When we travel, me and wife alternate at rest stops. So, going from Huntingnton Beach to San Diego, the 1st rest stop is near Oceanside. I drive the 1st part and Lily drives the 2nd part. Not evertime, but occasionally, when Lily takes over the driving, our Prius will not go into Reverse gear. Only by powering off and then powering on again [once], then she can access Reverse. Its never happened with me. I have quizzed her: Is your foot squarely, solidly on the brake pedal when powering on? Do you hit the Power Button solidly? She says that the 1st time it happened to her, she makes sure that she does these start up sets the right way. Any answers to this problem?
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(LYLUVLY @ Aug 10 2007, 02:15 AM) [snapback]493434[/snapback]</div> And is her foot solidly on the brake when she shifts? The car won't shift otherwise.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(LYLUVLY @ Aug 10 2007, 01:15 AM) [snapback]493434[/snapback]</div> sometimes if you try and shift into reverse to quickly after the car has been started it wont shift
Next time it happens, before shutting down, look at the dash to make sure it says "READY"...if it doesn't she didn't have the brake depressed enough. If it does say "READY" and it won't go into Reverse still then I'd take it to the dealer. You may have a bad contact in the shifter mechanism. Someone else recently had an issue with theirs...but their car kept popping out of D into N. BTW, IF she really is pressing the brake and it's not going into READY then there may be a bad brake switch...that's also been an issue and was a recall item for the '04s but should be fixed in the '07s...in theory.
BTW, IF she really is pressing the brake and it's not going into READY then there may be a bad brake switch...that's also been an issue and was a recall item for the '04s but should be fixed in the '07s...in theory. [/quote] I think it will be a case of: it has to happen in front of the dealer, just like the lady with the headlight problem. Lily very steadfast says: 1. foot on brake firmly. 2. press Power. 3. wait for ready. 4. shift from N to R. It all sounds correct to me and I have watched her do it. But, thanks Even, your diagnosis sounds like its on the right track. Its just a matter of it happening again at the right time. Thank you very much.
Listen when she shifts. If it beeps at her, it didn't shift. Happens to me a lot. In too much of a hurry. I don't have to start the engine, so I guess I just think it's ready to go in an instant. It takes the car 1-2 sec. to be really "ready".
I need to note this thread I sometimes have trouble selecting R too I have to power off then go through the press brake ready etc I havent quite worked out the sequence of it not happening but I dont think it beeps - it just wont happen also when I do get reverse it travels no more than about 5 yards before starting the ICE to give it some assistance
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(prius2go @ Aug 10 2007, 12:43 PM) [snapback]493591[/snapback]</div> That is normal operation. The ICE will start about 5 seconds after you power to 'Ready', even if you don't put it in any gear. That is one reason some people buy the after market EV switch, so they can move the car a short distance, knowing the ICE isn't needed. The car has no idea what you are going to do once you push "Power". Poor planning on Toyota's part
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(pingman @ Aug 10 2007, 05:43 AM) [snapback]493463[/snapback]</div> I've noticed the same. Even if I have my foot on the brake, if I shift into reverse too soon after powering on, the gear does not actually shift. Like so many things in the Prius, it seems to be asking me to slow down and not be so impatient.
My 2006 will not shift immediately after power-up until I hear the beep. Many times I've tried too quickly, only to have to do it again after the first beep.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(FBear @ Aug 10 2007, 06:20 PM) [snapback]493617[/snapback]</div> I have the EV switch too but just about every time Ive pressed it - it beeps not allowed at this time or similar If I turn the air con off I cant even run the blower fan
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(David Beale @ Aug 10 2007, 09:36 AM) [snapback]493580[/snapback]</div> I thought of that also, but not so. Lily is 69 and not too swift, but still capable, more so than me. Today, we went for test drive again, just to go over the salient points. 1. brake petal, firmly with foot. 2. power button, hold down firmly, release and wait. 3. lights come on, shift to Reverse. She does all those very well. The Prius started exactly. We will just have to wait for it to happen again Thank you for you input. Lily reads these inputs and instills in her mind about doing 1-2-3 firmly and slowly. We just hope this problem does not happen in the boon docks.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Rick Auricchio @ Aug 10 2007, 10:52 AM) [snapback]493641[/snapback]</div> We will make sure we do these steps carefully and precisely. Thank you for your input <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(quixotequest @ Aug 10 2007, 10:45 AM) [snapback]493635[/snapback]</div> We will keep a close watch on our procedure. We only hope that if there is a defective switch as Evan thinks, if will happen in a safe zone and not out in the boondocks. BTW, IF she really is pressing the brake and it's not going into READY then there may be a bad brake switch...that's also been an issue and was a recall item for the '04s but should be fixed in the '07s...in theory. [/quote] She also tells me that when it happens, the gear lever will not go up into the Reverse position, even tho' she adamantly says the brake pedal is depressed firmly and the power button is press firmly, and then waits for lights 'on' before trying to shift up to R. We just hope it does not happen to us again out where there's no help. We'll make sure the cell phone is with us all the time. Thanks again.
