How do I leave 3rd gen in neutral after shutting off?

are you sure? i have never heard of it. i thought it was impossible to put a prius in neutral when off.

 

There is an electrically operated pawl, that activates to emulate a Park mode. If not, it would remain in D. (which can cause electricity to flow while being moved)

While I would not recommend it, you could spin the parking pawl motor while the Prius is off.

Oddly, I can find Pics of Gen 2 and Gen 4, but not Gen 3, you are looking for a black circular piece on the transaxle like this Gen 4.

 

That sounds like a whole lot more fuss than the method the OP already knows, which is to disable the parking motor while the car is not in Park, and then shut the car off. Problem solved.

I think the OP's original question was just about the easiest way to disable the motor, since in Gen 2 there is one fuse clearly labeled P CON MTR and maybe nothing in Gen 3 is labeled that way.

A quick check of the wiring diagram would probably find the right fuse. Or just unplug the wiring at the motor (it's in a less unreachable spot in Gen 3), or at the imposingly-named Transmission Control ECU behind the glove box, which is nothing more than the controller for the parking motor.

-Chap

 

Isn't there an easy way to disconnect the park actuator? The wires aren't to deep into engine are they? Also if you unplug the hybrid safety plug and 12 volt battery when the car is pushed around in neutral, the tiny amount of electricity generated won't have anywhere to go, right?

 

There's a whole array of techniques in electrical engineering all devoted to not creating situations where "electricity generated won't have anywhere to go." The magnets in the MG1 and MG2 rotors are permanent (and strong!), so as they rotate, they will produce voltage in the windings, and the voltage, if high enough, will go somewhere. It won't care if it goes through parts of the inverter that it wasn't supposed to.

I think in Gen 3 and Gen 4 the park motor is not too horribly hidden on the front of the tranny. But finding the fuse for it in the box under the hood is nicer if the car isn't raised.

Physically removing the motor from the tranny isn't meant to be easy, as it is what serves as the theft-prevention device (you'll notice the steering column doesn't lock). The mounting bolts are in tamper-resistant collars. Doesn't stop resourceful thieves, but annoys them.

-Chap

 

This is super interesting/important info... But putting a partially dismantled car into neutral when you're in an auto shop and need to push it around isn't a design concern Toyota is unaware of, right? Surely they've planned for this scenario? I mean how could they not? Please suggest some ways OP can solve this....

 

Most repair shops have small dollies that can be placed under each wheel to allow moving a disabled car very easily. You can actually spin the car around if desired.

 

Just what I was about to say. You only REALLY REALLY need them on the front, but all four wheel makes it even easier.

And, if you're not using them often, they don't have to cost all that much:
Vehicle Dollies - 2 Piece, 1500 Lb. Capacity

 

While that's the way they do it most often, it requires a very smooth surface and you have to have a pretty expensive shop to move a car from a work area to a parking area with no cracks or bumps... But I guess if you had a tow truck-type dolly... But again, I doubt the OP would ask for help if those options existed for 'em.

 

I suspect you can push nice-n-slow and not get into trouble. I would take the chance with mine if I needed to. I think the OP was mostly looking for how to defeat the park motor, just to make it possible to push the car.

-Chap

 

Opening the fuse box will allow neutral with engine off?

 

There appears to be a vacated fuse socket and a fuse lying next to it in that picture....

 

Can you please explain what you mean buy "opening the fuse box" cover? They're just plastic covers, there's no circuitry involved in an open versus closed fuse box... #confused

 

While we were all bantering about other things, the original poster snuck back in with a "got it guys" post in #7.

There's a photo in that post showing an open fuse box cover. It also shows one fuse removed; if I had to guess, I'd say that had more to do with inhibiting the parking motor than just the open-cover part.

-Chap