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Lexus ES 350

2769 messages,  Last post on Jun 22, 2011 at 5:56 AM

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What is this discussion about? Lexus ES 350

Messages Page 273 of 277

#2720 of 2769 Re: Runaway Lexus [rcf8000] by music4kp

Sep 20, 2009 (2:30 pm)

Replying to: rcf8000 (Sep 10, 2009 12:48 pm)
Trust me, it's possible. I was also the victim of the stuck accelerator via faulty floor mats. I was on the freeway when my car simply started accelerating like it had a mind of its own. Thank God, the thought of putting the car into neutral entered my mind, and I was able to coast to the side. Prior to doing that, however, my attempts at braking failed, as the car's power was simply too much. It's probably not possible to move a stopped car with brakes fully applied. However, when it's the brakes vs. a car already in motion (i.e., 80 mph), it's a whole 'nother story.

#2721 of 2769 he was a chp officer by frodot

Sep 26, 2009 (4:55 am)

as far as i know...police drive cars that are automatics. they spend their lives in them. they receive training on high speed driving and are comfortable driving auto and trained to handle such situations. he should have easily kept his head and shifted to neutral or a low gear. he wasn't a normal person, he was a cop. its their work. esp chp!
 
he he was on an officers salary and buying lexus's, perhaps he had financial difficulty....

#2722 of 2769 Re: Is Lexus drive by wire safe?? [gagrice] by pegasuszz

Sep 30, 2009 (8:22 am)

Replying to: gagrice (Sep 01, 2009 11:19 am)
Drive by wire won't drive your car off the road, off the cliff, or jam the throttle open. Your foot, or a heavy floor mat accidentally kicked forward by that same foot might. I hate to say it, bc the driver was probably not a bad human being, but the accident was caused by the driver's failure to be responsible for his driving. In the very unlikely event you are driving a car with something holding the throttle open (nearly though not totally impossible), you have several obvious, trivial, no genius required means to stop the car.
This case was complicated by a sort of perfect storm; this particular car has a fancy keyless ignition, the driver may have been unfamiliar with the shift pattern and some genius stuck in a cool super-weatherproof floor mat -- made for a different vehicle. The correct mat hooks onto the floor and can't foul the pedals, but this one was a bit too big an maybe not hooked to the floor. Normal foot motion could shove it forward and maybe over the gas pedal. Still, you gotta pay attention and don't just flail about when something unexpected happens.
 
1. Step on the brake (duh). The 4 wheel brakes easily overpower the 2 drive wheels (or 4 driven wheels with AWD). I have an AWD car with a turbo and the brakes could easily overpower full throttle. If you are already traveling at highway speeds, you'll need to use some force on the brake pedal and it'll feel strange, but the brakes still outpower the engine. A typical car can stop from 100 to 0 in five seconds; no car has that much accelerating power.
 
then
2. Shift into Neutral, coast to the side of the road.
OR
3. Turn off the engine. The brakes and steering will still work
 
You don't like 1,2, or 3? It's hard to imagine why (artificial legs fell off? Aliens sending high voltage through the ignition key?), but there are more no-brainer options.
 
a. Downshift until you reach 1st gear. That takes you down to about 30mph, and engine braking will slow the car.
b. If it's an automatic you can hit reverse. That might stall the engine or possibly throw the drive wheels into a skid (they'll start turning again on their own) but that's better than screaming, texting your mechanic or staring into space.
c. If it's a manual shift and you haven't figured this out.... it's hopeless. Pull out your phone and get the video.
 
If the service brakes really failed you still have other options, but since the acel and brake systems have no mechanical connection, and there are 2 separate, independent hydraulic brake circuits the only way this would happen is the movie scenario where the evil genius/government agency/alien installs radio controlled gadgets that cuts both your brake lines at once. Even then you have other ways to stop the car.
 
The problem is that many people are not driving their cars, they're passengers holding the wheel. Once something goes wrong they simply stare out the windshield and allow any reflexes they may have to take over.

#2723 of 2769 Re: Is Lexus drive by wire safe?? [pegasuszz] by music4kp

Sep 30, 2009 (12:00 pm)

Replying to: pegasuszz (Sep 30, 2009 8:22 am)
Based on personal experience, I would like to suggest that option 2 is probably the better/easiest choice in a panic situation. While coasting to the side with my car in neutral, the engine was redlining the whole time. That incident occurred a year ago, and my car's engine is still in pristine condition. People, remember...you're driving a Lexus. It may look all elegant on the outside, but it's truly a rock on the inside.

#2724 of 2769 New Slogan: OH what a feeling you can't stop a Toyota! by jim_dandy

Oct 22, 2009 (7:28 pm)

WOW! Toyota designed a Christine! And not just one! 3.8 Million!
 
(Christine is a horror novel by Stephen King, published in 1983. It tells the story of a
vintage automobile apparently possessed by supernatural forces.)
 
http://www.leftlanenews.com/a-closer-look-at-toyotas-sudden-acceleration-problem- .html
 
So, if the floormat catches the accelerator petal or computer controlled throttle
malfunctions, the keyless start/stop feature can not be enabled in a "WIDE OPEN THROTTLE" until it is held down for 3 seconds. In 3 seconds you can be at 45mph!
How many seconds would it take you to figure this "3 second feature" out if your in panic mode and accelerating towards 100mph!?
 
They designed a car with out a kill switch and blame it on the car owner which installs a floormat and not aware of the 3 second kill delay?
Now thats smart
 
Here are some additional information about Toyota's quality and engineering practices:
 
"Consumer groups are watching and If the allegations are correct that Toyota destroyed or withheld (electronic) data, it has the potential to reopen hundreds of Toyota rollover cases."
 
http://www.usatoday.com/money/autos/2009-09-01-rollover-lawsuits-toyota_N.htm
 
"Consumers saddled with sludge-clogged Toyota engines may soon get some help from the Japanese auto giant under the terms of a class-action lawsuit settlement that covers roughly3.5 million Toyota and Lexus vehicles damaged by engine oil sludge."
 
http://www.consumeraffairs.com/news04/2007/01/toyota_sludge_settlement.html
 
jd

#2725 of 2769 Toyota Poblems by tedescm1

Oct 23, 2009 (6:24 am)

For the last few years, I keep reading about Toyota cars that accelerate on their own. I believe this also affects the ES-350.
 
Is this an ongoing problem with cars made from Toyota?
 
I'm thinking of buying a Toyota but I'm a little concerned about the problems and the length of time the problem has been around.
 
Why can't they fix it?

#2726 of 2769 Re: Toyota Poblems [tedescm1] by rdargenio

Nov 15, 2009 (6:18 pm)

Replying to: tedescm1 (Oct 23, 2009 6:24 am)
It may be possible to make a throttle stick, but here are the laws of physics:
No car can overpower its brakes! From any speed. If your foot is on the brake pedal the car will come to a stop. From 10, 20, 80, 120 MPH. I have personally done this on a closed track. When people say the car continues to accelerate despite "pressing with all their might" on the brakes, their foot wasn't on the brake pedal.
 
Simple. End of story.

#2727 of 2769 Re: Runaway Lexus [music4kp] by rdargenio

Nov 15, 2009 (6:29 pm)

Replying to: music4kp (Sep 20, 2009 2:30 pm)
No it is not possible. I have $100 for anyone who can make any car with a properly functioning braking system continue accelerating while pressing the brake pedal.
 
It is impossible.

#2728 of 2769 Re: Is Lexus drive by wire safe?? [gagrice] by larrcom10

Dec 06, 2009 (5:41 pm)

Replying to: gagrice (Sep 01, 2009 11:19 am)
I think the lexus is safe, This guy should have been wiped of off the face of the earth a long time ago. You have time to make a phone call but not put the vehicle in neutral or shut it off? That is the "N" on the shifter for all of you inteligent Premium car drivers out there. This guy was a cop! I am sorry but use you head people. Don't drive a car if you can't pay attention, you are stupid, or have no mechanical aptitude. I like Drunks better than stupid people because they have an excuse an accident. Good luck, Don't let your self propelled lawn mower get you if it runs away and you can't let go of the saftey bar.

#2729 of 2769 License Plate Holes by moorecpa

Dec 07, 2009 (8:29 pm)

I bought my 2010 ES350 from a CA dealer where front license plates are required. In the state I live - they're not required so now I have 4 holes in my front bumper. Dealer in CA doesn't want to help me resolve the problem. My questions:
 
1. Any ideas on how to convince the dealer to help me?
2. If the dealer won't help me, any suggestions on how to inexpensively hide the license plate holes?
 
Thanks!

Messages Page 273 of 277

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