Can traction control be disabled?

Traction control in the 2006 is way better than it is in the 2004s. Ask Jayman about it. Apparently the 2010s are much better than any of the Gen IIs.

Tom

 

I keep reading this sort of post here and I don't understand it. I have to disable traction control several times a year if I am to avoid having to leave the car at the bottom of the drive. I've never had a problem yet.

My question, and I do have one, is this; why is it really a bad thing to disable the TC? My reasoning goes like this, if the ICE is idling, say 960RPM, then I calculate that MG2 can spin the driving wheels up to around 140 km/h before overspeeding MG1. Even if the ICE is off then MG2 can spin the driving wheels up to 105km/h without overspeeding MG1 (10,000 RPM max). I consider either of those wheel speeds on ice to be excessive and asking for trouble. So I am not aiming for anything of the sort, just enough to get me up a not very steep slope, perhaps 15-20 km/h driving wheel speed at the very most.

 

It's good that you've figured out how to disable TC and get up your hill without causing damage. You know that the concern is that MG1 might overrev. If you control your accelerator pedal input to prevent that, and accept the associated risk, then no worries.

 

It's not just an issue of steady state over-speed. There is also the potential for impulse loading when spinning drive wheels contact good traction. As posted above, if you are careful and know what you are doing, then there shouldn't be any problems.

Tom

 

I did test drive a '09 Prius, when there was still a bit of snow/ice around. With the factory tires, the Trac behavior was light years better than on my '04

Another thing to keep in mind is that the 04-09 had the transfer chain in the CVT. I'm wondering if use of a chain instead of all gears also made the Prius drivetrain more vulnerable to shock-loading, hence the aggressive Trac?

I was under the impression the 2010 Prius has done away with the transfer chain, going back to all gears?

 

HOW does one disable the traction control on an 08 and 09?

 

Good point. Yes, the 2010 is all gears.

Tom

 

It's called "inspection mode":

http://priuschat.com/forums/gen-ii-prius-main-forum/71580-cant-get-inspection-mode.html

Tom

 

04 pruis I tried to disable it and I live in SW Missouri and my drive way is flat but any little hole in the ice and snow forget it . I have driving race cars on slick black tracks like ice if it would just give you a few more rpm you could get out of any thing with the it. when it snows and Ice my best traction control for the prius is park it till it has nice weather. the braking system on 04 pruis is junk on one day it puts you threw the window the next day does not want to stop, you have to push hard on the brakes like you have no power brakes . I have checked out, payed Toyota to check it out cant find anything .I have had a lot of service at different dealer but I will never take my car back to reliable Toyota in Springfield mo they spilled coffee on seats over charged me different thing and charged me on a dealer recall note about a plug end that was defective that Toyota told them it was, but not the owners.
then I had a wreck my insurance company request that my prius be towed to reliable Toyota in Springfield mo over my wishs and when I picked it up from their to have my body man do the work . they had cracked the front windshield. and ran my start battery dead because they did not turn it off properly, battery will not take a charge . When I ask the my question how it happen they said pointing to a sign that said not responsible for thief or damage to vehicle. and refused to pay for it. so I had turn it into the insurance company and still fighting that. and one more thing i did not buy my toyota at reliable toyota but when I did try to go buy one their they had a demo prius I offer cash at that time the sale men talked to the sales manager and wanted $1500 over book , I was willing to pay list for a demo with 3000miles on it . and I had cash. I told them I knew where extra $1500 was going it was going in their pockets . so I left and got on the internet found one in tenn and Payed list and no problem with them. and never have had. with the one in tenn .but to far from missouri for service.