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2008 slipping out of D or R into N

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Main Forum' started by jbirdawg, Jan 14, 2021.

  1. jbirdawg

    jbirdawg Junior Member

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    2008 slipping out of D or R into N. Even at 70 mph. I can hold the shifter stick in D and drive and eventually let go but it repeated several times. Seems less a transmission problem than a shifting problem. I don’t know. Very weird. Very cool weather in Atlanta ga area. Any suggestions or experience with this? Thx!
     
  2. PriusCamper

    PriusCamper Senior Member

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    Any warning lights?

    If car runs fine and no warning lights, I'd try going to a wrecking yard and pull a gear shifter mechanism and replacing the one you have to see if that fixes it.
     
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  3. mr_guy_mann

    mr_guy_mann Senior Member

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    I have heard about ocassional problems with the gen2 shifter assembly. It seems that there is something that breaks inside it so the joystick won't stay in the "centered" position. If this is so then I would replace it asap as this problem was mentioned as resulting in you being unable to properly shifting into park or drive (?).

    Posted via the PriusChat mobile app.
     
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  4. jerrymildred

    jerrymildred Senior Member

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    Sounds to me like it's the shifter assembly. Easy to replace. As mentioned, it could be moving and hitting the switches randomly. Or maybe something is amiss with the switches.
    This might be the shakiest video ever made, but I think you'll get the idea. It was just the first one I found.
     
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  5. Calimobber

    Calimobber Member

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    I dont think anything is wrong with the car. Its a software thing I believe. Mine has done that a hand full of time randomly.

    It normally seems to happen when I turn the car on and drive for a few minutes and then turn it off for a short time then back on. Its like the computer doesnt let to stay in drive. For me it eventually just works again. One time I had to hold it on the D for like 10 miles before it stayed. When its having the issue i wont allow it to lock onto the D or R.

    It hasnt happened for a while. The new battery might have fixed the issue since ive had the new battery for about a year and I cant remember the last time it did it.
     
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  6. mr_guy_mann

    mr_guy_mann Senior Member

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    If the OP has a concern where it won't stay in the gear that was selected, then there is a problem with the car. It could be some sort of "software problem" for all I know- but that is still a problem with the car. It is more likely a hardware fault with the shifter, but I don't know that for a fact without diagnosing it (or just replacing the shifter and seeing what happens).

    Posted via the PriusChat mobile app.
     
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  7. landspeed

    landspeed Active Member

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    If it is going into ‘R’ below 9mph, and ‘N’ at higher speeds, then that is expected behaviour if you were putting it into reverse - and will 99% be the shifter assembly, possibly wiring from shifter To ECU, so do check that if the shifter seems OK!
     
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  8. Calimobber

    Calimobber Member

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    I full get that but im just saying mine did that same thing a hand full of times. Mostly when it was super hot outside but now it doesnt so before you go telling him to replace parts that dont need to be replaced I was just adding my real world experiances.


    Does the shifter do this 100% of the time now and never works or just some times? I guess well know when they come back and respond.
     
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  9. jbirdawg

    jbirdawg Junior Member

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    Thanks for taking the time to reply. It just started on a 250 Mike trip to see my mom in Ga. pretty cool weather. Slipped out of R into N once. Slipped out of D into neutral a few times on the trip. I too held the shift lever down in D for several minutes before letting go and it stayed in D. I still have to drive back to Atlanta.
     
  10. jbirdawg

    jbirdawg Junior Member

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    Thanks for replying! My sense is that there is something wrong with the shifter mechanism as well.
     
  11. jbirdawg

    jbirdawg Junior Member

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    It does not fail 100%. But it did fail to stay in gear several times over 250 miles.
     
  12. jbirdawg

    jbirdawg Junior Member

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    I recently changed my 12v battery and soon after the dashboard lights disappeared for a couple of days. Took it to Toyota and they could not get the dashboard to fail so no fix. Hasn’t failed since. That was a first. I am not sure if it is possible for that to have something to do with this problem. Doubt it.
     
  13. jbirdawg

    jbirdawg Junior Member

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    No warning lights. Thanks!
     
  14. Landon51

    Landon51 Member

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    When this happened to me, it also came with the day going completely out and son the car was shifting into Park at 65 mph. Mine was because the ground strap was loose. When that was found and fixed, my car was like it's old self again.

    Jerome

    Posted via the PriusChat mobile app.
     
  15. mr_guy_mann

    mr_guy_mann Senior Member

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    If your car continues to work, then great. Having the dashboard (the speedometer display- aka the Combination Meter) not turn on - esp after installing a new 12V battery- is a common symptom of a failing capacitor in the CM. FYI there is a sticky thread on the Gen2 Techinal forum about that (diy combination meter repair) should yours give you further trouble.

    Posted via the PriusChat mobile app.
     
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