV mode"). I felt a power loss and the car slowed and definitely stopped moving (sliding) to the left. Still moving forward. I didn't feel braking per se but then the power loss slowed me and probably was a combo of braking and the power loss. My foot remained on the accelerator and I continued to drive forward. I tried this several times both to the right and left and could not get the thing to tailspin or donut or spin. It always beeped at me. Only sometimes while doing this would I get beeps AND the Traction Contol light (the 'slippery car icon') to flash on the dash. The TRAC icon always flashed when getting up to speed during my "tests". It doesn't let u spin the tires getting going, that's for sure. It seems the natural tendancy in a skid is to let up on the accelerator and then attempt to brake to slow down. Well, this system does that in a blink of an eye, before I could react. Didn't seem like the steering wheel was controlled, meaning the wheel didn't turn on it's own, but I wasn't paying attention if the wheel was harder or easier to turn (as I've read is a part of the VSC?) All in all I thought the system responded well to all I was doing to drive out of control. I'm glad the system is there if I hit black ice and can't respond fast enough or somehow do the wrong thing to bring things under control. Cheers, Curt. PS I have snow tires now but didn't test them in the same manner as the originals. Maybe next winter...'cause I can. I did experience less wheel spins with better traction tires. __________________ 04' Seaside Pearl #7. Fumoto oil drain, add-on mudflaps, rear bumper scuff protector & rear sensor warn, compass mirror, EV mode, synthetic oil, 8" custom sub in right rear cubby, 6" subs under front seats, power lumbar in front seats, Coastaletech hitch with Aspen bike/snowboard rack, iPod2car, DVD video, 2 amps, Alpine component speakers, solid 47 MPG @70000 miles, best tank 56 MPG.

06-26-2006, 12:47 PM	#1
DocVijay Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Tampa, FL Posts: 1,455 My Car: Package: Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 1	Just wondering if anyone has set off their VSC while driving? If you have, what were you doing at the time? I see the Traction Control light flashing at least a dozen times a day, but I have never seen (or felt) the VSC system activate. I guess I need to drive much harder than I already am to get it to go off. Just curious.

06-26-2006, 01:00 PM	#2
mikepaul Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Columbia, SC Posts: 1,654 My Car: 2004 Prius Package: #9 Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	Only time I noticed it, I was taking an on-ramp too fast in the rain, and the light on the dash caught my attention for the moment it lit. Nothing else memorable about the incident, so I guess it did its job well...

06-26-2006, 01:02 PM	#3
tmorrowus Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2003 Posts: 425 My Car: Package: Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	In three years of driving I only set off VSC once, when I was cornering on a wet road. It felt like the brake was being applied strongly but very briefly on one of the wheels. Of course I've set off traction control many times.

06-26-2006, 01:03 PM	#4
TheForce RonPaul For Liberty,not Empire Join Date: May 2005 Location: Wheelersburg, Ohio Posts: 1,986 My Car: 2006 Prius Package: #7 Nominated 7 Times in 2 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 15	I've only seen it come on when going over large bumps. I've never felt it do anything other than kill the engine. When I got my car back in January we never got enough snow to try it out. I'm hoping to try it out this winter if we get some snow. That is I hope to try it out in a empty parking lot and not out on the road somewhere.

06-26-2006, 01:04 PM	#5
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	Couple times when trying to maintain momentum on my gravel road turning into my driveway and a couple times on snow just 'testing'. There's a triple beep and some very quick changes in the steering and some power very quickly adjusting the wheels and then it's over in less than a second. Never had it activate during "real driving"--ie highway speed or under unexpected conditions.

06-26-2006, 01:14 PM	#6
snowman83 Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Baltimore, Maryland, USA Posts: 29 My Car: Package: Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	The roads around here are sometimes in fairly poor condition, and there are many things like drainage grates in the middle of the road that take away the car's traction. I've had the VSC activate probably about 5 or 6 times, usually hitting one of said obstacles in the rain. It's very disconcerting at first, as it jerks the car by taking away your ability to accelerate, but I guess if it were ever a situation where the car were really slipping, it would be helpful.

06-26-2006, 01:28 PM	#9
rufaro WeePoo with WeePri Join Date: May 2006 Location: In a (Lo)California state of mind... Posts: 2,639 My Car: 2006 Prius Package: #3 Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 35	Next question...Do all '06s have traction control and what does it do?

06-26-2006, 01:30 PM	#10
200Volts Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Northern CA Posts: 345 My Car: Package: Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	Yes, 2 lane road, 45 mph and 90 degree turn. What was that plastic can on the shoulder I just passed? Oh crud..... VSC kept me from sliding off the road. I turned around and looked at the can... transmission fluid-fell off the back of some farmer's truck and was covering half the lane. So two of my tires went through it-and kicked it up on the lower side of the car and wheel wells.