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

Lurching Forward in Park

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Main Forum' started by Villain, Jun 29, 2010.

  1. Villain

    Villain New Member

    Joined:
    May 17, 2010
    14
    0
    0
    Location:
    North Carolina
    Vehicle:
    2006 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    Today I was talking on the phone will sitting in my car in Park, without the parking brake engaged, in a perfectly level parking lot. I turned the car on for the AC.

    After a few minutes in idle, the ICE kicked off. A few minutes lates it turned back on again, and my car lurched forward about 8-10 inches. If someone had been walking on the sidewalk past my car I could have hit them (or at least scared them!)

    Has anyone else had this happen to them?

    BTW, it's an '06 with about 75K miles on it....
     
    #1 Villain, Jun 29, 2010
  2. Patrick Wong

    Patrick Wong DIY Enthusiast

    Joined:
    Mar 8, 2008
    18,200
    6,482
    0
    Location:
    Green Valley, AZ
    Vehicle:
    2015 Prius
    Model:
    Two
    The lurching effect is common if you do not set the parking brake. I think your estimate of the distance traveled (8-10 inches) is optimistic, but I suppose that if you wanted to verify this you'd have to remain outside your car, wait for it to lurch, and see how far it moves.

    Another potential way to estimate this is to make the car IG-OFF, leave the parking brake off, and see how far you can rock the car forward and backwards by exerting a pushing force on the car, for example the A-pillar while the driver's door is open. I tried this tonight on my 2007, and the car rocked a total of 2-3 inches.
     
    #2 Patrick Wong, Jun 29, 2010
  3. qbee42

    qbee42 My other car is a boat

    Joined:
    Mar 2, 2006
    18,058
    3,075
    7
    Location:
    Northern Michigan
    Vehicle:
    2006 Prius
    All parking pawls have some play, which is why people recommend using the parking brake. When the ICE kicks on it applies torque which attempts to move the car, causing the play to take up. While the car will move, the amount is less than eight inches.

    Tom
     
    #3 qbee42, Jun 29, 2010
  4. Villain

    Villain New Member

    Joined:
    May 17, 2010
    14
    0
    0
    Location:
    North Carolina
    Vehicle:
    2006 Prius
    Model:
    N/A

    Got it. Maybe it just seemed like it was traveling that far because I was suprised to have my car move!
     
    #4 Villain, Jun 30, 2010
  5. qbee42

    qbee42 My other car is a boat

    Joined:
    Mar 2, 2006
    18,058
    3,075
    7
    Location:
    Northern Michigan
    Vehicle:
    2006 Prius
    Agreed. Any unexpected movement feels a lot farther than it is. Take, for example, that last inch when the toilet seat is up.

    Tom
     
    #5 qbee42, Jun 30, 2010
  6. macmaster05

    macmaster05 Senor Member

    Joined:
    Sep 27, 2009
    4,050
    730
    5
    Location:
    USA
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    Two
    My Prius has done this before too. That's why I always engage the foot brake and the park brake before I power off.
     
    #6 macmaster05, Jun 30, 2010
  7. Twistalime

    Twistalime Junior Member

    Joined:
    Apr 23, 2015
    3
    1
    0
    Location:
    Columbus, Ohio
    Vehicle:
    2006 Prius
    Model:
    Three
    Thanks. This was helpful. My car lurches forward like the others. Just surprising when it happens.
     
    #7 Twistalime, Jun 1, 2017
  8. edthefox5

    edthefox5 Senior Member

    Joined:
    Jul 25, 2007
    10,096
    4,817
    0
    Location:
    Clearwater, Florida
    Vehicle:
    2007 Prius
    Model:
    Two
    It's not moving forward it's just jiggling the car. Sometimes it really jiggles
    Hard and feels like it's moving.
     
    #8 edthefox5, Jun 2, 2017
    Ajourney101 likes this.
  9. MilkyWay

    MilkyWay Active Member

    Joined:
    Feb 20, 2013
    819
    359
    23
    Location:
    MI
    Vehicle:
    2007 Prius
    Model:
    II
    Happened to me dozens of times....If I am sitting in the car with it idling after about 10-20 minutes you'll lunge forward about 6 inches... I have no idea why!
     
    #9 MilkyWay, Jun 2, 2017
  10. edthefox5

    edthefox5 Senior Member

    Joined:
    Jul 25, 2007
    10,096
    4,817
    0
    Location:
    Clearwater, Florida
    Vehicle:
    2007 Prius
    Model:
    Two
    No it does not move at all. Its just the engine not firing on a certain cycle and it starts really rough sometimes. Really feels like the car is moving forward but it does not. If it did it would bust the parking brake pawl.
     
    #10 edthefox5, Jun 10, 2017
(You must log in or sign up to post here.)