When did they add the OEM traction control disable button?

Discussion in 'Prius v Main Forum' started by Matt73, Dec 21, 2015.

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  1. Matt73

    Matt73 Junior Member

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    I recently purchased a new 2015 Prius v package three to replace my old 2006 Prius package 6, and like it quite a lot.

    One thing I noticed is that by my left knee there is a traction control disable button. Pressing it causes the display to show that traction control is disabled, and according to the manual that is its intended function. You can also hold it for 10 seconds to disable both TRAC and VSC.

    My question is, when did Toyota add this button to the v? Is this just a "v thing"?

    Digging around in the 'Prius v' forums here, I can find several threads asking how to disable traction control, mostly referencing various methods of manipulating several controls, as I would have had to do on my old 2006...

    Traction control? | PriusChat

    Traction Control | PriusChat

    Disabling traction control | PriusChat

    But none acknowledging the existence of a button, which presumably is a newer model thing.

    Post 14 in the last thread suggests that a 2013 Prius v5 lacks this, as they suggest the "P 2x gas, N 2x gas, P 2x gas" method...

    edit:
    Also, you can download the 2015 Prius V owner's manual (OM47887U), and these features are on pages 246 & 247..

    That said, there's a note on page 248 that it will automatically re-enable after you turn it off/on again, or "The TRAC will turn on when vehicle speed increases". So presumably there is some speed threshold where it kicks back on...
     
    #1 Matt73, Dec 21, 2015
    Last edited: Dec 21, 2015
  2. rdgrimes

    rdgrimes Senior Member

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    My 2013 has a PCS OFF button underneath, that's it.
     
    #2 rdgrimes, Dec 21, 2015
  3. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    i have never heard of this. is it a north american car? can you post a pic?
     
    #3 bisco, Dec 21, 2015
  4. Matt73

    Matt73 Junior Member

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    That is at least consistent with the earlier threads that suggest the 2013 lacks a disable button...

    You can also see it in the pictures in the 2105 model's brochure...

    Unfortunately I can't post links to toyota's site, but you can download the brochure yourself.

    Page 9 shows the dash from the driver's perspective, and you can see the button, just below the steering wheel on the left side.. it has a picture of a skidding car with the word "off" below it.
     
    #4 Matt73, Dec 21, 2015
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  5. minnyprius

    minnyprius Member

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    Please don't quote me, but.... I *think* in 2014, basically every car now is required to have an "off" button for Traction Control. I could be wrong, but I seem to have picked up on that somewhere along the lines....
     
    #5 minnyprius, Dec 21, 2015
  6. Matt73

    Matt73 Junior Member

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    So, I pointed out the brochure bit.. I'll take a picture this evening if people want. Not sure if I'm allowed to post pictures yet with so few posts...

    And yes, it is a North American vehicle. As my profile states, I live in Maryland, USA, and I bought it here at a local dealership.
     
    #6 Matt73, Dec 21, 2015
  7. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    i think you need 5. anyway, the brochure is fine. i'll be interested in hearing from other 2015 v owners, or a moderator with the specs.
     
    #7 bisco, Dec 21, 2015
  8. Matt73

    Matt73 Junior Member

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    Agreed... I'd also be interested in hearing from 2014 v owners..

    We've already heard from 2013's and they don't have the button..
     
    #8 Matt73, Dec 22, 2015
  9. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    tried some googling, couldn't find anything regarding mandated traction control off buttons.
     
    #9 bisco, Dec 22, 2015
  10. Matt73

    Matt73 Junior Member

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    Yeah, googling for both mandates about traction disable, and prius v traction disable don't really turn up anything useful..

    Looking at the 2014 Prius v (lowercase v) owner's manual off Toyota's site (still can't post links), there is no mention of the traction control disable...

    This suggests the change was either started in 2015, or added to the 2014 after the owners manual was written..
     
    #10 Matt73, Dec 22, 2015
  11. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    have you tried the 2015 lift back manual or brochure?

    odd that there was no fanfare after years of people screaming for it, and toyota saying it wasn't safe for the hybrid system.
     
    #11 bisco, Dec 22, 2015
  12. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk MMX GEN III

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    One thing for sure: if they've added the ability to turn off traction control, it'll be relatively safe to turn it off. I kinda shudder when talk about disabling traction control via Maintenance Mode comes up.
     
    #12 Mendel Leisk, Dec 22, 2015
  13. Matt73

    Matt73 Junior Member

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    Briefly looking at the owners manuals for the non-v (as a comparison):

    2015 Prius (OM47A17U) - no mention of traction control/vsc disable
    2016 Prius (OM47A29U)- mentions traction control and vsc disable on page 406

    With the v:
    2014 Prius v (I didn't note the file) - no mention of traction control/vsc disable
    2015 Prius v (OM47887U) - mentions traction control and vsc disable on page 246 & 247
    2016 Prius v - I haven't checked, but I presume it is the same as the 2015, since all the specs are allegedly the same.
     
    #13 Matt73, Dec 22, 2015
  14. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    interesting. that rules out gov regs. i wonder why the v is different. is the drivetrain different?
     
    #14 bisco, Dec 22, 2015
  15. Matt73

    Matt73 Junior Member

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    Well, the "power-plant" is all the same.. same engine, same electric motor, same batteries, etc..

    That said, the v is a larger, heavier vehicle and it is entirely plausible they put some heavier duty components in the transaxle/psd/axle making it less prone to sheer.. but that's entirely speculative..
     
    #15 Matt73, Dec 23, 2015
  16. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    hey matt, i just posted to a thread from a guy with a 2015 v, in montana who posted about loss of control while driving down a mountain in the snow. keep your eye out for it.
     
    #16 bisco, Dec 23, 2015
  17. Matt73

    Matt73 Junior Member

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    Joe Fisher did *NOT* loose control of his car, and was actually posting that he didn't even loose traction despite the severe conditions...

    Yes, I do read the forum, and have for quite a while despite my recent sign-up..
     
    #17 Matt73, Dec 23, 2015
  18. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    did you ask him if he has the off button?
     
    #18 bisco, Dec 23, 2015
  19. Matt73

    Matt73 Junior Member

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    No.. you already asked him, so why would I re-ask the same question?
     
    #19 Matt73, Dec 23, 2015
  20. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    good question.
     
    #20 bisco, Dec 23, 2015
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