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Toyota Prius - Traction Control vs Vehicle Stability Control - READ ONLY

54 messages,  Last post on Jul 19, 2009 at 4:17 PM

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

Messages Page 1 of 6

#1 of 54 Toyota Prius - Traction Control vs Vehicle Stability Control by njresident

Mar 09, 2007 (12:46 am)

I am finalizing on the Prius and wanted to know whether one should invest the money for Vehicle Stability Control. As in 2007 Prius, it already comes standard with Traction Control.
 
Any thoughts/experience would be appreicated.

#2 of 54 Re: Toyota Prius - Traction Control vs Vehicle Stability Control [njresiden by pathstar1

Mar 09, 2007 (8:30 am)

Replying to: njresident (Mar 09, 2007 12:46 am)
Traction control helps you from spinning the wheels when you take off. VSC helps you maintain control if you start to slide while driving. Very good thing to have.
 
Put another way, the TC is the system some owners wish the car didn't have, and VSC is the system some owners attribute to saving their lives.

#3 of 54 Re: Toyota Prius - Traction Control vs Vehicle Stability Control [njresiden [pathstar1] by missnice

Mar 12, 2007 (9:19 am)

Replying to: pathstar1 (Mar 09, 2007 8:30 am)
How does the Prius handle in the snow, ice and at higher elevations?

#4 of 54 Re: Toyota Prius - Traction Control vs Vehicle Stability Control [missnice] by pathstar1

Mar 12, 2007 (3:37 pm)

Replying to: missnice (Mar 12, 2007 9:19 am)
Prius needs snow tires. The Goodyear Integrities it comes with don't do well in snow or on ice. It's important to keep the front wheels from spinning, because that will trip the traction control, and it's reported that can keep you from moving in certain conditions.
 
I haven't heard anyone complaining about high elevations. There are a few owners in Colorado reporting that they do fine. Except in 2 or more ft. of snow, but that's to be expected. Prius has low ground clearance to minimize wind resistance, and that can mean "plowing snow" if there's enough. Others report going over mountain passes in the western US with no problems.

#5 of 54 Re: Toyota Prius - Traction Control vs Vehicle Stability Control [pathstar1] by dtener

Mar 18, 2007 (3:27 pm)

Replying to: pathstar1 (Mar 12, 2007 3:37 pm)
My prius just quit as I attemtped to navigate the hill to my driveway with snow and ice. As I tried to maintain momentum it simply went to zero. Did I do something wrong or is this an issue with this transmission or traction control?

#6 of 54 Re: Toyota Prius - Traction Control vs Vehicle Stability Control [dtener] by pathstar1

Mar 19, 2007 (8:53 am)

Replying to: dtener (Mar 18, 2007 3:27 pm)
This is the issue I was alluding to. It seems to be "fixed" or lessened in the 2007. Some say if you keep pressure on the accelerator, it will try again. If not, you may have to shift to "P", then back to "D" and try again.
 
Toyota had to set the traction control to very high sensitivity to protect MG2 (motor generator 2 - the one that moves the vehicle most of the time). If you spin the wheels on ice you could over-spin MG2 and destroy it, so TC protects it. Perhaps a little too aggressively. So far every posting of problems I've read has been on a low speed hill such as a driveway.
 
So if you know you will experience snow or slippery conditions on hills, good snow and ice tires are a "really good idea" (tm).
 
If you're wondering why it over-spins MG2, it's due to the design of the HSD. The rotation speed of the ICE (internal combustion engine), MG2, and wheels depends on the speed of the other two devices. If the engine is off or idling and you spin up the wheels you also spin up MG2 (a lot). This is also why you can't have the engine off above 43 MPH - it will over-spin MG2. There is a good visual example of this on Priuschat you can mess with written in flash, I think.

#7 of 54 Vehicle Stability Control by mcdougals

Mar 25, 2007 (4:54 pm)

Does anyone know where I can find a list of small sedans (2007 models) that have optional Vehicle Stability Control.

#8 of 54 Re: Vehicle Stability Control [mcdougals] by backy

Mar 25, 2007 (5:15 pm)

Replying to: mcdougals (Mar 25, 2007 4:54 pm)
This page shows ALL 2007 vehicles available with ESC in the U.S. There is at least one error on it, however--Elantra doesn't have ESC available at this time.
 
http://www.safercar.gov/pages/ESC-EquippedVehicles-2007.html

#9 of 54 Prius vs. all wheel drive by lalcott

Jun 07, 2007 (3:27 pm)

I'd love to hear more about Prius's performance on snow and ice.Often have to come home from work in snowstorms on a dirt road. I now drive a Subaru (with 4 snow tires in winter). It's a great car but not very fuel-efficient. Thanks for any comments.

#10 of 54 Re: Prius vs. all wheel drive [lalcott] by stevegold

Jun 07, 2007 (4:15 pm)

Replying to: lalcott (Jun 07, 2007 3:27 pm)
It's OK but: We live in Aspen, CO. and used to have two Subaru Outbacks.
I do use snow tires on the Prius but not on the Outback.
We always used the Outback when it's snowing or if we're going on a trip and snow was forecast.
We just replaced the second and last Outback with a Hybrid Highlander and will hens forth use that whenever snow threatens. The rest of the time we use the Prius for short and long trips and the Highlander only around town if the Prius is already being used. (I think the Highlander was a mistake but we need a least one 4WD)

Messages Page 1 of 6

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