Can traction control be disabled?

No. As I understand it, if the Traction Control does not work you'll damage the Hybrid Synergy Drive.

Why do you want to disable it?

 

One thing that I read once here, but have not been able to confirm (even though I've asked twice), is that if the Prius is in EV Mode, the traction control is not on.

If this is the case, then I wonder if your problem (which many others face too, especially the owners of 2004 and 2005 Priuses which we suspect have an even worse traction control) could be solved if you were to install an EV switch, and use EV Mode for those short, occasional instances like going up a slippery driveway or other incline.

 

The dealer wouldn't install the EV switch. It voids the battery warranty.

The 2010 has an EV switch. It -may- be better re traction control but I doubt it.

The reason traction control is so sensitive is when the engine is stopped and you start off (from a light for example), it can take the engine 1/2 to 1 sec. to start. The rotation speed of MG1 is proportional to the vehicle speed and inversely proportional to the engine speed. Once the engine is running it's difficult to over-run MG1, but with the engine stopped and the powerful electric motor (MG2) spinning up the wheels it's easy to over-speed MG1. So Toyota "took steps" to protect the HSD.

You -can- put the car in "inspection mode" which disables traction control, but it isn't intended to be driven in that mode, and destruction of the HSD (MG1 in particular) would be very easy. So not recommended.

 

Well the new model definitely has more comfortable seats, more adjustments (telescopic steering wheel, driver seat height adjustment and optional lumbar adjustment), more rearward travel in the driver seat, and more legroom.

Don't know about the traction control other than what Toyota reps said -- that all of this (traction control, stability control, etc.) will work more smoothly together (whatever that means).

I think a few people here have occasionally, temporarily disabled the traction control by tricking the car's computers (do a Search). But I understand that they risk damaging the Hybrid Synergy Drive if there's overspin or overspeed that an enabled traction control would otherwise prevent.

After exchanging messages about the subject with qbee42, I have serious doubts about that one poster's contention that the traction control is off while the EV Mode is on. We wonder how that can be the case when the HSD drive configuration itself never changes when the car is in its different drive modes.

 

The brakes have no involvement with the Prius "traction" control. My FJ Trac does indeed use the brakes, and it works very well

For example, a ramp up to an open parking deck. Once side of the ramp is icy, the other side is bare, due to how the sun shines on it. My FJ with studless winter tires, will easily climb that ramp in 2H. My Prius with studded tires, will climb the ramp, but struggle a bit

For what its worth, I'm no longer going to use studless winter tires on my FJ: they simply do not provide enough ice traction. I've preordered factory studded Nokian Hakkapeliitta 5 SUV winter tires for my FJ. On glare ice, my Prius will outbrake my FJ

It's important to keep in mind that the Prius "traction" control is there to protect the hybrid system, not to enhance traction. I don't recommend putting the car into Inspection Mode - if you're not careful you could do a lot of damage

 

Following to jayman's comments...
Please understand how the motor traction control works.
TOYOTA: Company > Technology

You lost tire traction because of no traction.
To get more traction, you have to wear good snow tires or tire chains.

Ken@Japan

 

I'm not sure what else you can do, as you already run studded tires

The only obvious pattern to the Prius TC complaints has been with 2004-2006 model Prius cars. It appears only a handful have an issue. As VSC was optional for those years, maybe VSC programming has something to do with it

[Sarcasm Mode = ON] Some 2004-2006 Prius owners claim their car will charge up a glare ice hill with bald summer tires [Sarcasm Mode = OFF]

About a year ago, I test drove a new 2008 Prius. It's TC behavior was completely different than my 2004. That is, it pulsed the power so quickly that I could actually live with it, it never killed the power like my 2004 does

 

Hi BVR...,

Putting the car into inspection mode would probably not damage the motors or the battery if operated on slick surfaces. It may very well damage the mechanical parts of the transmission that link the two motors and engine together. This is also part of the HSD, buts its not the electrical part.

The specific fear would be the shock load of the motor rotor momentum should the tires catch and decellerate rapidly on dry pavement, while the motors are all reved up to thousands of RPM. That shock load could damage the parts in whats called the Power Sharing Device, or the PSD. This is a bear can sized planetary gear set in the HSD transmission.

 

There is also the potential for over-speed of MG1 if you get really carried away with spinning tires.

Tom

 

What you are describing is called controlled slip. In general, static friction has a higher coefficient than dynamic friction, but there is a narrow zone between static and dynamic where maximum tractive force can be achieved. Modern railroad locomotives have traction control systems which optimize this automatically.

I understand what you want to do, but the Prius traction control system is not designed for it. It's a limitation that you will have to live with if you want to drive a current Prius.

Tom

 

HIGHLY DANGEROUS!!!
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Since anti-lock brakes, traction control and electronic vehicle stability use the speed encoders from each wheel, in theory, one might disconnect the wires to the wheel speed sensors and disable all three systems. Of course disabling safety equipment has other effects dealing with warranty, insurance and violation of vehicle laws.

One can imagine a number of interesting if highly dangerous configurations including a 4-channel, input microprocessor that generates 'spoof' signals for the various wheel inputs. Of course, this has the same problem of disconnecting them all.

However, it is your vehicle and everyone's skin.

HIGHLY DANGEROUS!!!

Severe property damage and human safety may be put at risk.

Like driving around without seat-belts, removing safety air bags, and gutting exhaust systems, there are something that qualify for the Darwin-Award. This is one of them.

Bob Wilson
​

 

Bob, have you considered that your suggestion might be dangerous?

Tom

 

Just "dangerous?"

HIGHLY DANGEROUS!!!
​

An interesting experiment best performed in an empty parking lot.

Bob Wilson

 

Hmmm, that sounds like a challenge ...