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2010 Prius feels unsettled on the highway

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Care, Maintenance & Troubleshooting' started by rmani, May 29, 2013.

  1. rmani

    rmani New Member

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    Around town the car feels great, but at speeds over 60-65mph it starts to need lots of little tiny corrections to keep the car going straight. Is this normal? The alignment is straight so I know that's not it. Is it just a design of the car it's not very good at higher speeds? Thanks
     
  2. Lutchenko

    Lutchenko Will Perrin

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    I have to say that mine is as solid as a rock at all speeds and I've had it way over an indicated 100mph
     
  3. ForestBeekeeper

    ForestBeekeeper Active Member

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    I-95 as it goes by our township is posted at 75mph. I routinely set the cruise control for 81mph. Our Prius is always steady as a rock.

    I would have the tires re-balanced.
     
  4. snoctor

    snoctor Member

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    That's not normal. I have a 2010, 53,000 miles, original tires, and this past weekend I was hitting over 80mph during a 90 minute trip on a major highway and the car drives perfectly fine.
     
  5. prev93

    prev93 Member

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    That was a common complaint with Gen II and I think there are still some remnants of that in the Gen III. It's probably due in part to the lack of feedback from the electrically-powered steering and, perhaps, the brand of tires you have on the car. It takes a little getting used to.
     
  6. WE0H

    WE0H Senior Member

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    Tire pressure low or cheep tires with lots of tread squirm? Bone stock rental Prii drive solid as a rock well over 100 mph. They handle excellent. Now stock Prius with no rear swaybar will wander in the wind but not too crazy ;-)

    Mike

    Mobile on my SGH-i717
     
  7. peterjmc

    peterjmc Ping pong in Ding Dang...

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    Have a 2010 w/ 90,xxxx miles. Mine drives straight needing no corrections at highway speed.

    What are your alignment specs?
     
  8. Mike500

    Mike500 Senior Member

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    How long have you owned this car?

    The chassis of the Prius, beginning with the Gen II, has been subject to a bit of "flutter." This issue has been discussed extensively over the years.

    In mid-2012, Toyota quietly introduced a new stiffer mid-chassis underbrace to address this matter. I noticed the same thing, when my then NEW 2012 Prius"v" had the "flutter" characteristic. It was an earlier model with the thin "hourglass" shaped brace like the one on your 2010.

    Since then, I have designed and fabricated numerous versions of a stiffer while more torque compliant brace that affects better handling for the Prius. A lot of PriusChat members have adopted and use my chassis braces with good results.
     
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  9. WE0H

    WE0H Senior Member

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    Wonder if they have too much toe out on the rear? That'd make it a bit loose back there ;-)

    Mike

    Mobile on my SGH-i717
     
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  10. 13PV

    13PV Junior Member

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    how's the condition of your roadway? winds? tires pressure/size? the car is designed to be somewhat lighter to achieve greater mpg.
     
  11. Mike500

    Mike500 Senior Member

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    Could be. But, he says that the alignment is correct.
     
  12. WE0H

    WE0H Senior Member

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    We've heard that one before; yep your car is within the huge window the manufacturer says is normal :rolleyes:

    Mike :D

    Mobile on my SGH-i717
     
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  13. hlunde

    hlunde Member

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    The Prius has the simplest of suspension systems -- McPherson Strut plus a rear beam axle. There are limitation to both these systems. The absence of passive rear steer could make crosswinds an issue. I just don't think that one can expect sophistication in all sub-systems for an advanced hybrid at the Prius' pricepoint.
     
  14. Mike500

    Mike500 Senior Member

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    I explained why the Prius has an intentionally "warning flutter" a long time, ago.

    The front wheel drive vehicle exhibits an "oversteer" condition as speed is increased in cornering.

    The "warning flutter" is put there to warn the driver to reduce speed by providing the driver with a feeling that the car is experiencing a "loss of control," when it really is NOT.

    The "flutter" occurs first. Should the driver continue to corner hard, which would result in loss of control due to an increase in oversteer, the car's active stability control would take over.

    Unfortunately, this flexing of the chassis to induce a "warning flutter" felt by the driver is set at a very low threshold on most all Prii.

    Increasing the stiffness of the chassis with carefully designed under braces effectively delays the onset of the "warning flutter."

    Thus the drivability of the Prius can be made to feel more secure on the highway and in cornering.

    Toyota finally realized this and introduced the "tubular" mid chassis underbrace in early 2012.

    For myself, I have developed an even stiffer "one piece" version of the Toyota "tubular" brace.

    Toyota, JDM and Cusco has made their stiffer braces properly. Others just make a thicker and fancy carved plate. The plate increases stresses on the mounts on the rails, which could result in stress risers and metal fatigue.
     
  15. edthefox5

    edthefox5 Senior Member

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    Yep I'm betting the tires are at 29 lbs.
     
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  16. tumbleweed

    tumbleweed Senior Member

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    Definitely not normal. My gen3 is very stable at speed and has good resistance to cross winds. No tendencies to wander or drift around on the highway at all.

    I had that (wandering all over the road) problem with my Gen2 and it turned out to be the rear wheels were not toed in enough (not adjustable) which I finally fixed with shims. It was "in spec" as far as alignment was concerned and the dealer would not do anything with it. I'm not saying that's your problem because other things can cause it but you do have something that's not right somewhere.
     
  17. rmani

    rmani New Member

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    thanks for the feedback guys. tire pressures are set to 40 PSI to try and maximize MPGs. I should say the car drives steady, it's just that it feels a bit floaty. The slight movement of the steering wheel will set the car off course which to me just seems like overly assisted power steering.
     
  18. JimboPalmer

    JimboPalmer Tsar of all the Rushers

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  19. Sfcyclist

    Sfcyclist Senior Member

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    Only 2 factors.. the car or driver... check both.. (y)

    I've driven a lot of cars and the Prius, as noted, is solid and pretty basic suspension wise. It handle as it should and sbable at freeway speed.s
     
  20. edthefox5

    edthefox5 Senior Member

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    There is no dead band on the steering so the Prius is annoying in that it takes constant attention to drive. if the car is your only driver than that feeling goes away but if you bounce between 2 cars you really notice it.

    Btw, what car do you own lol?