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squiggly line icon coming on & brief odd sensation

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Main Forum' started by toofnold, Apr 3, 2010.

  1. toofnold

    toofnold New Member

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    My wife is working seven hundred miles from home & just called with the following: On her 2007 Prius she's had the following occur two or three times. she's driving along foot lightly on the gas in D,C. traffic when the squiggly line icon comes on the dash display accompanied by a brief sensation of skidding/slipping. Her impression is that the whole concurrence is very small fraction of a second. got any idea's what to do with this ?
    Paul
     
    #1 toofnold, Apr 3, 2010
  2. efusco

    efusco Moderator Emeritus
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    That's usually just the traction control, but shouldn't be happening with steady speed driving. the VSC can show the same icon + VSC icon and 3 beeps. So, unless the roads are really wet/slick or it's happening when trying to accelerate on slippery terrain I don't know why she'd be seeing that.
     
    #2 efusco, Apr 3, 2010
  3. edthefox5

    edthefox5 Senior Member

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    Yes its probably like eFusco says but I would also have her check all the tires for proper air pressure too. One or all may be very low.
     
    #3 edthefox5, Apr 4, 2010
  4. Patrick Wong

    Patrick Wong DIY Enthusiast

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    If road conditions are not obviously bad (standing water or snow) then I'd suggest looking at the tire tread depth. How many miles on the tires? Maybe the car needs a new set.
     
    #4 Patrick Wong, Apr 4, 2010
  5. qbee42

    qbee42 My other car is a boat

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    It sounds like it's doing exactly what it's supposed to do. When traction control is activated the little squiggly line icon is displayed.

    The real question is why is your wife's Prius losing traction? As mentioned above, tires are the first place to look, unless you know the road was broken or slippery.

    Tom
     
    #5 qbee42, Apr 4, 2010
  6. dogfriend

    dogfriend Human - Animal Hybrid

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    If the tires are the original Integrity tires, they are probably getting really bad by now. I could break the tires loose on dry pavement when I got about 30k on them.
     
    #6 dogfriend, Apr 4, 2010
  7. toofnold

    toofnold New Member

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    First, THANKS to everyone who responded. I've spent the last hour on Skype
    having her check tire pressure, tread condition, the side walls, etc. I had her
    check fluids, front end feel, etc. at the end of the conversation she commented
    on the deteriorating condition of the roads surfaces after the long hard winter.
    It seems the roads are falling apart, big chuck holes appearing, road surface
    coming away around previous repairs. in general the roads are going to hell &
    need many repairs..... I think that the general consensus that the car's systems
    are performing as designed are correct. We currently own two Toyota's & will own
    more as the need arises
    Thanks again
    Paul
     
    #7 toofnold, Apr 4, 2010
  8. fgoodyear

    fgoodyear New Member

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    Yep, mine does that on bad roads also.
     
    #8 fgoodyear, Apr 6, 2010
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