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

Sleeping with the CVT

Discussion in 'Prius v Main Forum' started by Max Taiwan, Apr 25, 2022.

  1. Max Taiwan

    Max Taiwan Active Member

    Joined:
    Mar 24, 2019
    428
    384
    0
    Location:
    Taipei
    Vehicle:
    2018 Prius v wagon
    Model:
    Base
    Is it just me or does anyone else feel the CVT is extremely hypnotic?
    The Ford C-Max was my 1st CVT and before that I drove stick for around 10 years living in Europe.
    My 2nd CVT was the Prius C and now the Prius Alpha. In between I had the VW Eos (convertible Golf GTI), Ford Fiesta and Mazda 3.
    I have had this funny behind the wheel droopy for the past 2-3 years and it all really started to get worse with the CVT. In the past having to shift gears on my Ford Ka and the DSG on the EOS and Fiesta keeps the drivetrain connected to me, having shift points and rev changes in the engine somehow kept my brain occupied.

    With the CVT it is very dull once we get up to highway speed and the revs stay low which knocks me out around 10-15min into a highway stretch of road. I must admit I have some times dreamt at a traffic light and woke up to find myself falling asleep on the highway.
    I wonder if anyone else find it difficult to stay awake driving on the highway with the CVT we have.
     
  2. rjparker

    rjparker Tu Humilde Sirviente

    Joined:
    Jun 6, 2008
    7,478
    4,374
    7
    Location:
    Texas Hill Country
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius v wagon
    Model:
    Three
    Time to turn up the tunes
     
  3. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

    Joined:
    May 11, 2005
    107,571
    48,862
    0
    Location:
    boston
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Base
    no, but this could possibly be a medical condition that you shouldn't ignore. :unsure:
     
  4. vvillovv

    vvillovv Senior Member

    Joined:
    Mar 19, 2013
    3,493
    1,231
    1
    Location:
    NY
    Vehicle:
    2017 Prius Prime
    Model:
    Prime Plus
    @Max Taiwan if you think the CVT is hypnotic, just wait until self drivings Level 3 arrives and gets it's first reviews from enthusiasts, or those who might think they're already using Level 3.
     
    Max Taiwan likes this.
  5. jzchen

    jzchen Newbie!

    Joined:
    Apr 9, 2012
    3,295
    1,005
    0
    Location:
    Arcadia, CA
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius v wagon
    Model:
    Five
    Losing consciousness while behind the wheel can get your license revoked here in California. In fact they ask if you have had any instances of such on renewal forms.

    Get a good night's sleep or get someone else to drive you. That's just dangerous...

    REVVL V+ 5G ?
     
    Max Taiwan likes this.
  6. fuzzy1

    fuzzy1 Senior Member

    Joined:
    Feb 26, 2009
    17,039
    10,013
    90
    Location:
    Western Washington
    Vehicle:
    Other Hybrid
    Model:
    N/A
    It isn't the CVT that causes drowsy driving.
     
    rampante550 and Max Taiwan like this.
  7. gromittoo

    gromittoo Active Member

    Joined:
    Mar 9, 2017
    718
    284
    0
    Location:
    philadelphia
    Vehicle:
    2013 Prius v wagon
    Model:
    Two
    @Max Taiwan Get a sleep study ASAP!

    Sleep Apnea is a serious condition that really messes with your sleep. It could get you killed. I knew someone who died in their sleep from it. Daytime drowsiness can kill you behind the wheel.

    CPAP therapy can take a lot of getting used to, but it is better than the alternative. I have been using it for 23 years.
     
    Max Taiwan likes this.
  8. Max Taiwan

    Max Taiwan Active Member

    Joined:
    Mar 24, 2019
    428
    384
    0
    Location:
    Taipei
    Vehicle:
    2018 Prius v wagon
    Model:
    Base
    OMG a big thank you to everyone. I knew something must be going on.
    I try to use music when i can but mostly there are other people on the car. And to be honest when i get into the phase no matter if i play lowed music or give myself a good few smacks still can not get out of it fully, only stopping and getting off the car can wake me up properly. As soon as i get out of the car and walk for a few minutes like going to the public washroom i become totally connected. and once i get behind the wheel after 10 to 15 minutes it may happen again, especially on the highway.
    Bisco and gromitto I totally agree with you something is off for sure.
    Do you guys think sleep apnea can get this bad? I sleep on average 4 hours a day for the past year with the newborn its hard to get a full night in, but my situation started 3 to 4 years before that..
    The situation gets worse and almost predictable if i start driving after a meal like lunch or dinner. Interestingly when the symptoms hit i find eating wakes me up right away, I take a few bites here and there and that keeps me occupied enough to be alert and I do not feel the drowsiness at all as long as I keep ingesting snacks and food. .
    So two things i use to get me out; eat food like chips and sandwiches until my next available stop to get out of the car and I will be fine.
    I do want to hear more about sleep apnea and anything which could be causing this.
     
  9. Max Taiwan

    Max Taiwan Active Member

    Joined:
    Mar 24, 2019
    428
    384
    0
    Location:
    Taipei
    Vehicle:
    2018 Prius v wagon
    Model:
    Base
    Oh I will be out for sure with level 3. openpilot AI has upgrades to turn our Prius which have lane assist and collision avoidance into self driving vehicles for as little as $600. I was tempted to install it not for me to use but for my wife to use it while i take a rest on the highway because she is scared to drive on highways. But I worry if i use it I will be out cold for sure.
     
  10. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

    Joined:
    May 11, 2005
    107,571
    48,862
    0
    Location:
    boston
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Base
    i wonder if you are one of those people who are sensitive to magnetic waves from the battery and electrical system
     
  11. Tim Jones

    Tim Jones Senior Member

    Joined:
    Jul 17, 2018
    1,669
    546
    3
    Location:
    SE Texas
    Vehicle:
    2011 Nissan LEAF
    Model:
    ----USA----
    Better get your blood sugar checked.......!
     
    Max Taiwan likes this.
  12. Max Taiwan

    Max Taiwan Active Member

    Joined:
    Mar 24, 2019
    428
    384
    0
    Location:
    Taipei
    Vehicle:
    2018 Prius v wagon
    Model:
    Base
    Ok! So it seems I might have some health issues and it is not coming from the CVT.
    Although I do believe a more enthusiastic power delivery system can help bump the adrenaline, keep me up while fatigued from sleep apnea and adrenaline also helps glucose metabolism and increase blood pressure for awareness.
     
    bisco likes this.
  13. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

    Joined:
    May 11, 2005
    107,571
    48,862
    0
    Location:
    boston
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Base
    i hope you're okay max!
     
    Max Taiwan likes this.
  14. fuzzy1

    fuzzy1 Senior Member

    Joined:
    Feb 26, 2009
    17,039
    10,013
    90
    Location:
    Western Washington
    Vehicle:
    Other Hybrid
    Model:
    N/A
    I must note that high adrenaline levels tend to interfere with the best defensive driving practices, particularly with certain roadway 'social encounters' and other challenges.

    There are better ways to prevent drowsy driving.
     
  15. Tim Jones

    Tim Jones Senior Member

    Joined:
    Jul 17, 2018
    1,669
    546
    3
    Location:
    SE Texas
    Vehicle:
    2011 Nissan LEAF
    Model:
    ----USA----
    Maybe you should have purchased a Mustang.
     
    Max Taiwan likes this.
  16. vvillovv

    vvillovv Senior Member

    Joined:
    Mar 19, 2013
    3,493
    1,231
    1
    Location:
    NY
    Vehicle:
    2017 Prius Prime
    Model:
    Prime Plus
    I watched a hour long youtube that explained Toyotas take on self driving levels 1 though 5 with Gill Pratt (about 15 mins of the video), I think it was CES 2020 or 2021. I've been trying to find it again, but so far all I've found are 10 or 20 minute excerpts of the video that explain only parts of what was covered and out of context in many places, so I continue to look for the original that I watched. The video wasn't perfect, and self driving has progressed a lot in a few years since the date of the presentation, but it's also getting harder to understand the overview since all of the new developments. concepts and road maps for reaching level 5 autonomy. And just how complex reaching level 5 self driving is going to be, besides the timeline expectations and hype. If I find it again, I'll post a link with about how long the self driving segment is for those only interested in that part of Toyotas future plans as presented a year or two ago, not that I've noticed Toyota changing many if any of those plans, since I've first started following them.
     
  17. Max Taiwan

    Max Taiwan Active Member

    Joined:
    Mar 24, 2019
    428
    384
    0
    Location:
    Taipei
    Vehicle:
    2018 Prius v wagon
    Model:
    Base
    Thanks buddy! Yeah the apnea is slowly becoming a problem. I got a variable PAP machine now. Seems to help a bit but I still get the Zzzz after meals and driving on the highway for 15min or longer.
     
    bisco likes this.
  18. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

    Joined:
    May 11, 2005
    107,571
    48,862
    0
    Location:
    boston
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Base
    isn't there some new surgery available?

    i guess i was thinking of this: inspiresleep.com > / <

    not for everybody though
     
  19. jerrymildred

    jerrymildred Senior Member

    Joined:
    Oct 28, 2016
    11,490
    14,095
    0
    Location:
    Tampa, FL
    Vehicle:
    2017 Prius
    Model:
    Two
    I probably could not sleep at all if I had one of those apnea machines strapped to my face. I can't even stand to have a watch on my wrist when sleeping! :)

    Hope you can get it figured out. Meanwhile, maybe energy drinks or caffein pills might make driving safer.
     
    Tim Jones likes this.