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

What does Toyota say about their stupid traction control?

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Main Forum' started by cossie1600, Jan 20, 2011.

  1. spiderman

    spiderman wretched

    Joined:
    Jul 5, 2009
    7,543
    1,558
    0
    Location:
    Alaska
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    II
    Could both tires have been on equally slick surfaces?
     
  2. cossie1600

    cossie1600 Active Member

    Joined:
    Jul 25, 2009
    898
    92
    0
    Location:
    CT
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    II
    I believe the 3rd gen has it, you can hear the brakes pulsate as the dash lights up. Here is the problem, you can spin them up to a certain point. If you spin it too much, engine goes limp and you are stuck with power cutting in and out.

    My other car has a LSD and ABLS (active brake limited slip, basically traction control), they both do the same thing. Still, it doesn't completely eliminate all the wheel spin like a real racing LSD would. The only good thing about it is that at least the engine won't cut out.
     
  3. Skoorbmax

    Skoorbmax Senior Member

    Joined:
    Mar 19, 2010
    2,641
    264
    0
    Location:
    Western NY
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    II
    Cossie "In another thread you found a way to cut TC off--does it work and if so did it help in this hill?"
     
  4. adamace1

    adamace1 Senior Member

    Joined:
    Jun 22, 2009
    1,403
    191
    0
    Location:
    Charlotte, NC
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    II
    I think so we had at least 1/4 of freezing rain, i could barly walk to my car, everything was covered. I guess of the ice could provide more traction than other parts, but i doubt it.

    I didn't floor the car, just held the pedal down enough to hear the tire spin, the tire may have come to a stop of close to it, i could hear zzzzzzzzz.zzzzzzzzzz.zzzzzzzzzzzzz.zzzzzzz but i was watching the front drivers side tire with my head out the window and it never moved. I was also going 0 when i tried to move over the speed bump if that makes a difference.
     
  5. skilbovia

    skilbovia Member

    Joined:
    Oct 25, 2010
    400
    91
    0
    Location:
    Massachusetts
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    V
    There is a situation where it would be very helpful to be able to remove traction control. I have had a few situations where I have had to spin the tires to melt the ice or compacted snow under my tires to get down to bare pavement then rock the vehicle back and forth till it popped out of the rut. It's not good for the tires or the transmission but in emergencies it's nice to have the option. I don't think my Prius is going to let me do that.

    As far as spinning the wheels is concerned. I can spin the wheels in my 2010 Prius to a certain extent, but I haven't really tested its limits. I have however stopped the vehicle on a steep incline and have been able to pull away slowly.

    Everythhing I have needed to do in the snow has worked out well so far. But winter is not over.
     
  6. qbee42

    qbee42 My other car is a boat

    Joined:
    Mar 2, 2006
    18,058
    3,073
    7
    Location:
    Northern Michigan
    Vehicle:
    2006 Prius
    At no time in this video can you see both wheels at the same time and tell if they are spinning. To me this looks like simple power modulation, like that used on the Gen II, although the Gen III allows for more wheel spin. I don't see any indication of selective braking.

    Tom
     
  7. Mike Dimmick

    Mike Dimmick Active Member

    Joined:
    Aug 8, 2008
    963
    247
    0
    Location:
    Reading, UK
    Vehicle:
    Other Hybrid
    Model:
    N/A
    I recall reading it in the New Car Features document, but I'm afraid I didn't save a copy. Last time anyone posted a section of the NCF on here, it got deleted, though it was a big chunk, hardly Fair Use.

    They never started.
     
  8. tonyrenier

    tonyrenier I grew up, but it's still red!

    Joined:
    Jun 29, 2009
    362
    44
    13
    Location:
    Green Bay, WI
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    III
    This thread is going on forever.
    As any of you who live in snow country know (qbee42-can tell I'm about 150 miles south of you, I'm sure you get it. I don't get why anyone would build a city on those hills on the Keweenaw. I'm assuming Michigan Tech.) the worst situation beyond sheer ice is that slimey snow when temps are around freezing. That was my drive to work today. At my first stop sign the tires spun a bit then I gained traction. I must have been spacey when I got to a stop light because I had to hit the brakes hard. I absolutely never felt a transition from regen to ABS. In both cases the car performed flawlessly.
     
  9. cossie1600

    cossie1600 Active Member

    Joined:
    Jul 25, 2009
    898
    92
    0
    Location:
    CT
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    II
    Yes it does work, but it is annoying to have to park the car and do the whole set of procedures to turn it off.
     
  10. BhamPrius

    BhamPrius Member

    Joined:
    Jan 19, 2011
    128
    19
    0
    Location:
    Bellingham, WA
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    II
    On my way to work this morning, I encountered freezing rain/snow/sleet at 32 degrees (in late April..UGH..but that's another story). It was coming down pretty good and the roads were not yet plowed. I was going about 40 in a 55 but took a curve a bit too fast and my car began to slide... I had a brief moment of terror, white-knuckle-gripping the wheel and my heart in my throat... I kept my eyes on the road, despite the ditch to my right and cars coming at me in the other lane.. Out of my peripheral, I saw the TC light briefly flick on twice..and it kept me stable, in my lane, and on the road.. This was my first experience with TC, but I'm glad it helped out.. two thumbs up!
    Moral=slow down, stupid (me)!
     
  11. F8L

    F8L Protecting Habitat & AG Lands

    Joined:
    Aug 14, 2006
    19,011
    4,080
    50
    Location:
    Grass Valley, CA.
    Vehicle:
    Other Non-Hybrid
    Model:
    N/A
    Your experience had nothing to do with Prius traction control. VSC may have been involved but it sounds to me that you were simply going to fast for conditions (unknown to you) and your tires couldn't maintain traction. This is not a Prius issue. I'm glad you were able to maintain control and no one was harmed. :rockon:
     
  12. BhamPrius

    BhamPrius Member

    Joined:
    Jan 19, 2011
    128
    19
    0
    Location:
    Bellingham, WA
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    II
    Oh, I thought I made it clear that I realize that I was going too fast. I don't blame the Prius for anything..it did a great job of keeping me on the road & in my lane! So, can you explain how the VSC works? Does it work in conjunction with the TC?
     
  13. F8L

    F8L Protecting Habitat & AG Lands

    Joined:
    Aug 14, 2006
    19,011
    4,080
    50
    Location:
    Grass Valley, CA.
    Vehicle:
    Other Non-Hybrid
    Model:
    N/A
    You did make it clear. I just wanted to reiterate the fact because some members of the forum like to point blame at the Prius without reading all of the details. :) I'm just glad you are ok and the car wasn't smashed into a ditch.

    As for the differences, there is a good thread on the subject from back in 2007. I hope it helps.

    http://priuschat.com/forums/gen-ii-...-difference-between-traction-control-vsc.html

    Here is a video of VSC in action
     
  14. tpfun

    tpfun New Member

    Joined:
    Oct 4, 2009
    791
    54
    1
    Location:
    Oh Never Mind,CA
    Vehicle:
    Other Non-Hybrid
    Model:
    N/A
    Recent reports indicate Subaru has decided not to base its hybrids on the HSD. At one point, they were planning to. I would guess that the traction control has something to do with it given Subaru's traditional prowess with AWD.
     
  15. Skoorbmax

    Skoorbmax Senior Member

    Joined:
    Mar 19, 2010
    2,641
    264
    0
    Location:
    Western NY
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    II
    lols. I saw this in my email, but not the author. I thought "This sounds like a tpfun post" and low and behold.
     
    1 person likes this.
  16. BhamPrius

    BhamPrius Member

    Joined:
    Jan 19, 2011
    128
    19
    0
    Location:
    Bellingham, WA
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    II

    Thanks for dropping the knowledge! I stand corrected..all praise to the VSC!
     
  17. donee

    donee New Member

    Joined:
    Aug 15, 2005
    2,956
    197
    0
    Location:
    Chicagoland
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    III
    Hey,

    Don't be dissing my child hood stomping grounds!

    We made it down from Calumet to Hancock on Route 41 just fine. Even in a 1960s V8 Chrysler RWD station wagon. Although, I commonly kid that was how I got my centrifuge training (in the back seat!).

    The main reason Calumet was built (and at one time was the Capital of Michigan) was copper. In the study of Anthropology, its well know the only native copper on the North American continent is from the Keeweenaw. Copper that was traded as far away as Mexico.

    Most of the copper for WW II was mined out of the Keeweenaw. C+H mining , from Az, started on the Keeweenaw, the C stands for Calumet, and the H for Hecula, two towns on the top of the Keeweenaw.

    If you like dry, clear bright, long sunny summer days, in a temperate climate living on the top of the Keeweenaw is the place.