I'm FINALLY One of You! After 2 Years of Waiting - New Prius Today

your words don't make sense - could u explain?

won't u jolt? I have put my car into park while going forward in the parking lot (aiming for the radio button) and it scares the **** out of me.

 

Let me try this:

1) Put in "R" gear and car will move backward
2) Hit the brake and stop the car
3) Put in "D" gear and the car will move forward

All I am saying is, you can skip #2 and put the car in "D" while rolling backward. That practice is bad for auto tranny but it doesn't apply to Prius.

 

That was my goal as well, until I walked into the Toyota dealership April 2009 and they had 0% interest. So I put $27,000 in an account making 2%, and pay Toyota out of it every month. It is making me money, but I still feel dirty making car payments until March 2012.

 

Yeah but won't your car jolt to a stop, mainly if you're going at 5mph or greater? I'm sure the transition isn't smooth...

 

The transition will be smooth because the rotor will have inertia moving forward even when the current is reversed. The reversed magnetic field will push the rotor in the opposite direction until the rotor will actually move into that direction - since there is no contact between rotor and stator, there cannot be any jolt.

I don'T know if the HSD will refuse to select from D to R or from R to D to avoid generation of parasitic currents when the current gets reversed and the rotor is still rolling in the opposite direction. My assumption, but cannot verify.

 

Interesting. So how fast can I be going in reverse and expect a smooth transition? I'm scared to try, lol.

And why does putting the car in Park from 'D' when moving jolt the car to a sudden stop? At what speed does it not allow you to put it in park?

 

When from D setting to P it will result in a jolt because the rotor/wheels are blocked mechanically, not electrically.
I have seen other posts in the forum talking of a max speed beyond which P will refuse to engage to avoid mechanical damage to the rotor/wheels lock. Something like 5mph or less. I cannot recall - I make sure that I press the brakes when applying P....
I have never tested the speed at which I can shift from D to R or from R to D, but surely I am not braking when shifting when parking my Prius - I don't have to since changing from, say, R to D, will smoothly stop the car and then move it in the opposite direction without actually never touching the gas pedal (the crawl simulation will take care of all the gas/movement I need when parking).

 

I think you can do it below 7 MPH. Try it at a few MPH. It is pretty smooth.

 

You have no idea how excited I am to try. Lol.

 

Hi Lottamoxie,

the sensor is referred in the user's manual (US/Canada version):

• page 207 "Headlight control sensor" - directly
• page 591 "Meter, navigation system, instrument panel" - indirectly
• page 589 "Automatic light control system" - indirectly

Essentially the sensor is a light sensor used:

1. regulate the A/C functioning to increase fan speed under the sunshine in summer
2. regulate auto headlights function
3. regulate the brightness of the MFD (Multi Function Display) and the head-up display; regulate the navigation display (night/day).

I am not aware of any other function related to this ambient light sensor.

 

Here in Pinehurst, I'm averaging 52.7 based upon current temps (which suck), and the few miles I drive. BTW, did you get the fabulous Barcelona Red? What will you name your Prius?

Happy Motoring,

Tom

Happy B-day;

 

Penny's Dad,

Me thinks your posts are not right, or maybe I don't get it?

Happy Motoring,

Tom

 

Like that
From me too

 

Congratulations!! I've had about six years with the Prius. And, about a year with the 2010 V. I love it. And, Lexus will be offering the same 1.8L in one of their lowest models. Hatchbacks can be very helpful. I have to load accordions in my Prius when I take a vacation to Wisconsin.