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Do you park then turn off car or turn off without park

Discussion in 'Gen 4 Prius Main Forum' started by Will_Prius16, Sep 3, 2016.

  1. Will_Prius16

    Will_Prius16 Member

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    It is much more convenient for me to hit the "start" button to power off the car when the car is still in drive mode as I leave. I don't hit the park button first before hitting the "start" button.

    Just wondering if there is any harm in doing this and what do you guys do?

    Posted via the PriusChat mobile app.
     
  2. DonDNH

    DonDNH Senior Member

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    I just hit power off as well. Third Pirus, same routine. Never had any problems.
     
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  3. fotomoto

    fotomoto Senior Member

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    There isn't a Park gear per se rather there's a parking pawl that locks the drivetrain and prevents roll. Using Power or P results in either button activating the pawl.

    What's more important is using the parking brake on an incline to prevent the car from rolling/rocking until the pawl engages. That can over time damage the pawl.
     
  4. JC91006

    JC91006 Senior Member

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    I normally would use just the power button as well. But I find it doesn't shut off unless you're completely stopped for about 1 second. The park feature will make sure you car is parked and not moving.

    When I use just the button to shut down, I tend to have to press it twice because there seems to be a slight 1 second delay for the car to shut down after you stop. So if you have a press a button twice, you should just use the park button and then shut down.
     
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  5. pakitt

    pakitt Senior Member

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    I switch off and that's it. If it were a problem it would complain.
    Done this for 7 years with gen3 and I will continue to do so on my gen4.
     
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  6. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    i hit park, then power. but i must say, there's something to be said for getting in the habit of hitting power, then certain persons wouldn't tend to leave the car on.:whistle:
     
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  7. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    I regard the Park button as the "extra" option, for cases when I might want to leave the car running, but not in gear. Which is basically never, lol.

    And couple that with rolling the front tire into firm/stable contact with the curb (where present), per the driver's manual instruction. Especially on STEEP roads.
     
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  8. fotomoto

    fotomoto Senior Member

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    A potential downside to habitually using the Power button is when driving other modern non-hybrid cars that now have push button start. Powering off first will leave the vehicle in gear many of which typically can't shift their electronic transmissions to P without power. That can cause a potentially dangerous situation if the vehicle begins to roll after or as the driver is getting out.

    Our push-top-start Subaru does emit a tone in this case but if the radio volume is loud, inattentive driver, etc.......
     
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  9. catgic

    catgic Mastr & Commandr Hybrid Guru

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    Full Stop...Then PARK...Then POWER BUTTON To OFF.
     
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  10. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    Nothing beats the old fool-proof systems. Typically you can't get the key out of the ignition without putting it in park. Physical impediments are great for that reason.

    Like the ill-fated Apollo 13 lunar mission: on the way back, two of the three astronauts were in the lunar lander, getting things squared away before they were going to jettison it. The third astronaut, the pilot, at the controls in the main vehicle, had taped a piece of paper over a switch, with the word "NO".

    When they were all back in the main vehicle, one asked the pilot about the note, and he explained that the switch was the one to jettison the lunar lander...
     
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  11. Coast Cruiser

    Coast Cruiser Senior Member

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    I was doing that for awhile, but I noticed a "rocking" and sometimes a jerking when I powered off the car, and didn't use the "P" button first. (especially on a slight incline/decline.)

    I figured that rocking is not good. So I went back to the 3 P's:
    1. Parking brake
    2. Park button
    3. Power button

    Old School guy.
     
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  12. kithmo

    kithmo Couch Potato

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    Me too (y)
     
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  13. alanclarkeau

    alanclarkeau Senior Member

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    In my carport, I need to place it fairly accurately, and have 2 paving bricks which the front wheels will touch if I've gone forward too far. If I feel that I've touched them, I put it in neutral momentarily as it rolls back from any pressure against the bricks, but then I just POWER OFF. Normally, in the street etc I POWER OFF after I've put the park brake on.
     
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  14. LDB

    LDB Member

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    I thought about doing this since it's such a complicated procedure to first press the Park button and takes so very much extra time to first press the Park button in addition to the complex and demanding procedure but then decided I could master the complexities so it's press Park press Power and done.
     
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  15. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    Buttons can wear out, I'll stick with just hitting Power Button, have to do it anyway, and less work.
     
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  16. Coast Cruiser

    Coast Cruiser Senior Member

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    I tried it again this morning, on flat ground. I get a little "jerk" when pressing the power off button. I don't like that.

    The "White Knight" is telling me to go by the book:
    Parking Brake
    Park Button
    Power Off Button

    No jerk.

    There's the RIGHT way, the WRONG way, the NAVY way, and the Owner's Manual Way. :LOL:
     
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  17. kithmo

    kithmo Couch Potato

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    Tell the little jerk to stop pressing your power button and kick him out of the car :LOL:
    It shouldn't jerk if you have your foot on the brake pedal when you switch off.
     
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  18. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    I keep right foot on the regular brake, power off, then parking brake on with left foot.
     
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  19. Coast Cruiser

    Coast Cruiser Senior Member

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    Thanks. I'm pretty positive I have my foot on the brake. Especially if I'm on a slight incline/decline. I'll experiment more, later.

    Do you guys ever use/deploy/press the parking foot brake? Obviously on a hill, it would be wise, correct?
     
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  20. kithmo

    kithmo Couch Potato

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    That's the only time I use mine, on a hill, although if I haven't parked on a hill for some time I will occasionally operate it to stop it seizing up.
     
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