Automatic switch to Power mode in snow....dangerous

It does not ever engage Power mode automatically, so something either caused a fault or you may have hit that button in error (gloved hand, maybe?).

Braking slowly won't engage ABS unless on a slippery surface--the "slide forward" is because the road is slippery, and while ABS is your best bet for a controlled steering stop, ABS may not necessarily generate the shortest stop. It's rapidly releasing and re-applying brakes, basically at the threshold, so you're maintaining steering ability on a slippery or uneven, potholed, surface.

 

It's dangerous for you to drive, period.

 

My thoughts, exactly.

 

I was just playing with this feature a few days ago (in good weather - non rush). PWR mode will re-map the throttle response within seconds. I would think it's only there to impress a friend you let drive it to show Prius can really "get up and go", if need be.

Well - if you were drag racing with your Prius...maybe you'd use it!

 

There is no normal automatic switch to Power mode. If this really happened, then something is wrong. More likely you accidentally hit the power button.

Tom

 

Just having a dyslexic day: I keep reading "Powder Mode in snow".

 

mine three !!

 

Did the PWR light come on ?
Or was it just that you had given it too much throttle without realising it.
The pedal is pretty dead in ECO mode until you press it right down, this is one reason I won't drive in ECO in bad weather. I just use normal mode as I'm more used to the feel of the pedal, due to the fact that I use normal nearly all the time.

 

I've never seen or heard of an 'Auto PWR Mode' switch in the Prius, but suspect that what may have happened is that you were trying to accelerate on the ice, and your Traction Control kicked in, limiting your acceleration. Then suddenly, you may have hit a 'dry' spot on the road, and kicked forward a bit as a result.

As for the 'slide' you describe when slowing down, you are either sliding somewhat on snow/ice, and not realizing it, or it's possible that you are experience a slight delay between the regen braking and the disk-braking, which many have experienced what feels as though the car is lurching forward. In reality, this is because of a loss or braking, which can feel like acceleration. Many cars (including my 2010 Prius V) had a change to the software on the braking to reduce this effect.

 

braking lightly at 5-10 mph you are most likely to be regen braking, which is only on the front wheels. The ABS (anti-skid) has no effect on regen braking, so what you felt was one or both of the front wheels losing traction. Pressing the brake pedal harder will activate hydraulic braking and the ABS which will prevent this slide. I've experienced this when travelling across a wet manhole cover and I can reproduce it every time I drive across this manhole cover (on my way home from work) and I allow for it.

 

Hi mwok..,

You are not getting ABS action, but dropping into friction braking from Regen. If your friction brakes are wet, or not used allot, they will not match the regen braking pedal force / braking power ratio.

In standard cars we subcontiously learn to lift brake pedal as we approach a stop, to avoid locking up brakes. In the Prius, you have to learn to do the reverse. Just push harder when you feel the regen brakes kick out. Its no more difficult than the action we use in standard cars, just the reverse of it.

 

Just been thinking (yeah yeah doesn't happen often eh) about this thread.

Do you think the op is mixing up Power Mode and the red power band on the hybrid system indicator?

 

The problem with mwok's threads - http://priuschat.com/forums/search/search-id/2783453/ - are that he wastes a lot of people's time with real responses before somebody comes in and points out that all of his threads are reeking of a clinical level of obsession (or trolling, I am not sure which).

Back to the topic. Mwok's findings are salient and exact in this area. I myself crashed last week three times while driving my Prius and in one circumstance even ran a family off the road. They are ok, thankfully! I have since spent the weekend welding huge bars on the front of the car so that when it does this autonomous jolt of power (138 horsepower when it kicks in is like those rocket boosters some military cargo planes use to help achieve speed during takeoff, no kidding) and slams all the cars ahead the damage to my car can be minimized.

Actually jokes aside if Mwok is NOT trolling (which is very doubtful) he shouldn't even have a driver's license.

I really do think he's trolling, though. Too many simply stupid threads for me to think otherwise.

BTW mwok did you know that after ABS on the prius kicks in 10 times you need to get it serviced at the dealership and it costs about $500?

 

I think you might be right. The original post indicated that he was a newbie yet the op has way over 100 posts. Hmmm.

Also, he hasn't posted any follow up to the responses which again is settin my alarm bells ringing. I'm thinking he works for a motor manufacturer or dealer - and not a Toyota one.

 

This is his MO. When his posts are called out by enough people he will just ignore the thread and then a week or two later make another one asking or stating some other incredibly crazy question/viewpoint about the Prius.

 

And I thought my life was sad! Oh well, there's hope for me yet!

 

BTW, I hope the weather is ok, but a plus is that now you can engage in the "How is my Prius in the snow?" threads