1. Attachments are working again! Check out this thread for more details and to report any other bugs.

Traction Control lights in sharp left turn

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Care, Maintenance & Troubleshooting' started by bwilson4web, May 5, 2015.

  1. bwilson4web

    bwilson4web BMW i3 and Model 3

    Joined:
    Nov 25, 2005
    27,673
    15,667
    0
    Location:
    Huntsville AL
    Vehicle:
    2018 Tesla Model 3
    Model:
    Prime Plus
    So four lanes, divided, with a left turn lane, five lanes at the intersection. I'm down ~15 mph, maximum turn speed and one car is just clearing intersection and and +100 yards from next approaching slug of traffic. Keeping the speed, I make the left turn confident no problem then halfway through turn:
    • feels like a soft tuck
    • traction light flashes
    • already to straighten out
    • everything normal
    This is the second time I've seen this in a year. Pavement dry, 48 hours since last rain; ~8:00 AM so rush hour is on. Before doing some parking lot tests, anyone have a clue about how to replicate?

    Sad to say, my dashcam SD card did not play. <GERRRRR>

    Bob Wilson
     
    #1 bwilson4web, May 5, 2015
  2. xliderider

    xliderider Senior Member

    Joined:
    Apr 19, 2012
    7,921
    3,144
    0
    Location:
    Honolulu, HI
    Vehicle:
    2011 Prius
    Model:
    Three
    People have reported this while executing U turns.
     
    #2 xliderider, May 5, 2015
  3. RightOnTime

    RightOnTime Senior Member

    Joined:
    Sep 21, 2012
    764
    1,631
    183
    Location:
    Kidnapped in OC, CA
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Base
    From my experience, any slight wheel spin will cause the traction control to light up.
     
    #3 RightOnTime, May 5, 2015
  4. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

    Joined:
    May 11, 2005
    110,206
    50,078
    0
    Location:
    boston
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Base
    tyres pressure?
     
    #4 bisco, May 5, 2015
  5. szgabor

    szgabor Active Member

    Joined:
    Jul 29, 2009
    994
    175
    0
    Location:
    Oceanside NY
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius
    Model:
    Two
    I have experienced something similar several times... I think i was making a tighter turn than you described not sure of the speed but 10+mph for sure... and the traction control activated similar to ABS on/off/on/off feeling...

    I think the traction control is triggered due the the different "wheel speed on the ground" but that is just a guess
     
    #5 szgabor, May 5, 2015
  6. fuzzy1

    fuzzy1 Senior Member

    Joined:
    Feb 26, 2009
    17,557
    10,324
    90
    Location:
    Western Washington
    Vehicle:
    Other Hybrid
    Model:
    N/A
    Center differential binding up?.

    Oops, never mind. I'm reverting to typical Subaru problems.
     
    #6 fuzzy1, May 5, 2015
  7. CardiffChris

    CardiffChris Member

    Joined:
    Aug 12, 2013
    94
    63
    0
    Location:
    Cardiff by the Sea, California, USA
    Vehicle:
    2014 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    II
    TILT
     
    #7 CardiffChris, May 5, 2015
  8. jry423

    jry423 Member

    Joined:
    Dec 13, 2009
    96
    37
    0
    Location:
    Ohio
    Vehicle:
    2015 Prius
    Model:
    Two
    Mine flashed while I was sitting in a drive through. Not moving at all, it flashed the whole time I had my foot on the brake while ordering, and went off when I took my foot off the brake. Only time it's ever done that.
     
    #8 jry423, May 6, 2015
  9. energyandair

    energyandair Active Member

    Joined:
    Jun 9, 2009
    905
    339
    0
    Location:
    Victoria BC Canada
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Push the brake hard when you are stopped and I expect it will happen again. (assuming the 2015 works like the 2010)
    That light flashing when you are stopped is how you know that the hill start feature is engaged.
    This feature holds the car briefly so it doesn't roll as you transfer your foot to the accelerator and get the car going.
     
    #9 energyandair, May 6, 2015
  10. jry423

    jry423 Member

    Joined:
    Dec 13, 2009
    96
    37
    0
    Location:
    Ohio
    Vehicle:
    2015 Prius
    Model:
    Two
    I didn't know that. Good to know.
     
    #10 jry423, May 6, 2015
  11. fuzzy1

    fuzzy1 Senior Member

    Joined:
    Feb 26, 2009
    17,557
    10,324
    90
    Location:
    Western Washington
    Vehicle:
    Other Hybrid
    Model:
    N/A
    Press the pedal more lightly -- 'normally' for the majority of us -- and it won't engage that feature and its indicator light.
     
    #11 fuzzy1, May 6, 2015
  12. bedrock8x

    bedrock8x Senior Member

    Joined:
    Jul 8, 2008
    1,483
    137
    0
    Location:
    California
    Vehicle:
    Other Hybrid
    How many miles you have on the existing tires?
    When tires get too many miles or tread depth get thinner, the traction will get diminished and the starting losing traction when making hard turns.

     
    #12 bedrock8x, May 6, 2015
  13. qdllc

    qdllc Senior Member

    Joined:
    Aug 25, 2013
    1,370
    399
    0
    Vehicle:
    2013 Prius
    Model:
    Two
    These things come to mind when any wheel slippage occurs.

    1. Slick road surface/spot.
    2. Tire with low or too high air pressure (in conjunction with)...
    3. Worn tire tread/hardening compound.

    The Prius is the first car I've ever had with traction control, so I don't know how much one tire must spin over the other for it to be interpreted as "slipping" by the system.
     
    #13 qdllc, May 6, 2015
  14. jry423

    jry423 Member

    Joined:
    Dec 13, 2009
    96
    37
    0
    Location:
    Ohio
    Vehicle:
    2015 Prius
    Model:
    Two
    I stomped the pedal pretty hard as I was getting my wallet out of my pocket. That explains why it hasn't happened before or since.
     
    #14 jry423, May 6, 2015
  15. V8Cobrakid

    V8Cobrakid Green Handyman

    Joined:
    Jun 6, 2004
    3,790
    152
    0
    Location:
    Park View, Los Angeles, CA. U.S.A
    Vehicle:
    2004 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    hello bob,

    on my 04, i had a similar issue when an ignition coil was starting to go bad.
     
    #15 V8Cobrakid, May 6, 2015
(You must log in or sign up to post here.)