Competely Stalled and won't Move Suddenly After Trying to reverse! Help!

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Care, Maintenance and Troubleshooting' started by noahjwhite, Mar 16, 2007.

  1. noahjwhite

    noahjwhite New Member

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    I wasn't in the car at the time my girlfriend was driving. But here's the description. I'm hoping someone can help me out. I have a 2001 Prius and have not had any problems until this. 130,000 miles on it.

    Problem:

    Attempting to parallel park. Everything going fine. Put the car in Reverse and suddenly a horrible grinding sound from the engine. The car won't move forward or back. Turned the car off. Restarted and again the grinding, the car is able to move at about 2mph forward, enough to get it off the street. No engine lights or warnings of any kind on the display.

    Could it be the CVT? Any suggestions on what I should do? Up until now it's been so reliable I haven't had to even think of these issues. Any Help greatly appreciated.
    Thank you.
     
    #1 noahjwhite, Mar 16, 2007
  2. V8Cobrakid

    V8Cobrakid Green Handyman

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    sounds like the cvt to me. maybe it's one of the MG's. (the classis has the same cvt system right?... i should know this)
     
    #2 V8Cobrakid, Mar 16, 2007
  3. noahjwhite

    noahjwhite New Member

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(V8Cobrakid @ Mar 16 2007, 08:38 PM) [snapback]407113[/snapback]</div>
    I'm not sure. I don't really know a whole lot about the CVT or the MG's. It is the Classic though. :rolleyes:
     
    #3 noahjwhite, Mar 16, 2007
  4. noahjwhite

    noahjwhite New Member

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(noahjwhite @ Mar 16 2007, 09:09 PM) [snapback]407129[/snapback]</div>

    Anybody know how much it cost's to replace the CVT? I'm thinking this must be mega bucks?
     
    #4 noahjwhite, Mar 16, 2007
  5. efusco

    efusco Moderator Emeritus
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    Let's get you a diagnosis first.
    Next, you can probably replace the PSD (aka CVT but more specific and accurate) with a used part pretty inexpensively. As I understand it it's a realatively easy repair. I'd think you could do it more cheaply than replacing a transmission on a regular car using used parts.
     
    #5 efusco, Mar 17, 2007
  6. Bill Merchant

    Bill Merchant absit invidia

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    Just in case you don't speak alphabet:

    PSD = Power Split Device, forerunner to the Hybrid Synergy Drive (HSD) in later models.

    CVT = Continuously Variable Transmission, sometimes ECVT with the E meaning Electronic, a more generic description of the PSD or HSD. It means there are no numbered gears (first, second, third, reverse, etc.)

    MG = Motor/Generator, these are the electrical motors which let the PSD/HSD move from one speed and direction to another smoothly. If one seized, for example, it might be equivalent to losing all gears above second in a conventional tranny.

    In any case, it's a problem for a Toyota Prius Tech. Mere mortals can only guess...
     
    #6 Bill Merchant, Mar 17, 2007
  7. noahjwhite

    noahjwhite New Member

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Bill Merchant @ Mar 17 2007, 02:28 AM) [snapback]407320[/snapback]</div>
    Thanks everyone... I think I'll try to bring it in today
     
    #7 noahjwhite, Mar 17, 2007
  8. noahjwhite

    noahjwhite New Member

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    Well the closest dealer wasn't open today. I rode my bike out to take a look at the car and I'm not sure it's the CVT. It seems to start and move F and REV just fine. It feels to me like something is rubbing on front right tire. I think a break pad may have fallen off or something, or at least i'm hoping because I don't have a ton of money for repairs.
     
    #8 noahjwhite, Mar 17, 2007
  9. JimN

    JimN Let the games begin!

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(noahjwhite @ Mar 16 2007, 08:25 PM) [snapback]407108[/snapback]</div>
    Noah, welcome to the site. I don't have any advice for you. I'm leaving that up to the technical experts here.
     
    #9 JimN, Mar 17, 2007
  10. efusco

    efusco Moderator Emeritus
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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(noahjwhite @ Mar 17 2007, 07:47 PM) [snapback]407640[/snapback]</div>
    You might look and see if there might be a small stone wedged in there...sometimes that happens and it will, indeed, provide some resistance and be noisy.

    If you're handy enough just jack it up, pull the wheel off and see what you can see.
     
    #10 efusco, Mar 17, 2007
  11. galaxee

    galaxee mostly benevolent

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    yep, all you can do is look in there and see if anything's amiss.
     
    #11 galaxee, Mar 17, 2007
  12. tochatihu

    tochatihu Senior Member

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    Without car warning lights (important) and with all that noise, I would certainly be looking first at the brakes.

    Please post again with more findings! Several of us drive these classics and are all ears about its little problems.

    DAS
     
    #12 tochatihu, Mar 18, 2007
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