Toyota with stuck gas pedal

[oldjones]

I think you're referring to power-assisted braking and steering Dougal. While you may need to use a whole lot more force than you're used to, they should still both work. And it would be wise for every driver find a safe place and do a test so you know what it would be like.

Until the day engineers can absolutely guarantee no engine will ever stop working while a car's in motion, I'd suggest having the car also lose all control function would be grossly negligent design. Fail safe is a very basic principle.

But don't ask me to account for early airbags.

 

[tboy]

another thing about neutral and coasting down hills (I believe it is against the HTA anyways) but with steering: many newer vehicles and some older have variable assist steering. This system cuts steering boost down to almost NIL at highway speeds to prevent over compensating, stop the twitchiness that some cars experience, save fuel, and provide better feedback to the driver.

Some here may be too young to remember but I had, 4 vehicles that had manual steering? It was a bitch to park but when you're moving there's no real difference between power or manual.

 

[fuji]

Some of the reports indicated that putting it in N did not stop the acceleration. Turning off the ignition also makes it difficult to steer the vehicle, which at that moment is probably a pretty critical thing to your survival.

That putting it in N did not stop the acceleration indicates it's an electronics problem where the vehicle simply stopped responding to the controls. Toyota is denying that this is the case and insisting it was a mechanical problem, but Toyota may simply be in a state of denial over their crap electronics.

 

[oldjones]

Of course turning off the ignition makes it difficult to steer; pretty much all vehicles are power assisted these days. But if that's the lesser evil you go with, rather than endure the uncontrolled acceleration with perfect steering, but at speeds beyond your capabilities.

Or panic and do nothing. When the gas runs out the engine will stop itself.

 

[shakenbake]

That putting it in N did not stop the acceleration indicates it's an electronics problem where the vehicle simply stopped responding to the controls. Toyota is denying that this is the case and insisting it was a mechanical problem, but Toyota may simply be in a state of denial over their crap electronics.

If this is true, that putting the vehicle into Neutral did not slow it down, then it is a very serious matter, indeed. Audi had a similar issue many years ago with their transmissions that would unexpectedly pop into drive and many were run over by these cars. 'We stand behind our vehicles', was the response from Audi. They were very smart, so they could not be run over.

If Toyota are in denial about this problem, I personally would NEVER consider buying a vehicle from them. One of the reasons I did not buy a Sienna when we were shopping for a family vehicle was that they denied the problem of engine damage through the oil sludge. That issue went to out-of-court settlement. It would appear that Toyota has become like every other auto company, in it for the profits and not caring about their customers. So much for customer loyalty........

 

[shakenbake]

You'd be surprised how many people don't know what "N" is on their automatic gear shift. Before the days of ABS, you were taught to put the car in neutral when trying to stop quickly on a slippery surface. For most people, neutral position is almost never used anymore.

There are many 'drivers' on the road who just don't know how to drive. I am surprised that it surprised you, especially in Canada where slippery winter conditions exist.

 

[oldjones]

OK here's a Consumer Reports video of a guy on their test track actually demonstrating how to stop a runaway Toyota.

He does NOT reccommend turning off the ignition w/ the key at speed in case that engages the steering wheel lock (on my car only removing the key does that). Do that after you've stopped.

He shows that pumping the brakes during acceleration disables them. Jam down and hold.

He does point out that shifting to N will allow the engine to race, but who cares? That doesn't matter as it's no longer driving the wheels.

He finishes w/ a demonstration of a Jetta's German standard brake-overrides-accelerator functionality. Something Toyota's still dreaming about.

 

[Why Not?]

Also, if you stomp on the brakes, it should be able to stop the car, even if the gas pedal is completely floored.

Reminds me of the Audi "sudden acceleration" issue a few years back.

Audi took a lot bad plublicity over it and it turned out it was driver "mis-aplication" of the gas pedal.

It was also funny that the victims all seemed to seniors and women.

Apparently they were stomping on the gas, thinking it was the brake and then blamine the car.

Too bad for Audi, too bad for Toyota.

This is true of a non hybrid car but not a hybrid. Virtually all conventional cars made today can stop the vehicle against full throttle. One of the American car magazines last month did such a test with three or four cars in their fleet. Even on the Mustang GT500, with well over 500 supercharged horsepower, the vehicle slowed to a stop against full throttle.

In a hybrid though there are two completely separate braking systems and the computer decides which one to use. Under mild braking the polarity on the electric motor is reversed and it becomes a generator recovering energy to the battery and slowing the car. Under harder braking the computer allows the conventional friction brakes to work. If there is something wrong with the software or firmware the friction brakes might never be called on to work.

 

[Why Not?]

For once we agree!!! When you normally brake, even at high speeds, you take your foot off the accelerator, thereby stopping the flow of gas to the engine making braking easier. In these situations, the engine is not being turned off, and 200 horses against 4 discs won't stand a chance when those horses are going all-out.

This simply isn't true. While braking distances will go up a lot, a 200 hp car would still decelerate to a stop. It has been demonstrated to be true over and over again going all the way back to the unintended acceleration Audis of the 80's.

 

[Intense]

You can put the car to the lowest gear, and going at high speeds that will probably kill your engine. However, the engine breaking will make a 100 or 120 car go down really low. (depending the car) and then put it in neutral and and then press the break.

The problem comes when the breaks fail .. Have an accelerator pedal stuck is a serious problem, but can be dealt with in many different ways. However, Im not sure if the fear at the time of such a problem can help one make the right decision.

I do pray for those that lost their lives as a result of poorly designed Toyota gas pedals

 

[tboy]

Intense: just so you know, they're spelled Brakes not breaks...breaks are what happens when you bend a stick too far, brakes are what you apply to slow a vehicle or object down.

 

[toughb]

Intense: just so you know, they're spelled Brakes not breaks...breaks are what happens when you bend a stick too far, brakes are what you apply to slow a vehicle or object down.

***

Hummmm

He may be slightly correct.

Break:-Render inoperable or ineffective.

Sort of fits in this case.

...

 

[diane-35]

Another reason manual / standard transmission is better than automatic. You may not react fast enough to put in nuetral when you drive automatic, but stepping on the clutch is a reflex motion at any sign of trouble, thus disengaging engine from the drive train.

 

[Kayla]

Also, if you stomp on the brakes, it should be able to stop the car, even if the gas pedal is completely floored.

Reminds me of the Audi "sudden acceleration" issue a few years back.

Audi took a lot bad plublicity over it and it turned out it was driver "mis-aplication" of the gas pedal.

It was also funny that the victims all seemed to seniors and women.

Apparently they were stomping on the gas, thinking it was the brake and then blamine the car.

Too bad for Audi, too bad for Toyota.

I never heard about that one lol.

 

[girorok66]

Everyone should have taken performance driving class. This is not to advocate more 'street racing' but to let drivers know (1) automatically perform emergency maneuvers w/o thinking about it, (2) know their limits, and (3) if they used their car for the training then know the limits of their vehicles.

 

[tboy]

I don't know about performance training, but they should take advanced driving courses to handle things like black ice, brake failure, and throttle sticking, skid control etc.

I remember Cam Wooley on Canada's Worst Driver saying that kids from the sticks doing donuts in parking lots are actually better driivers for their fucking around. They don't panic during skids, can handle a car better than most, and all because they screw around on dirt roads.....

 

[james t kirk]

Actually, the Americans getting all pissy with Toyota could be good for Canada. Canada has been keeping its mouth shut in all of this figuring that the Americans can handle it (and they can - they love this sort of shit).

Let the Americans and Toyota get in a war and Toyota will build new plants here, or shift production here.

The US can keep GM and Chrysler since GM still builds shit cars and Chrysler will end up broke sooner or later.

 

[hungry]

Actually, the Americans getting all pissy with Toyota could be good for Canada. Canada has been keeping its mouth shut in all of this figuring that the Americans can handle it (and they can - they love this sort of shit).

Let the Americans and Toyota get in a war and Toyota will build new plants here, or shift production here.

The US can keep GM and Chrysler since GM still builds shit cars and Chrysler will end up broke sooner or later.

Duh, excuse me, but, I think it has been proven Toyota bulids shit cars. GM and Chrysler use to build shit cars. The worst vehicle I ever owned was a Toyota. I had to sue them, but no one would believe they were wrong. Screw you Toyota, your greed to get to be the top at any price is disgusting. It is good to see and I hope you suffer GM's arrogance.

 

[daty]

THIS WAS A CAMRY LEAVING A RED LIGHT RECENTLY​

 

[tboy]

lol @ daty, that fucking made me LMAO

that's funny dude.......(still fucking chuckling)