Avensis Vsc Functionality

August 18, 2008

Hi, I have an avensis 06 for 1,5 years and I am realy confused with the functionality of VSC. According to the manual, the functionality of VSC is as follows:

a) If the VSC light (i.e., the car symbol) is flashing then TRC is active.

b ) If the VSC light is flashing and beeps are heard then VSC is active.

Yet, after 1,5 years and more than 22K Km of driving the car I now sure that this is simply... wrong.

My experience shows that the following description is "more" correct:

a) If the VSC light (i.e., the car symbol) is flashing then TRC is active.

b ) If the VSC light is flashing and beeps are heard then VSC is active.

c) Sometimes, while turning the car, there is no beeping or led flashing, yet you can easily hear a sound from the back side of the car like the sound heard when TRC is active. In fact, sometimes, you do feel a small reduction in engine power.

d) VSC is not activated before the car slips. Most of the time, VSC allows the car to slip for (less than) a second before intervening. If, however, slipping acceleration is high, then VSC will intervene instantly.

So my questing is : When and why does situation © happens and what is the sound that I hear. My feeling is that sometimes VSC is (partially) active without any sound or led flashing.

What do you think? What is your experience?

PS 1: Up to now, my Avensis VSC has proven completelly useless... Simply, It never intervened when I did needed some help.

PS 2: I also have a Corolla 08 and its VSC is much better...

PS 3: I drive carefully, but every year I do make one or two errors...

August 18, 2008

Up to now, my Avensis VSC has proven completelly useless... Simply, It never intervened when I did needed some help.

How much ice and snow do you get in Greece? When was the last time you had to take any emergency avoidance action?

Have you ever lost control of you car and ended up pointing the opposite direction facing oncoming traffic? Have you ever rolled you Avensis?

These systems are working quietly behind the scenes but will sometimes let you know what’s going on when you have to make sudden and excessive changes in direction (as in the Elk Test). Theoretically these safety systems should never have to be used unless you are pushing the car to its traction limits.

:thumbsup:

August 19, 2008

Well I understand your point TVOR but... this does not answer my question. In Greece it rains 30 days per year. It can take up to half a year (a summer) before you see a rain. My feeling is that it never passed from your mind that after 100 days of not raining, the road is dirty from oil (from exchausts) and dust. The first (slow) rain converts the road to an ultra slipery surface (yes, I know ice is much slippery). This is the only case where I have heard my Avensis VSC beeping. I was running with 20Km/h, tried to make a 90 degrees left turn and the car simply continued going straight. VSC was (almost) instantly activated and the car managed to take the turn after going straight for 3-4 meters and a few inches before hitting a wall!!! I am not sure if it was VSC are pure luck that helped me regain control of the car. After this incident, the first hour after a long awaited rain is a no-drive time period for me...

Anyway, as I said I do make some mistakes (1-2 per year), ie., taking a turn with more speed than what traction allows. Fortunately, these are small errros causing MINOR slips (i.e., less than 1 meter of displacement). I never saw a car heading towards me but this doesn't mean that someday, a different car may point towards me and I will have to make an emergency avoidance action. So it is good to know that my cas has VSC to help me, yet my experience shows that Avensis VSC never reacts (i.e., beeps) in small slips whereas my Corrolla immediately reacts. So, I DO NOT KNOW IF MY AVENSIS VSC WILL REACT IN MEDIUM SIZE SLIPS (i.e., 1-2 meters of lateral displacement). And this is the point of my question to all member: Is my VSC working properly? Have you also heard the noises from the back of the car while turning the car without any led flashing/beeping? Did you ever had your car (minor) slip whithout VSC activating?

Thanks for your comments.

Up to now, my Avensis VSC has proven completelly useless... Simply, It never intervened when I did needed some help.
How much ice and snow do you get in Greece? When was the last time you had to take any emergency avoidance action?
Have you ever lost control of you car and ended up pointing the opposite direction facing oncoming traffic? Have you ever rolled you Avensis?
These systems are working quietly behind the scenes but will sometimes let you know what’s going on when you have to make sudden and excessive changes in direction (as in the Elk Test). Theoretically these safety systems should never have to be used unless you are pushing the car to its traction limits.