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

Oops! Hit power button while engine running...

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Main Forum' started by GreenTree11, Mar 3, 2012.

  1. GreenTree11

    GreenTree11 Junior Member

    Joined:
    May 21, 2011
    18
    1
    0
    Location:
    Connecticut, USA
    Vehicle:
    2011 Prius
    Model:
    II
    Hello, everyone.

    Yesterday my wife accidentally hit the power button while she was driving our 2011 Prius II. This happened because she wanted to use the bluetooth phone connection, and the bluetooth button (BLU Logic) is located just below the power button. Nothing bad happened, but I do remember reading in the owner's manual that you should never (repeat, NEVER) touch the power button while the engine is running. (Confession: I also did this accidentally when the car was only a few days old, and nothing bad happened.) Luckily, the power button was pressed only for a very short time. Has anyone else experienced this or had any adverse effects?

    I'd appreciate any thoughts about this. I need to let my wife know that she did no permanent damage. She was freaked about it. :confused:

    Thanks.
    GreenTree11
     
    #1 GreenTree11, Mar 3, 2012
  2. jdcollins5

    jdcollins5 Senior Member

    Joined:
    Aug 30, 2009
    5,131
    1,340
    0
    Location:
    Wilmington, NC
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    III
    No damage was done. As for hitting the power button with the engine running, where did you read this? When the engine is first warming up it is a good idea to not stop the engine and let it complete its' warmup cycle. But you are not going to damage anything if you do.

    If you are at a standstill and hit the power button all you do is turn off the car. If you are moving you have to hold the power button down for about 3 seconds before turning off the car. The 3 second delay is there for the very reason that your wife mistakenly hit the button.

    Toyota is not going to let you damage the car this way.
     
    #2 jdcollins5, Mar 3, 2012
    2 people like this.
  3. AZGeek

    AZGeek Semi-informed Member

    Joined:
    Feb 5, 2012
    627
    144
    63
    Location:
    Arizona
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius
    Model:
    Five
    I've shut the car off with the engine running many times over the years and haven't noticed any ill effects. Still, I don't make it a habit and typically shut the car off while the engine is already off.

    I agree with jdcollins5's statement that Toyota wouldn't make that possible if it were going to damage the car.
     
    #3 AZGeek, Mar 3, 2012
    1 person likes this.
  4. ockevin

    ockevin Active Member

    Joined:
    Nov 24, 2011
    493
    148
    0
    Location:
    Orange County
    Vehicle:
    2011 Prius
    Model:
    Four
    you can hit the power button anytime you want. You were mis-ionformed.
     
    #4 ockevin, Mar 3, 2012
    1 person likes this.
  5. GreenTree11

    GreenTree11 Junior Member

    Joined:
    May 21, 2011
    18
    1
    0
    Location:
    Connecticut, USA
    Vehicle:
    2011 Prius
    Model:
    II
    Thanks, jdcollins5, for putting my mind at ease. Can't remember where I read this. I thought it was in the owner's manual, but I can't find it now. Maybe someone told me, or maybe I dreamed it!
    ______________

     
    #5 GreenTree11, Mar 3, 2012
  6. GreenTree11

    GreenTree11 Junior Member

    Joined:
    May 21, 2011
    18
    1
    0
    Location:
    Connecticut, USA
    Vehicle:
    2011 Prius
    Model:
    II
    Thanks, ockevin.

     
    #6 GreenTree11, Mar 3, 2012
  7. adamace1

    adamace1 Senior Member

    Joined:
    Jun 22, 2009
    1,403
    192
    0
    Location:
    Charlotte, NC
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    II
    Did the car shut off? I think you may have to hold it down if your driving
     
    #7 adamace1, Mar 3, 2012
  8. GreenTree11

    GreenTree11 Junior Member

    Joined:
    May 21, 2011
    18
    1
    0
    Location:
    Connecticut, USA
    Vehicle:
    2011 Prius
    Model:
    II
    No, it did not shut off. My wife was driving, and the car just continued on normally...

     
    #8 GreenTree11, Mar 3, 2012
  9. AZGeek

    AZGeek Semi-informed Member

    Joined:
    Feb 5, 2012
    627
    144
    63
    Location:
    Arizona
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius
    Model:
    Five
    I just got through the procedure for disabling the reverse beep and noticed that through all of the on / off cycles that the engine would come on and shut off after only a few seconds. And that is done "automatically". So I think forcing the engine off via the start button can't place any more wear and tear on the engine than what the car would normally do anyways (in a repeated start / off situation).
     
    #9 AZGeek, Mar 3, 2012
  10. adamace1

    adamace1 Senior Member

    Joined:
    Jun 22, 2009
    1,403
    192
    0
    Location:
    Charlotte, NC
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    II
    Ok Yea you a=have to hold it down for more than 5 seconds to shut the car off while driving. Even if you did this it would not hurd the car. You will loose power brakes/steering though, but you will still be able to stop and turn it will just be harder.

    Do you remember when that police officer and his familey died in the lexus crash. He didn't know you had to hold the power button down untill the car shut off.
     
    #10 adamace1, Mar 5, 2012
  11. Sergio-PL

    Sergio-PL Member

    Joined:
    Jun 24, 2011
    160
    46
    0
    Location:
    Poland
    Vehicle:
    2011 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    One thing to remember (look for thread about hitting P while stopping) - if you do it with low speed (1-2 mph) the car will turn off immediately and try to engage gearbox lock - which may be harmful if not done at full stop.
     
    #11 Sergio-PL, Mar 5, 2012
  12. fuzzy1

    fuzzy1 Senior Member

    Joined:
    Feb 26, 2009
    17,557
    10,324
    90
    Location:
    Western Washington
    Vehicle:
    Other Hybrid
    Model:
    N/A
    Are you sure about losing the power brakes? My brake booster fires up the moment the driver door opens, without turning on the ignition, without the key fob anywhere near the car.
     
    #12 fuzzy1, Mar 5, 2012
(You must log in or sign up to post here.)