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Traction control light comes on when car shakes at stop light.

Discussion in 'Gen 1 Prius Plug-in 2012-2015' started by yazyazoo, Aug 20, 2014.

  1. yazyazoo

    yazyazoo Junior Member

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    I have had the traction light come on twice when at a stop light. Once was when I was reaching back to give my daughter her juice that was in the front cup holder. The other time I was trying to get something out of my pocket to give to someone in the car.

    I am about 165 lbs and both times the car may have shook a little when I did that. Has this happen to anyone else?
     
  2. xliderider

    xliderider Senior Member

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    Are you sure you aren't pressing down harder on the brake pedal and activating the hill assist mode? It will beep, and a yellow light will come on (I think).

    SCH-I535
     
    Mendel Leisk likes this.
  3. JC91006

    JC91006 Senior Member

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    If the car is not moving, there should not be a traction light that activates
     
  4. 2k1Toaster

    2k1Toaster Brand New Prius Batteries

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    +1
     
  5. Okinawa

    Okinawa Senior Member

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    I think each time you were raising up to do these things your right foot was pressing the brake a little harder and caused the hill assist to kick in, therefore, what you were looking at on the dash was the hill assist light and then when you took your foot off the brake to move forward the hill assist disengaged and the indication on the dash went out. Might not be. Just my theory.
     
  6. Easy Rider 2

    Easy Rider 2 Senior Member

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    Could it also be a "seat belt" light ?
    What happens if you raise your weight off of the bottom seat while buckled in ??
     
  7. Okinawa

    Okinawa Senior Member

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    I didn't think about that. Could very well be it.
     
  8. Squirt

    Squirt Member

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    I'd bet the farm that this is what's happening, given the description of the scenarios and likelihood of putting additional pressure on the brake pedal. In fact, the traction control light does illuminate (and stay illuminated for several seconds) while this feature is active.

    I use this feature regularly as I have a very steep driveway, but for those who don't it may be a surprise.
     
    #8 Squirt, Aug 20, 2014
    Last edited: Aug 20, 2014
  9. xliderider

    xliderider Senior Member

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    Only the passenger side has a pressure sensor in the seat to determine if a large enough person (not child) is in the seat.
     
  10. Okinawa

    Okinawa Senior Member

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    I did not know that. Just out of curiosity, earlier this morning I tested it in my new Avalon and I raised up and the seatbelt indication did not come on so you are exactly correct.
     
  11. CharlesH

    CharlesH CA HOV Decal #5 on former PiP

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    On the passenger side, the sensor is there to know if there is a heavy enough passenger in the seat. If there is, it activates the seat belt light and beep if the belt is not buckled, and the passenger-side air bags. I think their assumption was that when the car was moving, that there would always be a heavy-enough person in the driver's seat, so there was no need for a sensor there.:)
     
  12. yazyazoo

    yazyazoo Junior Member

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    This sound like it's the answer. I am pressing on the brake pedal harder when I was handing a drink to my daughter in the back and I was trying to get something out of my right jean pocket and both times I pressed the brakes hard to make sure the car doesn't move. I thought it was a traction control light because it's yellow light with a symbol of a car and swirly lanes.
     
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