drive does not engage

What year? Early '04s (I think) had a defective brake pedal lamp switch. Maybe that is preventing the car from realizing you have your foot on the brake unless you "mash" it. There was a recall I believe.

 

Actually no, at least it hasn't happened enough times for me to notice it. Normally I just "bat" the lever and it's in drive.

I do, however, have a problem with going into reverse, which is why I still have the reverse beep on. :lol:

 

I have something similar. If i'm stopped at a traffic light, and my foot is resting gently on the brake pedal, the MFD tells me the electric motor is still going, even though I'm not moving. I simply put more pressure on the brake...

 

I think that's normal. At low speed (0~5mph?), the motor will drive the wheels to simulate automatic trans' slow forward creep. I too, notice the MFD showing motor driving the wheels if I don't press hard enough on the brakes.

 

Yeah, I assumed it was normal too, that slow creep is awesome in traffic though!

 

My wife had a similar problem.

She called me from work to tell me that the Prius wouldn't go into drive. I asked some questions and she answered. I told her to put it into drive. "But it won't go in." she replied.

"OK, then call Toyota.". I've been down this similar road MANY times, heck ANY married guy has.... let Toyota handle it- one unadvertised advantage to the Prius.

I called back a few minutes later and asked what they said. "I don't know yet, he's going to call me back. I can't stay on the phone...". I hung up and called back a few minutes later. "What was it?", I inquired. "He told me to put it into drive.". "Did you?", I asked. "Yes" was the sheepish reply.

When I had questioned her she told me that the MFD was telling her it couldn't generate juice in neutral, so I knew what the problem was. The manual does cover this. The dealership was able to get through to her, it would have taken me MUCH longer and with oodles more frustration. I absolutely LOVE the Prius.

I suspect she was not putting the joystick against the stop, or maybe not pressing the brake pedal enough. I've noticed it when I just slap the joystick down and don't bottom it out and keep it there for just a moment.

 

In my best Arnold voice....

"Use your puny leg muscles. You must have a tiny po-po!"

I've encountered all of the above at various times myself. The most common is the quick slap on the "gear" selector.