I HATE my prius

BS. Most of the vehicles with DSC / VSC have an off switch. That's because sometimes spinning wheels keeps you moving as oppose to stalling and maybe even worse - sliding back. My Prius climbed half of the snowy driveway, then stalled and started sliding back!

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(donee @ Jan 23 2007, 08:16 PM) [snapback]379794[/snapback]</div>

Not much risk if you speed limit the wheels, in which case the amount of shock loading is also limited. Speed limited slip is the optimal solution to this problem, and it would appear that the Prius control system has all of the pieces and parts needed to do this if Toyota decides to make it happen.

Tom

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(chogan @ Jan 23 2007, 03:56 PM) [snapback]379690[/snapback]</div>

I can't say whether the tempo picks up, but the car definitely tries harder if you give it lots of gas. It doesn't spin the wheels at high speed, but keeps trying longer and harder than when you baby the gas.

Tom

 

I just had same problem with skidding; fortunately my drive flat so got back in garage. New Tires don't solve problem...I have brand new tires

 

What type of new tires and what sort of driving conditions?

The limits of physics apply even to good tires. Without studded tires, I've had my Jeep C-J5 stuck in two inches of wet snow. Some conditions are simply undrivable.

Tom

 

Didnt read all 9 pages. But sound like you need to learn how to put the car into "inspection mode" ie no traction control. I have a gravel driveway (almost a 40* degree slope) and in heavy rain,will get no traction trying to climb up the hill to the garage.in inspection mode can get up the hill with a small amount of wheel spin.

 

It's not an SUV. Shovel your driveway.

 

You know, knocking off that snow on the driveway is about the best way to make ice on the driveway.

We do not do that up here in areas where snow is more common. Because, the sun does come out on occaision, and it will melt that snow, and then it will refreeze overnight.

Put the car in neutral and have somebody push you back. But you might have to buy them cramp-ons ( [ame]http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crampons[/ame] ) for them to be able to do that on the ice-way you have turned your driveway into....

 

Three words: Nokian Hakapellita tires, or Nokian WRg2 Tires.

PS, back up an incline, puts the weight on the driven tires. Front wheel drive looses any advantage as the hill gets steeper, as the weight proportionally goes more on to the rear axle.

 

What's up with the super resurrection threads? This this is from like 2006. lol

 

When you read some messages, they appear as related. Someone then replies thinking its recent then they go to the front page.

 

Since the traction control and vsc are high on the list of what may cause problems in some snow conditions, I wonder if there's a Prius version of a procedure I saw for the Camry:

Disabling TRAC and VSC temporarily on Camry Hybrid
Disabling TRAC and VSC temporarily on Camry Hybrid - GreenHybrid - Hybrid Cars

It's a one-time operation, and re-sets when the car is turned off and then back on. It sounds as if it's there to help dealer techs trouble-shoot things, so it makes senses there may be a procedure for the Prius.

If so, it might help in the "I can't move in my own driveway" isssues some face.

 

isn't there a way to turn the traction control OFF? i remember this in a thread here, can't remember where.

 

Wow! I just read all 10 pages.

This is my first winter with our Prius...and I never knew there was a problem. I have had the Traction control light come on a couple of times in snow or slippery pavement for a second or two.....startled me a bit, but all seemed ok.

I have new Michelin Harmony tires on my Prius, hopefully I never have the problems these other folks have had. I plan on moving to Florida in 2 years, so I guess I just need to get through these two winters.

I love our Prius, and am learning a lot about it here....so far I have not had any problems in the snow....we'll see. It's so new to me that I'm a bit of a nervous nelly about it.....I guess another thing to watch for.....

Frank

 

I intend to buy a beater 4WD for any day there is even a CHANCE of weather here in Colorado. I'd prefer to trade my Prius off - I don't believe they are a viable alternative here in Colorado. However I can't get anything out of it now that the price of gas is down. I am running General Altimax Arctic tires just to get it to even move in the snow. It's a shame - I really love the car but inability to go in slick weather makes it useless here in Colorado where snow can occur at almost any time.

 

I think I read that there is a way to turn the traction control off -- but it's not easy to do and can be dangerous because, as I understand it, one reason for the traction control in the Prius is to protect the planetary gears of the hybrid synergy drive.

(Don't ask me to explain because I can't ... whenever someone here tried to explain it to me, I quickly became dazed and confused.)

 

For a gen II Prius, the way to disable TC is to engage so-called inspection mode. Procedure to do this is as follows (copied from another thread, written by Patrick Wong - use at your own risk):

 

IT'S A PRIUS, NOT A 4RUNNER! If you expected it to be great in the winter, you shouldn't have bought it. I live in MI and I think it actually drives fantastic in crap weather, especially when its icy outside. I am not expecting it to plow through 8 inches of snow but normal winter weather is fine. Its a 1.8L 4 banger so you cant be surprised.

 

Was there a reason to bump this thread? Let's ask an expert.

Expert says: My sources say no.

 

This thread has been dead for only a year. That's not even close to a record. My expert opinion is therefor "no".

Tom

 

I don't drive my 2010 Prius in the winter. I have a RAV4 for that purpose. Where I live there is a foot of snow on the ground and I need to get to work. I would be dreaming to think that my Prius would be great in the winter and be able to do everything. Get a four wheel drive of some kind as a winter beater. I long ago realized that NW Pennsylvania sucks in the winter. I have a snow shovel, snow blower, gloves, warm coat, boots, back up wood burning furnace, fireplace, emergency generator, long underwear, snowmobile, tractor with back blade, flashlights, candles..........etc