Will try here too.... Prius can't do a u turn safely

Just being a skeptic so forgive me if I come across as harsh, but....... is a full lock uturn that much of an occurrence in your daily driving that it is that big an issue? Maybe the issue is you and not the car. The dealer can't replicate the problem after several tries right? So far, no one here has this problem nor has seen it mentioned on this forum. And the issue only occurs under full lock uturns right? Maybe changing your driving habits would be the simplest and easiest fix. Again, sorry for sounding harsh.

 

I don't get where you think I suggested that the problem was Toyota or Prius. I'm simply saying that the problem may be you and not the car. It hurts like hell when I accidentally hit my thumb with a hammer, therefore I try my best to not hit my thumb with a hammer. If the problem you are having only occurs under full lock uturns then maybe you simply don't do full lock uturns. Try 7/8th lock uturns instead. And for the second time, I apologize if I come across as harsh. I won't apologize a third time.

 

I rather enjoy having a car that can U-turn out of a parking space on many (very low traffic) streets where none of my previous vehicles could without a two point turn.

Or, at the official U-turn spots on divided arterials, being about to pull them quick with a full lane of margin where bigger vehicles must do them slow while making sure they can clear the far curb.

 

Maybe you should.

I believe he stated:
The service people ARE able to reproduce the problem and they are NOT able to reproduce it on any other car that they have tested.

If I were chasing this problem, I would be looking at the ABS system.

 

prius is the first car i've owned where full lock doesn't cause a power steering hiss. you feel like there's a mechanical stop, preventing it from going too far.
and my previous car was a 2001 taurus. abysmal in full lock. made you want to back off a bit.

 

I'm also suspecting that the controllers in the electric system are programmed to not create high forces and stresses at the end stops, so are not running into the problems of the old hydraulic systems at the locks.

 

interesting, i have no idea how the whole steering system works.

 

In a conventional car, that hiss is the power steering fluid being pumped through the relief valve; the valve is there on purpose because the pump always turns when the engine runs, so when the steering reaches lock the fluid still has to go somewhere, and the relief valve lets it. So it's doing what it's supposed to and isn't hurting anything, except your serenity if you don't like the sound.

You don't get that sound in a Prius because there's no pump, no fluid, no valves.

My sister's Forester had a problem last fall that there turned out to be a service bulletin for. That relief valve had a weaker spring, so it would start relieving not only at lock, but under any sort of extra-high steering load, like slow maneuvering in a paved parking lot. Made a horrible judder in the steering as the assist rapidly cut in and out. Sure enough, the service bulletin was just to replace the ~ $30 relief valve.

-Chap

 

Fortunately, newer Foresters, such as my 2014, have electric power steering, not the older hydraulic system.

 

The electric steering in Gen 1 Prius had some interesting, ah, features, that happily were worked out by Gen 2....

-Chap

 

are you assuming they are not, or cannot fix it?

 

what is their latest? if you start modifying it, won't that let them off the hook?