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Traction Control lights in sharp left turn

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Care, Maintenance & Troubleshooting' started by bwilson4web, May 5, 2015.

  1. bwilson4web

    bwilson4web BMW i3 and Model 3

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    So four lanes, divided, with a left turn lane, five lanes at the intersection. I'm down ~15 mph, maximum turn speed and one car is just clearing intersection and and +100 yards from next approaching slug of traffic. Keeping the speed, I make the left turn confident no problem then halfway through turn:
    • feels like a soft tuck
    • traction light flashes
    • already to straighten out
    • everything normal
    This is the second time I've seen this in a year. Pavement dry, 48 hours since last rain; ~8:00 AM so rush hour is on. Before doing some parking lot tests, anyone have a clue about how to replicate?

    Sad to say, my dashcam SD card did not play. <GERRRRR>

    Bob Wilson
     
    #1 bwilson4web, May 5, 2015
  2. xliderider

    xliderider Senior Member

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    People have reported this while executing U turns.
     
    #2 xliderider, May 5, 2015
  3. RightOnTime

    RightOnTime Senior Member

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    From my experience, any slight wheel spin will cause the traction control to light up.
     
    #3 RightOnTime, May 5, 2015
  4. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    tyres pressure?
     
    #4 bisco, May 5, 2015
  5. szgabor

    szgabor Active Member

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    I have experienced something similar several times... I think i was making a tighter turn than you described not sure of the speed but 10+mph for sure... and the traction control activated similar to ABS on/off/on/off feeling...

    I think the traction control is triggered due the the different "wheel speed on the ground" but that is just a guess
     
    #5 szgabor, May 5, 2015
  6. fuzzy1

    fuzzy1 Senior Member

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    Center differential binding up?.

    Oops, never mind. I'm reverting to typical Subaru problems.
     
    #6 fuzzy1, May 5, 2015
  7. CardiffChris

    CardiffChris Member

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    #7 CardiffChris, May 5, 2015
  8. jry423

    jry423 Member

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    Mine flashed while I was sitting in a drive through. Not moving at all, it flashed the whole time I had my foot on the brake while ordering, and went off when I took my foot off the brake. Only time it's ever done that.
     
    #8 jry423, May 6, 2015
  9. energyandair

    energyandair Active Member

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    Push the brake hard when you are stopped and I expect it will happen again. (assuming the 2015 works like the 2010)
    That light flashing when you are stopped is how you know that the hill start feature is engaged.
    This feature holds the car briefly so it doesn't roll as you transfer your foot to the accelerator and get the car going.
     
    #9 energyandair, May 6, 2015
  10. jry423

    jry423 Member

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    I didn't know that. Good to know.
     
    #10 jry423, May 6, 2015
  11. fuzzy1

    fuzzy1 Senior Member

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    Press the pedal more lightly -- 'normally' for the majority of us -- and it won't engage that feature and its indicator light.
     
    #11 fuzzy1, May 6, 2015
  12. bedrock8x

    bedrock8x Senior Member

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    How many miles you have on the existing tires?
    When tires get too many miles or tread depth get thinner, the traction will get diminished and the starting losing traction when making hard turns.

     
    #12 bedrock8x, May 6, 2015
  13. qdllc

    qdllc Senior Member

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    These things come to mind when any wheel slippage occurs.

    1. Slick road surface/spot.
    2. Tire with low or too high air pressure (in conjunction with)...
    3. Worn tire tread/hardening compound.

    The Prius is the first car I've ever had with traction control, so I don't know how much one tire must spin over the other for it to be interpreted as "slipping" by the system.
     
    #13 qdllc, May 6, 2015
  14. jry423

    jry423 Member

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    I stomped the pedal pretty hard as I was getting my wallet out of my pocket. That explains why it hasn't happened before or since.
     
    #14 jry423, May 6, 2015
  15. V8Cobrakid

    V8Cobrakid Green Handyman

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    hello bob,

    on my 04, i had a similar issue when an ignition coil was starting to go bad.
     
    #15 V8Cobrakid, May 6, 2015
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