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Toyota Prius: Problems & Solutions - READ ONLY

711 messages,  Last post on Oct 27, 2006 at 4:23 AM

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What is this discussion about? Toyota Prius, Hybrid Cars, Hatchback

Messages Page 69 of 72

#672 of 711 Re: Prius in the Snow [stevedebi] by terry92270

Sep 12, 2006 (11:05 am)

Replying to: stevedebi (Sep 12, 2006 9:29 am)
"Such a determination requires test results under actual conditions."
 
Therefore...
 
What are the actual, documented tests, that are being cited that say they are "difficult" in snow

#673 of 711 Re: Prius in the Snow [terry92270] by Mr_Shiftright HOST

Sep 12, 2006 (1:10 pm)

Replying to: terry92270 (Sep 12, 2006 11:05 am)
You'll see a lot of comments about this on priuschat, etc. Either it's a real problem or there are a lot of snow-bound owners hallucinating out there on the Internet.

#674 of 711 Re: Prius in the Snow [terry92270] by stevedebi

Sep 12, 2006 (1:24 pm)

Replying to: terry92270 (Sep 12, 2006 11:05 am)
"What are the actual, documented tests, that are being cited that say they are "difficult" in snow "
 
I consider owner's reports on this forum to be documentation. It was here that I first read of the "immobility" problem in snow with the Gen 2 Prius. I haven't seen posts indicating that the problem is fixed.
 
BTW, if was this 2006 modification a software change? Maybe the Prius can be flashed to correct the issue?

#675 of 711 Re: Prius in the Snow [stevedebi] by terry92270

Sep 12, 2006 (1:44 pm)

Replying to: stevedebi (Sep 12, 2006 1:24 pm)
If it is, should be!

#676 of 711 Re: Prius in the Snow [Mr_Shiftright] by midnightcowboy

Sep 13, 2006 (5:38 am)

Replying to: Mr_Shiftright (Sep 12, 2006 1:10 pm)
Mr Shiftright,
 
If it is on the Prius chat then there probably is a problem. But with high mileage , hard skinny tires no car would go well in the snow.
 
The Prius chat people that are having problems, probably haven't put on snow tires? Are they having problems in snow with snow tires ?
 
Cheers,
 
MidCow

#677 of 711 Re: Prius in the Snow [pathstar1] by northernnyer

Sep 13, 2006 (5:59 am)

Replying to: pathstar1 (Sep 11, 2006 7:19 pm)
I do agree with the 50/50 weight bias. I live on the Tug Hill Plateau near a place that frequently makes the national news for most snowfall. I'm not faithfull to any one brand of tire. I usually by the lest expensive snowtires and have them studded, all four of them. With this setup you can drive anything in the snow. To be honest, one of the best cars I ever had for snow driving was a 1983 Chevy Camaro with a 6 cylinder. I wouldn't have dared try it with the 8 cylinder. Weight distribution is important but if you've got too much tork it won't get out of it's own way on the ice.
I'm glad these forums exist because I was seriously thinking about buying a Prius. My mother had two Honda Insights and she loved them. With the problems I've read about in here about the Prius I think I'm going to go with a more conventional vehicle. Gas mileage is important but I need something that I or my amatuer mechanic can do some of the repairs to.
Hopefully Toyota will continue to work out the bugs. The brake problems I've read about were the deal-breaker.

#678 of 711 Re: Prius in the Snow [midnightcowboy] by Mr_Shiftright HOST

Sep 13, 2006 (7:13 am)

Replying to: midnightcowboy (Sep 13, 2006 5:38 am)
Well what they say over there is that the car simply won't move if it gets into a slippery snow condition...it just sits there and does nothing. So at that point, if they are right, then tires are irrelevant, once they've given up their grip and the computer takes over.
 
Supposedly this traction control system does not work the same as on regular cars. I'm just passing on second-hand info, I don't have a clue. I would like to try a Prius in the snow however to see what's what and if driver skills really is the problem or not.

#679 of 711 Re: Prius in the Snow [Mr_Shiftright] by texvegas

Sep 13, 2006 (8:08 am)

Replying to: Mr_Shiftright (Sep 13, 2006 7:13 am)
Your post is absolutely correct. The car just sits there and does nothing and has nothing to do with driver skills. The traction control IS different from other cars due to the fact that its primary purpose is to protect the electric motor from over reving and possible burnout.I have been through 3 upstate new york winters living with this. I do not plan on another. I hope this is good advice for those considering a Prius.

#680 of 711 Prius in the snow by grandtotal

Sep 13, 2006 (9:19 am)

I rented a (2005) Prius while on vacation in Arizona this year. While visiting the Grand Canyon I experienced difficult snow and ice conditions. There were many vehicles (mostly SUVs, go figure) in ditches. During that whole day I only experienced one problem and that was more engine braking than I wanted while creeping down an icy hill. What I found was that the front wheels were rotating and skidding at the same time because of engine braking, that is to say the indicated speed was about 10MPH but I was descending the hill faster than that. In the end I had to select neutral so that I could achieve balanced braking from all four wheels.

#681 of 711 Re: Prius in the Snow [texvegas] by midnightcowboy

Sep 13, 2006 (9:23 am)

Replying to: texvegas (Sep 13, 2006 8:08 am)
Good idea that's how I solved it also. I moved to Houston.
 
Reading between the lines, I would say that the HSD system has a snow/ice traction control bug.
 
And another commnet the 50/50 weight is being touted for the wrong reasons. 50/50 is considered ideal for a true sports car in good weather conditions. 50% of the weight on the RWD and 50% on the steering.
 
For traction you want more on the drive wheeels. Actuallly most front wheel drive are 60% on front wheels . However, this does increase wear on those wheels and makes steering heavier. That is why there is so much to od about i4 versus V6 in handling. with I$ theres is close to 50/50% weight distirbutuion. The auto manufacturers changes nothing add the additional weight of the v6 and the steering is heavier.
 
If you are wealthy , I understand the ideal snow car is a Carrera 4 with Blizzacks on all four wheels.
 
Studded snow tires last resort, unless wehater conditions really really bad. The studs tearr up everything have bad handling excpet on ice and return poor mileage. Almost as bad as snow chains. Glad I don't deal with either naymore.
 
MidCow

Messages Page 69 of 72

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