The DVD included with this car makes reference to\"shift position P" - but it doesn't explain what it is or its function. When pressed, there is a sound like the doors locking, but they don't lock and that wouldn't make sense anyway.
That's pressing the "P" button (putting the transmission into Park like an automatic). There is an "automatic door lock" function that can tie the shift position (in or out of P) with the doors locking or unlocking. (The door lock behaviour is customisable)
If the car still has its factory default settings, that sound should be the doors unlocking. But as Tideland mentioned, this is customizable and could have been changed during previous ownership.
Thanks. I'm still curious about the "shift position P". When put in Park, a conventional automatic trans engages a parking pawl into a toothed ring on the output shaft. Is this what actually happens in the Prius? I see various places that certain functions like the doors locking/unlocking are programmable, but haven't seen any details how to do this.
Yes. On your 2012, nearly all of these customizations can be set by the user from the MFD screen. But OP has a 2010-II, which lacks both the MFD screen and the 2012 mid-cycle updates that made these features more accessible. For his/her car, most of the available customizations must be set by a service shop, or through tools that attach to the OBDII port.
I'm not going to look it up, but I seem to remember that on these cars you can set the door lock/unlock preference with the key fob...
