Toyota's runaway-car worries may not stop at floor mats-LA TIMES

That's a problem. Did you test it at speed?

How about Reverse and Park.

If it's not immediate, they should recall and reprogram.

 

It is a feature. RTFM page 171, though it doesn't specify how much delay.

Yes, I have tested it at speed, when new (until finding it discouraged in the manual) and again yesterday. So have numerous other folks here.

I haven't tested R and P at speed.

The manual discourages shifting to N at speed due to unspecified possible damage. The known possible damage mechanism, as expressed here, is overspeeding MG1. That seems to be a risk only when N is entered when ICE is off (possible only below 46 mph), then speed increases above 46 mph (i.e. coasting down a steep hill). There seems to be some margin built-in margin. This scenario will not be encountered with a runaway ICE, and regardless, is much less serious than a runaway car.

 

Not sure if this CR clip had been posted here, but it pretty much sums up what this thread is about.

Ref: How to stop a runaway car: Don?t pump the brakes: Consumer Reports Cars Blog

 

Obviously, your question about "neutral" has already been answered. But, I want you to do an experiment for me. Start your Prius and drive to one end of your residential street. Turn around and as you are driving past your house, hand your Prius key fob to a family member through the driver window (while still moving forward at 5mph - never come to a complete stop), then continue driving at 10mph down your residential street. What happens?
(alternatively, you can just toss the key onto your front lawn - with a string or something attached so you don't have to search for it later)

 

or, keep a 30 gal barrel of kerosene in the back, and if you lose control of the car, set it afire ... then blow your magic unicorn whistle

when your unicorn runs up next to your car, leap from the window onto its back and ride off to safety

if any flying monkeys try to stop you, the unicorn can gore them!!!

then your Prius will explode before anyone comes to harm, and you can ride the unicorn to over to Tupac and Biggie's house and get high on pop rocks and coke!!

 

CAUTION: Don't shift into reverse if you are going UNDER 5mph. It will actually shift and it will sound and feel like your transmission just ripped away from your engine. (Many years ago, I was in a huge hurry while pulling into a gas station, went too far past the pump and quickly shifted to reverse (before coming to a complete stop), and it actually made the shift. Tires did not squeel, but instead the transmission made the most terrible sound I've ever heard and the whole car JOLTED. I panicked, and immediately began testing my transmission to make sure I hadn't just screwed it up big time. It was okay, but I learned a HUGE lesson and I will never make the mistake again. If you shift into reverse in a Toyota at 40mph, it will default to neutral. But I am warning you, do NOT try this UNDER 5mph - or you will be in for the scare of your life. (Of course, this is on a 2004 Corolla, and the Prius - being electric at 4mph - may be programmed to respond differently)

 

meh ... i've already done it ... that didn't happen

i don't know what the heck you're driving, but every auto trans i've ever owned had a reverse lock out

respectfully, i think you're high

ok, gotta go walk my unicorn and put him to bed

g'night

 

The Prius will shift into reverse and park while moving forward. An electronic lock-out keeps it from happening at speed, but at very slow forward speeds it will shift. The results are sudden and dramatic for Park. Although presumably not damaging, I don't recommend shifting into Park at anything faster than zero.

Tom

 

The Prius indicates that a key is no longer present, but will drive until shut down. After that you are stuck.

Tom

 

i've already done it
shifting to PARK in the Gen II at 2mph or greater is locked out ...
that is, you are immediately shifting to NEUTRAL

same with REVERSE

it's Neutral

 

Exactly. I've done it too. Less than two mph is the "very slow forward speed" to which I refer. Dropping the parking pawl into place at just short of 2 mph is quite a shock. If you haven't tried it, another experiment is due.

Tom

 

Now we just wait for the attorney TV spots like the ones for Mesothelioma

 

i done it :thumb:

 

That was awesome! That was my favorite post of the day, especially going to visit Tupac and Biggie. lol

 

We are running a one week poll on shifting to neutral at:

http://priuschat.com/forums/gen-iii-2010-prius-main-forum/71884-how-fast-neutral.html#post998654

All USA models are covered.

Bob Wilson

 

you're kidding right?

i just ordered 10,000 "Shift to Neutral :thumb:" lapel pins

i'm donating all the proceeds to the Special Olympics and Save the Unicorns :cheer2:

 

Make sure to tell people to wear them upside down. That way, in the event of runaway, they can look down, read the pin, and be reminded of what to do.

Tom

 

Great idea! Maybe we could make people wear them on their pockets too. That would seem to be the most appropriate way to wear them since it would be in direct view when the person is bending over to kiss their A%$ goodbye!

 

i plan on only making them available to 911 dispatchers for a limited time

 

But that would be unfair to the numbskulls and bimbos who don't have cell phones. Or who, in a life threatening emergency, dial a friend instead of 911.

I was also going to say that this would be unfair to those in areas without cell service, but many of the potential beneficiaries there have already been deselected from the gene pool.