Is VSC working?

The VSC will light up the "trac" icon and chime the chime (if the computer does more that just a transient application of the VSC).

Stay off the frozen lake . . . haven't you heard about global warming? It's global!

I recommend the frozen parking lot route. I fact, I highly recommend EVERYONE try it so you will know what to expect if that time ever comes when the VSC does it's thing in a real world situation.

A good test scenario: In a large enough frozen parking lot, get up to speed . . . 15 - 30 mph . . . then do some abrupt lane change type maneuvers . . . try it while accelerating and again while braking.

You will be amazed. I WAS !!!!!

VSC . . . I'll never own another car without it!

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Sufferin' Prius Envy @ Jan 29 2007, 05:11 PM) [snapback]382536[/snapback]</div>

 

Hi All--I'm a newbie, just registered today. This is my second Prius--the first was the "research vehicle" 2001, which was upgraded to the 2004 at 38,000 miles. The 2004 now has 48,000 miles.
Re VSC: I had a pickup in the hammer lane alongside blow a front tire while passing me at about 75-80 mph. The pickup was immediately all over the place--and therefore so was I. Our vehicle had four full sized adults on board. Now being 78YO and unable to remember what I had for breakfast, I can no longer remember whether it is called "understeer" or "oversteer" but, whichever, the 2001 Prius had it in spades! We avoided rollover (and the pickup), but just barely. The opportunity to do an extreme yaw test with VSC on the 2004 has not yet presented itself but I know from daily handling that the situation would be less hair-raising. I, too, will never again be without VSC!
Concerning replacement tires: The 2004 now has Michelin XOne P185/65R15 86T M+S All Season tires, with which I have been quite happy. My first choice would have been Bridgestones but these Michelins had been special-ordered by the post exchange gas station for a customer who never came to pick them up and, at half-price, I could not pass them up. They are slightly noisier and somewhat stiffer handling (which I prefer) than the OEMs. I have found (with both the 2001 and the 2004 Prius) that tire pressure is critical to good mileage. I run mine at 36psi all around.

Now for a problem that has ocurred with the 2004: The Multifunction Display (MFD) has become intermittent, failing to register the variables (TEMP, Mileage Average, etc) and will indicate the Airconditioner is disconnected (while working) and the Audio Off (while playing), etc. The dealer states the warranty expired last June and the fix is replacement at $600.00! Googling for the MFD revealed this is apparently a known problem that has ocurred several (many?) times. Are there any other victims out there who have had success in getting Toyota to pickup all or part of the tab for this? The dealer states that Toyota's position is they purchase the unit from (Fujitsu Ten?) and there liability is limited to the warranty. I would like to hear from any others with this problem and its resolution. Thanks dong

 

Hmmm... I'm going to have to look this one up. I've read several posts on PC that claim the TRAC light flashes and chimes when VSC activates. On the other hand, I've tried to set off the VSC on my Prius and have been unable to force the TRAC light and chimes, even when doing some wild parking lot maneuvering. Anyone else have the definitive answer?

Tom

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(dong @ Jan 29 2007, 05:14 PM) [snapback]382565[/snapback]</div>

Dong,
Check this thread for info on refurbished-MFDs. You might call Toyota and see if they will foot part of the bill. It looks like your dealers replacement cost is reasonable.


http://priuschat.com/Source-for-refurbished-MFDs-t26072.html

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(qbee42 @ Jan 29 2007, 05:49 PM) [snapback]382577[/snapback]</div>

Is Toyota a good enough authority? :lol:

Vehicle Stability Control (VSC)
The VSC system electronically monitors speed and direction, and compares the vehicle's direction of travel with the driver's steering, acceleration and braking inputs. VSC can help compensate for loss of traction which can cause skids. It utilizes some components shared with the Anti-lock Brake System (ABS) and an electronically controlled engine throttle as well as a dedicated computer and sensors providing information to the VSC system. These include a yaw rate sensor, a G-sensor and a steering angle sensor. When VSC is active, a warning beep tone and instrument panel warning light indicate that the system is functioning. In many cases, VSC reacts well before the driver is aware of a loss of traction. As with other safety technologies, such as anti-lock brakes, it is important to drive safely, since Vehicle Stability Control cannot defy the laws of physics, nor can it provide more traction than exists in a given condition.
http://www.toyota.com/html/help/glossary.html

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Presto @ Jan 29 2007, 11:09 PM) [snapback]382697[/snapback]</div>

Um . . . Presto . . . would it be OK if I borrow your avatar for my post?
It would help demonstrate my utter, forehead slapping, disbelief in your lack of comprehension or ability to accept Toyota's own description of VSC.

Or, am I misinterpreting your avatar?
Maybe your avatar actually symbolizes that you are holding on to your head because rational thoughts hurt.

Sorry. My faith lies in the guys whos job it is to write the manuals for Toyota, whether or not they were involved in designing that particular system, and not some dude in Vancouver wearing a tie-dye shirt and holding his head . . . for whatever reason.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Sufferin' Prius Envy @ Jan 30 2007, 04:39 AM) [snapback]382706[/snapback]</div>

So you're not going to believe a regular poster here who has had a Prius for some time and is not know as a regular liar, but you are going to believe the known liars that write the manuals. Those same writers that claim my car has automatic volume on the radio, holds 11.9 gallons in the gas tank, and has 60 mpg in city driving.
Not to mention the false claims regarding the lights.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(tomdeimos @ Jan 30 2007, 05:11 AM) [snapback]382727[/snapback]</div>

OK, lets go over Pristo's four points on VSC:

1. VSCs purpose is yaw control by braking individual corners to prevent understeer and oversteer:
True. But it also electronically controls the engine throttle. Since Presto left that out, does that make him a liar? NO.

2. The TRAC icon is not VSC:
True. The TRAC icon is not VSC. But, the TRAC icon is part of the VSC warning system. Since Presto left that out, does that make him a liar? NO.

3. VSC has no visual or audible cues to indicate that it's in operation:
Wrong! The mere fact that the VSC system turns on a warning icon and chimes a chime when yaw conditions warrant is, in and of itself, proof that the system is in operation. Whether or not the VSC system is able to correct every yaw situation instantaneously is beside the point.
Since Presto got that wrong, does that make him a liar? NO.

4. If VSC isn't able to correct the yaw, the MFD will beep, and the TRAC icon will light up (since traction is being lost):
False. If that were the case, the warning light and beep would be an indication that the VSC system has given up and is NOT in operation. It's true that the VSC system is not capable of instantaneously keeping all four wheels firmly gripping the road every nano-second. Under Presto's scenario, in order for the VSC to correct a yaw situation, it means that the VSC had to fail to control the yaw in the first place. If so, where was the TRAC light and chime if the VSC initially failed to control the yaw?

I DON'T DOUBT PRESTO'S CLAIMS . . . BUT THEY ARE NOT ABSOLUTES!
As stated before, the VSC will not light the TRAC light and chime the chime under transient conditions the VSC system takes care of quickly, but, for the average driver of a VSC equipped Prius, the TRAC light and chime is an indication that the VSC system IS in operation . . . JUST LIKE TOYOTA SAYS!

P.S.
automatic volume on the radio: I wouldn't know. I don't have GPS and Blue Tooth, but doesn't the volume automatically adjust with GPS Nav Lady and or Blue Tooth operation?

11.9 gallon tank: The tank is capable of holding 11.9 gallons. Not always . . . but I would imagine especially not so during a Boston blizzard.

60 mpg in city: Been there, done that. I can get 60 in the city – can't you? Besides, it's not Toyota's numbers. It's the Federal EPA which requires ALL auto manufactures to use the MPG numbers derived from the EPA's own mileage tests.

false claims regarding the lights: Funny, my headlights automatically go on when I start the car, and they automatically go off when I turn the car off and open the driver door. Don't non-US cars have the real auto headlights?

 

We won't be able to settle this by ping-ponging claims and counter-claims. It's going to take solid information from a Toyota technical person, or some independent testing. If the snow keeps up, I'll try to go out and slide around some more this week. Last time I went to do this, I'd pulled into a big, nearly empty parking lot at a grocery store. The bad weather must have kept most people at home. I had turned into the lot to pick up some groceries, but the smooth expanse of slick snow and ice was too much to resist. I had just started to pick up speed and was ready to throw the wheel over when my wife said: "You're not going to do anything stupid with that police car sitting over there, are you?", which is exactly why we have wives. Sure enough, there was a police cruiser sitting in the parking lot. I'm not sure he would have ticketed me for anything, but I'm sure he would have stopped me to see if I was a drunk teenager.

Tom

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(seasalsa @ Jan 29 2007, 07:01 PM) [snapback]382581[/snapback]</div>

Seasalsa -- Many thanks for your prompt and pertinent reply. Guess I'll have to bite the bullet. Makes me wonder if the unit has been programmed by the mfgr to fail just out of warranty for the refurb business! (I'm not usually a conspiracy theorist but ...)

 

We are considering a Prius, and are facing package decisions. My question about the VSC - can it be turned off?

My concern is that we live in the country and do just enough non-pavement driving (gravel surfaces, mostly), where my previous experience has been that stability and brake control systems are - for the lack of a better word - "confused" by loose or rough surfaces, and sometimes make the wrong decision... uh... "for you".

Honda's similar VSA has an on/off, for these circumstances.

(Brings to mind the scene from "Cars", where the Old Head is teaching the Young Turk that "you have to steer right to turn left" when powering into a turn on a dirt track. The situational counterintuitive stuff.)

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(MikeQBF @ Jan 31 2007, 09:38 AM) [snapback]383239[/snapback]</div>

No, VSC can't be turned off, nor would you want to. The VSC system won't cause you any trouble on the back roads. You may have problems with the traction control system (TRAC) if you have to climb steep gravel hills. The TRAC system is standard on all Prius and is necessary to protect the HSD drive system.

Tom

 

Watch this video!

Seems that the system has been developed by Bosch.