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Automotive News & Views Toyota in decline in 2009?
3864 messages, Last post on Dec 09, 2009 at 11:15 AM
You are in the Automotive News & Views Forum. Your Hosts are steve_ & claires
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Replying to: steve_ (Nov 02, 2009 6:13 pm) Well, I'm glad to hear that Toyota has unilaterally declared that their keyless ignition, pedal design, and overheating brakes that were cited in the NHTSA investigation are now perfectly safe. I would have no reservations whatsoever about buying one of the affected cars and driving around with loved ones and prized small mammals. I think it's time for NHTSA or the media outlets to show Toyota who's really in the driver's seat.
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Replying to: corvette (Nov 02, 2009 6:44 pm) Bloomberg says they put something in the Federal Register today about not investigating another case (cases?) of unintended acceleration in Lexus cars. |
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Replying to: steve_ (Nov 02, 2009 6:59 pm)
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Replying to: gagrice (Nov 02, 2009 7:48 pm) Kind of a stretch, don't you think? I would expect that the most logical answer is that there was simply nothing there to shuffle under the rug.
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Replying to: corvette (Nov 02, 2009 6:44 pm) The keyless ignition is a concern if the driver is not aware of how it's supposed to be used and/or disabled. But consider that this is one single instance, albeit a very prominent one, of a user not understanding the use of the system. Since there are over a million of these on the roads right now just from Toyota ( with Buick and others adding more daily ) blaming the system for what is literally a 1 in a million occurance is over-reacting. It's blaming the clutch for the error of the driver who's never driven a manual transmission. The pedal design has nothing to do with the issue unless one or mats are stacked on top of one another. If one uses the OEM carpetted mats and secures them properly then the pedal can in no way come in contact with the mat. Even if the carpetted mat was laid on top of the pedal artificially it still doesn't have enough weight to hold the pedal down. This is a non-issue except for speculators. The overheating brakes are an issue that comes from trying to slow the vehicle at speeds of 100-120 miles an hour...slow the vehicle, not stop it. If the brakes are applied to try to slow the vehicle down at these speeds at WOT they will overheat and the vacuum boost from the engine will be dissapated. But this is true on any vehicle. No one should try it unless they have a test track to try it on but if one could...hold the pedal all the way to the floor with one foot then try to slow down ( not stop ) with the other foot on the brake... then this is apparently what the NHTSA found in its report. The brakes will overheat and lose stopping power. But this has to be done at WOT at 100+ mph and not jamming the brakes to the floor at first. But the NHTSA says that the final determination won't be known until the 'black box' data is studied. It was still intact and in the possession of the local sheriff's office in SD county. |
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Replying to: gagrice (Nov 02, 2009 7:48 pm) That Lexus dealer in San Diego couldn't have screwed up more if he wanted to....unless he didn't tell the driver how to operate the ignition system and how to stop the vehicle in an emergency.
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Replying to: steve_ (Nov 02, 2009 6:59 pm) It's very easy to verify ( done it on several vehicles already ) if this U-IA is even possible with the OEM carpetted mats and pedals. It isn't. |
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Replying to: kdhspyder (Nov 02, 2009 8:11 pm) It is NOT true of any vehicle. The Germans have an over ride if you press on the brakes at high speed it tells the engine to ignore the WOT. Making it fail safe. VW/Audi have used this in their drive by wire cars since 2001. Toyota needs to get their drive by wire into the 21st century. BMW and MB have similar systems. 5 fatal accidents with ToyLex runaways is too many.
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Replying to: kdhspyder (Nov 02, 2009 8:20 pm) Not hatred, just disappointment. I have bought 3 new Toyota vehicles over a 43 year span. They all were less than I would have expected from a company people worship as the greatest. After 2 years telling the dealer my NAV audio system is faulty it locked up with a CD and they have to get a replacement from New Delhi, India. How is that for stocking parts? That Lexus dealer in San Diego couldn't have screwed up more if he wanted to. No love lost there. That is the dealer that overcharged my wife for service for 15 years. $900 oil change and inspections. We have every record in a file. We would have dumped the car 5 years ago if I had not found a very good Lexus independent mechanic. 20 years old and still runs good. The dealer has been very quiet during this whole incident. So was it the yard kid or the parts man that will get nailed? Rubber floor mats in San Diego is crazy to start with. |
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Replying to: kdhspyder (Nov 02, 2009 8:11 pm)
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