Question - B mode in gearbox

39835 Views 10 Replies 7 Participants Last post by forkingabout1978, 1 mo ago

ianna

Discussion Starter · Jan 15, 2017

When is snowy and ice covered road I can drive using B mode -my question is when can I change to that -from the beginning when I start to drive /when I drive on D and then stop (i.e. Traffic lights engine is still on) and switch into B/completely stop (using P and then switch onto B)
Sorry I've been never driving in the winter especially with automatic gearbox so I count for little help

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Karmalakas

· #2 · Jan 15, 2017

Did you try reading the manual?

B(rake) is not related to winter at all. It's for driving downhill to recharge battery more efficiently. You can find "Winter driving tips" in page 412 of the English manual

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ianna

Discussion Starter · #3 · Jan 15, 2017

Thanks for the answer. I know it's for downhill driving but my instruction says that this mode is "brake by engine" (and then of course the same time there is recharging battery)

So I was thinking - in case of ice on road might be the only option to slow down or even sharp stop (in manual gearbox you simply reducing gear not using brakes)

So how to drive then in winter conditions when it's snowing?

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Karmalakas

· #4 · Jan 15, 2017

I believe in such case will help other "Driving assist systems" described in page 402 of the manual. But maybe you have a point there too. Probably it would help a bit. Not sure though. Would be nice to hear from someone competent on this matter

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JulianoG

· #5 · Jan 23, 2017

B-mode is only for engine breaking when driving on a long and steep downhill road. It can be engaged or disengaged at any given moment, even when you're driving. Toyota hybrids are clever enough to automatically enable engine breaking (B-mode) if the battery is fully charged and you almost never need it.
The downside of using B-mode is that is revs the engine and reduces the regenerative breaking, increasing the fuel consumption. In winter conditions there is no difference in the car behaviour.

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Alexr

· #6 · Jan 23, 2017

To expand on what has already been said. The car uses regenerative braking, so if you press the brake pedal gently then it applies drag to the wheels without using the brake pads - very similar to putting manual gearbox into lower gear. So for icy conditions that should be ideal and B mode is not needed. There is no reason you should not use B mode if you want (for short periods) but it just applies a bit more drag than normal.
Alex

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ianna

Discussion Starter · #7 · Jan 23, 2017

Thanks to all for info.that clarifies automatic gearbox mode of action

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****

· #8 · Feb 27, 2018

The salesman told me to use it in the snow. I used it going down a very snowy hill today!

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· #9 · Feb 28, 2018

Me too. And it certainly felt helpful. Then I forgot I was in B mode… until the car seemed sluggish. I can see why B mode could be considered handy in snow and ice… but the safety features also are helpful. My conclusion: B mode might help but is not essential; it depends on precise conditions, including speed, how icy the road is, how steep and how bendy. As has been said, I see it as dropping down a gear when having to be more cautious.

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RayWhite

· #10 · 1 mo ago

JulianoG said:
B-mode is only for engine breaking when driving on a long and steep downhill road. It can be engaged or disengaged at any given moment, even when you're driving. Toyota hybrids are clever enough to automatically enable engine breaking (B-mode) if the battery is fully charged and you almost never need it.
The downside of using B-mode is that is revs the engine and reduces the regenerative breaking, increasing the fuel consumption. In winter conditions there is no difference in the car behaviour.

I live in mountainous northern Spain and my experience is that the B position is for short downhill road and B position also charges the batteries (rapidly) and when batteries are full the engine disconnects from both the charger and the drivetrain, resulting in a free fall of the car and it is necessary to use the brakes excessively and they start to smell (burn). All in all a dangerous system for mountainous driving.
Regards,
Rene de Wit

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forkingabout1978

· #11 · 1 mo ago

RayWhite said:
I live in mountainous northern Spain and my experience is that the B position is for short downhill road and B position also charges the batteries (rapidly) and when batteries are full the engine disconnects from both the charger and the drivetrain, resulting in a free fall of the car and it is necessary to use the brakes excessively and they start to smell (burn). All in all a dangerous system for mountainous driving.
Regards,
Rene de Wit

That is not how B mode is designed to work - take the vehicle to a Toyota main dealer as if its behaving like that then something is wrong.

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