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Why will the car only staying neutral when I started the second time

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Care, Maintenance & Troubleshooting' started by swaco, Dec 20, 2013.

  1. swaco

    swaco Junior Member

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    This was happening on my 2008 a couple of months ago and also now on my 2013 I noticed sometimes when I get in the car I push the button once and as usual then I have to push the button the second time and it only goes in neutral and assign comes up and says shift to park position starting so I don't get it this only happens once in a while. Then a couple times later or a couple days later as usual I pushed the button one and everything works fine right into the drive what gives?


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    #1 swaco, Dec 20, 2013
  2. css28

    css28 Senior Member

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    Does your car still have its original 12 V battery?
    People report strange behaviors from older 12 V batteries (and, at 5+ years old, yours would qualify as old).
     
    #2 css28, Dec 20, 2013
  3. JimboPalmer

    JimboPalmer Tsar of all the Rushers

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    My first question is why would you ever want to be in Neutral? It can't charge in N, so the HV Battery is being run down. (which may be why it is going to Park)

    It is extremely rare that being in N is a good idea in a Prius. N is required by US Federal regulations, but is not very useful as a Neutral.
     
    #3 JimboPalmer, Dec 20, 2013
  4. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    are you pressing the brake hard enough? or possibly the brake interlock switch needs adjusting.
     
    #4 bisco, Dec 20, 2013
  5. swaco

    swaco Junior Member

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    This is happened on my 2008 and every couple of days it happens on my 2013 so it's not the battery. Why would I want to be a neutral well I don't. When I get in the car her I push the button with my foot on the break and immediately move the joystick to drive and it will not go so I pushed the button again and turn the car off and do the process over again and on the second try it always works perfect put it in drive and I'm good to go. So I don't know why it's happening on both vehicles but who knows


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    #5 swaco, Dec 21, 2013
  6. jdk2

    jdk2 Active Member

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    Perhaps it's just a timing issue. You're pushing the brake, then the power then jamming into drive. Try to give it a second between each step and see if that helps. IOW wait for the "Ready" light on the dash before shifting to "D".
     
    #6 jdk2, Dec 21, 2013
  7. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    well said. ^
     
    #7 bisco, Dec 21, 2013
  8. spiderman

    spiderman wretched

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    ++1
     
    #8 spiderman, Dec 22, 2013
  9. Munpot42

    Munpot42 Senior Member

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    You push the button then WAIT FOR THE READY LIGHT then put it into gear.
     
    #9 Munpot42, Dec 22, 2013
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