I guess I am the only one who wants to disable VSC?

Are you sure it's not the traction control you're referring to? It's tough to get the VSC to kick in, but pretty common for TRAC to come on when the car feels it's slipping on the road...

 

I believe the reason you can't disable VSC or TRAC on the Prius is that the hybrid system is very prone to damage if the wheels are alowed to spin for any legnth of time (such as being stuck in the snow).

As for the VSC being obtrusive when driving normally, that hasn't been my experience. In fact, I've never seen the VSC activate in the Prius or in my Lexus except a very few times in the rain or in the snow. I'm a pretty spirited driver too.

I think you may be expecting too much of your Prius, its not a BMW or an Audi.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(sc_trojan @ Sep 15 2006, 05:20 PM) [snapback]320257[/snapback]</div>

I recently saw a report on GMA that cited VSC as being the most important safety feature since seat belts and that all cars will be required to have it by 2010.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(sc_trojan @ Sep 15 2006, 07:06 PM) [snapback]320280[/snapback]</div>

If the car is beeping at you in an unsupportable manner, then it's VSC. If it isn't then it's the blasted traction control.....

But I do agree with you, I don't understand why you can't deactivate the VSC like in everyother car on the road.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(sc_trojan @ Sep 15 2006, 04:06 PM) [snapback]320280[/snapback]</div>

Before you cut VSC/TC, maybe you can see what else you can fix first. Blinking lights with a "ding" is VSC.

First, are you using grippier/better tires better than the standard crappy Integrities (must be with the 17" TCs wheels)? Then in Initial-D lingo, if you got TC cutting in on your turns, your foot is already too heavy and the TC/VSC is telling you got no more extra traction to squeeze out of the turn as well as preventing pretty, black smoke trails.

If you're looking to drift in a Prius, you shouldn't as it's FF, and next maybe there's accelerator foot moderation techniques to keep the wheels spinning at the same speeds on the turn to trick TC/VSC to let you drift a little right at the edge of grip vs drift driving.

In order to be a "godfoot", I try to moderate my foot technique so I'm making the wheels spin at the correct speed for the turn I'm taking to avoid loosing traction to begin with. Many a times, I've taken a long turn at 0.8Gs (the G-Tech RR's red light starts blinking) which is about the maximum for my tire grip. Of course adding any more power to the traction wheels at that point tips out traction and then TC cuts in.

I've learned to either brake earlier so I get more spare traction Gs for pulling out of the turn, or oversteer more into the turn and ease into the accelerator as I countersteer out of the turn. Both work fairly well for me to maximize the turns so I can rarely get TC cutout on turns I'm very familiar with; just chirping, or light squealing instead, on these 15" Yokohama AVIDs.

 

Defeating the VSC or the Trac control has been discussed many times on this forum. It can lead to serious damage to the Hybrid drive system It can't be done and it shouldn't be done.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(marjam @ Sep 15 2006, 10:43 PM) [snapback]320367[/snapback]</div>

That certainly doesn't negate the point that it's annoying to him. I'd like to know whether it's VSC or TC that is causing the prob......... Myself, I didn't buy VSC for a reason.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(sl7vk @ Sep 15 2006, 09:15 PM) [snapback]320331[/snapback]</div>

How many people would switch it off without realizing it? (A lot). How many people will switch it off and think as they are skidding sideways in front of an oncoming semi "I think I'll switch that VSC back on?" (Very few).

It is Toyota's way of protecting you from yourself.

Making it a standard feature is an excellent thing. I bet a lot of the 10,000 people that it'll save each year are innocent "bystanders"--passengers, people in other cars, pedestrians, etc. Think of the suffering of their family and friends that would be prevented. Maybe you're a hotshot who thinks you can drive better without it (you're the type who needs it most IMO), but think about the other drivers. VSC in all cars will help prevent THEM from hurting YOU. It'll make our society a safer place.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(deh2k @ Sep 15 2006, 10:59 PM) [snapback]320377[/snapback]</div>

Jeepers... I get where you're coming from but a bit on the dramatic side eh?

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(sc_trojan @ Sep 15 2006, 02:20 PM) [snapback]320257[/snapback]</div>

I'm not sure what the problem is. I can take corners at "moderately fast but still safe" rates of speed without doing anything. I can take them at "very fast but still safe" rates of speed too. The key is to be smooth and apply power smoothly, cut your line to do the business without disturbing the chassis or signalling the VSC or TRAC to intervene.

Heaving your way through a corner by slamming on the power and steering through a slide is the wrong way to do it, especially with the Prius, and is actually going slower than it seems. Lots of stürm und drang, little effectiveness. ;-)

Godfrey

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Tideland Prius @ Sep 15 2006, 08:11 PM) [snapback]320310[/snapback]</div>

Just want to reinforce what Tideland said. Traction control is there to prevent over rev of the MG's therefore you see traction control as standard for all packages.

VSC is there to prevent the car from uncontrolled spinning.

The irony is that you can disable traction control for diagnostic purposes by doing some pedal + button push dance, but you can't disable VSC.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(ScottY @ Sep 15 2006, 09:01 PM) [snapback]320409[/snapback]</div>

You could iirc by cutting some wires, which would also result in a CEL, and kills the ABS as well as TC also. Woo hoo!

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(NuShrike @ Sep 16 2006, 12:33 AM) [snapback]320428[/snapback]</div>

You can cut the 12V power from the battery and disable all the electronics too~

 

<_< Sounds very much as if some "types" of drivers are not "Prius types." The technical design of the Prius is remarkable as it is. Some drivers prefer to attract attention by "burning rubber" and other attention-getting driving behaviour. I'd say, the Prius is not a car adaptable to street-racing, hot-rodding, etc. Just my opinion.

 

My traction control kicks on when I turn a right turn away from a light with the pedal floored and hit a mild bump.

The VSC never kicks in when I plow into a corner at 40 MPH with tires squealing (no accelerator or brake).

The only time I have ever felt the VSC kick in was when trying to change lanes in a severe snowstorm and trying to plow through 8 inches of thick snow. Light flashed, AND beeped.

I was successful at changing lanes, but it required a different technique than the usual "punch through" to the other lane.

Nate

 

Several times I've had to drive down dirt driveways with deep ruts. Each time VSC and/or TC kicked in, and I got stuck. Each time I was finally able to get out of the driveway, either by backing up and then jack-rabbit accellerating forward (which gets very violent), or by driving in reverse the whole way (which drains the battery down to pink bars).

Unfortunately, I can't just avoid these driveways.

So yes, I also wish I could disable these features temporarily.

 

You're not the only one...

The Prius' stability assists are rubbish. They don't help, they hurt. Keep in mind, I'm not saying that stability assists in general are a bad thing, I am saying that the Prius' specifically is/are. I've already written pretty extensively about this on another thread, so I won't here. For those reasons, I REALLY want to disable ALL assists except for ABS. If anyone finds a way, PLEASE email me, message me and/or respond here.

Thanks!!!