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Car Shows "Ready" But Won't Move

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Main Forum' started by DoMo324, Jul 30, 2009.

  1. DoMo324

    DoMo324 Junior Member

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    We have a '10 Prius II, 3 weeks old tomorrow. After washing the car today, we pushed the power button and the display showed "ready" but the car wouldn't move. After several attempts it did start, but I'm wondering if anybody else has experienced this problem. There were never any warnings on the instrument cluster - it always showed "ready".
     
  2. patsparks

    patsparks An Aussie perspective

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    Did you put it in Drive or reverse? Did the display show that it went into gear?
    I'm just wondering if you were waiting for the engine to start?

    Please excuse my treating you like you know nothing, but for a first time Prius owner this would be an easy mistake to make. (waiting to hear the engine)
    Press brake and power button, wait for ready, select gear, release park brake and go.

    If there is another problem you need to see your dealer.
     
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  3. DoMo324

    DoMo324 Junior Member

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    You didn't offend me. The car said "ready" but wouldn't move in either drive or reverse. But the instrument panel showed the car was in gear. This was the first time (and last, I hope) that this happened. Didn't know if this could have had anything to do with us washing the car - maybe got something wet - or was just a fluke.

    Hey, thanks for helping!


     
  4. Rotnguns

    Rotnguns New Member

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    Something similar happened with my new Prius. I think it was due to me putting it in D (or R) without having my foot on the brake.

    No probs since!
     
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  5. patsparks

    patsparks An Aussie perspective

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    I hope it doesn't happen again.
    Cheers.
     
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  6. wwbarr

    wwbarr Junior Member

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    Must admit this happened to me as well. I concur that I did not place my foot on the brake yet put it into gear (Neutral). Had me perplexed for a few moments though my wife picked it up pretty quickly.
     
  7. bokone

    bokone Junior Member

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    After washing or sitting in the rain (on other cars and motorcycle), I have had the brakes sieze/rust to the rotors. It took a little blip of the throttle to break it loose and after a few stops it cleaned everything off the disks.
     
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  8. WalterParker

    WalterParker New Member

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    This happened to me just yesterday and then I realized that I hadn't put my foot on the brake when I put it into gear. Retraced that step and all was fine.
     
  9. hobbit

    hobbit Senior Member

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    With all the buzz about the 2010, the community should surely
    expect another noticeable wave of newbie questions and concerns,
    many of which won't have all the surrounding fact included.
    At least the freshly-minted 3rd-gen owners won't be horrified
    by hearing the coolant-storage pump running. Good example: the
    first time I was testing an '04 I was playing with the power
    modes, and had the car in Neutral while trying to transition
    from IG-ON to READY. I must have sat there for 5 whole minutes
    going "Wth?" because the salesguy had left me alone with the car
    and I couldn't get it to move, while sitting in the middle of the
    aisle between all the parked cars at the dealership. I eventually
    figured it out.
    .
    Anyway, us PC old-farts should be prepared to hand out more
    kindly advice just like always, which is in fact what's made PC
    famous. [Or maybe not so kindly for the trolls that wander in
    saying "this car sucks!"...]
    .
    _H*
     
  10. TonyPSchaefer

    TonyPSchaefer Your Friendly Moderator
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    So what's the verdict here? Do we have one yet?
    Is it possible to shift the 2010 into gear without pressing the brake which moves the indicator but does not actually activate the transmission?
     
  11. jestoy7

    jestoy7 New Member

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    Could it be the emergency brake is engaged? (kinda drawing for straws)
     
  12. D Mitchell

    D Mitchell New Member

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    Same happened to me - although nowhere in the manuals or on the dashboard was there any indication of the problem. Trying to put it into gear simply resulted in a "ding-ding" sound. (There is lots of info on the dashboard that I don't need.)
     
  13. southjerseycraig

    southjerseycraig Active Member

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    I don't think the emergency brake is the OP's problem. I am not yet used to the emergency brake being a foot brake and not a hand brake, and so I've occasionally driven off without disengaging the brake. The car will move even though the brake is on. I got warning of the problem when I put the car into drive; there's then a beeping noise. I didn't see any kind of special warning, which bothers me a little; on the old car, there would be a "brake" light on the dashboard. But, as I say, the brake does not seem to be the problem here. I think the failure to have one's foot on the brake is probably the cause.
     
  14. angelrob

    angelrob New Member

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    Doesn't sound like the OP problem as that would have eventually been noticed, but I engaged the parking brake the other day and this happened to me (in gear, wouldn't move). And some day I'll remember that the little release handle above the parking brake ISN'T the parking brake release ;)
     
  15. spiderman

    spiderman wretched

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    I just went out to my car and I was not able to put the car in "gear" without depressing the brake pedal. Like someone else mentioned, I just got a ding. I think the OP's car had/has a malfunction.

    Peter
     
  16. dmvp

    dmvp Member

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    There IS a "brake" light on the dash over to the right side when you have the emergency/parking break applied.
     
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  17. IraS

    IraS Member

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    On page 176 of the Owner's Manual the Alarm table shows the following entry:

    Alarm: Interior alarm sounds once

    Situation: The driver attempts to shift out of the "P" position with-out pressing the brake pedal.

    Correction Procedure: The transmission will not move out of the "P" position. Press the brake pedal before attempting to shift again.

    Perhaps the shift indicator on the dash shows D even though the transmission is still in P.

    The net is you must press the brake pedal while shifting from Park to Drive or Reverse.
     
  18. DianneWhitmire

    DianneWhitmire High PRIUStess

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    I have had this call a few times.
    Always remember... put your foot ON the brake before wanting the car to change gears. That's the problem 99% of the time. The "I forgot..." step!
    Di


     
  19. southjerseycraig

    southjerseycraig Active Member

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    You are indeed correct. Sorry for my error. The brake light isn't where I'm used to it being, and so I don't always notice when it's on. Thanks for your help.
     
  20. spiderman

    spiderman wretched

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    Now that I think about it, I have had a situtation where I tried to shift to Drive before the car "booted" up completely and the result was it returned to Park and didn't "go anywhere". I didn't really notice that it returned to Park. It probably beep but I have to admit that I am getting a little desensitized to all the beeping. Gads, I can't wait till the dealer reprograms the thing!