Edmunds.com | Inside Line | Auto Observer Your Account | Help | Directory
You are here:
![[F]](http://a332.g.akamai.net/f/332/936/12h/www.edmunds.com/media/townhall/webxicons/site.gif){kind=small}
Forums
Hybrid Vehicles Toyota Highlander Hybrid Toyota Highlander Hybrid Driving Tips & Tricks
428 messages, Last post on Oct 16, 2009 at 6:44 PM
You are in the Toyota Highlander Hybrid Forum. Your Host is pf_flyer
|
Replying to: peralta (Aug 25, 2006 3:37 pm) If the engine is already running, I had to release the gas until the engine stops then reapply gas in the electric zone. Sometimes it requires many attempts since the computer adapts to your driving habbits. If I drove agressively, the engine tends to stay running longer and even when I am fully stopped. I noticed that if I used full electric at the last part of my trip, the average MPG significantly climbed up. The electric mode also has lots of torque but is not fast. I can climb at a very steep incline at my driveway in full electric. Just resist he urge to press farther on the gas. The elcttric mode will get you there slowly but surely. |
|
|
|
I've been wondering for awhile now what would happen if I ever ran out of gas. I know when the ICE kicks off I can get a few km on electric before the engine must come on to recharge the batteries, but if I ran out of gas a short distance from a gas station, could I cruise on in to the gas station on electric before the battery gets too low? Could this damage the vehicle in any way (assuming I didn't run the battery too low), or would it simply not run at all? Just curious if that safety margin even exists?
|
|
|
|
|
Replying to: greencruiser (Nov 08, 2006 8:47 pm) What I remember, it allows you to try and re-start a few times, then shuts down to avoid damage to the system. It isn't something you want to plan to do.  The car is programmed to never let the batteries fully discharge, so in pushing your luck, you just might be out of it. 
|
|
|
Replying to: terry92270 (Nov 08, 2006 9:03 pm) |
|
|
Hello, I just bought 2007 HH Ltd with the Nav system and 3rd row for $38,300 (before taxes and license). Am really loving the HH (all 200 miles so far) but have a few questions on the Nav system: - Is it possible to change the configurations so that my wife can use the Nav system while I'm driving? I find it very annoying that a passenger is restricted from punching in a destination address while I am driving. I understand that the driver shouldn't be using it while moving but the passenger too? - Is there a way to turn off the little confirmation beeps everytime I push a button on the screen? Thanks! Have really learned a lot going through many of the posts here.
|
|
|
Replying to: aceman77 (Jan 01, 2007 10:55 am) http://hybridcars.about.com/od/ownership/ss/navigation.htm for override instructions. |
|
|
I am planning on getting a HH for a company vehicle. While I realize this is not a rugged 4wd like the 4 Runner I do plan to take it on dirt and gravel roads as part of my operational duties. It may at times even be on grass / fields. I recently discovered while trying to pull my Camry Hybrid off of the driveway onto slick grass (and a slope) that the traction control system has no override and simply shuts the car down. My Camry would go no where, even with the gas floored. I understand the system and have read about the need to not allow the MG2 to overspeed due to spinning the wheels, so my real concern is: Have any of you used the HH in slick sloped conditions successfully? Could you consider this for an operational work vehicle or should I go with a 4Runner. If I start up a slope, even a dry one and the traction goes, will the HH simply shut down?
|
|
|
Replying to: wvgasguy (Jan 08, 2007 7:14 am) Can you guesstimate the slope? It is likely the Camry tires are not designed to bite down and also the Camry is too light? Our ranch has grassy steep slopes at 45-deg or worse, I have never taken our HH onto these slopes. I do not believe it can handle it. Our 4x4 Chevy trucks can handle up to about 30 but that is about it. Any steeper, everything just spins. We have driven our HH on grassy (3-5 inches tall grass) wet slope with an angle of about 10 degrees or there about, possibly 20 now that I think about it a bit. Not more than 20. It is able to handle it. In the above grassy areas, we have expansive soil that turns sticky and slick in the rain. If not for the grass, the tires will really "bulk up" into giant mud balls and we will most likely get stuck. With the grass, as long as we are careful and the tires remain somewhat clear, we can drive on the surface without problems. On dry loose gravel (smallish 1" to 3") roads, even up and down slopes of about 45-degrees, there is no problem. We are also able to drive up these roads after a rainstorm or some melting snow. There will be patches of mud but we can negotiate past them or put no more than 1 tire in them at a time. We can really feel the traction control doing its work. We have not taken on a long continuous all-muddy road. I won't try it in the HH. Not even with chains. You may laugh  but we always bring along chains, a large bucket full of baserock, some pieces of wood and shovels. We have not had to rely on them yet. On paved but rain-slick surface due to thick rotting leaves and thick pine needles, we can feel the traction control working but it is still able to handle it. Steepest we have is 30-degrees. Any steeper, I am not sure what will happen, even on paved surface. We have driven on snow covered paved surface with a slope of about 30 degrees. It is slushy wet snow and the car was able to climb to the car port. This is a rental ski cabin and not our place. The next morning, we had about 4 to 6 inches of fresh semi-powder on top and we were able to exit the place via its uncleared driveway to reach plowed surface and head to the slope OK. The car felt solid and in control the whole time. We have also changed our HH tires from the stock Goodyear Integrity to Goodyear SA Fortera. The Integrity will most likely have a hard time taking on unpaved surfaces. We lost one Integrity to a side-wall cut driving on our gravel ranch road so we swap them for something tougher. The Fortera has held up well so far. I wish there is a Wrangler type that fits the HH. I am still not 100% confident in the HH's ability to handle all unexpected dirt-road and xtra-mild off-road condition. We are very conservative when using it to check our place. If there is any doubt, we by pass and come back later with our true 4x4. It is able to handle close to 80% of our place as long as we use good common sense and take our time. It is also really nice to crawl along on electric with no fumes and no gas being burned. If you have experience with the 4Runner, my suggestion will be the same. If you doubt the HH's ability in a particular situation, come back later with the 4x4. NO fun getting stuck on a slope.
|
|
|
Replying to: cdptrap (Jan 08, 2007 12:11 pm) I now worry about the Camry in normal snow conditions as I don't change over to snow tires in the winter. I will be extreemly careful about pulling out in front of cars knowing that if it's slick my car won't be moving. I just could imaging getting a HH and the first time I'm off road on some slick grass that it would just sit there. Surely 4wd, 4000+ pounds and a better tire would give it some traction.
|
|
|
Replying to: wvgasguy (Jan 08, 2007 12:28 pm) I have a 4WD HH, so I was talking from that angle. I have NO CLUE what happens with a FWD-only HH even with Traction Control. At 4000+ lbs, 4WD and a good set of tires, our HH has done a lot. It actually has replaced about 80% of the work our Chevy used to do at our place. Why use the 4x4 when a 4WD will do and at lower gas consumption? Crawling along in a Chevy V8 on our ranch roads at today's gas price will burn a hole right through our pockets straight through to China ! One rule of thumb we use here is whenever we drive the HH and see an area that makes us want to lock the axle and shift to 4Lo, we avoid that area. Other than that, the HH has done well. In the 4WD HH, on an uphill, the traction control kicks in with a sudden but control "powered" feeling. We would feel a tire slip, normally either with a splash of mud and junk or a groan, the steering then feels strong and tight and the car continues to track straight at where we point. After that, the steering lightens up and we are back to normal driving. Downhill, it gets more exciting . Tires will hit something slippery, they will groan or begin to spin a bit, steering will tighten solid with good feel of control, car continues to track where we steer BUT it seems to slow down automatically. After it gets by, things go back to normal. All these were at low speed, no faster than 30-mph. We have not had any situation yet where it refused to move. Good luck in your research.
|
|
You are here:
Forums
Hybrid Vehicles Toyota Highlander Hybrid Toyota Highlander Hybrid Driving Tips & Tricks
New? Join Now!
Forum Tools
Search Forums
Browse by Vehicle
2010 Toyota Highlander Hybrid
Browse by Board
Browse by Topic
Today's Chats
