Toyota Halts Sales of Eight U.S. Models After Recall

yakky said:
I am very disappointed in Toyota ... how about educating the consumer as to what to do in the event that the accelerator does stick.
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Eh, throttles have stuck on [all sorts of vehicles] since forever. First time I witnessed it was when I was a little kid in the '60s, and my mother just *dealt with it*, immediately and correctly, no problem. The elderly lady I got my '93 Audi from put up with its sticking throttle for years; it finally spooked *me* enough that we had it fixed, but she didn't think it was any big deal.



So I wouldn't have thought there'd be a special need to educate people about what I'd consider intuitively obvious. Guess that's another reason why nobody'd want *me* running the world :D



I guess Toyota oughta have something in the owner's manual about this, just like they tell ya how to fasten the seatbelts..eh, *every* owner's manual should have such stuff in it, but I bet the people who need to be told how to deal with it won't learn from the manual anyhow.



Now that the issue has everyone's attention, I wonder if all the "how to deal" stuff I'm seeing on TV will sink in. People don't always do the right thing at the right time, even when they know what that "right thing" is.



The hardest thing for me to swallow was the CHP officer that several people in the car AND time to call 911, but couldn't do anything to stop the car otherwise?
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Sheesh..."emergency situation, seconds count, what to do?!?" "Oh, yeah, I'll call for help!" :rolleyes: Insert heartless Darwinism comment here.



IMO this is just bringing to light that people who aren't qualified to operate motor vehicles do it every day. Driving is the only life-and-death serious thing, where correct, split-second responses can really matter, that most people do on a regular basis. But people don't take it seriously.



I find that scarier than runaway Toyotas, not that *that* isn't a very serious problem.



[Accumulator sheepishly climbs down off his soapbox :o ]
 
Accumulator,



I think a lot of people don't know. I've overheard some great ones, but the best was Saturday when I overheard a guy say "Oh man, that's no big deal, I'd just put my emergency brake on and pull over"



Do you want people that uneducated all over the streets? I'd prefer Toyota sent them a letter with some steps in it to tell them what to do. Honestly, is there a proper procedure? Personally I'd:



1. Push the throttle down again to try to free it

2. Throw the car in neutral or lower gear

3. Click the key back one notch if #2 didn't work



If all else failed (say all electronic vehicle (throttle, shifter, ignition) I'd plant feet on brakes and start rubbing against a guard rail or get in the dirt to lose some speed. I definately would not let the car keep accelerating and start dialing 911.
 
Accumulator said:
Eh, throttles have stuck on [all sorts of vehicles] since forever. First time I witnessed it was when I was a little kid in the '60s, and my mother just *dealt with it*, immediately and correctly, no problem. The elderly lady I got my '93 Audi from put up with its sticking throttle for years; it finally spooked *me* enough that we had it fixed, but she didn't think it was any big deal.



So I wouldn't have thought there'd be a special need to educate people about what I'd consider intuitively obvious. Guess that's another reason why nobody'd want *me* running the world :D



I guess Toyota oughta have something in the owner's manual about this, just like they tell ya how to fasten the seatbelts..eh, *every* owner's manual should have such stuff in it, but I bet the people who need to be told how to deal with it won't learn from the manual anyhow.



Now that the issue has everyone's attention, I wonder if all the "how to deal" stuff I'm seeing on TV will sink in. People don't always do the right thing at the right time, even when they know what that "right thing" is.







Sheesh..."emergency situation, seconds count, what to do?!?" "Oh, yeah, I'll call for help!" :rolleyes: Insert heartless Darwinism comment here.



IMO this is just bringing to light that people who aren't qualified to operate motor vehicles do it every day. Driving is the only life-and-death serious thing, where correct, split-second responses can really matter, that most people do on a regular basis. But people don't take it seriously.



I find that scarier than runaway Toyotas, not that *that* isn't a very serious problem.



[Accumulator sheepishly climbs down off his soapbox :o ]
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I completely agree! :up





And I don't even like Toyotas, and have never owned a single Toyota vehicle in my life. (Although I do like the Supras a lot)
 
Check out this months Car and Driver, they have an article on this and one on the return of the five point o.
 
It is really amazing that someone would just continue to allow the car to accelerate without putting it in N until it crashes. Absolutely boggles the mind. But then again I see people signaling after they have started to turn or not at all so this does not surprise me at all
 
Although this reminds me of the unintened acceleration BS that plagued Audis back in the day, it's not like I don't take this problem seriously; a few years agon I had my Audi dealer repurchase a car with DBW issues ("If this problem results in my death or injury, my attorneys won't rest until..."). And hey, I had a Corolla loaner car a while back and I almost *liked* the little thing.



But people seem to have lost a requisite *respect* for the seriousness of driving. Systems fail; have a plan-B and be prepared to implement it.



[ I want to be a *real* elitist creep and add "or else take the bus" but people seem to think they have a *right* to drive.]





yakky said:
I think a lot of people don't know.



Do you want people that uneducated all over the streets?
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No, but, uhm....heh heh, *my* solution wouldn't go over too well in this country; I'd make driver training/testing a mighty high hurdle. I'd hold others to the same standard that I hold myself.



I've overheard some great ones, but the best was Saturday when I overheard a guy say "Oh man, that's no big deal, I'd just put my emergency brake on and pull over"
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Heh heh, he'll "pull over" alright...tail-end first and probably completely out of control. Guess he doesn't realize that his "emergency brake" (there's a reason why they're called "parking brakes" these days) only works the rear brakes.



Note that on many/most cars they *are* "emergency brakes" in the sense that they're mechanically activated and not dependent on hydraulic pressure. So actually, there can be times when that's a viable option. Better have lots of practice at it though.



I'd prefer Toyota sent them a letter with some steps in it to tell them what to do...
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That's the sort of thing I'd have expected (hoped?) people would have all figured out before they ever drove a car one single foot. But note that I have a, uhm...somewhat elitist perspective on this subject.





Honestly, is there a proper procedure? Personally I'd:



1. Push the throttle down again to try to free it

2. Throw the car in neutral or lower gear

3. Click the key back one notch if #2 didn't work
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Yeah, there's a proper procedure, and you've pretty much figured it out. But I'd add in something about getting on the brakes. In almost *any* situation, a car's brakes can overcome the engine/drivetrain's power, at least to the point of making things better (consider "power-braking" potent muscle cars).



I will say that *some* types of unintended acceleration do *not* call for the "poke to dislodge the throttle" (your #1), but most people probably aren't gonna make that call when the situation arises. This "tap the throttle" is what my Audi's previous owner did and it usually worked fine for her. But depending on the problem, it might make the throttle get stuck in a worse position.



There are times when a lower gear will make things worse instead of better due to torque multiplication. Neutral is a better choice (don't be surprised if the engine over-revs, but these days they usually hit a limiter instead of blowing up).



Gotta be careful turning the ignition switch lest you lock the steering by going too far, and that's the sort of fine motor skill that many people lose when it hits the fan. And once the ignition's off and the engine dies, you'll lose power steering and (at least eventually) power brakes.



If all else failed (say all electronic vehicle (throttle, shifter, ignition) I'd plant feet on brakes and start rubbing against a guard rail or get in the dirt to lose some speed. I definately would not let the car keep accelerating and start dialing 911.
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Yeah, all-electric cars might offer a whole new set if issues in this regard.



But with a conventional vehicle, it's *VERY* unlikely that nothing will work and that you'll have to hit something. But hey, I'd rather the driver of a runaway car kill himself (and his passengers) by hitting a tree than keep going and endanger even more people.



Good that you're thinking about this stuff :xyxthumbs Drivers should consider what they'll do if some critical system suffers a catastrophic failure...consider it long before it ever happens.
 
We (technicians) were discussing drive-by-wire systems many years ago and the

first thought that came to mind is what's occurring now with Toyota...and my sister

just bought the new Prius...



Probably a good time to invest in their stocks...
 
Flashtime said:
We (technicians) were discussing drive-by-wire systems many years ago and the

first thought that came to mind is what's occurring now with Toyota...and my sister

just bought the new Prius...



Probably a good time to invest in their stocks...
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I would hold off on buying their stock. They may still taking a beating in the Congressional hearings.
 
I would hold off on buying their stock. They may still taking a beating in the Congressional hearings.
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I don't play...but all this will eventually blow over (years) and they'll be on top again.
 
Just spoke with my sister...she feels nervous driving it. She's reporting issues

with the braking system; it grabs hard at times when in reverse, she has to put

it in drive then back into reverse and brakes operate better...spent over 30g's

on this thing...
 
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