1. Attachments are working again! Check out this thread for more details and to report any other bugs.

No response from gear shifter

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Technical Discussion' started by Huey James, Jan 12, 2019.

  1. Huey James

    Huey James New Member

    Joined:
    Jan 12, 2019
    3
    0
    0
    Location:
    USA Tennessee
    Vehicle:
    2005 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    I have a 2005 Prius. I am having trouble getting a response to the gear shifter. The car will turn on, all lights and systems work. Car says that it is in "ready" mode, but when I try to actually engage the shifter to drive, reverse, or neutral I get zero response. It just stays in park. When I try to engage the shifter to any gear I hear two quick beeps but nothing else.
     
  2. scargi01

    scargi01 Active Member

    Joined:
    Mar 20, 2007
    784
    57
    0
    Location:
    Missouri
    Vehicle:
    2005 Prius
    I have a 2005. While my wife was driving down the freeway the car suddenly went into nuetral on it's own. She pulled to the side of the road, turned the car off and back on, shifted into drive and continued on. Well, it did this again only this time it would not shift in drive again. After getting her home via tow truck, I checked it and is still wouldn't work. After researching the gear shift I determined it had simply worn out and ordered a used replacement for $30. When it arrived I started the job to replace it (which requires taking the left part of the dash out). While I was about to pull the shifter out, I was taking out the screws holding it in, I hear a click, like a switch had clicked. Not sure what had happened I thought I would try to see if it would work now. So I started the car shifted it into drive and it worked. It also worked going into reverse. Shut the car off, turned it back on and the shifter continued to work. It has worked ever since ( 2 years) with no issue or recurrence of the problem. I have no idea why it quit working or why it started working again.

    I do think that it had something to do with the clicking sound I heard when I started to take it out. Regardless, if you decide to replace the shifter, this is a job you can do yourself if you are not intimidated by taking the dashboard apart. It really isn't hard and there are you tube videos available to guide you through it.
     
    #2 scargi01, Jan 13, 2019
    Last edited: Jan 13, 2019
    Huey James likes this.
  3. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

    Joined:
    May 11, 2005
    110,133
    50,050
    0
    Location:
    boston
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Base
    any warning lights?
     
  4. Huey James

    Huey James New Member

    Joined:
    Jan 12, 2019
    3
    0
    0
    Location:
    USA Tennessee
    Vehicle:
    2005 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    No warning lights, everything seems normal other that the shifter not responding. Just replaced the brake light switch and still same problem
     
  5. Huey James

    Huey James New Member

    Joined:
    Jan 12, 2019
    3
    0
    0
    Location:
    USA Tennessee
    Vehicle:
    2005 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    Thank you for your advice I'm going to try that because I have tried everything else I believe that is the only thing it could be. I'll try what you said and keep you posted on the results
     
  6. ChapmanF

    ChapmanF Senior Member

    Joined:
    Mar 30, 2008
    24,906
    16,213
    0
    Location:
    Indiana, USA
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    IV
    That is exactly the response it gives if it doesn't think your foot's on the brake when you try to shift.

    If you just replaced the brake switch, are you sure the signal is getting through to the ECU? (Why did you replace the brake switch?)