Traction Control

rlaurent · 07-22-2006, 11:13 PM

Yesterday I started a thread on the main forum to ask if anyone had difficulty
driving on sand, loose gravel, or new snow at slow speeds. I mentioned that
our 2005 Prius handled great except on Daytona Beach at 10 mph.

Today a friend of mine with a new Ford vehicle told me that he was having the
same problem. When he consulted his owners manual it said to turn off the trac-
tion control if your car was stuck before attempting to "rock it". He was able to
turn the traction control off with a button on his dash and that solved his beach
driving problem as it allowed him to engage both front wheels simultaneously.

Is there a way to temporarily turn this function off in the Prius? If there is
could someone tell me how to do it?

Thanks.

Bob L.

marjam · 07-22-2006, 11:26 PM

From what I have read in the Owner's Manual and on this site there is no way for the driver to shut off the TC. There was a post about someone who was able to go into the main computer and do it for some special tests but I think it is far beyond what the average driver can do. Many of us wish that many of the mods that can be made by the dealer wirh the ScanTool be available to us through the MFD. The list I have for scantool mods does not include TC so I don't know whether even the dealer can do this. Hope someone with more knlowedge than I can help you.

kdmorse · 07-22-2006, 11:32 PM

The traction control in the Prius is quite a bit more sensitive than most, and it's designed that way to protect the electric motors. Unlike a conventional engine where you can't really hurt it by spinning it too fast without resistance, it is possible to damage the electric motors by spinning the wheels. You won't (shouldn't) be able to disable it - as serious damage could result if you do exactly what you're wanting to.

In most cases, the solution is better tires than the OEM ones (for snow, gravel, ice, wet pavement, etc...), or lower tire pressure. The less the wheels slip, the less the TC kicks in on you.

-Ken

V8Cobrakid · 07-23-2006, 12:05 AM

You are able to turn it off. Like other tricks witht he prius, it requires a sequence of button pushing and so forth.

It's rather easy:

Ign On... not Ready. press Gas 3x. Shift to N. Gas 3x. Park, Gas 3x. You should know have a hazard prius in your top left corner. This is because this is driveline maintenance mode. The lexus 400h calls it 4x4 service mode. I have not tested any other new toyota as of yet.

Like people pointed out, it can cause serious harm to the electric motors and possibly drive line. eg, differential. don't cook your electric motors boys and girls.

kdmorse · 07-23-2006, 12:27 AM

Ooooohhhh - a new dance (or an old dance I hadn't seen yet).

Worked on my 2006, though it gave no real indication of what it did. MFD said "Problem", and then displayed a broken prius, and a broken temp guage symbol. Are you saying that while in this state Traction Control is disabled? (Is anything else different?)

Not that I'll ever move the car in that state - just curious.

-Ken

V8Cobrakid · 07-23-2006, 12:34 AM

Both trac and vsc are disabled. if it feels like trac is kicking in.. you're frying an electric motor. more commonly known as red lining.

Or you could say; no rev limiters? in a sense...

marjam · 07-23-2006, 12:36 AM

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(V8Cobrakid @ Jul 23 2006, 12:05 AM) [snapback]290790[/snapback]</div>

Quote:

You are able to turn it off. Like other tricks witht he prius, it requires a sequence of button pushing and so forth.

It's rather easy:

Ign On... not Ready. press Gas 3x. Shift to N. Gas 3x. Park, Gas 3x. You should know have a hazard prius in your top left corner. This is because this is driveline maintenance mode. The lexus 400h calls it 4x4 service mode. I have not tested any other new toyota as of yet.

Like people pointed out, it can cause serious harm to the electric motors and possibly drive line. eg, differential. don't cook your electric motors boys and girls.
[/b]

How do you learn these things?

V8Cobrakid · 07-23-2006, 12:54 AM

there was an abandoned post a while back. It lasted 4 post. It was late at night, so no one saw it. I'm not sure where he found the info. I've tested all of the methods i mention. They work for both Toyota and Lexus hybrids.

rlaurent · 07-23-2006, 09:00 AM

Say, thanks for all the good info. I'm really impressed with the level of knowledge
on this board--and the speed with which you respond!

After all is said and done, I think that hyprids were not meant for beach driving.
Sure wonder about other conditions with loose surface material, though. My
mother-in-law live on top of a mountain in NC with pretty steep unpaved road
the last mile or so. If the wheels start spinning you have to back down the road
to the first switch-back. . .not something I look forward to. Perhaps we'll have to
park lower and walk up.

I don't think different tires would do that much as you really notice the power
shifting from side to side when you get in a patch of loose material. Car just
seems to want to stop and once stopped it digs in very easily.

Anyway, thanks for all the excellent posts.

Bob L.

**Tideland Prius** · 07-23-2006, 01:27 PM

I would've thought tyres would make a difference as it would determine whether the car can grip the loose materials before slipping.

07-22-2006, 11:26 PM	#2
marjam Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Silver Spring, MD Posts: 220 My Car: Package: Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	From what I have read in the Owner's Manual and on this site there is no way for the driver to shut off the TC. There was a post about someone who was able to go into the main computer and do it for some special tests but I think it is far beyond what the average driver can do. Many of us wish that many of the mods that can be made by the dealer wirh the ScanTool be available to us through the MFD. The list I have for scantool mods does not include TC so I don't know whether even the dealer can do this. Hope someone with more knlowedge than I can help you. __________________ marjam

07-22-2006, 11:32 PM	#3
kdmorse Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Germantown, MD Posts: 197 My Car: 2006 Prius Package: #7 Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	The traction control in the Prius is quite a bit more sensitive than most, and it's designed that way to protect the electric motors. Unlike a conventional engine where you can't really hurt it by spinning it too fast without resistance, it is possible to damage the electric motors by spinning the wheels. You won't (shouldn't) be able to disable it - as serious damage could result if you do exactly what you're wanting to. In most cases, the solution is better tires than the OEM ones (for snow, gravel, ice, wet pavement, etc...), or lower tire pressure. The less the wheels slip, the less the TC kicks in on you. -Ken __________________ 2006 Black Package #7 Dark Grey Interior Headlight Flasher EV Mod

07-23-2006, 12:05 AM	#4
V8Cobrakid some guy... Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: San Jose, CA Posts: 2,563 My Car: 2004 Prius Package: #9 Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 5	You are able to turn it off. Like other tricks witht he prius, it requires a sequence of button pushing and so forth. It's rather easy: Ign On... not Ready. press Gas 3x. Shift to N. Gas 3x. Park, Gas 3x. You should know have a hazard prius in your top left corner. This is because this is driveline maintenance mode. The lexus 400h calls it 4x4 service mode. I have not tested any other new toyota as of yet. Like people pointed out, it can cause serious harm to the electric motors and possibly drive line. eg, differential. don't cook your electric motors boys and girls. __________________ Silver 9 as of June 12th '04 (over 101k Miles now) Decals, Mud Flaps, BT Tech Rear Brace, coastaletech 2" receiver hitch, and 215/45/17 tires.

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07-22-2006, 11:13 PM	#1
rlaurent Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 4 My Car: Package: Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	Yesterday I started a thread on the main forum to ask if anyone had difficulty driving on sand, loose gravel, or new snow at slow speeds. I mentioned that our 2005 Prius handled great except on Daytona Beach at 10 mph. Today a friend of mine with a new Ford vehicle told me that he was having the same problem. When he consulted his owners manual it said to turn off the trac- tion control if your car was stuck before attempting to "rock it". He was able to turn the traction control off with a button on his dash and that solved his beach driving problem as it allowed him to engage both front wheels simultaneously. Is there a way to temporarily turn this function off in the Prius? If there is could someone tell me how to do it? Thanks. Bob L.

07-23-2006, 12:27 AM	#5
kdmorse Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Germantown, MD Posts: 197 My Car: 2006 Prius Package: #7 Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	Ooooohhhh - a new dance (or an old dance I hadn't seen yet). Worked on my 2006, though it gave no real indication of what it did. MFD said "Problem", and then displayed a broken prius, and a broken temp guage symbol. Are you saying that while in this state Traction Control is disabled? (Is anything else different?) Not that I'll ever move the car in that state - just curious. -Ken

07-23-2006, 12:34 AM	#6
V8Cobrakid some guy... Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: San Jose, CA Posts: 2,563 My Car: 2004 Prius Package: #9 Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 5	Both trac and vsc are disabled. if it feels like trac is kicking in.. you're frying an electric motor. more commonly known as red lining. Or you could say; no rev limiters? in a sense...

07-23-2006, 12:54 AM	#8
V8Cobrakid some guy... Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: San Jose, CA Posts: 2,563 My Car: 2004 Prius Package: #9 Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 5	there was an abandoned post a while back. It lasted 4 post. It was late at night, so no one saw it. I'm not sure where he found the info. I've tested all of the methods i mention. They work for both Toyota and Lexus hybrids.

07-23-2006, 09:00 AM	#9
rlaurent Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 4 My Car: Package: Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	Say, thanks for all the good info. I'm really impressed with the level of knowledge on this board--and the speed with which you respond! After all is said and done, I think that hyprids were not meant for beach driving. Sure wonder about other conditions with loose surface material, though. My mother-in-law live on top of a mountain in NC with pretty steep unpaved road the last mile or so. If the wheels start spinning you have to back down the road to the first switch-back. . .not something I look forward to. Perhaps we'll have to park lower and walk up. I don't think different tires would do that much as you really notice the power shifting from side to side when you get in a patch of loose material. Car just seems to want to stop and once stopped it digs in very easily. Anyway, thanks for all the excellent posts. Bob L.

07-23-2006, 01:27 PM	#10
Tideland Prius Super Moderator Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Canada Posts: 13,920 My Car: 2005 Prius Package: B Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 11	I would've thought tyres would make a difference as it would determine whether the car can grip the loose materials before slipping.