Traction Control

[dhoward]

I have been a 2007 Prius owner for 3 whole weeks now. I love the car and the gas milage. My only concern is the problems I have seen on this board and others regarding the Traction Control. This is my first vehicle with TC and initially I thought it would be a great feature. I live in Massachusetts so there is snow here sometimes. I have already experienced the TC kicking in when accelerating on to a highway with a wet surface. Actually the surface was not really that wet but the TC kicked in and my reflex caused me to take my foot off the gas pedal. I can see where this could result in a rear end collision in the right circumstance. I have also read that the TC will actually shut off the engine which worries me on a incline if that were to happen. So my questions are these:

1. How often will TC actually shut the car down? If one wheel spins is that enough for this action?

2. What is the best way to respond when TC kicks in? Some people seem to indicate that the driver should not take his foot off the gas. That is a hard reflex to break as the TC kick in is definitly noticable.

3. Did Toyota make any changes in the 2007 to reduce the TC negative effect?

This is my first post so I thank any responders in advance.

[David Beale]

Owners of the newer cars who had earlier ones (tradeins) report the TC is less aggressive on the 2007.

As for reacting to the TC cutin, try it both ways and see. I don't think it would make any difference on a wet road, but do try it.

It's when you have NO traction that TC has caused problems. Again, owners of the newer Prius report it is no longer "shutting down" completely. It will slowly spin the wheels even if there is no traction.

[Tideland Prius]

If this is your first car with TCS, then don't assume that all TCS are like the Prius because they're not.

Ok, now that's out of the way, on the new models, it shouldn't complete cut the power from the engine and it should allow some wheelspin.

With stock Integrity tyres, you will notice that the TRAC (that's Toyota's acronym for TCS) will cut in on damp road surfaces, potholes, railway tracks etc (if you happen to accelerate when you go over those features).

So yeah, you'll just feel a shudder but no worries, you won't slow down THAT much.

[dhoward]

OK, so I guess I feel a little better regarding TC. I have seen other people mention that Toyota did something regarding cutting down the TC sensitivity but nothing official. Did they really make software/hardware change in 2007?

[nwpa]

Welcome to PriusChat.

We bouught our 2007 on 30 October 2007 so I have driven the Prius through the winter season (I sure hope winter is over!). With the OEM tires there were a couple of times that the TC kicked in and the car accellerated slowly but never stopped. I got ride of the stock tires at 1800 miles and put on four BF Goodrich Traction TA in the stock size and that made a real improvement.

I tend to drive gently under conditions of poor traction. When the TC kicks in I gently feather the throttle and let the car drive through the problem. I've never floored it with poor traction so I don't know what the result would be.

Here in Erie we are finally having some really nice warm and sunny weather and the Prius really loves it!

My advice to you is to relax and let the systems in the car do their job.

[qbee42]

Traction control never cuts out the engine. It does drop the power delivered to the spinning wheels(s), but it will keep trying unless you back off on the throttle. Bad tires (read OEM Goodyear Integrities) make a huge difference, so swap those out before winter. We get lots of snow and have found the Prius does just fine, traction control and all.

Tom

[Sleeper]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Tideland Prius @ Apr 22 2007, 06:32 PM) [snapback]427800[/snapback]</div>

If this is your first car with TCS, then don't assume that all TCS are like the Prius because they're not.

Ok, now that's out of the way, on the new models, it shouldn't complete cut the power from the engine and it should allow some wheelspin.

With stock Integrity tyres, you will notice that the TRAC (that's Toyota's acronym for TCS) will cut in on damp road surfaces, potholes, railway tracks etc (if you happen to accelerate when you go over those features).

So yeah, you'll just feel a shudder but no worries, you won't slow down THAT much.
[/b]

Get used to the TRAC, and do not lift your foot off the gas pedal. After half a second of nothing the car will resume power and go on.


I tested my 2007 Prius on a steep hill surfaced with gravel and dust this weekend. Half way up I stopped the car dead on purpose. Then I firmly put the gas pedal to the floor, and we gently proceeded uphill without any further fuzz or wheelspin.


The only time I have had my Prius spinning its front wheels like an old fashioned stick shift car, was when going in reverse in deep snow. And still I was not stuck.



Does the TRAC have a different mode when in reverse?

[Sufferin' Prius Envy]

When the traction control kicks in, it is doing it's job. If in response you let up on the accelerator pedal, you are telling the car to slow down, and therefor compounding the problem of loss of power.

In a situation where you wish to accelerate but the traction control kicks in, STEP DOWN ON THE ACCELERATOR MORE! Let the car know you wish to go forward and let the traction control take care of itself. This seems counterintuitive, but it works. In slushy slippery snowy conditions, it's actually fun - especially if you have VSC too. Just point the wheels in the direction you wish to go, then munch down on the accelerator pedal. Away you go!

Yes, the OEM tires cause the traction control to kick in more often.

[dhoward]

Thank you all for your responses. I greatly appreciate it. I will now stop removing my foot from the pedal when TC kicks in. As far as replacing the tires are concerned that will have to wait till sometime in the future.

[Tideland Prius]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(qbee42 @ Apr 22 2007, 12:50 PM) [snapback]427896[/snapback]</div>

Traction control never cuts out the engine. It does drop the power delivered to the spinning wheels(s), but it will keep trying unless you back off on the throttle. Bad tires (read OEM Goodyear Integrities) make a huge difference, so swap those out before winter. We get lots of snow and have found the Prius does just fine, traction control and all.

Tom
[/b]

heh... obviously you haven't tried the pre 06 models with the aggressive TRAC .

Seriously though, it does cut the power completely. I'm not joking. You just sit there and pressing the accelerator does nothing. It's like as if the car was off.


I know cause I HAD that TRAC programming before but for whatever reason, my TRAC program was updated and now reduces power rather than cutting it off completely thus allowing some wheel spin.