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how to put gear to Neutral without a key

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Main Forum' started by qqragoon, Nov 9, 2009.

  1. qqragoon

    qqragoon New Member

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    Hi all. Here is the story.

    I lost the only key to my Prius. Contacted Toyota dealer, they asked me to tow the Prius to dealer to program a new key. However, the tow truck couldn't do it because the car was parked in a corner and facing a wall. heading towards the wall.

    Not like other cars, the Prius cannot shift to Neutral without a key. now I am stuck.... the only progress I made is figured a way out to open the door without break the windows. now what? any suggestion?
     
  2. BAllanJ

    BAllanJ Active Member

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    You get it towed the same way they tow the car when you park in a fire lane.... dollys or flatbed (or dollyed onto a flatbed, i guess)
     
  3. triumph1

    triumph1 Member

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    Find a tow company that has dollies.
     
  4. jayman

    jayman Senior Member

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  5. nerfer

    nerfer A young senior member

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    My Subaru's manual had a way of manually going to 2WD for emergency towing with the engine off as I recall, maybe the Prius has something similar. Have you carefully checked the manual?

    Also, there's threads on PriusChat about programming new fobs, not sure if that always requires a trip to the dealer or not, but you might want to check those out.

    Sorry if I didn't have any specific help.
     
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  6. jayman

    jayman Senior Member

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    The Prius cannot be safely flat or "dinghy" towed

    Oddly enough, neither can the FJ Cruiser. Even if you shift the transfer case into neutral, it cannot be flat towed
     
  7. qbee42

    qbee42 My other car is a boat

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    No it does not, hence the information in all of the other posts.

    Tom
     
  8. fuzzy1

    fuzzy1 Senior Member

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    Subaru's AWD is an unrelated beast. By pulling a fuse in the auto version, you can turn off the electric clutches that power the rear wheels. Manual tranny Subies, such as on mine, lack this option.

    Prius's parking pawl requires an electric circuit and a controller to be turned on.
     
  9. dogfriend

    dogfriend Human - Animal Hybrid

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    Is that a lubrication issue, or some other problem?
     
  10. jayman

    jayman Senior Member

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    Yes, due to the way the transfer case is designed. Traditionally, a 4WD could be flat towed an unlimited distance, as long as the transfer case was in neutral.

    I don't think any of the current Toyota 4WD's can be flat towed

    Most of the Ford, GM, and Jeep models can still be flat towed, as long as the transfer case is in neutral. You will find the smaller models pulled by motorhomes
     
  11. DaveinOlyWA

    DaveinOlyWA 3rd Time was Solariffic!!

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    i had my 2004 Pri towed with flatbed. they had a skate that was rolled under the car. then it was jacked up, lifting car off the ground. the guy strapped the car onto the skate and winched it up onto the bed and was done....

    now was all that necessary??...nope...car was totaled by ins company
     
  12. qbee42

    qbee42 My other car is a boat

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    Was the damage from before or after the wrecker got a hold of it? :D

    Tom
     
  13. DaveinOlyWA

    DaveinOlyWA 3rd Time was Solariffic!!

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    nope, the opposing Ford F-150 super cab needed no help whatsoever
     
  14. alanh

    alanh Active Member

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    I'm surprised the tow company couldn't do it. You need to get one that does repos. :D They'd have a lot of experience towing cars that they don't have the keys for.
     
  15. qbee42

    qbee42 My other car is a boat

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    Is that what they are doing? I always thought those were helper engines, pushing the RVs uphill.

    Tom
     
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