What happens if the P button is pushed while in motion/B drive?

prius530 · 08-17-2007, 06:35 PM

Sorry if this is a repeat question, but what would happen if the park button is pushed while the vehicle is driving? Would the transmissions be ruined or is there intelligent software to prevent a mishap like this? It seems there are so many buttons on the dash that I could actually touch the park button by accident while driving while doing something else. Of course with a regular transmission it is more of a deliberate effort to do so and is very unlikely.

Also if I use the B drive to go downhill is there any limit to how fast or how long the vehicle is in B drive without breaking something? Everytime I hear a high pitched whine from a transmission I think something is going to break soon.

bgdrewsif · 08-17-2007, 06:45 PM

I have wondered about the P button in motion too... anyone have an answer / been brave enough to find out?

IsrAmeriPrius · 08-17-2007, 06:55 PM

Why don't you guys give it a try and report on the results of your experiments?

aaf709 · 08-17-2007, 07:21 PM

What happens is that the body, plus seats, with rip off the frame. The frame will stop and the body will continue forward for several feet. A special sound chip will play the "wha wha wha" sound and you should also hear some canned laughter.

Seriously, the car has safety features to prevent anything bad from happening, although if you're going less than 3mph something may happen.

ceric · 08-17-2007, 07:31 PM

I think if the speed is faster than 3-5mph, the Prius goes into 'N' after you push the 'P'.
When it is slower, it actually goes into 'P'.

V8Cobrakid · 08-17-2007, 07:49 PM

P is a parking pin. A pin!. it also drops in around 5mph. I've dont his. it feels like you hit a wall. the pin drops in and the car jurks franticly... first it stops then bounces back.. then forward till it settles.

i sucks.. don't try it. if you ever do it on accident, you'll never do it again.

hobbit · 08-17-2007, 09:33 PM

Actually the cutoff is about 2 mph, not 5. I went out and tested
this in the slipperiest snow I could find, such that if the pawl
locked the wheels would just harmlessly slide. Attempts to park,
or drive in the direction opposite current direction of travel, all
invoke the "beep beep" and the system just falls to Neutral.
.
Still, the parking lurch if you do manage to hit it while rolling
a little bit is pretty profound. Don't do that a lot, since it
still puts a lot of stress on things.
.
_H*

Bear68 · 08-18-2007, 10:05 AM

You can actually leave a Prius in B for as long as you like. What happens is the computer "full fields" the generator into producing the maximum output of electricity which has the effect of putting maximum draw on the source of the turning force. I.E. the spinning wheels. When you hit the gas, the computer automatically switches back to normal drive and uses that regenerated power. Using B simply slows the car much faster when you let off the gas without having to use the brakes.It will not cause any excessive wear or tear.

Hitting the park button while rolling is not a very good idea. The system has safeguards, but it still relies on a mechanical part which moves to lock the car in park. Stop first, then hit park.

rudiger · 08-19-2007, 12:52 AM

Does the speedometer actually indicate 1 or 2 mph when the parking pawl engages? If so, it seems quite odd. I would have thought the system would not allow the pawl to engage at all unless the system said the vehicle was completely stationary.

I can't think of any reason for it engage with the vehicle in motion (even a very slight amount) unless there is some slight delay between the signal and the time the vehicle actually is (or is not) in motion.

qbee42 · 08-19-2007, 01:14 PM

The Prius always reverts to a safe setting if you push something stupid, most just switch into N. If you hold down the Power button it will shut off the car, which could be useful in an emergency.

B mode is never needed unless you drive down long or very steep roads, such as mountain driving. B mode causes engine braking to occur, which throws away energy instead of putting it into the battery. Regen braking also occurs, but you start right off with engine braking. This is only useful in a situation where the battery is going to max out before you get to the end of the hill, so it will help save the friction brakes.

Tom

08-18-2007, 10:05 AM	#8
Bear68 Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: West Palm Beach, FLA Posts: 245 My Car: Package: Nominated 3 Times in 1 Post TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 5	You can actually leave a Prius in B for as long as you like. What happens is the computer "full fields" the generator into producing the maximum output of electricity which has the effect of putting maximum draw on the source of the turning force. I.E. the spinning wheels. When you hit the gas, the computer automatically switches back to normal drive and uses that regenerated power. Using B simply slows the car much faster when you let off the gas without having to use the brakes.It will not cause any excessive wear or tear. Hitting the park button while rolling is not a very good idea. The system has safeguards, but it still relies on a mechanical part which moves to lock the car in park. Stop first, then hit park. __________________ Toyota Ceritified Master Diagnostic Tech, Prius Certified "The only foolish question is the one left unasked."

08-19-2007, 01:14 PM	#10
qbee42 Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Northern Michigan Posts: 5,643 My Car: 2006 Prius Package: #7 Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 6	The Prius always reverts to a safe setting if you push something stupid, most just switch into N. If you hold down the Power button it will shut off the car, which could be useful in an emergency. B mode is never needed unless you drive down long or very steep roads, such as mountain driving. B mode causes engine braking to occur, which throws away energy instead of putting it into the battery. Regen braking also occurs, but you start right off with engine braking. This is only useful in a situation where the battery is going to max out before you get to the end of the hill, so it will help save the friction brakes. Tom __________________ *Black* 2006 package #7 Northern Michigan

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08-17-2007, 06:35 PM	#1
prius530 Junior Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Posts: 12 My Car: Package: Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	Sorry if this is a repeat question, but what would happen if the park button is pushed while the vehicle is driving? Would the transmissions be ruined or is there intelligent software to prevent a mishap like this? It seems there are so many buttons on the dash that I could actually touch the park button by accident while driving while doing something else. Of course with a regular transmission it is more of a deliberate effort to do so and is very unlikely. Also if I use the B drive to go downhill is there any limit to how fast or how long the vehicle is in B drive without breaking something? Everytime I hear a high pitched whine from a transmission I think something is going to break soon.

08-17-2007, 06:45 PM	#2
bgdrewsif Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Glendale, Arizona (formerly Bowling Green, Ohio) Posts: 486 My Car: 2006 Prius Package: #4 Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	I have wondered about the P button in motion too... anyone have an answer / been brave enough to find out?

08-17-2007, 06:55 PM	#3
IsrAmeriPrius Progressive Member Join Date: May 2004 Location: Southern California Posts: 4,335 My Car: 2005 Prius Package: #6 Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	Why don't you guys give it a try and report on the results of your experiments?

08-17-2007, 07:21 PM	#4
aaf709 Ravenpaw of ThunderClan Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: San Diego, CA Posts: 3,838 My Car: 2005 Prius Package: #6 Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	What happens is that the body, plus seats, with rip off the frame. The frame will stop and the body will continue forward for several feet. A special sound chip will play the "wha wha wha" sound and you should also hear some canned laughter. Seriously, the car has safety features to prevent anything bad from happening, although if you're going less than 3mph something may happen.

08-17-2007, 07:31 PM	#5
ceric Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Fremont, CA Posts: 810 My Car: 2005 Prius Package: #6 Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	I think if the speed is faster than 3-5mph, the Prius goes into 'N' after you push the 'P'. When it is slower, it actually goes into 'P'.

08-17-2007, 07:49 PM	#6
V8Cobrakid some guy... Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: San Jose, CA Posts: 2,559 My Car: 2004 Prius Package: #9 Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 5	P is a parking pin. A pin!. it also drops in around 5mph. I've dont his. it feels like you hit a wall. the pin drops in and the car jurks franticly... first it stops then bounces back.. then forward till it settles. i sucks.. don't try it. if you ever do it on accident, you'll never do it again.

08-17-2007, 09:33 PM	#7
hobbit Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Bahstahn Posts: 2,981 My Car: Package: Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	Actually the cutoff is about 2 mph, not 5. I went out and tested this in the slipperiest snow I could find, such that if the pawl locked the wheels would just harmlessly slide. Attempts to park, or drive in the direction opposite current direction of travel, all invoke the "beep beep" and the system just falls to Neutral. . Still, the parking lurch if you do manage to hit it while rolling a little bit is pretty profound. Don't do that a lot, since it still puts a lot of stress on things. . _H*

08-19-2007, 12:52 AM	#9
rudiger Senior Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: Cincinnati, OH Posts: 551 My Car: 2006 Prius Package: #2 Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	Does the speedometer actually indicate 1 or 2 mph when the parking pawl engages? If so, it seems quite odd. I would have thought the system would not allow the pawl to engage at all unless the system said the vehicle was completely stationary. I can't think of any reason for it engage with the vehicle in motion (even a very slight amount) unless there is some slight delay between the signal and the time the vehicle actually is (or is not) in motion.