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What is this tranmission connector for?

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Main Forum' started by Prius92, Aug 2, 2024.

  1. Prius92

    Prius92 Active Member

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    When putting the main wiring harness back in after an engine swap, I noticed the bare connector on the back of the transmission. I looked all over and could not find another wire. I even went as far as tracing the entire harness and the harness on the drivers side every time it branches off to make sure another wire wasn't pinched behind something.

    Then I looked at photos of ones for sale, and the plastic covering actually covers half the connector, so you actually cannot connect to it.

    So I'm wondering if this is some sort of factory test connector?

    In this image, it's the connector at 3 oclock on the circle shaped black plastic piece.

    [​IMG]
     
    #1 Prius92, Aug 2, 2024
  2. ChapmanF

    ChapmanF Senior Member

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    Are there actual pins visible in that second 'connector'? (How many, if so?)

    That round thing is the motor that moves your transmission in and out of Park. If you are able to shift in and out of Park, it's got all the wires plugged in that it needs plugged in.

    I'm wondering if they make versions of that motor with the socket facing different ways for a couple different cars, and save money by just molding one plastic cover that can be used either way.
     
    #2 ChapmanF, Aug 2, 2024
  3. Prius92

    Prius92 Active Member

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    I found a photo of the shift control actuator. Nope, no pins in the wiring.
    [​IMG]

    The only other hybrids around the time of the Gen2 Prius are the Highlander and Camry, but both had traditional cable shift linkages.
    The early Gen1 Prius was mechanical as well.
     
    #3 Prius92, Aug 2, 2024
  4. ChapmanF

    ChapmanF Senior Member

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    Well, clearly they included that connector stub in the plastic molding for use in some vehicle somewhere.

    It wouldn't necessarily have to be a hybrid: as you showed with gen 1, a hybrid can be built with mechanical or electric parking, and so could a non-hybrid.

    The two linked changes between gen 1 and gen 2 were that gen 1 had a mechanical key-locked steering column (like so many older cars) and gen 2 did not, so the tamper-resistant electric park motor became its theft-resisting measure instead.

    They could have been planning a similar change in some other vehicle line, hybrid or not.
     
    #4 ChapmanF, Aug 2, 2024
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