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Hybrid Vehicles Toyota Highlander Hybrid Toyota Highlander Hybrid
3943 messages, Last post on Nov 02, 2009 at 9:19 AM
You are in the Toyota Highlander Hybrid Forum. Your Host is pf_flyer
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In HH you are not only getting vehicle safety control (VSC) which is partof Toyota's Star Safety System and in all their SUV's but you also get the benefit of VDIM. Besides the standard braking system, VDIM usesboth electric engines to stop the vehicle, normal braking pressure is not applied until HH is traveling at under 7 mph. That's why the brakes never need to be changed, how can anything wear out when they are not even used until the automoble is almost stopped. The HH's VDIM, together with the VSC and curtain side airbgs, etc. truly make Toyota's HH the safest SUV on the road.
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Replying to: lynnkushnir (May 28, 2008 9:00 pm) I think you may have meant to say "safest HYBRID SUV" (many ICE-only SUVs have these features), but even there I don't think this is necessarily correct. These features (although not with these names) are on the 2009 Ford Escape Hybrid. The FEH has the airbags and the Ford RSC system. The eCVT uses deceleration via the transmission instead of brakes for normal braking. The 2009 model has a software controlled "braking" action that makes the brakes feel like "normal" brakes, but it does not affect the actual operation. And while speaking of "inclement weather" stopping, Ford holds the patents on hybrid systems being able to use ABS in the winter time. The regenerative braking is interrupted when ABS is needed. I'm not sure if this is one of the patents that Toyota cross-licensed from Ford. I think you will find that under "fast stop" conditions the HH will use the brakes in conjunction with (or perhaps rather than) the VDIM system. Also, I doubt that Toyota claims that the brakes never need to be replaced. IMHO, choosing between the HH and FEH is a matter of desired size (FEH is smaller), cargo space (HH is higher - goes with the larger size), desired MPG (FEH is higher), price (FEH is less expensive), AWD systems (the FEH has a more robust AWD), acceleration (HH has a V6, FEH has an I4), and the most important item - personal preference as to which vehicle drives the way YOU like. Also, I think that the HH has more available options. It is really a matter of personal choice and desires, as well as the fundamental difference between Ford and Toyota engineering - the vehicles drive differently.
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Does Toyota, the people who designed the Highlander Hybrid, or others offer tips on reasonable, safe, and legal methods to improve the gas mileage in Highlander Hybrids, methods that also do not void the warranty (or extended warranty)? What I have: 2006 Toyota Highlander Hybrid with front wheel drive (no EV mode to my knowledge); I purchased and plugged in a Scangauge II for additional information last year. I also realize there are many articles on improving driving habits to improve gas mileage, many of which I am doing and work quite well. Are there any tips that might apply to Highlander Hybrids or similar vehicles that may not apply to other vehicles? What else may I do? Are there any after market modifications that may help, for example a higher flow exhaust system? I have not found any catback systems for Highlanders. Would any catback system work or could this make the MPG worse? While I already have a K&N "oiled" cotton filter, I purchased this as I like to clean the air filter every other oil change. I will switch to synthetic oil during the next oil change (ex. maybe 0-30W or 5-30W). I am looking for what I consider "reasonable" methods and tips. I am aware of "hypermilers techniques to overinflate tires (sorry, I keep my tires consistently inflated to what is listed on the door ), consideration to closely tailgate large trucks (I prefer to see the side mirrors on large trucks so the driver can SEE my vehicle). I do drive slower, when possible. MPG is more important than average speed. A little knowledge about how the propulsion system works in Highlander Hybrids work may also be useful (ex. what could be the ideal throttle position setting and ideal engine RPMs for acclerating under various conditions). I am also watching the instanteous mileage display to try to determine this. I also need to watch for other traffic, bicyclists and pedistrians. Yes, riding my bicycle yields the best MPG  End |
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Replying to: stevedebi (May 29, 2008 8:16 am) FEH/MMH does not yet have an equivalent system to VSC, only something called rollover protection. I fully expect I will be buying an MMH as soon as a VSC equivalent system becomes available. I will immediately convert the MMH to only RWD by removing a front halfshaft and applying a constant voltage to the rear drive clutch. Will probably have to modify the OAT sensor so the MMH will continue to use full regenerative braking during the wintertime. With RWD the safety hazards of front regenerative braking will not be present.
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Replying to: lynnkushnir (May 28, 2008 9:00 pm) On a Toyota 2006 Highlander Hybrid, I tested the VDIM/VSC many times in several snow covered, unplowed, large parking lots. This is easy for me to do during Minnesota winters. VDIM/VSC works great in the Toyota Highlander, especially in comparison to my previous SUV. My previous SUV had anti-lock brakes, but no VSC. I tried to spin out the Highlander many times, safely in snow covered parking lots. The VDIM kicked many times, including the beep-beep-beep traction control warning light. As I read, the steering wheel can be come increasingly difficult to turn. I believe this helps to prevent over steering. In my near fatal accident, I over steered. On a two lane road (straight, but had quickly became icy), I steered out of the other lane, over steering and going off the road (down a steep grade, rolling over and spinning around 180 degrees). With VDIM, I believe I would had remained on the road. In any situation, looking where you want to drive, rotating your head is preferred. This is in contrast to what I did, look through the front windshield that moved back and forth as the SUV skidded around. End
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Replying to: lynnkushnir (May 28, 2008 9:00 pm) VDIM is different than run-of-the-mill safety systems because it integrates all the safety subsystems and the engine into a whole and it tries to anticipate dangerous situation and proactively apply these systems in a coordinated manner. Other run-of-the-mill safety systems are not integrated, they do not work as a whole or coordinate their actions and they activate only when a dangerous event occurs. VDIM constantly senses and measures motions of the HH in x, y and z axis. It will detect a potentially dangerous situation and act preemptively to prevent a dangerous event from taking shape. It does not wait for that dangerous event to happen and then respond. It cannot overcome physics but for what it can do, it does it very well. I believe Honda/Acura, Lexus, Mercedes, BMW and Volvo offer something similar. I once tried to merge into a carpool lane with a sharp left and a simultaneous sharp stab at the throttle, the VDIM refused to do it. I now wait for a clear stretch, merge into the lane first and then accelerate when the steering was no longer at any severe turn-angle. It is a lot safer too. The VDIM also negotiates curves wonderfully along a familiar local hilly freeway. We discovered this by accident. We had it in cruise, got into a well known curve a bit fast, felt the car slowed itself and then picked up again exiting the curve; all before we could do anything except to steer. It felt precisely like what we would do but the VDIM took care of it. Of course, VDIM cannot overcome physics so I won't set cruise and race down HWY 1.
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Replying to: cdptrap (May 29, 2008 10:56 am) Well, no. VDIM is just a term newly adopted by Toyota. These systems, ABS/TC(TRAC)/BA/EBD/VSC/etc, have ALWAYS been integrated, out of pure necessaty, to prevent them from negatively interacting with each other. If you read all the theory and diagnostic procedures for VDIM and then go back a few years and read the same for the earlier system(s), then called the "Star Safety System, you will find, mostly, exacting functionality throughout. And VDIM, as good as it is, and it is REALLY good, still cannot predict the future and so it can only REACT after the fact. It would be ideal if VSC could sense that the "moment", lateral inertia, of the vehicle will exceed, "soon" exceed,the traction coefficient of the tire tread to the roadbed but in order to do that it must know the CURRENT frictional coefficient of the roadbed surface. So VSC can only REACT once traction, partially, say front or rear, is actually LOST.
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Replying to: sebemismnusa (May 29, 2008 10:40 am) "...I tried to spin out...." No, it is much more likely than otherwise that what you tested was VDIM's TC/TRAC "component". Even the RX AWD series is heavily front torque biased, 95/5, and so the vehicle is much more subject to understearing, "plowing", making it extremely difficult to "spin" at a low enough speed to be comfortable with the safety factor. My experiments ('01 AWD RX300) in this vein resulted, EVERY time, in TC/TRAC kicking in the instant I tried to accelerate quickly enough that I could then yank the stearing sideways and cause the rear end to break loose and come about. So the "beep-beep-beep" you heard was more likely an indication that VSC/TC was "in play".
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Replying to: wwest (May 29, 2008 2:33 pm) I hear what you are saying but our experience says otherwise. I have had VSC on various other types of vehicles, never thought they were useful but none of them behaved as the VDIM. Not in the Mercury, not in the Sienna, not in the Chevy and not in Honda and not in Ford. None of them ever stopped me from being able to change lane, none of them could handle a curve exactly as I had experienced. So we will continue to share our experience of VDIM being different than normal VSC. I guess we have to agree to disagree .
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Straight from the horse's mouth: http://www.toyota.eu/06_Safety/03_understanding_active_safety/05_stability_contr- ol.aspx PLease note I do not work for Toyota, just trying to sort out the subtle but important differences of VSC vs. VDIM. Enjoy! 
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