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Odd Shift into Neutral at Bottom of Steep Driveway

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Care, Maintenance & Troubleshooting' started by metalheart, Jun 12, 2013.

  1. metalheart

    metalheart Junior Member

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    I have a 2013 Prius-III. I have a steep driveway, about 250 years long. At the bottom of the driveway, just before entering the roadway, a few times the vehicle shifts into Neutral. At first I thought I was hitting the shifter or a bump was causing the shift, but since it now has happened multiple times, I know it is not my touching the shifter, but I am not sure what else could cause this behavior.

    Any ideas?
     
    #1 metalheart, Jun 12, 2013
  2. Feri

    Feri Active Member

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    Take it to the dealer. You're still under warranty.
     
    #2 Feri, Jun 12, 2013
  3. car compulsive

    car compulsive Active Member

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    I don't know - taking 250 years to get down the driveway may have exhausted his warranty.
    (Sorry, couldn't resist.)
     
    #3 car compulsive, Jun 12, 2013
  4. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    :p ^. i vote for the bump. try going really slow and see if it happens. maybe your shifter needs adjustment.
     
    #4 bisco, Jun 12, 2013
  5. Feri

    Feri Active Member

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    It's electronic. No mechanical connection. If OP hasn't bumped the shifter then something is wrong with the transaxle.
     
    #5 Feri, Jun 12, 2013
  6. metalheart

    metalheart Junior Member

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    I tried a test, going down the driveway five different times, slow speed, fast speed, aiming for the bump. Nothing happened. However, when I called it quits and did a three point turn in the road to get up the driveway, at the end of the three point turn --- when I was in drive and wanting to move forward -- the vehicle was in neutral. I am going to document what is happening and take it to maintenance for a check out after I have some more data.
     
    #6 metalheart, Jun 12, 2013
  7. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    when you say no mechanical connections, there are still some electronic contacts inside the shifter, no?
     
    #7 bisco, Jun 12, 2013
  8. Feri

    Feri Active Member

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    Yes but those are not likely to be effected by mechanical bumping. Though if the shifter supports are not up to standard it's possible that they might contact during certain changes of direction. (?)
     
    #8 Feri, Jun 13, 2013
  9. ImeanGreen

    ImeanGreen Prius v Five BP Brigade #236

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    This happened once to me. I was in a parking lot one day and got down on the steep part of the parking lot to get to the main road and all I noticed was that the car as if lost it's brakes. I have to press really hard on the brake. I would like to compare the situation to something like losing your hydraulics. You keep pumping on the brake pedal but is slow to react. This happened going down the steep part(really steep) of the parking lot without the engine motor running.

    OP, was your engine motor running when you experience this? Maybe you need to try this. Make sure you let your engine motor run before you go down the drive way and shift your shifter to "B" and see how it works.
     
    #9 ImeanGreen, Jun 13, 2013
  10. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    i believe you're referring to antilock brake/regen syndrome where a change in the road surface makes you feel like you've lost braking because the car is switching from regen braking to brake pad braking (around 6mph) and the abs senses the loss of traction on the road surface. however, the car remains in drive.
     
    #10 bisco, Jun 13, 2013
  11. jhinsc

    jhinsc Senior Member

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    When you were doing your 3-point turn, is it possible that you didn't shift into drive? I find it I try to move the shifter too fast, it won't engage.
     
    #11 jhinsc, Jun 13, 2013
  12. ImeanGreen

    ImeanGreen Prius v Five BP Brigade #236

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    I don't think that's it though. There was no change in surface condition. Just flat steep driveway with electric motor only. Was still in "D" though. Sorry about that mistake. Did not go into neutral.
     
    #12 ImeanGreen, Jun 13, 2013
  13. Bill Norton

    Bill Norton Senior Member

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    You can rule out problems within the transaxle.
    No shifting ever takes place in the transaxle. All the gears are always engaged. Very simple!
    The current flow and phase changes going to or coming from MG1 and MG2 are all controlled externally.
     
    #13 Bill Norton, Jun 13, 2013
  14. metalheart

    metalheart Junior Member

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    I did not notice if I was in electric or gas engine mode, but I was for sure in D and not B. And, it is possible when I made the 3 point turn, it is also possible that I did not properly engage the shift lever into drive. So, it will take some more experience to sort out what is happening.
     
    #14 metalheart, Jun 13, 2013
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