Driving up hill in snow and stahling out

I'm assuming yours was an earlier in the year 2005. I got mine in mid-August of 2005 and have no trouble with the TRAC. It does the "slip and grab" bit in icy conditions. I think you told us before, but did you have a recall for something that ended up requiring the reprogramming? That is, rather than specially to fix the TRAC problem. I'd guess that dmac also has an earlier in the year 2005.

Perhaps he can clarify on that point.

Dave M.

 

Being a California boy, I've only seen pictures of snow, but I know that a quick start from a wet intersection, just s h u t s e v e r y t h i n g d o w n. It is really frustrating. My Subarus love slippery conditions, and just hook up and go. An AWD Hybrid would be awsome, with torque, and traction. Not today though, and certainly not the Prius. But, the Subarus get 20-something, and the Prius nearly 50. Different strokes. How do people live in snow, anyway?

 

Got snow tires on the front? Reportedly, the OEM tires suck in snow.

 

The traction control is a little over protective. There are a bunch of threads on this topic if you search the forums. Here is the general thinking:

1) Get good tires. The OEM tires suck in general and are impossible in snow.

2) If you are driving a 2005 or earlier, get it reprogrammed. The 2006 and later have more aggressive traction control parameters.

3) Think momentum. If you can keep it moving, the Prius will continue to supply power to the wheels. Once you come to a complete stop it's hard to get moving again.

4) When the traction control starts to give up, mash the pedal all the way to the floor and keep it there. You won't over rev, the traction control sees to that. It just tells the ECU to get a little more serious about supplying power to the wheels, and it will do a little more tire spinning.

Hope this helps,
Tom

 

Mash the pedal. that's what i did when in Co. my 04 was a champ in the snow and off road conditions.. only because i would mash it all the way when i wanted it to go...

the gas pedal on a prius is like a locomotive conductor... he won't put his train in harm. all you need to do is tell him " max acceleration " and it will be so.

if you hold it down lightly the car will think you're looking for a mild acceleration.

you could always turn off trac. it's " not recommended "