Park mechanism disengaged long after tires unweighted?

2009Prius · 10-04-2009, 10:30 PM

I jacked the car up to rotate tires and install splash guards. The left front tire was locked up by the parking mechanism as expected. When I moved to work on the right front tire, I could spin it with small and smooth resistance. Then I found the left front tire could spin too!

Did I break something?

I then turned the car READY then OFF. No the tires could still spin.

I lowered the car to the ground and jack it up again. Now the front tires were locked up as expected.

But after some time the tires could spin again.

How does the parking mechanism work? It seems to depend on the tires being loaded (weighed down)?

hobbit · 10-05-2009, 12:15 AM

The parking pawl locks the final drive ahead of the differential,
so if both wheels are unweighted they can spin opposite directions
but the rest of the driveline stays put.
.
_H*

10-04-2009, 10:30 PM	#1
2009Prius A Wimpy DIYer Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: USA Posts: 620 My Car: 2009 Prius Model: N/A Package: #2 Thanks: 291 Thanked 57 Times in 51 Posts Friends: 19	Park mechanism disengaged long after tires unweighted? I jacked the car up to rotate tires and install splash guards. The left front tire was locked up by the parking mechanism as expected. When I moved to work on the right front tire, I could spin it with small and smooth resistance. Then I found the left front tire could spin too! Did I break something? I then turned the car READY then OFF. No the tires could still spin. I lowered the car to the ground and jack it up again. Now the front tires were locked up as expected. But after some time the tires could spin again. How does the parking mechanism work? It seems to depend on the tires being loaded (weighed down)?

10-05-2009, 12:15 AM	#2
hobbit Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Bahstahn Posts: 3,830 My Car: 2004 Prius Model: N/A Package: Base Thanks: 0 Thanked 332 Times in 165 Posts Friends: 0	Re: Park mechanism disengaged long after tires unweighted? The parking pawl locks the final drive ahead of the differential, so if both wheels are unweighted they can spin opposite directions but the rest of the driveline stays put. . _H*

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