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Disabling VSC?

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Main Forum' started by Recovering Gas Guzzler, Aug 7, 2005.

  1. Recovering Gas Guzzler

    Recovering Gas Guzzler New Member

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    With only 15,000 miles and still under a year on the stock tires, I can't justify putting MXV4 S8's on my daily driver yet. Is there any way to electronically disable VSC?

    VSC intervenes far too early, in my opinion. I was taking a right turn around 30-35mph and VSC decided to lock the front left tire, causing my car to understeer for a couple long seconds. I was afraid it wouldn't ever let go and send me straight for a curb, but it finally decided to let me drive again. So I went on my merry way. :oops:

    Understanding the dynamics of that situation, VSC probably did more harm than good. I was using all of the left front tire's grip for the turn. When it decided to lock the wheel, it used the tire's grip for stopping and not turning, so the car went straight even though I wanted it to turn. Oh well.
     
    #1 Recovering Gas Guzzler, Aug 7, 2005
  2. Tideland Prius

    Tideland Prius Moderator of the North
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    Unfortunately, you can't. Even with other Toyota vehicles, you can only disable TRAC not VSC. It's Honda vehicles that allow VSA to be disabled but not TCS. Weird.
     
    #2 Tideland Prius, Aug 7, 2005
  3. efusco

    efusco Moderator Emeritus
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    Actually, you can, but you shouldn't and I won't post the technique...but it's out there if you try. Also, I believe the proceedure (which is complicated) has to be gone through every time you start up.

    The TRAC is to protect MG1 (I think) and prevent wheel spinning. I have to say that if you're getting VSC kicking in that often then either there's a problem with your VSC set up or you're driving way too fast. I've heard mine beep once and only once in 20 months of ownership and that includes driving on wet, snow covered, and gravel roads at very posted speed limits.

    Although you may be a NASCAR quality driver and I just don't know it I suspect that if your VSC is kicking in then you're at the edge of loss of control. As I said, it's possible that your VSC is poorly adjusted or a speed sensor or yaw sensor is off or something, but my guess would be driver error.
     
    #3 efusco, Aug 7, 2005
  4. Tideland Prius

    Tideland Prius Moderator of the North
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    Well doc, I was referring to an easy to push button on the dash :D haha. Hmm, well I know you can disable TRAC cause someone posted it. Wasn't it for some sort of testing (as well as the Bonneville Salt Flats top speed run) but VSC too? I don't see the harm in disabling VSC since it'll act like a Prius without Pkg #4 or #6.
     
    #4 Tideland Prius, Aug 7, 2005
  5. efusco

    efusco Moderator Emeritus
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    You may be right. I was thinking about the TRAC, but assumed that in a VSC equipt car they would be linked...that's probably a bad assumption to make.

    I stand corrected
     
    #5 efusco, Aug 7, 2005
  6. Tideland Prius

    Tideland Prius Moderator of the North
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    Oh all right.
     
    #6 Tideland Prius, Aug 7, 2005
  7. efusco

    efusco Moderator Emeritus
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    Oh sure, rub my face in it...I'm already practically suicidal over the error and now this!! :wink:
     
    #7 efusco, Aug 7, 2005
  8. Tideland Prius

    Tideland Prius Moderator of the North
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    :oops: I meant no harm. Nooooooooooooooooo heh
     
    #8 Tideland Prius, Aug 7, 2005
  9. Recovering Gas Guzzler

    Recovering Gas Guzzler New Member

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    Heheh. I'm by no means a NASCAR-quality driver but I am a licensed racer. VSC is helpful for 99% of drivers on the road and for them, it's probably a good thing that it kicks in when it does. However, I feel that it cuts in way too aggressively (even before any audible tire noise).

    I guess I'll have to wait till my Integrity's wear out and replace them with something grippier. :(
     
    #9 Recovering Gas Guzzler, Aug 7, 2005
  10. DanMan32

    DanMan32 Senior Member

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    There is a process to disable VSC independent of disabling TRAC.
     
    #10 DanMan32, Aug 9, 2005
  11. kirbinster

    kirbinster Member

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    My BMW has a button to turn it on and off, I would think you should be able to find a power wire to it to install a switch on.
     
    #11 kirbinster, Aug 9, 2005
  12. DanMan32

    DanMan32 Senior Member

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    VSC is either actually in the Skid (brake) ECU, or integrated into the Yaw sensor. If you don't have VSC, only difference is that you don't have a Yaw sensor or a Steering angle sensor. Both of these have a CAN interface.

    So, no, I don't think you can just kill power to something and thus disable VSC, without causing other problems.

    However, with a wire jump, you can disable only VSC for diagnostics. If pin 12 of DLCIII is grounded, then VSC will be disabled on power up.
     
    #12 DanMan32, Aug 10, 2005
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