I really like the traction control

The windshield washer reservoir holds a bit over one gallon. The intention is that you can add a full gallon when the tank is low.

Tom

 

In some other traction control thread, which I can't find now, someone asked who had been able to get the VSC system to cut power to the wheels in Gen III.

Well, I did tonight. It was really stupid, in my own yard.
I managed to get the rear wheels in the mud, and the front wheels on some very loose gravel, uphill from the mud, and the traction control system cut power almost as soon as the front wheels started to spin.
I had to back up, to get the whole car back on the road.
I don't blame the car for this one; it was the stupid driver.

 

Interesting. Tideland Prius got the same power cut once, but on snow. See: http://priuschat.com/forums/gen-iii...deep-15cm-loose-snow-results.html#post1015276

 

The traction control is good like I expected to work. Havn't really used it much since I drive very slow these days and hardly lose traction.

 

This is an example of traction control doing what it is supposed to do. In this situation, spinning the wheels would only dig a hole. I suspect the tires were slowly spinning, but the Prius is so smooth you can't tell without getting out and looking.

It's always important to remember that traction control cannot create traction where there isn't any. All it can do is control wheel spin, which will help, but only up to the physical limits of the tires and the road surface.

Tom

 

I've noticed several times in the last few days that the traction control kicked on (triggered the sliding car icon) on my long gravel driveway, even when I didn't know I needed it, except that maybe I thought I was driving a bit faster than normal/faster than I should.
This means either that
1) it's really good at keeping the car acting normal and/or
2) it starts to work even with small signs of slippage, that a human being might not notice.

Both of these I think are good.

Traction control is becoming more and more necessary--on all cars. For example, low rolling resistance tires may reduce traction in some circumstance. Got to get that traction back somehow, or you will have more accidents.

 

I think that RPM limiting in N, along with traction control, are necessary not only for safety but because way-excessive engine RPMs, whether trying to spin out of a snowbank, or otherwise screwing up, would damage the motor-generators and are thus prevented. On the road, the CV tranny has no need for excessive RPMs at any speed.

 

Snow tires