What happens if you hit the P button when the car is in gear?

This thread about going shifting into reverse while driving talks about your question, too:

http://priuschat.com/index.php?showtopic=28771

-Dave

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(rangermike @ Mar 11 2007, 08:53 PM) [snapback]403965[/snapback]</div>

Every cell in your body will simultaneously explode.

Seriously, I think it just beeps at you. I believe the beep means "Don't do that".

 

No, you do have to be careful because if you are going very slow, I don't know the exact threshold, it will shift to Park and the wheels will lock.

 

The car goes in to neutral and it beeps.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(rangermike @ Mar 11 2007, 08:53 PM) [snapback]403965[/snapback]</div>

Nice! You just picked up the exact car I'm picking up tomorrow. Great choice, congrats!

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(sub3marathonman @ Mar 11 2007, 08:39 PM) [snapback]404009[/snapback]</div>

8mph and below. Don't try it.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(V8Cobrakid @ Mar 12 2007, 01:48 AM) [snapback]404040[/snapback]</div>

Actually, its 2mph or below. I have fooled around with every little "oops" mechanism on the car. Shifting into neutral while driving does nothing, you have to hold it there for awhile. You can ONLY shift into reverse if you are going 7mph or below. You can also press the power button while driving, which does nothing if you are above 2mph. However, if you hold the power button for more than 5 seconds, it goes into "emergency mode" which disables everything but the stereo system. No power steering, no regen braking, nothing.

 

odd.. i remember it shifting into park at a higher speed. i recall the jarring of the car effect really well.

i know reverse is technically 8mph. i do this all the time.

i'll do more testing..... *sigh*

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(rangermike @ Mar 11 2007, 08:53 PM) [snapback]403965[/snapback]</div>

Ranger, first, congratulations on picking up the new Prius. It's a great car. Thanks for asking the question. I was curious about this too as I recently ran into a situation where a sprinkler suddenly shot water onto the freeway (malfunctioned). I had to quickly fumble for the windshield wiper without slamming into the cars around me. I hit every lever, knob, button before turning on the wiper. My car ended up in neutral, and it got me thinking about the fallacy of the PARK button. What if I had hit it going 60 mph?

I'm too chicken to test the Reverse shifter and Park button while moving. Much obliged for the brave souls who experimented on these tests and posting the results here. I feel much better now.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(V8Cobrakid @ Mar 12 2007, 03:54 PM) [snapback]404288[/snapback]</div>

Same here, I thought I had accidentally stopped the car going at least 5mph. I was slowing down, but 2mph is pretty slow. The sudden stop is certainly memorable.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(V8Cobrakid @ Mar 12 2007, 02:54 PM) [snapback]404288[/snapback]</div>

BTW, the car has a log in one of the computers that records stupid/abusive events like these. The service manual suggests that they might be used to help educate the driver. I expect they could also be used as evidence of driver abuse in warranty denial claims at some dealerships. From a previous discussion:

[attachmentid=6862]

[attachmentid=6863]

- Tom

 

That last post did it, I gotta have this thread. I love it. You guys are great.
I used to test my first car too, but that was Robert Mitchum's "Bootlegger
spin" I think he called it. It worked on gravel, but doing 30-40 mph on pavement, jerking the steering wheel hard left while pulling out the old hand emergency brake on a '51 Pontiac was more than I was willing to try.
If you are trying to remember it, that was from the movie "Thunder Road".

Maybe we should see if Prius Chat wants to sponsor the first Prius X Games? I would pay to watch that. Thanks for the great info. Gotta print this out for the wife.

 

And who can forget Jim Rockford, hands tied, in the backseat of the bad guys' Cadillac, shoving his legs over and forcing the gearshift lever into P?

 

Congrats on the new car!! We are new owners too, and find out new and great things every day!