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Roadshow: Shifting a Prius into neutral is not easy

San Jose Mercury News -- Alas, shifting a Prius into neutral is not as simple as with most models, as my neighbor Emmett discovered. He's a technology lover, one of those guys who loves to figure out how things work and why.
He took his 2006 Prius through some neighborhood streets at low speeds and tried several times to shift into neutral. He failed the first four times before finally succeeding.

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Submitted Mar 14, 2010 By: coughlin

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kcboy Champion Author Utah Posts:1,121 Points:820,705 Joined:Jun 2005	Message Posted: Mar 14, 2010 9:57:51 PM Ignore kcboy Report Abuse I was always told just turn your vehicle off and put it into nuetral and don't panic.
HongKongPhooey Champion Author Gasbuddy Posts:9,943 Points:162,045 Joined:Jul 2009	Message Posted: Mar 14, 2010 9:54:38 PM Ignore HongKongPhooey Report Abuse toyota again, wow!
Edtx2009 Champion Author Houston Posts:1,301 Points:267,665 Joined:Jun 2009	Message Posted: Mar 14, 2010 9:52:19 PM Ignore Edtx2009 Report Abuse Toyota and the Government could not get the Gentleman in California whose Prius supposedly sped up on its own to fail in the tests they conducted on it. Everytime they tried to duplicate the events, the over ride cut the engine off as it was supposed to. I am beginning to think the guy in California has ulterior motives in his mind.
Dmax13 Veteran Author Denver Posts:400 Points:167,145 Joined:Oct 2009	Message Posted: Mar 14, 2010 9:38:08 PM Ignore Dmax13 Report Abuse Not so easy when you are in a panic
DWME Champion Author Indiana Posts:1,113 Points:215,775 Joined:Aug 2009	Message Posted: Mar 14, 2010 9:36:15 PM Ignore DWME Report Abuse With the problems for Toyota as of late, every little fluke gets front page news.
BOBBY1983 Champion Author Illinois Posts:1,540 Points:310,825 Joined:May 2009	Message Posted: Mar 14, 2010 9:32:45 PM Ignore BOBBY1983 Report Abuse i had Prius for last 2 years never had any problem and i try to put in neutral it worked the first time
abcdMA Champion Author Worcester Posts:3,139 Points:621,580 Joined:Nov 2008	Message Posted: Mar 14, 2010 9:31:37 PM Ignore abcdMA Report Abuse so this is not a good option for run away Toyotas
cigarpro Sophomore Author London Posts:213 Points:82,425 Joined:Jan 2009	Message Posted: Mar 14, 2010 9:28:24 PM Ignore cigarpro Report Abuse Horses my come back in style, easy to control, environmentally friendly, all you need is hay, giddy yup and whoa. And it works in any language.
us4usa Champion Author Missouri Posts:1,140 Points:210,340 Joined:May 2008	Message Posted: Mar 14, 2010 9:24:39 PM Ignore us4usa Report Abuse Next time just jump out oh sorry the doors are locked and will not unlock with the car in gear
FastAndy Champion Author Indianapolis Posts:4,216 Points:1,115,295 Joined:Jun 2007	Message Posted: Mar 14, 2010 9:21:12 PM Ignore FastAndy Report Abuse It does not sound to hard to me, if you own a Prius you should figure out how to do it, if you need to.
goodbuy Champion Author Michigan Posts:3,158 Points:536,585 Joined:May 2005	Message Posted: Mar 14, 2010 9:18:18 PM Ignore goodbuy Report Abuse Such good quality. It should be the only company in the U.S. to sell cars.
OGW Champion Author London Posts:1,351 Points:670,865 Joined:Sep 2005	Message Posted: Mar 14, 2010 9:15:07 PM Ignore OGW Report Abuse Goes back to what dad told us when we first started driving. Whenever you get a different vehicle always go to a vacant paved parking lot and make sure you can do all the things that you might have to in a driving situation, like trying to put it in neutral while moving, turn off the key while moving and see if you can handle the steering when the power steering is gone, slowing down without the brake pedal and other things you should know as all vehicles react different.
Cuzilla Champion Author Indianapolis Posts:8,809 Points:1,550,215 Joined:Sep 2005	Message Posted: Mar 14, 2010 9:14:18 PM Ignore Cuzilla Report Abuse Help, I'm trippin ito the twilight zone...
jb107 Champion Author New Jersey Posts:4,694 Points:1,646,040 Joined:Sep 2005	Message Posted: Mar 14, 2010 9:14:03 PM Ignore jb107 Report Abuse I'll stick to my ford. I know how to shut it off.
GLCSHADOW All-Star Author Oregon Posts:637 Points:1,144,320 Joined:Dec 2005	Message Posted: Mar 14, 2010 9:14:01 PM Ignore GLCSHADOW Report Abuse Good points. I wondered to myself why it would be so hard. At least now I know...
CarrottopNe Champion Author Lincoln Posts:1,025 Points:367,365 Joined:Jan 2009	Message Posted: Mar 14, 2010 9:13:07 PM Ignore CarrottopNe Report Abuse The old saying, " Keep It Simple, Stupid" applies here. Technology is only as good as one understands it or knows how to use it.
camel1 Champion Author Minnesota Posts:3,795 Points:1,329,550 Joined:Jul 2006	Message Posted: Mar 14, 2010 9:11:32 PM Ignore camel1 Report Abuse Jediknight has some good thoughts on emergency control practicing
jjjleblanc Champion Author Rochester Posts:2,206 Points:624,700 Joined:Jun 2008	Message Posted: Mar 14, 2010 9:11:26 PM Ignore jjjleblanc Report Abuse Bizarre
indyjim Champion Author Indianapolis Posts:4,758 Points:1,348,695 Joined:Jul 2006	Message Posted: Mar 14, 2010 9:10:14 PM Ignore indyjim Report Abuse If Prius owners don't know how to shift into neutral after all the publicity, they shouldn't be allowed to have a license.
mlhog Veteran Author Minnesota Posts:289 Points:165,110 Joined:Oct 2009	Message Posted: Mar 14, 2010 9:09:35 PM Ignore mlhog Report Abuse Just use the button on the car chasher.
TumaloDodge Sophomore Author Oregon Posts:195 Points:180,180 Joined:Jan 2009	Message Posted: Mar 14, 2010 9:07:14 PM Ignore TumaloDodge Report Abuse just use the ejector seat button
pdcarver Champion Author San Diego Posts:1,284 Points:245,595 Joined:Sep 2009	Message Posted: Mar 14, 2010 9:01:16 PM Ignore pdcarver Report Abuse common sense isn't so common I guess.
salog Champion Author Columbia Posts:3,518 Points:876,815 Joined:Oct 2006	Message Posted: Mar 14, 2010 8:54:08 PM Ignore salog Report Abuse making cars to complex these days
JediKnight Champion Author Wisconsin Posts:3,184 Points:1,511,425 Joined:May 2004	Message Posted: Mar 14, 2010 8:53:04 PM Ignore JediKnight Report Abuse PowerStrokerCA, Excellent point. It should be easy to shift into Neutral AND shut off your engine. In your girlfriend's example... She KNOWS exactly what she is doing. Also she is letting off the gas (and it's already slowing down) and ANY delay for it "shifting" into Neutral may go unnoticed... Also the article specifically mentions that a vehicle's PUSH/START button may act differently while it is in motion. I'd suspect (I don't own Push button start vehicles) the typical ON/OFF people experience is while in park or neutral and not moving. That might require only a moment to switch ON/OFF the ignition. People may not have much patience to wait 2-3 seconds of holding the button while traveling at high speeds with little control. So back to your girlfriend... We can all learn from her. Make it common practice to "test" your EMERGENCY override procedure (Brake...Switch to Neutral... navigate...Shut Engine Off) under controlled conditions. Make it common practice to "Test" various procedures that one might usually not use. You'll be more comfortable with knowing what to expect. Just like testing your brakes,lights,tires,etc... on a regular basis to verify everything is in working order. That one burned out light, weak brakes (low fluid?), low tire pressure... might be important someday in causing a serious accident. When someone doesn't see you... you can't stop... and you have a tire failure. Too many people aren't expecting problems and when it shows up they are unprepared. Be prepared.
CatMan623 Champion Author Houston Posts:8,592 Points:1,381,825 Joined:Aug 2006	Message Posted: Mar 14, 2010 8:48:15 PM Ignore CatMan623 Report Abuse Simple is still best.
BrucePen Champion Author Ontario Posts:2,788 Points:593,745 Joined:Sep 2008	Message Posted: Mar 14, 2010 8:46:25 PM Ignore BrucePen Report Abuse Press the brake and shift to neutral!
egd Champion Author Twin Cities Posts:4,060 Points:1,333,735 Joined:Mar 2005	Message Posted: Mar 14, 2010 8:44:30 PM Ignore egd Report Abuse try it
DEG Champion Author Las Vegas Posts:12,823 Points:2,547,205 Joined:Jul 2003	Message Posted: Mar 14, 2010 8:44:16 PM Ignore DEG Report Abuse Sounds like there is not enough education on how to turn off the cars using a push button starter or how to shift a Prius into neutral. This, having to hold the button for two seconds, sounds like a poor design decision on Toyota's part. I am use to a real gear shifter with a N (on automatics), or a clutch based vehicle where it is clear when the clutch is not engaged.
paulydel Champion Author Delaware Posts:4,223 Points:466,730 Joined:Jan 2008	Message Posted: Mar 14, 2010 8:41:29 PM Ignore paulydel Report Abuse I wouldn't be so quick to blame the sales people because for most vehicle buyers you take them around the car explain the owners manual and thats the last time they look at it. New owners need to sit down and read the owners manual when they bring their new vehicle home. It doesn't take that long and you will benefit from it.
Hunter114 Champion Author Chicago Posts:2,994 Points:490,420 Joined:Apr 2009	Message Posted: Mar 14, 2010 8:40:30 PM Ignore Hunter114 Report Abuse Why am I not buying this???
PowerStrokerCA Champion Author Ventura Posts:4,146 Points:758,630 Joined:Jan 2008	Message Posted: Mar 14, 2010 8:35:03 PM Ignore PowerStrokerCA Report Abuse What a crock! My girlfriend easily and regularly puts her '05 Prius in neutral. It is one of her gas saving tricks. You take your foot off the gas and move the controller to the direct left. Nothing to it. If you can't do this in your Prius, then there is a problem that the dealer shouldn't be charging you to fix.
scrounger Champion Author Vancouver Posts:8,434 Points:2,241,615 Joined:Mar 2003	Message Posted: Mar 14, 2010 8:31:24 PM Ignore scrounger Report Abuse too much technology and too little common sense.............not enough input from the salesman who only wants you off the lot so he can collect his commission
ricker8 Champion Author Ontario Posts:2,327 Points:473,560 Joined:Oct 2008	Message Posted: Mar 14, 2010 8:30:13 PM Ignore ricker8 Report Abuse okay, floor it
nimpy Champion Author Indianapolis Posts:4,127 Points:894,770 Joined:Oct 2007	Message Posted: Mar 14, 2010 8:30:05 PM Ignore nimpy Report Abuse Go Figure
flyfast Champion Author Kansas City Posts:4,516 Points:877,550 Joined:Jan 2008	Message Posted: Mar 14, 2010 8:24:31 PM Ignore flyfast Report Abuse but it the floor mat
zeddieiv Champion Author Columbia Posts:3,568 Points:1,065,495 Joined:Oct 2006	Message Posted: Mar 14, 2010 8:23:30 PM Ignore zeddieiv Report Abuse and the point is?