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A diesel pickup has an auto trans with a column shifter. The PRNDL display is on the IP near the speedo. If the driver moves the shift lever all the way up, the lever latches in Park and will not move. If the operator does not, the shifter can hang between Park and Reverse. The PRNDL will display nothing or illuminate "R". In 7 to 20 seconds, the lever will creep toward "R" and the trans, after being in the equivalent of neutral, will go into reverse. The truck will then go backwards until it hits something large enough to stop it someone gets into it and throws it into neutral or park.


ADDED FACTOID: This vehicle is the last vehicle sold in the US with a transmission linkage that allows hanging between Park and Reverse. All competitor products and other models made by the same mfr. have the transmission shift linkage designed to make it impossible to leave it between park and reverse.

"If the driver moves the shift lever all the way up, the lever latches in Park and will not move."

Therefore - Driver error - the driver should be sure it is in Park.


But it would be good to know if the driver knew the tendency of the vehicle shifter. But to me the bottom line is the driver should make sure it went into park properly.

There should never be an option to be able to keep it in between P and R. Always default to P if between P and R because its better safe than sorry. Just my $.02

Driver error...if you are too lame to get the truck into Park properly you are too lame to be driving the truck in the first place.

There's no reason that it shouldn't be placed completely into park if you ask me. Also, if they know about it's tendency then why aren't they enabling the parking brake to be safe?

Originally posted by eGoCeNTRoNiX
There's no reason that it shouldn't be placed completely into park if you ask me. Also, if they know about it's tendency then why aren't they enabling the parking brake to be safe?

totally agreed, also if they know this place a chauk block. Sorry, I guess millitary standard comes into play here.

Well if the same manufacturer changed the design because of this, then I'd say defect.

Just a thought, but even if it was a defect, shouldn't the driver make sure it's in "Park", and it even illuminates "P" or "R" .


BTW , Lmandrake, what came of this case?

the lever latches in Park and will not move

do you mean once its in park it will not come out of Park manually? if not then its a driver error.