3rd & 4th Generation (1992–1996 & 1997–2001)Toyota Camry Discussion for years: 1992-1996 & 1997-2001
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I was driving my '99 Camry down a two-lane highway one day. I was going about 30 MPH. I have an automatic transmission. I noticed it was in PARK. I'm not kidding - it really happened. I left it in park, braked gently and pulled over to the side of the highway. After coming to a complete stop, I put my foot on the brake and tried moving the gearshift from Park to Drive, Reverse, etc. Everything seemed fine. I put in in Drive and went on my way.
A minute before I noticed I was cruising along with the car in PARK, I did lean over to pick something up off the floor (stupid, I know). I do not remember hitting the gear shift lever. Perhaps I did? If I did, I didn't feel it, so it must have been a very gently bump.
I was driving my '99 Camry down a two-lane highway one day. I was going about 30 MPH. I have an automatic transmission. I noticed it was in PARK. I'm not kidding - it really happened. I left it in park, braked gently and pulled over to the side of the highway. After coming to a complete stop, I put my foot on the brake and tried moving the gearshift from Park to Drive, Reverse, etc. Everything seemed fine. I put in in Drive and went on my way.
A minute before I noticed I was cruising along with the car in PARK, I did lean over to pick something up off the floor (stupid, I know). I do not remember hitting the gear shift lever. Perhaps I did? If I did, I didn't feel it, so it must have been a very gently bump.
Anyway, has this ever happened to anyone?
You wouldn't be able to bump the shifter up into Park from Drive unless you pushed the shifter button. A lock prevents the shifter from moving from Neutral to Reverse, and again from Reverse to Park, without pushing the button.
I'm going to have to disagree with Heep...that's NORMALLY what would happen, but my shifter..I guess is worn out? You can just push it back and forth and it'll shift without hitting the button, although hitting the button makes it slightly easier.
However, wouldn't the transmission lock up while in park?
After all this, will PARK keep your car in place if you let off the brakes?
I don't know how a transmission really works, but I would hate to switch a car into park while moving that fast.
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1994 Camry LE 5SFE
160,000 miles[12/2/08]
You wouldn't be able to bump the shifter up into Park from Drive unless you pushed the shifter button. A lock prevents the shifter from moving from Neutral to Reverse, and again from Reverse to Park, without pushing the button.
That's my understanding too. It happened a couple of years ago and everything is operating normally - it never happened again. I've mentioned it to a number of people - mechanics and Toyota owners - and they're as mystified as I am.
It's a 99 Camry with 61,000 miles on it. I've had it since it was new.
...I don't know how a transmission really works, but I would hate to switch a car into park while moving that fast.
This kid in driver's ed in my old girlfriend's school was told to pass a car on the highway, he put it into "P" for "pass". They didn't wreck but obviously there was some very serious damage to the car.
This kid in driver's ed in my old girlfriend's school was told to pass a car on the highway, he put it into "P" for "pass". They didn't wreck but obviously there was some very serious damage to the car.
LOL
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1997 Toyota Camry XLE V6- 308500 and counting
I have not tried it out on the Camry... but years ago, I saw this done on purpose on a Corolla, and the parking pawl/pin will chatter loudly, but car will still move. Only until the car is near stopped does the transmission engage parking pawl.
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2004 RX330 Sport
2003 Cam I4 XLE
2000 Cam XLE Gold Edition V6
1998 CamCE I4 Super Commuter!
Yea, mythbusters did a piece on this with an old ford (I think) and nothing happened. I think it's a safety mechanism to prevent catastrophic damage while the car is moving.
edit- here's the youtube, skip to 5:55 for only the park part.
Yea, mythbusters did a piece on this with an old ford (I think) and nothing happened. I think it's a safety mechanism to prevent catastrophic damage while the car is moving.
edit- here's the youtube, skip to 5:55 for only the park part.
I'm going to have to disagree with Heep...that's NORMALLY what would happen, but my shifter..I guess is worn out? You can just push it back and forth and it'll shift without hitting the button, although hitting the button makes it slightly easier.
No, heep is right.
If you have your owner's guide, it tells you which combinations will work as far as gear changes without needing to press the button. For instance, R > N > D but not the other way around. N <> D is probably the most commonly used, along with L > 2 (and 3 if applicable) > D.
Your shifter is working normally. This "feature" has been around for a long time. It's the same on my friend's '89 Legend coupe.
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'05 2AZ-FE @ 47K miles | '95 1MZ-FE @ 92K miles moving forward
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