Safety concern - Power off while in motion

This is not something the average Prius owner is going to do to see what happens. Not me, thanks. :wink:

I believe there's something about this in the manual.

 

Just for clarification, this is really the parking pawl, a drive axle lock in effect. The parking brake (rear brakes) are not actuated by the power button. If you sit in a garage, in electric only mode, you can shift from park to any gear and hear the solenoid that performs the unlock of the drive axle click.

 

I would think that, given their actions,it was probably their last ride in a Prius. Would be for sure in mine! and Probably right then an there, along with a brush on the side of the head. Oh the brush would include knuckles.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(mdacmeis\";p=\"23807)</div>

would the prius in P be less apt to "slip out of gear" than a regular car? i ask because i recieved a ticket for not turning my wheels into a curb. it's kinda lame and it's $50!

thanks,
drew

 

Let's not single out the Prius here. What happens to ANY car if you try to put it in park at 60 MPH?

I suspect Evan is right and that there is a lock out over a certain MPH. (Evan tends to be.)

 

evan is right, if you press park at speeds above 1-2mph, park sends the car in neutral...

If you press power at speeds above 1-2mph, nothing happens...

Ive tried

 

It has this safety feature for everythig.. reverse.. power.. park.. so on.. just beeps and goes to neutral.. it's kindof fun to say " ok.. you guys are pissing me off.. i'm turnning the car off" when going down the highway. people react funny.. well the first time.. till they learn the car is super cool.

 

^^ lol yea

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Kev1000000\";p=\"54533)</div>

According to the handbook, you can turn of the power whilst in motion. Apparently you have to hold the power button in for several seconds. I dont have the handbook with me right now, so I cant give exact details.

This feature is for emergency use to stop the car, for example the driver has a heart attack, so the passenger can stop the car.

Naturally, I havent tried this!

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Frank Hudon\";p=\"24147)</div>

Damn straight! I had a guy some many years ago think it was funny to grab the wheel holding it straight when I needed to turn right. He let go when my elbow abruptly connected with his head.

 

hahahahaha :iagree :lol:

 

Most conventional automatic transmissions have a built-in override, so if you try to shove it into R at any speed over say 20 MPH, the line pressure will prevent the shift from happening. You will hear a loud hydraulic whine until the car slows enough for the shift to complete.

Going into P, the pawl will simply ratchet until the output shaft slows enough for the pawl to catch on the cylinder. True, you shouldn't make a habit of doing this all the time, but a few times shouldn't hurt anything.

However, going from R to D there isn't any safety feature. A coworker of mine is brutal to rental cars. In the mid 90's, we were in Vegas to attend a conference, and rented a 1995 Chevy Caprice.

He drove into a fairly empty parking lot, shifted into R, and floored it. We rocketed backwards in a cloud of tire smoke, then at WOT he dropped the column shifter into D, pedal still to the floor.

The Caprice howled and lurched, and within 20 ft we were starting to go forwards, the rear end covered in a cloud of tire smoke. At around 15 MPH, he dropped the column shift back into R. He did that a few times, then we went over to the Strip to have some fun. When we got back to the car several hours later, it started shifting funny, the 1-2 shift was delayed and RPM rose between the shifts. The 2-3 shift was VERY slow.

We gassed up and out of curiosity I checked the trans dipstick. The fluid was dark and stunk. No, I've never let him ever drive anything of mine!

I've tried the "shift into P" at speeds under 50 KM/h with my old Ford truck, as I was going to service the automatic the same day. It has a C6 automatic, a very durable transmission, that I've frequently serviced. I tried shifting into P on a gravel road and it ratchets until the speed drops below 15 KM/h, then the wheels lock.

When I dropped the pan to service it, there were fresh metal flecks in there. I sure wouldn't make a habit of shifting into P on the move!

 

I did put it in park once while backing up and not at a compleat stop. I was stopping but not stopped. It was going very slow well under 1 mph and came to a very abrupt stop as the parking engaged. I have been very careful not to repeat this. Everything seems fine. I would not have the courage to try this at any speed. I glad some one else did it.

 

Years ago in a Chevette (free car), I accidentally bumped the automatic transmission into reverse while driving (the gearshift lock-pin didn't engage properly, so you could shift by just pushing the lever forward or backward without holding the button in).

Fortunately it was a rainy day, but the wheels locked solid and I slid for a bit until I shifted back into neutral. I'm sure nothing good would've happened if it had been bare and dry and the wheels had caught traction properly.

Dave

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Kev1000000 @ Dec 2 2004, 12:21 AM) [snapback]54533[/snapback]</div>

OK experts - I'd love an update to this. I see this thread is 3 years old...

...anything new or different about the 2007? If you're driving down the road, and you push the POWER button OR the PARK button, what happens? (no, I'm not going to try it...that's why I'm asking YOU!!!)

 

Why would anyone do this any way????????????? This is beyond my mental capacity to understand!!!!!!!!!!!

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(gupchurch1349 @ Jul 3 2007, 06:30 PM) [snapback]472630[/snapback]</div>

Exactly, WHY? It is hard to understand the mentality sometimes

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(priussoris @ Jul 3 2007, 08:44 PM) [snapback]472636[/snapback]</div>

I don't claim to understand why anyone would intentionally do this, but I've had more than one person ask me and it got me curious. I guess it COULD accidentally get pushed in some strange scenarios that will most likely never happen.

Any answers to the original question?