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Parking on a slope Driveway - Makes a thud noise when shift to Drive or reverse gear

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Care, Maintenance & Troubleshooting' started by Mushtaq M, May 10, 2021.

  1. Mushtaq M

    Mushtaq M New Member

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    I park my Prius on my slope driveway . Every morning when i start my prius and change the gear to Drive mode or reverse it makes a audible thud noise. But changing from park to drive on level roads any where on a level area is alway smooth suggesting there is no issue with my CVT Transmission and the slope may be causing a problem.

    Is there a problem in parking on a steep driveway for example what worries me is the CVT Transmission fluid is not level on a slope and could be causing a rough shift in mode?
     
  2. Grit

    Grit Senior Member

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    do you engage parking brakes parked on the slope?
     
    #2 Grit, May 10, 2021
    Last edited: May 10, 2021
  3. ASRDogman

    ASRDogman Senior Member

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    If you put it in neutral, set the parking brake, release the foot brake, then press the "P",
    you might not get that. "if" it is the transmission.
     
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  4. Mdv55

    Mdv55 Active Member

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    Probably the weight of the car resting on the parking pawl.
     
  5. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    have you checked the fluid level?
     
  6. sLick415

    sLick415 Member

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    Do you put it in park, release foot brake, and then set the parking brake? In that order?
     
  7. sam spade 2

    sam spade 2 Senior Member

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    Probably. But that is the wrong order.
     
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  8. AW82

    AW82 Member

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    This. Happens on just about every automatic transmission when parked on a slope without the hand/foot/emergency/whatever brake applied. I think far fewer people would experience this if automakers either went back to hand brakes or electric parking brakes that activate anytime the transmission is shifted to park. I rarely use the foot brake on either of our cars (unless parked on a slope) because "the other person" that drives these cars has a really hard time remembering to release it. It's almost like there isn't a big red light on the dashboard...
     
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  9. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    More like a wee red icon. I recall lamenting the lack of warning, years after getting our 2010, and someone here pointed out there IS an alert, albeit easily overlooked. I’ve got a vague recollection it beeps too, or is that a false memory?
     
  10. AW82

    AW82 Member

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    Well, I was talking in general. I've not seen her do it in the Prius more than once, but our Honda has a fairly noticeable light and definitely beeps. She notices when the Honda starts beeping, but that's usually after 5-10 seconds of flooring it trying to get the car to accelerate.
     
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  11. Grit

    Grit Senior Member

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    add “tire shop employees” on to the list also. They drove my vehicle with parking brakes half engaged, it was like nails scratching on chalkboard. The red BRAKE led was lit on the dash, but dash lights are only suggestions.
     
  12. privilege

    privilege Active Member

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    once you watch a few YouTube videos of "how parking pawls work" you'll understand why the parking brake is there, and when to use it
     
  13. Grit

    Grit Senior Member

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    no way, sum it up for us in one sentence. we can’t stray off of netflix.
     
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  14. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    don't park on slope
     
  15. Mdv55

    Mdv55 Active Member

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    You use cheaper parts to bear the weight of the car instead of increasing wear on expensive ones...
     
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  16. AW82

    AW82 Member

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    Apparently those of us that take 3 seconds to scan the instrument cluster and check mirrors after starting the engine but before putting the car in gear are uncommon.
     
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  17. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    Traditional handbrake lever in centre console is harder to miss?
     
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  18. Kramah313

    Kramah313 Active Member

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    This happens with basically every auto transmission car I’ve ever driven. It seems to help if I apply the parking brake to hold the car in place while changing gears - put it on before shifting to P and wait until after shifting out of P to take it off.
     
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  19. Grit

    Grit Senior Member

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    Everyone should be using parking brakes even when parked in flat terrain. Imagine if your parked car gets hit directly in the back or front, the parking paw restricted the car from moving back or forward. With out parking brake on, your transmission could go kaput.
     
  20. sam spade 2

    sam spade 2 Senior Member

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    Not sure that makes any sense.
    The parking pawl works kind of like sticking a broom stick into the spokes of a bicycle.
    If you try to move it, something breaks.