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Toyota Highlander Hybrid

3943 messages,  Last post on Nov 02, 2009 at 9:19 AM

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What is this discussion about? Toyota Highlander Hybrid, Hybrid Cars, SUV


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#3617 of 3943
Re: VDIM Description from Toyota [sebemismnusa] by cdptrap
Jun 03, 2008 (10:44 am)
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Replying to: sebemismnusa (Jun 03, 2008 7:43 am)

I totally totally and completely agree with you about Toyota's failure to teach or inform new owners. Not even some sort of driving club or on-line FAQ to help us out .
 
They also did not bother telling us to use snow tires as it has been reported that climbing up icy slope can risk power shut-off. A poster here had to reverse up a slope to prevent VDIM from interfering because it shuts down all 4 wheels when all 4 spin on ice.
 
I also was really displeased with the cheap, useless Goodyear Integrity tires. It was squishy, gave the car a top heavy wobbly feel. No fancy safety system can compensate for lousy tires. We had to take posters' advice and change tires.
 
We also learned about the VDIM through our own experience.
#3618 of 3943
Re: VDIM Description from Toyota [wwest] by cdptrap
Jun 03, 2008 (11:26 am)
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Replying to: wwest (Jun 03, 2008 8:41 am)

Yes! I have often wonder about this myself.
 
VDIM will not intrude so obviously if we turn at either reasonable constant speed or to slow down or with only moderate acceleration. VDIM gets nasty when we turn hard and accelerate hard or if the speed is way too high.
 
My wife and I have to learn by trial and error how much to turn and accelerate without incurring the "wrath" of VDIM. We did this in order to avoid the "SMACK" situation. Toyota really should do a much better job of informing and teaching owners.
#3619 of 3943
Re: VDIM MAKES HH GREAT IN INCLEMENT WEATHER [wwest] by sebemismnusa
Jun 04, 2008 (3:15 pm)
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Replying to: wwest (May 29, 2008 2:49 pm)

With just the traction control part, the TC light would blink. I tested this, too, on going up icy driveways a few times and at stop signs/stop lights with ice. This was driving straight from a complete stop. I could hear one front tire spin, then shift to the other, and back on an ice covered driveway.
 
I could only get the beep-beep-beep going when attempting to make donuts (spin around and around) or getting the yaw sensor "activated" .
 
My HH is only front wheel drive. I could not get the rear end to break or get this car to spin. My speeds were 20 to 30 MPH. I have done this easily in other cars (1965 Comet, rear wheel drive) or just rear wheel drive pickup trucks. Maybe if I had some power to the rear wheels ? ? ?
 
After the St. Paul winter carnival, in which they plow a lake for automobile ice races, I might try this again on the ice track . . .
End
#3620 of 3943
Re: Maintenance Reminder Red Triangle Light [myladdie] by jldavis
Jun 08, 2008 (7:31 am)
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Replying to: myladdie (Dec 26, 2005 9:32 pm)

Hi there - I just had my first oil change, and the EZ Lube could not figure out how to get the alert to go away. We tried the maintenance screen (putting in miles/dates), and I also found something in the manual that said if you pressed the trip odomoter button for awhile it would clear the alert, but no luck.
 
I noticed that your posting said you were shown how to do it, and would greatly appreciate it if you could let me know.
 
Thanks!
#3621 of 3943
Re: Maintenance Reminder Red Triangle Light [jldavis] by newski3
Jun 09, 2008 (1:48 pm)
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Replying to: jldavis (Jun 08, 2008 7:31 am)

Here's how to reset it on my 2006 HH Limited:
1. Turn your ignition key to the first position (aux?)
2. Push the odometer select button until the Total Odometer mileage is showing (not A nor B but Total) and then release the button
3. Turn the key back to the Off position
4. Push and hold in the odometer button and then turn the key back to the aux position. After a few seconds, it will tell you that the oil change warning has been reset.
(Note: I haven't done this for a couple of months so I'm going on memory as to the words, but the actions are correct. Also, the owner's manual tells how to reset it.)
Good luck
#3622 of 3943
Re: VDIM MAKES HH GREAT IN INCLEMENT WEATHER [wwest] by kdhspyder
Jun 11, 2008 (7:13 am)
Reply

Replying to: wwest (May 29, 2008 2:33 pm)

cdtrap is correct in his explanation because he specifically noted the inclusion of the EPS into the VDIM.
 
VDIM is not a 'predictor' in that it cannot 'see into the future' ....except that.....once an out-of-control situation is detected as cdtrap noted then the VDIM can calculate various risks in the x, y, z planes then it can react to minimze the risks of getting further out of control.
 
The difference between the Star Safety System and VDIM is the complete integration of the EPS into the ABS-controlled functions ( ABS, BA, EBD, VSC, Trac, yaw sensors ).
#3623 of 3943
2008 HH Base - Slight Grinding Noise by zendt
Jun 15, 2008 (5:28 am)
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I find that when I'm driving my HH, with the windows down, I frequently hear a slight grinding noise. It is constant and does not vary with speed. When I take my foot off the accelerator, the noise stops. The dealer's service dept say they only hear standard "hybrid" sounds. Does this anyone have any experience with this?
#3624 of 3943
Re: 2008 HH Base - Slight Grinding Noise [zendt] by cdptrap
Jun 16, 2008 (8:55 am)
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Replying to: zendt (Jun 15, 2008 5:28 am)

Our '06 HH has more of a higher pitch "whirling" sound, almost like a jet engine but very soft. This happens whenever the battery pack kicks in at any speed. We do not hear anything resembling "grinding".
 
Can you ask the dealers to drive you around and point out what they meant by "standard hybrid" sound?
#3625 of 3943
Re: VDIM Description from Toyota [wwest] by monte8
Jun 17, 2008 (12:08 pm)
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Replying to: wwest (Jun 03, 2008 8:41 am)

"What if there had been a "sudden" obstruction, deer/ELK, or even worse an oncoming car had veered into your lane...?? "
 
The safest course is to not swerve for an animal in the road, just take the hit. If you avoid the animal, you may go off the road, hit a tree, wall, guard rail, hit an oncoming car, bicycle, etc. Safety experts have looked at this problem (deer, moose, etc. collisions) and determined that the best thing is just hit the brakes (if you can).
#3626 of 3943
Re: VDIM Description from Toyota [monte8] by cdptrap
Jun 18, 2008 (8:22 am)
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Replying to: monte8 (Jun 17, 2008 12:08 pm)

Adding to your good point...
 
Swerve-and-accelerate seems like a counter-intuitive behavior when reacting to roadway obstacles. It seems 99% of the time, our natural response to avoiding an obstacle is to slow and swerve or swerve and slow. VDIM will work fine for these 99% events.
 
Swerving and accelerating simultaneously definitely increases the risk of roll-over for a tall vehicle like the HH, so VDIM has its emphasis in the right place. I would rather take on a deer or a steer or a car than risk a roll-over when all the defensive designs (bags, beams, crumple zones, etc) become useless.
 
We have encountered our share of road hazards from stubborn bulls (big nasty horns) to nasty pot holes and swerving at constant speed or swerving with foot on brakes work smoothly and securely in the HH. The VDIM-enhanced handling characteristics made it safe and easy.
 
On the very rare occasion when we have to swerve and accelerate to pass, we have learned to swerve first and then press down on the gas smoothly and the VDIM does not intrude. This is a much safer practice anyway.

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