Caution: The transmission lock mechanism is abnormal

+1

 

Not yet, that's next on the list.

 

No. The energy for running the parking pawl motor comes entirely from the 12V system.

 

then

Hmmm. Am I to understand you haven't taken the time to check your oil? I can understand not getting the oil changed yet, but what about checking it? Your response makes me question that due to JC's question to which you answered not yet...

Am I misunderstanding what you are trying to say? Or to put it another way, have you checked your oil, but not changed it yet?

 

Here's the oil levels. First, Hot(about 5 minutes of driving).
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v303/Lord_dave/car1_zps448e1218.jpg
Next, cold
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v303/Lord_dave/car2_zps0c9678a0.jpg

 

You don't happen to know how much energy it actually uses do you?

 

You don't happen to know how much energy it uses do you ?

 

The correct way to check oil level is to do it with the car off and resting after a few minutes. Pull the dipstick out, wipe it clean, reinsert and pull out again and you can get the proper reading.

SM-N900P ?

 

JC said it correctly. I will also add that your oil looks extremely dirty to me.

 

So run the car first then let sit and then read?

And yes, its quite dirty. But I don't know how the oil would affect the parking pawl.

 

You don't have to run it first, if it was running, let is stop a few minutes before taking a reading.

These cars tend to burn oil at higher miles. It seems you've never looked at the oil level in your car and haven't noticed when the oil runs low and depriving your engine of oil. This "may" be causing what you are experiencing. The lack of oil pressure to the engine when you are slowing down. If the oil pressure is low, you may have the same experience when you are slowing down and making turns.

 

"But I don't know how the oil would affect the parking pawl."
It would not. It might be time to take your car to your local Toyota dealer 1) for a much needed engine oil/oil filter change and 2) to ask about the warning message you are seeing.

 

I've had the car for about two weeks. And the previous owner had taken good care of the car. Minus a few late oil changes.

I don't notice the message displaying when turning.

The oil change I plan to do but the previous owner has had it at Toyota. They're stumped.

I appreciate all the helpful hints especially the location of the parking pawl, but it looks like this version of the problem is new. I'll keep poking at it and if I ever find a solution, I'll post it here.

 

I don't want to sound offensive, but imo the previous owner of your car did NOT take very good care of the car if he did NOT do REGULAR oil changes.

The oil is the life blood of the engine. If you don't change it, it will damage the engine. Plain and simple. Remember the comment I said about the oil. It is very dirty. IMO that is a sign of a car that has NOT been taken care of.

Ron (dorunron)

 

I have the same issue. Just bought a 2004 Prius with 210k. It's runs and drives fine, just when I drop below 3mph the message appears. Also the red triangle never goes away.

 

Your 12v battery is probably dying

 

Sorry to bring back an old thread/hijack. But I am having the exact same issue as these guys. My fluids are full (coolant, brake, transaxle, engine oil). I recently did and oil change and transaxle fluid change hoping it would solve the issue but it has not. Anyone else have any ideas?

 

If the 12V battery known to be OK, and the connections are all tight, and the car is not showing any other unusual symptoms, there is a small chance that the problem is with the Transmission Shift Control Actuator, which is the small 3 phase motor that drives the lock into the transaxle gears when the Park is engaged, or with the Transmission Control ECU which drives it. Quite a rare failure, but it could be a result of wire harness damage due to road debris or rodents. All speculation until the DTC are read.

 

Do you think a Solus diag. Tool would be able to pull the DTC?

 

Don't know. There are so many out there. Most likely it does not read the Hybrid Vehicle ECU. The Mini VCI is the best option.