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Traction control activating after pothole

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Main Forum' started by ari14850, Mar 22, 2007.

  1. ari14850

    ari14850 Junior Member

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    Ok, here's a new one for my 07 with 1200 miles on it.

    Today I made a right hand 90 degree turn from a stop sign at the top of a hill, onto another hill. As I was accelerating, I hit a pothole on the right hand front tire that really shook the car up. The traction control light went on and it lost power for a second, then recovered.

    But then, it went into a cycle of no power to wheels (light on), then power (light off) and so on for about 30 seconds. In a normal car, it would have been like the fuel pump was failing. But the traciton light went off each time, so I'm pretty sure it was related. It resolved itself after around 30 seconds.

    Any explanations for why a pothole bump would cause this kind of behavior? The car has stability control also if that might make a difference (in terms of the light going on)?
     
    #1 ari14850, Mar 22, 2007
  2. cireecnop1

    cireecnop1 New Member

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(ari14850 @ Mar 22 2007, 07:50 AM) [snapback]410094[/snapback]</div>
    My car does the same thing, I would say its because the wheel that went into the pothole either spun slower or faster for that short time and maybe there was a little gravel just after the hole that caused the tire to lose traction.

    were you still accelerating after the hole?
     
    #2 cireecnop1, Mar 22, 2007
  3. jamarimutt

    jamarimutt New Member

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    What happened to you is normal, except for the 30 second part of the story.
     
    #3 jamarimutt, Mar 22, 2007
  4. ari14850

    ari14850 Junior Member

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(TomorrowMatters @ Mar 22 2007, 10:02 AM) [snapback]410122[/snapback]</div>
    yes, I was still trying to accelerate after the hole (since the car is still trying to climb a hill)

    the road may have been a bit wet (it wasn't raining at the time). I have snow tires. there could have been some gravel (since it's in a construction area).

    is there a better way to deal with this other than flooring it?
     
    #4 ari14850, Mar 23, 2007
  5. adamwmcanally

    adamwmcanally New Member

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(ari14850 @ Mar 23 2007, 08:41 AM) [snapback]410784[/snapback]</div>
    Happens to me, but not for thirty seconds. When I have to step on it to get out on a busy road (accelerating quickly while doing a 90 degree turn) TC almost always kicks in, giving my heart a bump, hoping that big suv that was barrelling down on me dosn't smack my rear.

    The Thirty second deal was probably due to the wet road, and the incline...combined with your rate of accelleration. I'd keep an eye on it, but I think you should be okay.
     
    #5 adamwmcanally, Mar 23, 2007
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