1. Attachments are working again! Check out this thread for more details and to report any other bugs.

Is this a real problem?

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Care, Maintenance and Troubleshooting' started by doogster, Oct 4, 2013.

  1. doogster

    doogster Junior Member

    Joined:
    Mar 12, 2012
    65
    1
    0
    Location:
    NJ
    Vehicle:
    2008 Prius
    Model:
    II
    My 2006 Prius has 151,000 miles on it. I've only owned it since June 2012 when it had 118,000 miles on it. I've never had a single problem - yet. I'm going to try and describe what happened to me on the way to work this morning - because something very strange happened.

    I had driven this morning about halfway to work - about 5 miles or so. I was on a highway when the light in front of me turned yellow - at first I thought I could make it, then realized I should stop - so I did.

    When the light turned green, I gave it gas - but something was wrong. The yellow light on the dash started flashing (I think it's a traction light or something like that) and the car wasn't hardly moving. I let up on the gas and tried again... but it continued to light up and the car almost felt like it was either bogging down (hard to describe) or the wheels were slipping??? Not sure exactly.

    After about 20 seconds... the light went off and the car was fine. I drove the rest of the way to work with no problem. I stopped at several other lights but the symptom did not return.

    I don't THINK there was anything on the road that was causing the wheels to slip because I stopped rather sharply at the light and didn't skid or anything... but I really don't know... it was dark.

    Any thoughts?
     
    #1 doogster, Oct 4, 2013
  2. JimboPalmer

    JimboPalmer Tsar of all the Rushers

    Joined:
    Apr 14, 2009
    12,470
    6,862
    2
    Location:
    Greenwood MS USA
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius v wagon
    Model:
    Three
    Lets assume you stopped so hard you used the real friction brakes rather than the regenerative power of the electric motors.

    It may have been some time since they had the rust worn off, this could easy be a one time thing or it may be waiting to happen again.

    One way to test is to put the car in N (prevents regeneration) and brake pretty hard as you did that night. If the problem reoccurs, get the brakes fixed pronto, you need to be able to stop.
     
    #2 JimboPalmer, Oct 4, 2013
  3. Patrick Wong

    Patrick Wong DIY Enthusiast

    Joined:
    Mar 8, 2008
    18,200
    6,471
    0
    Location:
    Green Valley, AZ
    Vehicle:
    2015 Prius
    Model:
    Two
    Was the ground wet at the area where you had this problem?

    Check your car's tire tread depth, especially the front tires. My guess is that the tires may need to be replaced. If the depth is OK (6/32" or better) check the tire inflation pressure.
     
    #3 Patrick Wong, Oct 4, 2013
  4. The Electric Me

    The Electric Me Go Speed Go!

    Joined:
    May 22, 2009
    9,083
    5,798
    0
    Location:
    Undisclosed Location
    Vehicle:
    Other Non-Hybrid
    Model:
    N/A
    Doesn't sound like a brake issue to me.
    Sounds like the traction control was kicking in for some unknown reason.

    It could be the tires, or perhaps the environmental conditions on the road that morning.
     
    #4 The Electric Me, Oct 4, 2013
  5. doogster

    doogster Junior Member

    Joined:
    Mar 12, 2012
    65
    1
    0
    Location:
    NJ
    Vehicle:
    2008 Prius
    Model:
    II
    Well... this morning was dry and 64 degrees... and the tires have only 3,000 miles on them. I just checked the pressure the other day... so, unfortunately, its none of those things.
     
    #5 doogster, Oct 4, 2013
  6. The Electric Me

    The Electric Me Go Speed Go!

    Joined:
    May 22, 2009
    9,083
    5,798
    0
    Location:
    Undisclosed Location
    Vehicle:
    Other Non-Hybrid
    Model:
    N/A
    Well, at this point it's only a single incident that evidently only lasted about 20 seconds.

    That's not to say you don't have a problem developing, but you might have to wait until it get's worse to track it down.

    Have the symptoms returned? Is the vehicle doing it still or again?

    Your biggest clue, might be whatever warning light was flashing. Look in your owners manual and verify.

    Because "assuming" it was your traction control light flashing...then all we know is that your traction control was evidently activated.

    Unfortunately, if it's a "real" problem it will return. If it was the system reacting to a unseen slick spot, or rust on the brakes...it probably won't.
     
    #6 The Electric Me, Oct 5, 2013
  7. doogster

    doogster Junior Member

    Joined:
    Mar 12, 2012
    65
    1
    0
    Location:
    NJ
    Vehicle:
    2008 Prius
    Model:
    II
    symptom has not returned... I have driven 200 miles now since it happened....
     
    #7 doogster, Oct 5, 2013
  8. fuzzy1

    fuzzy1 Senior Member

    Joined:
    Feb 26, 2009
    17,302
    10,150
    90
    Location:
    Western Washington
    Vehicle:
    Other Hybrid
    Model:
    N/A
    Were both front wheels starting on good dry pavement? Or could one of the wheels been on slick (from water, oil, or simply well polished) metal (e.g. access hole or construction cover) or paint (crosswalk or road marking)?
     
    #8 fuzzy1, Oct 5, 2013
(You must log in or sign up to post here.)