1. Attachments are working again! Check out this thread for more details and to report any other bugs.

"P" parking button by mistake

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Technical Discussion' started by arkey, Dec 17, 2011.

  1. hansgrason1

    hansgrason1 Member

    Joined:
    Jul 3, 2009
    104
    7
    0
    Location:
    Washington D. C.
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    III
    Yep, I've done it once by mistake. You have to admit though that the placement of the "P" switch is REALLY in the wrong place! It's too easy to press by mistake. I've always thought that it would have been nice to have a protective cover that one must flip up in order to use the "P" ... or better yet, move it to a different place on the dashboard somewhere --- but I really hate it where it currently is ...
     
  2. dkelly

    dkelly Member

    Joined:
    Apr 30, 2010
    118
    14
    0
    Location:
    Gilbertsville, PA
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    V
    Isn't that why we have a parking/emergency brake?
     
  3. hill

    hill High Fiber Member

    Joined:
    Jun 23, 2005
    19,604
    8,036
    54
    Location:
    Montana & Nashville, TN
    Vehicle:
    2004 Prius
    Model:
    IV
    I had our speed sensors (Lexus RX & Prius) "switched" at one time, so as to be able to do gps/map inputs, as well use the MFD phone dial functions on the fly (until the lockpick mod came out). This whole dialog gives me a sick feeling ... (gasp!) ... what would have happened if I'd accidently hit 'P' at about 25mph, with the speed sensors disabled?!?

    :eek:
    I guess I've already used up my luck for this millennium.

    .
     
  4. macman408

    macman408 Electron Guidance Counselor

    Joined:
    Mar 21, 2010
    1,179
    365
    1
    Location:
    California
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    V
    That's just the speed sensor to the nav system though, right? Or does your speedo say zero when you switch off the speed sensor?
     
  5. GrumpyCabbie

    GrumpyCabbie Senior Member

    Joined:
    Dec 14, 2009
    6,722
    2,120
    45
    Location:
    North Yorkshire, UK
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    III
    I agree the Park button is in the wrong place as I could hit it by mistake and it is dangerous.

    I also think it is dangerous not to have a guard rail on the sidewalk as I could walk into the road by mistake and be killed - that is just dangerous.

    I was tempted to consider personal responsibility but that's just like too hard work man.

    :)
     
  6. hill

    hill High Fiber Member

    Joined:
    Jun 23, 2005
    19,604
    8,036
    54
    Location:
    Montana & Nashville, TN
    Vehicle:
    2004 Prius
    Model:
    IV
    Nav, Mfd, as well as traction control. I never considered whether speedometer was separately tied to being able to engage 'P'.
     
  7. Southern Dad

    Southern Dad Active Member

    Joined:
    Jun 21, 2011
    350
    212
    58
    Location:
    Monroe, GA
    Vehicle:
    2011 Prius
    Model:
    Three
    Most automatics have either a thumb lock or a slotted gear way to keep someone from accidentally putting the moving car into reverse while moving. Try it. You can click from L to D without having to press the lock button, just a light click of the shifter but if you want to go through N and hit R... What does it take?

    I don't use my P button but rather use the Power button to shift park. Maybe a bad habit I developed in the my 2008.
     
  8. tomtomsf

    tomtomsf Junior Member

    Joined:
    Oct 31, 2010
    36
    5
    0
    Location:
    Half Moon Bay
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    III
    Well, it happened to me today. I was pulling out from the parking garage onto a city street going maybe 10 mph. It was cold and my intention was to hit the "Auto" climate control. Instead, I accidentally hit Park. The transmission automatically shifted into neutral. No noise or jolts or anything. In fact, it seems as if Toyota anticipated this and set it up this way to prevent damage. I do think the placement of the park button is not good. And I also blame this thread for subconsciously implanting the idea in my head!
    :)

    Tom G.
     
    1 person likes this.
  9. JStrenk

    JStrenk Member

    Joined:
    Nov 29, 2011
    197
    98
    0
    Location:
    Ravenna
    Vehicle:
    2016 Prius
    Model:
    Two
    I've done the go into "Reverse instead of Drive" when I first bought my Prius. Probably because of my habit of going into first gear in my jeep which shifts like this:
    R13
    L ||
    ..24
    another common pattern. R was a large spring loaded pin that took a lot of pressure to move.

    But it only took a couple of days to get use to it.

    The speed sensing thing that was talked about in the manual transmissions is probably the fact that the syncros can't line up going at the speeds from 5th to Reverse. Nothing more complicated than that.
     
  10. hlunde

    hlunde Member

    Joined:
    Dec 22, 2009
    419
    74
    1
    Location:
    NJ
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    III
    Do you still drive both vehicles?
     
  11. J5A

    J5A Active Member

    Joined:
    Jan 7, 2011
    592
    83
    0
    Location:
    Severna Park, MD
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    IV
    Agreed. :) I hit P the other day, too. I was traveling around 35MPH.
    I didn't notice it auto-shifted into neutral and after coasting a bit and when I went to accelerate the car wouldn't increase speed. I was REALLY worried for a few seconds, glided to the shoulder to assess the situation, and was SO glad it turned out to be nothing.