How to disable VSC?

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(amped @ Apr 15 2004, 01:50 PM) [snapback]11787[/snapback]</div>

Easiest way to eliminate your problem with VSC would be to trade for my option 1!

 

I have to say that it is my opinion, unfettered by facts, that it will be very difficult to do. There are a number of additional sensors. The ECU would have to be disabled. Does anyone know it the other ECU's expect information, and weather they have been reprogrammed for the VCS? I totally understand why you want to do this. A good 4 wheel drift is a grand think. Feels good, is good, but this car may never do it. Not only does the computers control the brakes and the throttle, but it also controls the steering control. Remember that this car is built to park itself. If it can park itself can it steer itself? Answer yes. Prius New Car Features clearly suggests that when the VSC is engaged that the computers modify the steering control. Take that into a four wheel drift, not! This is a new age. We are looking at cars driving them selves! Not now but soon.

 

Not to go off topic, but while we are disabling things. Does anyone know how to disable cylindar #4?

I only want a 3 cylindar hybrid, and figure maybe I can just disable that last one to get the kind of car I really wanted...

 

I agree WHOLEHEARTEDLY with amped! The Prius VSC SUCKS! I don't believe it will keep me OUT of trouble AT ALL! I, like amped, know how to slide a car and react very calmly in situations where most people freeze up and panic. I have raced SCCA and drive a Boxster S when the urge to whip a car around strikes. I too have changed my wheels to performance fitment. 17x 7 rims with 215/45 ZR17 BF Goodrich g-force Sport tires. I firmly believe that someday, somehow, that damn VSC will GET ME INTO trouble.

Case in point... There is this one driveway that I have driven out of twice that has activated the Prius VSC violently. It's kind of a moderately steep downhill commercial parking lot driveway exit leading onto a moderately steep uphill transition onto the road that is on a downhill slant to the right. So, it's one of those driveway to road V-transitions. Not quite bad enough to scrape your front valence on, but close. So, You're turning to the right out of the driveway and onto the road that ls slanting downhill. I hope I got the terrain illustrated here... So, you accelerate and turn right. Now you're sticking almost all the way into the near lane... and your acceleration COMPLETELY, abruptly ends. Even with your accelerator pedal TO THE FLOOR! This lag lasts for at least half a second. Possibly over a full second. And all the speed you have is just a SLOW coast that you got from a moment of acceleration. You ARE essentially a sitting duck and begging to get blasted by the driver you drove out in front of. This is TREMENDOUSLY dangerous. And if I did ever get blasted at that driveway because of this VSC flaw/shortcoming, you bet your nice person I'd sue Toyota big-time!

Another time that VSC could have literally killed me was when I took this sharp, nicely banked 90-degree right turn, followed by an immediate hard left that was banked the other way. I've taken this turn MANY times in many different cars and had much fun with it over the years. Even at relatively low speed. Something about the camber change FREAKED OUT the VSC on the Prius. Driving the way I have in many different cars around that turn placed me SOLIDLY in the middle of the oncoming traffic lane. There was NO tire screeching, NO loss of traction, or anything at all like that. It appears that the left brakes bit HARD (as they POSSIBLY got momentary air during the transition and started to spin faster than the right side that was still on pavement) and the right braking was fully released. I am absolutely 100% positive that if there was no VSC on my Prius, that turn would have been 100% uneventful. Just like it has always been all these years.

Keep in mind, folks, the Prius VSC is a far cry from, say, a Ferrari F430's. The Prius certainly does NOT have state-of-the-art VSC. It's rubbish. The Prius has fantastic brakes! And it's a front-wheel drive. All that VSC would be good for (maybe, as the Prius' is crap) would be snow. It's a liability for all else. Even rain, in my opinion. I live in Hawaii. We don't get snow. Therefore, that damn VSC is purely dangerous for/to me.

By the way, I did talk to Toyota's service department down here and relayed that story about the driveway and asked that they disable the VSC. They said there was no way to do it. I told them very firmly that I was going to sue them if it activated again and harmed me or anyone else. They then took me seriously and spent about 30 minutes trying to figure out how to disable the VSC but came back with the same answer; not possible without invasive modification. These guys didn't strike me as knowing much. And I don't believe them. I would bet there is a way to simply deprogram the VSC. Rather in the same fashion that you disable the backup beeper when you put the car into reverse. That is the answer I seek. There's gotta be a way...

 

I've heard more accounts of problems with the Prius's VSC in snow than anything, actually. If the system would slow the front wheels to try and find grip instead of cutting power completely it would be a lot better, but on slick roads it simply applies power and cuts it and applies it again and cuts it again in a neverending cycle. Actually, now that I think about it, this is the TRAC system's territory. Regardless, not very safe.

I agree with some that the VSC does help keep you on the road in corners; I'd be lying if I said it hasn't saved my nice person more than once. But the system in the 2001 Sequoia my mom used to have was worlds better.

There's one method for turning it all off I've seen documented somewhere online, though I can't currently find it. It only works until you turn the car off again and also does not allow the engine to turn off; it is a diagnostic function and its activation requires pushing different spots on the display a few times.

My guess is that the TRAC system is nondefeatable in the Prius (unlike in any other Toyota I can think of, as far as I recall, and I've driven a lot of Toyotas) because of the potential damage to the hybrid drive from overspinning the electric motors. Good luck finding a more permanent solution, though.

 

While you might know how to drive, you don't know what is VSC... while Amped does...

The behaviour you are describing comes from Traction control, not VSC...
It seems really U.S. citizen like to sue for anything... If you get blasted in that driveway, it's just because YOU tried to engage that road while YOU didn't have sufficient safety lenght between you and the other car...
Dont blame the car or the car maker YOUR fault.

 

someone is trying to school an instructor about driving...thats hilarious

i too, want to know how to disable the traction/vsc just for a few reasons

can anyone help?

 

r u serious with this comment...in LA you cant get out of any driveway with out trying to blast out of it, and if the TC or VSC keeps you from accelerating out of another cars way that is just as dangerous

most of us dont drive in a PERFECT WORLD

 

He didn't say he was an instructor, just that he raced...

It seems very difficult to deactivate, mostly because it seems to be programmed within the electric motor management program...

One way I'd see you could try is to inhibit (unplug) the speed sensors on each wheels...
That way when the systems check it's components it will find that sensors are faulty, this would lights the dashboard's warning lights but also deactivate the VSC/ETC/ABS...
Not sure it works but I think it's worth the try.

 

the OP is an instructor, the other poster is a SCCA racer
and i am just a lowly lotus and prius driver

 

Regarding Royal Majesty's recent comments that the Prius does not adequately respond to his driving needs, the answer is simple: sell the Prius and purchase another vehicle that performs in a more suitable fashion. The Prius is not a Swiss army knife and I agree that it is not suitable for all driving conditions.

Responding to A strolling players comment about the inspection mode, this is simple to invoke: Make the vehicle IG-ON. Fully depress the accelerator pedal twice when the gear selector is in P. Shift to N and fully depress the accelerator pedal twice. Shift to P and fully depress the accelerator pedal twice. Then make the vehicle READY.

You will see the hybrid vehicle icon flashing in the upper left corner of the MFD. The traction control will be off and the gasoline engine will run continuously. It is not recommended that you drive the vehicle in this condition, as you are likely to damage the transaxle if the tires encounter a low-traction situation.

 

FWIW the OP is 3 - 4 years old. Holy ancient threads

 

Thank goodness: a sensible answer. Why do people make this so difficult? The Prius isn't a race car, it's not a sports car, it's not even a performance car. What it does do it does well, which is moving people from point A to point B with a minimal amount of fuel, fuss, and bother. I haven't heard anyone say: "My Prius is unsafe when I pull my 16,000 pound boat. Why didn't Toyota do a better job designing this unsafe wimpy car?" It also doesn't do well as an off-road vehicle, and it is positively terrible as a cement mixer: it only carries half a yard, and I find it hard to clean afterward.

There is an old saying that I often quote: "Never try to teach a pig to sing. It only wastes your time and annoys the pig."

Tom

 

The Prius main purpose is:

1. save the enviroment...
2. save fuel...

...the BMW M3 purpose is...:

1. Transfer fuel in g-forces and burning rubber (and some useless heat)...
2. skid sideways at any speed trough any corner you want...


Now decide what suit you want pull over

...you will never find 400hp with 55mpg

Andreas

 

The OP knows the difference between VSC and Traction control... ;-)
and his posts are a few years old

 

Wow, lots of response.

Hey, KandyRed, NICE ride! I was considering the Elise before going with the Boxster S. Still not sure if I made the right decision... Tough call...

Well, to the person that suggested I get another car to speed around in... I mentioned that I do so in my Porsche Boxster S. I DON'T speed around in the Prius. But you know, every now and then... there's one of "those" turns out there that pop up... with perfect conditions... Can't be in the Porsche ALL the time...

Sorry about confusing VSC and TRAC. Porsche ONLY has PSM (Porsche Stability Management) and my Lexus LS430 just has a VSC button. I never even knew about TRAC. I just figured it's all in one package. After all, "Vehicle Stability Control" does mean... vehicle stability control.

To the person that essentially called me sue-happy, I mean no disrespect, but WAKE UP! If the car MADE ME crash when I otherwise wouldn't have, the company SHOULD pay! I KNOW how to drive. I'm actually very good at it. If you didn't understand my claim the first time; the Prius' assists are, at best, a FLAWED system. It is DEFECTIVE. It's like a beta version. Gets it right sometimes (I've NEVER seen that, but I'll assume it), FAILS DRASTICALLY regularly. Frankly, when lives are on the line, beta doesn't cut it. This ain't Microsoft software. If I lose a leg or DIE because THE CAR DECIDED to throw me directly into oncoming traffic or off the side of a mountain FOR NO REASON, you think I should just "suck it up" and forgive and forget? Sorry. NO! Toyota had NO reason to implement such an unready system other than to tout it as a safety feature and induce a FALSE sense of security. And charge more for it. How ironic, irresponsible and unethical.

To the person that said I was irresponsible for entering traffic unsafely... No offense, but seriously, if a car can accelerate normally, a second is a LOT of time. It's also a lot of distance at about 40 mph. As stated previously, I know how to drive. And no, not JUST in race application. On city roads as well. I'm not a retard, okay? Try it someday; figure out exactly how far a car would have to be from you to accommodate your pulling out a full second earlier. That's a LONG distance. Besides, having to calculate what my car with override power over me is going to think reduces my driving ability. Especially when there is NO threat of ANY kind of danger. Come on, let me see you defend a full second of power shutoff for gently pulling out of a dry well-paved driveway onto a dry well-paved road. It is INDEFENSIBLE. Let's not forget the FACT that many drivers simply don't pay attention and could be talking to the passenger next to them or on their phone or eating a burger, rightfully not expecting an immobile car sitting in front of them on the road. Sorry, I don't feel you have any sort of argument here.

I've also had my assists activate AFTER a minor "threat" has passed. Particularly hitting a wet patch in a turn. Get a MOMENTARY blip-slide, get past it, have full traction without event, power gets cut and because of slow-down with constant steering input, car pulls inward in turn, I have to compensate and ease the steering outwards. Again, CREATING an unsafe situation vs. not doing anything. I may as well be compensating for the tail kicking out on me. I constantly find myself CORRECTING the assists' errors. I have NEVER had the Prius' assists help me. NEVER. EVERY time they have activated, it has at the least been annoying and at the most, PUT ME into life-threatening situations. Literally. I'm not exaggerating one bit.

I came across a possible solution to deactivate the VSC. I tried it and couldn't get it to work. Maybe you'll have better luck. Claimed to work on all Toyotas and Lexuses, but only until the car's turned off. Please let me know:

1. Make sure the car is in Park and the parking brake is disengaged before you start the car.
2. Start the engine.
3. Engage the parking brake.
4. Fully depress the brake pedal and then release.
5. Fully depress the brake pedal and then release.
6. Disengage the parking brake.
7. Fully depress and hold down the brake pedal.
8. Engage the parking brake, then disengage it (while holding down the brake pedal).
9. Engage the parking brake, then disengage it (while holding down the brake pedal).
10. Release the brake pedal.
11. Engage the parking brake.
12. Fully depress the brake pedal and then release.
13. Fully depress the brake pedal and then release.

Here's a video on the procedure. It's done on a Lexus, but is claimed to work on all Toyotas and Lexuses:

YouTube - Disable TRC and VSC in Lexus IS250

Aloha

 

I guess pulling safely out of a driveway is something the Prius was not designed to do.

Pardon my ignorance...

 

You said you know that traction control may kick-in,
If knowing this you still take a risk and engage into the lane while you know you won't have time if TC engage then you're responsible... you are the one driving.
If you just add that 'one second distance' before engaging, then no problem...
If you engage then TC kicks in then the other car crashes you, you should'nt have engaged in the first place, that's what I meant...
I see all days people doing insane non safe things just to gain a few seconds to get to work....
I won't risk my life for so few, If there isn't enough space between cars when engaging, then i'll wait for the next opportunity....

 

Aaahhh, so YOU'RE the guy with the mile-long string of cars behind him...

So far, there's only one driveway/road transition that this has occurred at for me. It REALLY took me by surprise! I had no idea that a "safety" system was the cause. I thought it was some sort of fuel system defect or something (I had just gotten the car). Then, it happened again at the same place and I caught a glimpse of the flashing icon of the car and skid lines. Only then did I realize that it was a system flaw, not a malfunction or damaged part.

You see, Tchou, now when I'm at THAT driveway, I DO add extra time to get onto the road if I can't just get a better angle. But there is NO reason that the assists should activate there. None. Now I find myself paranoid about what other ridiculously non-threatening situation will activate the assists and put my life in jeopardy like this one did the only two times it happened. I have to predict what will trigger the system. And that's impossible to do. Seems anything will. You want me to drive 10 mph EVERYWHERE and leave a minute before entering the road? I mean, that WOULD solve the problem...

That's my whole point. The assists do NOT help me in any situation. They NEVER will. It is such a poor system that I could be half asleep with a gallon of Bacardi 151 and a bottle of Ambien in me and I could STILL respond better than this car could to any threat. All this system does is jeopardize my safety/life. And that of other people as well.

I feel I am getting a lot of flak for supposedly bagging on the Prius by a group of people that obviously love their Priuses. That's the irony! I LOVE MY PRIUS!!! I also own a Porsche Boxster S, a Lexus LS430, and a totally modified Jeep Rubicon. All this and you know what? I call my Prius "My Baby." It IS the car I drive the most. I love it. But I don't want to die because of it. Hey, you all love your spouses, but if you found out he/she had cancer, you wouldn't say "that's just part of him/her and you folks don't understand." No. You'd get that taken care of!

People, the Prius has a problem. It is NOT a perfect car, as great as it is. And frankly, this VSC/TRAC problem is serious. It could have literally killed me. I certainly hope this does not happen to any of you. Who knows, perhaps my VSC/TRAC is malfunctioning, but I don't think so. It appears that most people that have race experience and really know automobile dynamics look for ways to disable the various forms of stability assists on all but high-end cars. Don't take it personally that I find this system annoying and flat out dangerous. Take it objectively and really think about what I've written.

Thanks.

 

My Prius pulls safely out of driveways. I've never had a problem, even in the winter, and I expect that I never will. If your roads are so congested that you can't wait for a clear space, then the problem is with the roads, not the automobile. If you are unwilling to wait, then the problem is elsewhere.

Tom