Car self shifts to neutral

lwoxen · 03-21-2008, 08:54 PM

Was driving home tonight on side streets Had just shifted to B and once I passed the bottom of the hill, went back to D. In about 30 feet, the car shifted back to Neutral. Tried shifting to D again...as soon as I let up on the lever it shifted back to Neutral. So I drove home holding the lever down.

Called the dealer and of course they can't get me in until sometime next week. The service guy said he'd never heard of this problem.

Anyone else had this or have any ideas. Hard driving one hand on the steering wheel and one on the shift lever.

This is a 2007 package 5 This is the first problem I've had and I've driven over 10k miles already.

lwoxen · 03-21-2008, 08:59 PM

Was driving home tonight on side streets Had just shifted to B and once I passed the bottom of the hill, went back to D. In about 30 feet, the car shifted back to Neutral. Tried shifting to D again...as soon as I let up on the lever it shifted back to Neutral. So I drove home holding the lever down.

Called the dealer and of course they can't get me in until sometime next week. The service guy said he'd never heard of this problem.

Anyone else had this or have any ideas. Hard driving one hand on the steering wheel and one on the shift lever.

This is a 2007 package 5 This is the first problem I've had and I've driven over 10k miles already.

Steamboatsig · 03-21-2008, 09:57 PM

Keep us updated.

qbee42 · 03-21-2008, 09:58 PM

Why were you using B? I can't imagine where in your location there are hills big enough to require or benefit from B mode.

That aside, there have been cases where the shifter switch stops working or gets dirty. The shifter lever is really just an electrical switch that tells the controller what mode you desire. If the controller agrees, then it will switch into that mode. It could be a switch problem, or a controller problem. The dealer should be able to easily sort it out.

Tom

galaxee · 03-21-2008, 10:07 PM

sounds like the shift lever position sensor, if that's the case. no big deal, warranty will cover that for ya, quick job to do.

**Tideland Prius** · 03-22-2008, 12:49 AM

*Threads Merged*

03-21-2008, 08:54 PM	#1
lwoxen Junior Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: orange county ca Posts: 2 My Car: 2007 Prius Model: Package: #4 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Friends: 0	Car self shifts to neutral Was driving home tonight on side streets Had just shifted to B and once I passed the bottom of the hill, went back to D. In about 30 feet, the car shifted back to Neutral. Tried shifting to D again...as soon as I let up on the lever it shifted back to Neutral. So I drove home holding the lever down. Called the dealer and of course they can't get me in until sometime next week. The service guy said he'd never heard of this problem. Anyone else had this or have any ideas. Hard driving one hand on the steering wheel and one on the shift lever. This is a 2007 package 5 This is the first problem I've had and I've driven over 10k miles already.

03-21-2008, 08:59 PM	#2
lwoxen Junior Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: orange county ca Posts: 2 My Car: 2007 Prius Model: Package: #4 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Friends: 0	Car self shifts to neutral Was driving home tonight on side streets Had just shifted to B and once I passed the bottom of the hill, went back to D. In about 30 feet, the car shifted back to Neutral. Tried shifting to D again...as soon as I let up on the lever it shifted back to Neutral. So I drove home holding the lever down. Called the dealer and of course they can't get me in until sometime next week. The service guy said he'd never heard of this problem. Anyone else had this or have any ideas. Hard driving one hand on the steering wheel and one on the shift lever. This is a 2007 package 5 This is the first problem I've had and I've driven over 10k miles already.

03-21-2008, 09:57 PM	#3
Steamboatsig Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: La Canada Flintridge Posts: 333 My Car: 2008 Prius Model: N/A Package: #6 Touring Thanks: 0 Thanked 4 Times in 4 Posts Friends: 0	Re: Car self shifts to neutral Keep us updated.

03-21-2008, 09:58 PM	#4
qbee42 My other car is a boat Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Northern Michigan Posts: 17,704 My Car: 2006 Prius Model: N/A Package: #7 Thanks: 1,351 Thanked 2,784 Times in 1,868 Posts Friends: 18	Re: Car self shifts to neutral Why were you using B? I can't imagine where in your location there are hills big enough to require or benefit from B mode. That aside, there have been cases where the shifter switch stops working or gets dirty. The shifter lever is really just an electrical switch that tells the controller what mode you desire. If the controller agrees, then it will switch into that mode. It could be a switch problem, or a controller problem. The dealer should be able to easily sort it out. Tom

03-21-2008, 10:07 PM	#5
galaxee mostly benevolent Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: MD Posts: 9,810 My Car: 2005 Prius Model: N/A Package: #5 Thanks: 0 Thanked 331 Times in 85 Posts Friends: 27	Re: Car self shifts to neutral sounds like the shift lever position sensor, if that's the case. no big deal, warranty will cover that for ya, quick job to do.

03-22-2008, 12:49 AM	#6
Tideland Prius Moderator of the North Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Canada Posts: 26,978 My Car: 2010 Prius Model: N/A Package: Technology Package (Canada) Thanks: 1,043 Thanked 1,176 Times in 849 Posts Friends: 31	Re: Car self shifts to neutral Threads Merged