First true snow test drive today.

In my Gen I / Gen II and now Gen III PiP snow experience (1st snow today for this PiP), these cars handle snow pretty well until the unplowed centerline snow builds up enough to high-side the low-slung chassis panels. At that point, only chains seem to reliably help, and again, once the snow builds up too high, the Prius is done. I speak of the Wash DC Snowmageddon of 2010.

 

How do you turn the traction control off? I have a 2014 gen 3. and have not noticed this feature. H

 

Certification Mode:
(2WD for cutting TRC)
- Tests using a speedometer tester, two-wheel chassis dynamometer, etc.
- Cancels traction control


Perform the following steps from (1) through (4) in 60 seconds.
(1) Turn the power switch on (IG).
(2) Fully depress the accelerator pedal three times with park (P) selected.
(3) Fully depress the accelerator pedal three times with neutral (N) selected.
(4) Fully depress the accelerator pedal three times with park (P) selected.
(5) Check that "CERTIFICATION MODE" is displayed on the multi-
information display.
(6) Start the engine by turning the power switch on (READY) while depressing the brake pedal.

To disable both modes, just turn the car off.
Engine RPM is limited to 2,500 and you are not supposed to use the inspection or certification mode when driving.

 

Great, I was wondering how to turn off the tcs also. I live in the north east and recently we have had our fair share of snow... but my worry Is ice.

SGH-T889 ?

 

I don't think Traction Control Off is intended for regular use. Heck, I'm pretty sure of this. Regular driving in this mode can break the transmission or something?

 

Yea I bet, my biggest concern is trying to come out of icy parking spots. I had trouble last storm. I noticed my family's sienna has a tcs button that u can enable or disable

SGH-T889 ?

 

I drove my gen3 from Vancouver to Kelowna during a very severe winter storm without any slipping or even a skid on the all season Brigtone tires that come with the 2014 model year. This auto handles well under very slippery conditions. But then if you are not familiar with driving winter conditions, take transit!!! H

 

we had snow and ice and sub freezing temps all week. I was very impressed with the way the prius handled the hardpacked roads. In my job I am responsible for snow removal on a college campus so driving into and out of work I have to deal with it.

it was a good little ride. I think the skinny tires help. My chevy HHR did ok in the snow as well. My biggest concern was ground clearance. Of course my fuel consumption on this tank so far is pretty dismal...

of coure, if you drive prudent and careful, you could drive any vehicle in the snow...

 

First experience with The Prius on ice and snow. (Bought a used 2010 in June of 2013) The little car handled the slick stuff amazingly well. I have had Jeeps, an FJ Cruiser, Grand Wagoneer and a Dodge Ramcharger and I can honestly say that Prius was better than all but the Wrangler on hardpacked ice and snow. I was pretty much just along for the ride for the most part. All the while getting right at 50 mpg. Needless to say, I am a convert !

 

Now imagine it with real winter tires!
The only thing that seems to bother the Gen III Prius is deep (6"+) snow because of it's low clearance. It seems Toyota has addressed the shortcomings in the Gen II Prius traction control system.

It snowed here again last night- only 3-4", my wife asked if I wanted to take the Honda CRV to work... I told her that with the amount of snow we got overnight- the PIP is actually better than the AWD CRV....

 

3 inches snow here last night, so practiced snow driving our 2012 hatchback for first time today. Driven sensibly the Prius seems to handle unplowed snow, packed snow, and ice layers quite well. Had front wheels lose traction during regen braking on ice once though. Anyone else notice that phenomenon?

 

I have not- but I have Michelin X Ice tires on all four corners- and braking with them is amazing.

 

the prius is mightier than most think!

 

This traction control: Is that what prevents the engine from revving while trying to get up a snowy hill? I was driving to work yesterday (February 5, in Eastern Massachusetts) during a snowstorm and the car was barely moving up a long hill. It was scary, and not because everyone else was pulling around me and passing me. I was afraid the car was just going to stop dead. I had the gas pedal floored and the engine was hardly making a sound and the car, while it kept going, was moving less than 10 miles per hour.

I would have preferred a roaring engine with spinning tires and the car sluing back and forth. At least I would have felt like something was happening, rather than wondering if it was just going to give up and I’d be stranded there.

During a storm a couple of months ago, the same thing happened, and I was dead in the water (well, frozen water), not moving at all forward. I could only back up. Even when I got it going forward and was on the road again with the rest of the traffic, the car was scarcely moving for a long time. I don’t want to be the one whose car dies, blocking traffic, and gets everyone else mad at him. Neither do I want to have the gas pedal on the floor and have the wheels suddenly catch and the car jump forward and ram into another vehicle because I wasn’t expecting it and couldn’t react in time.

And what’s the deal with that flashing yellow light that tells me the car is skidding? I know that!, and the light is just a distraction.

 

You live in Mass? You need real winter tires that you put on in Dec and take off in April.
Do that and you'll be loving the traction control in the Prius!

 

I just bought I 2014 Three and would love the answer too!

 

Sorry, but I'm new to this and was wondering if there's a way to save this so I can find it when I need it again? Thanks in advance for any help you can give!