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On most new cars: the transmission is entirely computer controlled. This is the case for "semi-automated manuals" like DCTs as well as automatics. For e.g: to
by drbawb 13y ago
On most new cars: the transmission is entirely computer controlled.
This is the case for "semi-automated manuals" like DCTs as well as automatics.
For e.g: to shift to neutral or disable a Prius at speed you have to "hold" the shifter in the neutral position [note: it doesn't seem to stay there like it would on a traditional automatic gear selector; it's spring loaded] or "hold" the ignition switch for 3-5 seconds. This is (presumably) to prevent the motor & trans from grenading itself.
I haven't driven a vehicle newer than model-year 2003 recently: so in a panic situation I would expect my cars to make the "money shift" and blow up their powertrains; not "ask me for confirmation" that I want to destroy my motor.
Having to wait to make a money-shift seems like a feature that looks excellent on paper, but terrible in practice. I find it difficult to buy a car which only has firmware-implemented kill switches.
- rlanday 13y agoIs this common, that an automatic transmission won’t immediately shift to neutral? I thought that automatic transmissions usually let you shift to neutral without pushing the shifter button in to let you shift to neutral without blowing through it at trying to put the engine in reverse. Shifting into neutral while driving shouldn’t break anything, unless maybe if the throttle is fully open and the rev limiter isn’t working, but that’s the most important situation for being able to shift into neutral, isn’t it? I don’t see why an engineer would want to try to prevent this.
- dmm 13y agoThe Prius doesn't have a tradition automatic transmission with a torque converter and multiple gear ratios. The gas engine is connected to the wheels at a fixed ratio along with two motor/generators in a planetary gear system. Reverse is achieved by running the electric motor in reverse. There is no reverse gear. Shifting the neutral on the prius just means disconnecting the MGs and turning off the ICE.