Posted by dbs__usenet on August 21, 2005, 11:48 pm
>
>> How many of you use the Engine Braking feature? Do you find it useful?
>>
> I've not used it in the seven months I've owned my Prius and doubt I ever
> will in MN. Next time I pass through CO on my way to AZ I probably will.
It's real nice when you are exiting a mountain range. It will slow the
car quite well on a 4 or 5 % slope. I kick in the cruise control and
let it take care of business. If the engine braking is not enough for
real steep downgrades you do have to tap the brakes.
Posted by Earle Jones on August 22, 2005, 9:45 pm
dbs__usenet@tanj.com wrote:
> >
> >> How many of you use the Engine Braking feature? Do you find it useful?
> >>
> > I've not used it in the seven months I've owned my Prius and doubt I ever
> > will in MN. Next time I pass through CO on my way to AZ I probably will.
>
>
> It's real nice when you are exiting a mountain range. It will slow the
> car quite well on a 4 or 5 % slope. I kick in the cruise control and
> let it take care of business. If the engine braking is not enough for
> real steep downgrades you do have to tap the brakes.
*
Remember that Cruise Control doesn't work when you are in "B" mode.
earle
*
Posted by Michael Pardee on August 22, 2005, 11:46 pm
> *
> Remember that Cruise Control doesn't work when you are in "B" mode.
> earle
> *
I didn't know that! It makes sense, though, and could be an important
consideration when somebody says their cruise control doesn't work.
Mike
Posted by dbs__usenet on September 20, 2005, 12:24 am
> dbs__usenet@tanj.com wrote:
>
> >
> > It's real nice when you are exiting a mountain range. It will slow the
> > car quite well on a 4 or 5 % slope. I kick in the cruise control and
> > let it take care of business. If the engine braking is not enough for
> > real steep downgrades you do have to tap the brakes.
>
> *
> Remember that Cruise Control doesn't work when you are in "B" mode.
>
> earle
While I have heard that several times, I've proven it incorrect in
my 2002 Prius. I've shifted to 'B' and set cruise while coming down
through the cascade mountain range in southern Oregon, and watched it
keep the speed close to where I wanted it. I've also seen it hold the
speed as I went back up small inclines. I've done this multiple times.
It's not a fluke.
Is it just the newer models that don't use the cruise when in 'B'?
Is it the act of shifting to B that turns off the cruise? Is it the
fact that you typically tend to hit the brakes occasionally when going
downhill, thus disconnecting the cruise?
There is no intuitive reason for cruise to work incorrectly when in
'B'. If the engine braking slows you too much, it speeds up the engine.
If you are going too fast it increases the drag.
It does not keep the speed as close to target when going downhill in
'B' as it does in 'D' on fairly flat land. It might go 5 MPH over now
and again.
Daniel
Posted by B. Peg on September 20, 2005, 2:02 am
>> dbs__usenet@tanj.com wrote:
>>
>> >
>> > It's real nice when you are exiting a mountain range. It will slow the
>> > car quite well on a 4 or 5 % slope. I kick in the cruise control and
>> > let it take care of business. If the engine braking is not enough for
>> > real steep downgrades you do have to tap the brakes.
>>
>> *
>> Remember that Cruise Control doesn't work when you are in "B" mode.
>>
>> earle
> While I have heard that several times, I've proven it incorrect in
> my 2002 Prius. I've shifted to 'B' and set cruise while coming down
> through the cascade mountain range in southern Oregon, and watched it
> keep the speed close to where I wanted it. I've also seen it hold the
> speed as I went back up small inclines. I've done this multiple times.
> It's not a fluke.
> Is it just the newer models that don't use the cruise when in 'B'?
> Is it the act of shifting to B that turns off the cruise? Is it the
> fact that you typically tend to hit the brakes occasionally when going
> downhill, thus disconnecting the cruise?
I was confused as to why my '05 would not lock into cruise. Turns out it
was in "B." Maybe something changed the way they thought about its
operation?
B~
>> How many of you use the Engine Braking feature? Do you find it useful?
>>
> I've not used it in the seven months I've owned my Prius and doubt I ever
> will in MN. Next time I pass through CO on my way to AZ I probably will.