Plock error for the third time.

First time occurred after 200+ mile high speed drive but on a old battery. PLock message is unusually helpful in telling you you should have parked on a flat surface...no kidding as the message doen't occur until after you had chosen where to park. Tow truck drivers jiggled the car back and forth and then it started normally.

Second time in my garage weeks later after who knows what usage the day before. AAA jumped and took it to the dealer and they replaced the 5 year old 12 volt.

Today temps were 40+ and I drove 15 miles at high speeds. Stopped. Started normally and drove 7 miles. Stopped and then started after 10 minutes of shopping. After 3 miles, stopped at the third grocery store and when I came out, the pLock. Played for 15 minutes using every combination of rocking the car physically several inches and the P and Start buttons. Gave up and came back later and hooked up my wife's car battery to the jump points in the v's front engine compartment. Again played around with it. No luck even starting it with her battery connected. Gave up and went to dealer. While I was at the dealer, they sent someone over across the street where it was stranded and they said all they did was get in and it started up. I left it with them to put on their diagnostic machine for a while to see if the car's computer tells them anything.

I'm thinking the Plock is some sort of pawl within the transmission itself that locks the drivetrain when you push the Park button and the pLock message is saying some sensor says that it can't remove the pawl from the locked position. The dealer service rep thought the sensor and pawl were in the trans. I did bring up I had the dealer's power train warranty and shouldn't that cover the trans.

At this point absent a definitive diagnosis, I'm shopping. And I'm not thinking anything but a conventional car/suv.

I'll update in a few days when they get back to me.

 

Within the tranaxle I'm told. They didn't get it to fail again but did call the regional specialist and followed the diagnostic tree. Also the suspected failure is the actuator. Part not at dealers, 2 in stock in some warehouse. Order called in on Friday, part may be here Tuesday or Wednesday. In an era where Amazon and its shipping partners can deliver overnight including weekends, not too good.

About 25 years ago, a very big company I worked for decided to stop stocking parts locally even in large metro areas unless contractually required. Centrally locating the parts actually resulted in part to the needed site faster and cheaper on average. Because there were multi thousand dollar parts, we would charter a small jet to expedite. I don't expect that but I am surprised it will take 4-5 days.

Now if only the problem is fixed by the part.

OTOH, had to take my grandkids somewhere last night and came out to see a big SUV laboring to start. Because I had my wife's "normal" car, 5 minutes later I had jumped him and he was on his way.

And the best news is, because I have a "free 100k powertrain warranty", the repair will be free.

 

I'm relying on the dealer's service to do the job and since it is free ...

I'm going to ask to see the removed/replaced part. Curious what they describe as an actuator. IS it a mechanical part, a sensor or electrical.

 

It looks like it is a motor that receives power and signals and moves the parking pawl. It was replaced at no charge as part of the power train warranty..

Were they right in thinking that was the problem? Since the problem would occur 2 weeks, hundreds of miles and/or dozens of start/stop/park sequences apart only time will tell.