Automatic Systems Died When Car Put in Reverse While Moving Forward

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Will - 03 Feb 2008 05:37 GMT

I had a very strange event happen in a 1997 Toyota Previa minivan the other
day. When rounding a corner moving forward about 15 mph, I somehow got the
automatic gear system to show in Reverse. I had moved the gear system in
the wrong direction, but normally when I do this the car has some defense
against the action and doesn't allow you to get into reverse. Somehow this
time it happened (or at least the gauge indicated it had happened).
Immediately, every light on the front panel went on, and all of the car's
automatic systems died. I lost automatic transmission and brake
effectiveness within seconds. I pulled over to the side of the road, and
somewhat in disbelief I left the engine running maybe 10 seconds and then
turned off the ignition. After 30 seconds, I turned ignition back on, and
everything seems to be working. My question is should I be concerned that
I have done some damage to this car?

I called this in to the local Toyota dealer, and the master technician is
saying what I am describing is not possible, therefore I shouldn't worry
about it. That's not very comforting since I was there and it did happen.

:) It could be the car wasn't actually in reverse, but the gauge was

showing a false state. Maybe I put the car's internal computer into an
unexpected state and it could not recover from that; I'm really not sure.

Would an event like this put any specific systems in jeopardy, and if I take
it in for an examination, what systems should I have them take apart and
examine for possible damage?

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Will

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Ashton Crusher - 03 Feb 2008 06:41 GMT

>I had a very strange event happen in a 1997 Toyota Previa minivan the other
>day. When rounding a corner moving forward about 15 mph, I somehow got the
[quoted text clipped - 20 lines]
>it in for an examination, what systems should I have them take apart and
>examine for possible damage?

I don't think you need to worry. I've put cars into reverse by
accident while going 50 mph. Didn't hurt them, just locked up the
wheels. What I think happened to you is that at that slow speed the
cars "systems" actually did allow you to put it into reverse
(typically the lockout is above 10 or 15 mph). When it when into
reverse it killed the engine, that's why all the dash lights came on
and you lost all the "automatic" systems. You may have thought it was
still running but most likely all you were hearing was the AC/heater
fan and radio. Then you "turned it off" and when you restarted it,
all was normal. Like I said, I don't think you have anything to worry
about.

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