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The miracles of Traction control

Discussion in 'Prius v Main Forum' started by Stevevee, Dec 12, 2013.

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  1. Stevevee

    Stevevee Active Member

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    My last Camry, thank goodness, had a button to turn this feature off for awhile. Sadly, the v does not.

    One can feel rather silly on an incline that's 100% sheer ice. Good mileage though;)
     
    #1 Stevevee, Dec 12, 2013
  2. Hankth

    Hankth Junior Member

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    Please explain. I thought that tc would help in situations like that.
     
    #2 Hankth, Dec 13, 2013
  3. rdgrimes

    rdgrimes Senior Member

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    It does. Many people react negatively to the TCS, but I find its very effective in most situations. I suspect that some folks don't understand what its doing or why, and how it helps.
     
    #3 rdgrimes, Dec 13, 2013
  4. Stevevee

    Stevevee Active Member

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    I understand what it's doing, and why it's there. My 2011 Camry SE had it, and the first winter I got to test it with the TC on and off, because it had a button to turn it off. Many times it's helpful, sometimes it's not, and sometimes it's debilitating. When you get on a slight incline that's icy, most times you're not moving.
     
    #4 Stevevee, Dec 13, 2013
  5. Flying White Dutchman

    Flying White Dutchman Senior Member

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    yes indeed

    in the hybrid system this can not be turnedoff because it also protects the hybride drive system.

    and yes sometime the car will no longer move where when you can turn it off ( if thats possible ) or a car t hat does not have it at all are capable to still get moving
     
    #5 Flying White Dutchman, Dec 13, 2013
  6. Stevevee

    Stevevee Active Member

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    I could always push it, that would be good for gas mileage ;)
     
    #6 Stevevee, Dec 13, 2013
  7. Flying White Dutchman

    Flying White Dutchman Senior Member

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    total energy cost would not the less

    you burn more energy and need to eat more ;-)
     
    #7 Flying White Dutchman, Dec 13, 2013
    AllenZ and Stevevee like this.
  8. kithmo

    kithmo Couch Potato

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    The car is more intelligent than any one who thinks they should drive on a 100% iced over surface, that's why it stops you doing so. If it's sheet ice, then TCS or not you ain't goin' anywhere.
     
    #8 kithmo, Dec 13, 2013
  9. Flying White Dutchman

    Flying White Dutchman Senior Member

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    i disagree

    the example i have is a model you dont get in the us

    but the peogeot 2008 crossover is a front wheel drive only
    but optionel your get a special ofroad pack where you can tell the traction control on what type of road your driving

    one part of it is that it will allow for spinning.

    its called grip control
    a normal 2008 with traction control will just with any car with traction control get stuck.

     
    #9 Flying White Dutchman, Dec 13, 2013
  10. bedrock8x

    bedrock8x Senior Member

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    It is also called the Snow mode.

     
    #10 bedrock8x, Dec 13, 2013
  11. ursle

    ursle Gas miser

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    4 studded wheels and you're good to go, and stop, I really, really want the stopping ability.

    But, just because the car can go doesn't mean you should, I want the choice to be mine;)
     
    #11 ursle, Dec 13, 2013
  12. Stevevee

    Stevevee Active Member

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    I remember when Toyota came out with a 4Runner that had TCS and no button. When they did the annual off road tests, the 4Runner continually had to be towed out.

    FYI, in my case I was coming out of a parking lot where the exit had become iced over. Unfortunately for the TCS, the roadway didn't leave a special bare spot for the TCS to gain traction. So I actually blocked traffic momentarily as my little car sat there and did nothing. Since it was only a slight incline, I stuck it in reverse and tried not to be too embarrassed.

    I've been driving long distances in ice and snow in all kinds of inclement weather for some fourty years, so I'm not a newbie at this.
     
    #12 Stevevee, Dec 14, 2013
  13. schinia

    schinia Member

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    having DRL'S does not use energy. if you think so, thats your problem.
     
    #13 schinia, Dec 14, 2013
  14. jhinsc

    jhinsc Senior Member

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    #14 jhinsc, Dec 14, 2013
  15. fuzzy1

    fuzzy1 Senior Member

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    So I can put some PV modules in front of some DRLs to make a perpertual motion machine?
     
    #15 fuzzy1, Dec 14, 2013
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  16. Stevevee

    Stevevee Active Member

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    DRL's use free energy from the Energy Fairy. I've heard some PIHV's do as well :ROFLMAO:
     
    #16 Stevevee, Dec 14, 2013
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  17. dbcassidy

    dbcassidy Toyota Hybrid Nation, 8 Million Strong

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    Unless you have dedicated snow tires with studs and drive carefully (IE: no jack rabbit starts or sudden stops).

    Whats' is the most important issue: common sense when driving on ice.

    DBCassidy
     
    #17 dbcassidy, Dec 14, 2013
  18. Stevevee

    Stevevee Active Member

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    I have dedicated snow tires which are brand new. I haven't used studs since the early 70's. I fully understand the necessity for using extreme caution on ice. I've driven on long trips involving hundreds of miles, through snow, sleet and worse, Freezing Rain. I know when to slow down, and when to pull off.

    This is a different issue, one involving the simple issue of Traction. I will note that Toyota apparently made some tweaks in early Prius cars due to overly aggressive TCS software. In my Camry, as well as various other cars, there is an OFF button. When needed, it's priceless.

    Cars run by software need to have a way to program common sense into the equation. Extremely hard to do, but they try. In the meantime, an off button would be nice.
     
    #18 Stevevee, Dec 14, 2013
  19. rdgrimes

    rdgrimes Senior Member

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    You can't compare TCS systems on regular cars to the system on a hybrid. 2 very different systems. But one can still resort to the old tried and true method of using both brake and throttle at the same time, which works on a Prius too.
     
    #19 rdgrimes, Dec 14, 2013
  20. Stevevee

    Stevevee Active Member

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    Love that old method. Didn't get me far this time around, but maybe later on. We'll be getting a lot more snow today and tomorrow than originally expected. Looking forward to some gold old-fashioned snow testing ;)
     
    #20 Stevevee, Dec 14, 2013
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