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

Just replaced our 2010 with a 2018

Discussion in 'Gen 4 Prius Main Forum' started by wfolta, Mar 31, 2018.

  1. RCO

    RCO Senior Member

    Joined:
    Aug 31, 2016
    3,709
    5,184
    0
    Location:
    Cornwall
    Vehicle:
    Other Hybrid
    Model:
    N/A
    The dice are still rolling..... :eek:
     
    Priifan, pilotgrrl and alanclarkeau like this.
  2. wfolta

    wfolta Active Member

    Joined:
    Jun 13, 2009
    366
    146
    0
    Location:
    Washington DC
    Vehicle:
    2018 Prius
    Model:
    IV
    I just thought about that this morning, and it's a very good point. What kind of indications does the system give that CC has been disengaged?
     
  3. RCO

    RCO Senior Member

    Joined:
    Aug 31, 2016
    3,709
    5,184
    0
    Location:
    Cornwall
    Vehicle:
    Other Hybrid
    Model:
    N/A
    DRCC (Dynamic Radar Cruise Control) can display a message saying radar contact with the preceding vehicle has been lost on short radius curves and you need to tap the lever UP again to reset it when the curve straightens out. Can't say it has dropped out for any other reason with me, but in a relative newbie to Prius. I imagine the display will revert to normal and to notice the speed won't increase. Unless you're on a steep decline! Just remember, IF YOU'VE PRESSED THE BRAKE - YOU HAVE DISENGAGED IT YOURSELF, definitely!!!!
     
    #23 RCO, Apr 4, 2018
    Last edited: Apr 4, 2018
    Priifan and pilotgrrl like this.
  4. wfolta

    wfolta Active Member

    Joined:
    Jun 13, 2009
    366
    146
    0
    Location:
    Washington DC
    Vehicle:
    2018 Prius
    Model:
    IV
    The big issue is that there's a 2x2 decision grid, like consultants love to use. There are two uses of DRCC: 1) maintaining speed, and 2) maintaining distance from the previous car. And there are two disengagement mechanisms: 1) explicit (user flicking CC stalk), and 2) implicit (user hitting brakes).

    So I'd hope they have the system react differently in each combination. If I flick the CC stalk, it can do what it wants. But if I tap the brakes, it really, really should let me know it's now off and won't slow the car. Perhaps even up the radar sensitivity/warning range.

    I doubt it does anything special, but I'll try it out this weekend. And I may only use it on fairly open interstates if it's easy to cancel via brake tap and it's not obvious it was cancelled until you sense a collision looming.
     
  5. pilotgrrl

    pilotgrrl Senior Member

    Joined:
    Jul 23, 2017
    891
    1,796
    0
    Location:
    Chicagoan in TX
    Vehicle:
    2016 Prius
    Model:
    Three
    In my experience, it's easy to know DRCC is off once I tap the brakes because the car will slow down if I do not put my foot on the accelerator. It won't brake if I don't put my foot on the brake. And the big "how to resume DRCC" screen pops up on the MID.

    You can also cancel DRCC using the center button in the stalk.


    Posted via the PriusChat mobile app.
     
    Priifan likes this.
  6. wfolta

    wfolta Active Member

    Joined:
    Jun 13, 2009
    366
    146
    0
    Location:
    Washington DC
    Vehicle:
    2018 Prius
    Model:
    IV
    Hopefully the big "How to Resume DRCC" catches my attention. The car slowing down when DRCC is canceled is a good clue when I'm cruising in the clear: the car's not maintaining speed as I intend -- doh, I must've disengaged. I'd sense that within a second or two.

    But the situation where I accidentally or instinctively tap the brakes (cancelling DRCC) because of slower traffic ahead is trickier. The fact that the car's slowing down could reinforce my mistaken impression that DRCC is still in control and is slowing because of the traffic ahead. Obviously, if traffic is far enough ahead or if it speeds up, the car will "over slow" and I'll again get the clue that DRCC isn't engaged. The dangerous situation is if the car seems to be slowing about right and it's not until I'm closing too fast that I realize it isn't.

    I'm just speculating here, so I'll see how it reacts in real life. Perhaps it's so obvious that the car is coasting (after a brake-tap disengage) that it's not really an issue.
     
    Priifan likes this.
  7. pilotgrrl

    pilotgrrl Senior Member

    Joined:
    Jul 23, 2017
    891
    1,796
    0
    Location:
    Chicagoan in TX
    Vehicle:
    2016 Prius
    Model:
    Three
    I bought my Gen 4 because I totaled my Gen 2 in an accident.

    In 2016, TSS-P was optional, so I chose a trim level that had the features I wanted, like HUD, plus the TSS-P I wanted, like DRCC, auto high beams, LKA w/PD , etc. My car doesn't have BSM or IPA.

    I have my DRCC set to high, where medium is the default. I'd rather be further behind the target vehicle, just in case there's ever a chance the system is going to have to do the job it's designed to do.

    In other words, I'm "leaving both of us an out", as my driver's ed teacher said long ago.

    Posted via the PriusChat mobile app.
     
    Priifan likes this.
  8. Prodigyplace

    Prodigyplace 2025 Camry XLE FWD

    Joined:
    Nov 1, 2016
    11,709
    11,324
    0
    Location:
    Central Virginia
    Vehicle:
    Other Hybrid
    Model:
    XLE
    The "How to Resume..." can actually be turned off. going from memory, if you hit the brake, you get a MID popup showing Radar Ready. If you turn off from the stalk, you sometimes the startup popup followed by a second popup stating Radar Ready
    The DRCC screens do not show the set speed in the lower right when disabled.
     
  9. alanclarkeau

    alanclarkeau Senior Member

    Joined:
    Feb 24, 2016
    7,044
    7,585
    0
    Location:
    near Brisbane, Australia
    Vehicle:
    2016 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    "But if I tap the brakes, it really, really should let me know it's now off" - It SURE WILL BE OFF - the Manual clearly states several times that both DRCC and AEB are disengaged IMMEDIATELY you touch the brake - as it KNOWS you've taken command.
     
  10. alanclarkeau

    alanclarkeau Senior Member

    Joined:
    Feb 24, 2016
    7,044
    7,585
    0
    Location:
    near Brisbane, Australia
    Vehicle:
    2016 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    The only other time I've had DRCC disengage itself is in very heavy rain. If the RADAR and camera can't see the car in front due to the rain splash mist off the road - it can't work, and drops out. Happened 3 or 4 times to me - always at Motorway speeds (90-100).
     
  11. wfolta

    wfolta Active Member

    Joined:
    Jun 13, 2009
    366
    146
    0
    Location:
    Washington DC
    Vehicle:
    2018 Prius
    Model:
    IV
    Being off and me knowing it's off are two different things. I have no doubt that if I push the brake on purpose to indicate I'm taking control it gives me control. I worry about an accidental or instinctive tap where my intention is not to take control. That's where I'd like a warning -- say two chirps -- to tell me "you have the comm". Clear communications never hurts.

    I assume that if I push the button on the CC stalk -- hard to do accidentally -- I'm clearly signaling I want control.

    Perhaps it takes more than a "tap" on the brake to disengage DRCC. I'm just speculating at this point. I'll experience it for myself this weekend. (Well, actually it's supposed to snow 6", so my testing may be postponed. Don't want someone else to run into my new car, and I don't have a feel for the "all weather" tires in snow yet.)
     
  12. Prodigyplace

    Prodigyplace 2025 Camry XLE FWD

    Joined:
    Nov 1, 2016
    11,709
    11,324
    0
    Location:
    Central Virginia
    Vehicle:
    Other Hybrid
    Model:
    XLE
    When that happens you get a popup warning you, correct?
     
  13. Prodigyplace

    Prodigyplace 2025 Camry XLE FWD

    Joined:
    Nov 1, 2016
    11,709
    11,324
    0
    Location:
    Central Virginia
    Vehicle:
    Other Hybrid
    Model:
    XLE
    If you are getting snow, remember there is a button on the lower right of the dash to disable traction control if it causes issues. I have not yet had to do this though. Of previous models some people would put the car in a diagnostic mode so they could disable the traction control. We now have a control to do that, if needed.
     
    wfolta likes this.
  14. alanclarkeau

    alanclarkeau Senior Member

    Joined:
    Feb 24, 2016
    7,044
    7,585
    0
    Location:
    near Brisbane, Australia
    Vehicle:
    2016 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    Never noticed - you can tell when you see something happening, and touch the brake, you feel the C/C disengage. I tend to watch the HUD mostly.

    It's the same whether you're using a normal Cruise Control or the DRCC mode. Other thing to be aware of is that the moment you brake, AEB is disconnected.

    I think it said in the manual that if the steering senses you swerving around an incident it disengages AEB too - but check the manual to confirm that.

    Won't traction control help? It stops wheelspin, which I would imagine would make the problem worse. I don't know, because we don't get snow - but on a slippery steep wet driveway, it wouldn't budge without traction control to help.
     
    #34 alanclarkeau, Apr 4, 2018
    Last edited by a moderator: Apr 5, 2018
  15. Prodigyplace

    Prodigyplace 2025 Camry XLE FWD

    Joined:
    Nov 1, 2016
    11,709
    11,324
    0
    Location:
    Central Virginia
    Vehicle:
    Other Hybrid
    Model:
    XLE
    Like I said, I have not yet had to disengage it but there were threads in the older Gen forums about how to do it.

    upload_2018-4-4_19-49-4.png
     
  16. wfolta

    wfolta Active Member

    Joined:
    Jun 13, 2009
    366
    146
    0
    Location:
    Washington DC
    Vehicle:
    2018 Prius
    Model:
    IV
    Yeah, I believe the Gen 2's could get stuck because the system tried to send power to the non-spinning wheel and both would spin, so it essentially sent almost no power to either. Overall, it's best to not have spinning tires, but when you're stuck on ice or in snow you may need to spin them strategically.

    I'd heard that the Gen 3's didn't have this problem, but being able to specifically disable things is a nice touch.
     
    Prodigyplace likes this.
  17. stephensprius

    stephensprius Active Member

    Joined:
    Nov 14, 2012
    670
    226
    0
    Location:
    Minneapolis, Minnesota
    Vehicle:
    2013 Prius
    Model:
    Persona
    enjoy your new car! do you have pics yet?
     
  18. farmecologist

    farmecologist Senior Member

    Joined:
    Jun 25, 2015
    1,952
    1,792
    0
    Location:
    Southern MN
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius v wagon
    Model:
    II
    I agree. Although not quite the same as your situation, our Prius v (wagon) has a different display than our Gen3...and I don't like it as much. I find it easier to keep the vehicle in the 'eco' range using the larger Gen3 display vs. the 'compact' display on the v (wagon).
     
  19. alanclarkeau

    alanclarkeau Senior Member

    Joined:
    Feb 24, 2016
    7,044
    7,585
    0
    Location:
    near Brisbane, Australia
    Vehicle:
    2016 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    I thought it was a bit odd that they have so many diverse displays. Prior to buying my PRIUS Gen 4, I drove a Corolla (Auris) Hybrid, Camry, v and Gen 3.

    There seemed almost no similarity - each was a learning curve. If I had to choose one of them on simplicity of dashboard it would have been CAMRY - but if on access to Hybrid displays, was Gen 4.
     
    RCO likes this.