Owners of Toyota Cars in Rebellion Over Accidents Caused by Sudden acceleration.

[HemiEd]

Owners of Toyota Cars in Rebellion Over Series of Accidents Caused by Sudden Acceleration


Anyone else been following this story? They had a pretty graphic show on nightline about it last night.


http://abcnews.go.com/Blotter/Runawa...ory?id=8980479

Refusing to accept the explanation of Toyota and the federal government, hundreds of Toyota owners are in rebellion after a series of accidents caused by what they call "runaway cars."


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Department of Transportation: underlying defect causes accelerators to stick.

More PhotosSafety analysts found an estimated 2000 cases in which owners of Toyota cars including Camry, Prius and Lexus, reported that their cars surged without warning up to speeds of 100 miles per hour.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE OF THE RUNAWAY TOYOTAS STORY.

Toyota says the incidents are caused by floor mats becoming stuck under gas pedals, but owners say that's not what happened to them.

Watch the full report tonight on 'World News with Charles Gibson' and 'Nightline'.

"I'm absolutely certain that in my situation, it was not the floor mats," Elizabeth James told ABC News. She was driving her Toyota Prius outside Denver, CO when she says it suddenly shot up to 90 miles an hour, even though her foot was on the brake and not the gas pedal.

"I kept going faster and faster," James said. "And all of a sudden… my foot was pressing on the brake super, super hard and I wasn't slowing down."

James and some other Toyota owners suspect the accidents have been caused by some kind of glitch in the electronic computer system used in Toyotas that controls the throttle.

http://blogs.cars.com/kickingtires/2...at-recall.html

[Bwana]

Originally Posted by HemiEd

Greg, I guess some of these incidents have happened on some pretty bad stretches of road.

Toyota is going to install a band-aid, even though there is not a problem.
http://jalopnik.com/5446129/toyotas-...t-fiery-deaths

I understand Ed and if the correct action was not taken right away, (brakes) I could see how it could result in a dirt nap. This problem and Toyotas action, (or lack there of) remind me a little bit of the Ford Pinto cases back in the day. It will cost the company less to pay the court actions, than fix the problem.

[Silock]

Originally Posted by Skip Towne

You must also go back along the hiway and pick up the pistons it threw through the hood @ 12,000 RPM

Does this glitch disable the rev limiter as well? Surely not.

[Mosbonian]

It would be interesting to see what percentage of vehicles that Toyota has manufactured that this recall entails. I guess I am a lucky person because no Toyota vehicle I have ever owned has had mechanical problems to the extent of the story shown.

I like the fact that Toyota has recalled and given rebates on the Trucks that rusted the frame....I like that when a recall is made there is only 1/10 th the hassle I have had when I had a recall on my Chrysler and Ford products.

mmaddog
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[Mosbonian]

I will say, as an aside, I am very impressed with the direction that Ford has taken. They are slowly but surely climbing back to profitability, the Management seems to have a business plan that makes sense, and they are getting good marks overall on quality of product.

I would love to see an American-based auto maker survive and thrive. Competition is always good for the consumer.

mmaddog
*******

[JD10367]

Originally Posted by mmaddog

I will say, as an aside, I am very impressed with the direction that Ford has taken. They are slowly but surely climbing back to profitability, the Management seems to have a business plan that makes sense, and they are getting good marks overall on quality of product.

I would love to see an American-based auto maker survive and thrive. Competition is always good for the consumer.

mmaddog
*******

The problem is that American cars have no identity. Aside from, historically, "Found On Road Dead" or "Fixed Or Repaired Daily". Most cars look alike. People assume Japanese = higher dependability. Their cars are constantly given high rankings. People are afraid to buy American; if it's more expensive than Japanese, they assume they're getting ripped off, and if it's less expensive than Japanese, they assume it's a cheap POS, so it's a no-win situation.

I think the American companies need to trim brands and combine resources, and make very individually-attractive cars that stand out on the road and make a name for themselves (e.g. Toyota Prius).

[Bugeater]

Originally Posted by Extra Point

The drive-by-wire method of contolling throttle plate angle is totally dangerous. The cost to change all these vehicles could be devastating, but mandatory. Seems that the command signal for accelerating must be due to a short in the board, and the boards need to be redesigned and replaced. Whether the board is in the throttle assembly or external, or integral to the PCM, this shit needs to be fixed.

Yes, it is dangerous, and seeing that my wife drives one of these vehicles every day it concerns me.

Originally Posted by Earthling

For the life of me I can't understand how the floor mat could cause acceleration unless it was on top of the accelerator pedal and pressing it down. I have both foreign and domestic vehicles and have no agenda. I will be sure to talk to my daughter and niece about what they should do if an acceleration issue happens while they are at the wheel and thank you for this heads up.

I have both foreign and domestic vehicles as well, and I have no agenda.

Originally Posted by Bwana

Another thing I don't understand, is the brakes have more doninance than the engine. Even if the engine is going all out, people should be able to use the brakes to stop, pull over and shut off the key. If you don't panic, there shouldn't be a death involved.

I know I've mentioned this before, and possibly even in this thread, but have you ever watched a NASCAR short track race where they have the camera showing the brake rotor as they are braking into the turns? They are instantly glowing red hot the second the driver hits the brake pedal.

Some of these cars have 24V V6 engines that are pushing 250hp, you really think if you're already going 60 mph and the vehicle starts going WOT you're going to overpower it with your brakes and get it stopped before they overheat? It's not going to happen.

[Bwana]

Originally Posted by Bugeater

Some of these cars have 24V V6 engines that are pushing 250hp, you really think if you're already going 60 mph and the vehicle starts going WOT you're going to overpower it with your brakes and get it stopped before they overheat? It's not going to happen.

Will it warp the rotors, yes, but it will stop the vehicle.

[Bugeater]

Originally Posted by Bwana

Will it warp the rotors, yes, but it will stop the vehicle.

These stories seem to telling the opposite. And I don't see how you can say that for sure anyway, have you ever tried stopping a car going 60+ mph at WOT with your brakes? All I'm saying is if the brake fluid overheats, you're done, and it doesn't take as long as you may think.

[Bwana]

Originally Posted by Bugeater

These stories seem to telling the opposite. And I don't see how you can say that for sure anyway, have you ever tried stopping a car going 60+ mph at WOT with your brakes? All I'm saying is if the brake fluid overheats, you're done, and it doesn't take as long as you may think.

Yes

That being said, if your wife drives one of the cars in question, I would go over what to do if if should happen to her. Neutral is your friend.....

[Bugeater]

Originally Posted by Bwana

Yes

That being said, if your wife drives one of the cars in question, I would go over what to do if if should happen to her. Neutral is your friend.....

Oh, I have, and hopefully if she is faced with the situation she will react accordingly.

And if you have stopped a car solely with your brakes in that situation, I have to say I'm surprised, but you have to admit brake overheating is completely plausible. It's also possible that instead of just mashing on the brakes and trying to stop the car as quickly as possible, some of these people are only using the brakes to slow the car in order to keep it under control, which would most certainly lead to brake failure.

[Bwana]

Originally Posted by Bugeater

Oh, I have, and hopefully if she is faced with the situation she will react accordingly.

And if you have stopped a car solely with your brakes in that situation, I have to say I'm surprised, but you have to admit brake overheating is completely plausible. It's also possible that instead of just mashing on the brakes and trying to stop the car as quickly as possible, some of these people are only using the brakes to slow the car in order to keep it under control, which would most certainly lead to brake failure.

Oh, I agree bug and I'm glad you talked to your wife on what to do if it should happen. That talk could save her life.

I did it in a more controlled environment. I had an Impala SS, super charged (Another company car years ago ) that the rotors were warped on. I had to replace them anyway, so I tired it out. I held my foot to the floor doing about 70 down the highway. I then used the brakes to stop. You bet your sweet a** they got hot, but it did stop the car. Replaced the rotors and pads the next day.

[Bugeater]

Originally Posted by Bwana

Oh, I agree bug and I'm glad you talked to your wife on what to do if it should happen. That talk could save her life.

I did it in a more controlled environment. I had an Impala SS, super charged (Another company car years ago ) that the rotors were warped on. I had to replace them anyway, so I tired it out. I held my foot to the floor doing about 70 down the highway. I then used the brakes to stop. You bet your sweet a** they got hot, but it did stop the car. Replaced the rotors and pads the next day.

That's surprising that the brakes were able to overpower that powerful engine, I would never have the balls to try something like that.

Or at least on any car I had paid for.

[Bwana]

Originally Posted by Bugeater

That's surprising that the brakes were able to overpower that powerful engine, I would never have the balls to try something like that.

Or at least on any car I had paid for.

That my friend, is the key point.

[HemiEd]

Originally Posted by Bwana

That my friend, is the key point.

I think if you go back to the San Diego crash of the Lexus, they toasted the brakes.

[Bugeater]

Originally Posted by HemiEd

I think if you go back to the San Diego crash of the Lexus, they toasted the brakes.

As I mentioned earlier, it's entirely possible they were trying to use the brakes to slow the car instead of trying to completely stop it, which would be a huge mistake. It's hard to say how someone would react in a panic situation like that.