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Toyota Camry Hybrid Safety Concerns

63 messages,  Last post on Nov 09, 2010 at 12:52 PM

You are in the Toyota Camry Hybrid Forum.

What is this discussion about? Toyota Camry Hybrid, Car Safety, Sedan

Messages Page 6 of 7

#49 of 63 Re: EMF Issues 2007 Camry Hybrid [lpatterson30] by rks6

Feb 18, 2008 (9:15 pm)

Replying to: lpatterson30 (Feb 14, 2008 1:27 pm)
lpatterson30,
 
I am a Fleet Manager in Toronto and we have been investigating the issue of EMF in Hybrids for over a year. We've done some thorough testing with our power consultant and have decided not to add hybrids to the fleet for those who spend most of their working day in the vehicle.
 
There is an interesting thread on Edmunds you should read about a Lexus 450h
owner:
 
http://townhall-talk.edmunds.com/direct/view/.f1775e1
 
This owner appears to be exhibiting symptoms of EMS (Electro Magnetic Sensitivity). An extreme reaction to EMF. Some of her symptoms are similar to yours. (i.e. burning/watering eyes.)
 
EMF can be reduced in hybrid vehicles by the use of nickel shielding. This unfortunately adds weight and cost. The culprit in the vehicle is largely the wiring harness which connects the ac/dc inverter in the engine bay to the NiMH battery in the trunk. On the Camry, the harness traverses the passenger side of the vehicle. In the Prius, the cable runs on the driver's side. For the average person, undertaking the installation of shielding simply isn't practical. Toyota has all the tools to do it; they choose not to.
 
Auto manufacturers are going to have deal with EMF from a human exposure viewpoint moving forward. As hybrids and full electric vehicles become more commonplace, EMF exposure levels are bound to rise.
 
For you, I would try to ascertain if indeed you are suffering from EMS. If you are,
I would sell the vehicle. You'll spend a lot of aftermarket money trying to reduce your EMF levels and you may only be able to reduce them marginally.
 
If it's not EMS then you'll also need to decide if EMF is a real concern for you.
For someone who uses their vehicle occassionally then perhaps 150 to 300 mG is acceptable. However, if you're in the vehicle for most of the day, who knows what 10 to 15 years of accumulated exposure would do.
 
There is lots on information on the internet but in the end, you'll have to make your own decision.
 
Regards,
 
RKS

#50 of 63 Re: EMF Issues 2007 Camry Hybrid [rks6] by lpatterson30

Feb 19, 2008 (5:30 am)

Replying to: rks6 (Feb 18, 2008 9:15 pm)
Thank-you for your post. While I cannot be 100% sure what is the cause of my symptoms, I know I am suffering. All of what I have read seems to point to EMF or the plasmacluster ionizer....or both.

#51 of 63 Re: EMF Issues 2007 Camry Hybrid [lpatterson30] by rks6

Feb 19, 2008 (7:09 am)

Replying to: lpatterson30 (Feb 19, 2008 5:30 am)
lpatterson30,
 
I'm not sure if you can shut off the plasmacluster on the Camry Hybrid but that is where I would start. Does the manual say anything? Perhaps the plasmacluster has it's own fuse.
 
I would be curious if you experience symptoms while driving a Prius. The EMF levels are higher in the Prius according to our testing. If the symptoms are present, EMS could be the cause. Perhaps you have a friend who owns a Prius or even try renting one for a day to see if you react.
 
Regards.
 
RKS

#52 of 63 Re: EMF Issues 2007 Camry Hybrid [rks6] by lpatterson30

Feb 19, 2008 (7:20 am)

Replying to: rks6 (Feb 19, 2008 7:09 am)
If I am unable to sell, I plan to see if the plasmacluster can be disabled. I will repost if I go this route just for FYI. How disappointing!!

#53 of 63 Re: EMF Issues 2007 Camry Hybrid [lpatterson30] by talmy1

Feb 19, 2008 (10:27 am)

Replying to: lpatterson30 (Feb 19, 2008 7:20 am)
If I were you I'd check the ionizer first. If that solves the problem the solution is far less expensive than the loss of selling the car!

#54 of 63 Plasmacluster by scorpioman

Mar 07, 2008 (5:40 pm)

A couple years ago I was given a Sharper Image
Ionizer ( I forgot the exact name).
Looking forward to the experience of clean fresh air,
I turned it on in my living room.
Within minutes, what I experienced was an asthma attack.
ie, my bronchial tubes tightened and I felt a shortness of breath.
The machine is now sitting in my shed.
I'm shopping for a new car and discovered that the Camry I was
getting ready to buy has this ionizing contraption.
I spoke to one of the mechanics at the dealership in Virginia
and he told me that it could not be disabled.
I had hoped to buy a hybrid Camry or even a Prius and am very disappointed.
I'm looking at what Honda has to offer.
So, Ms. Patterson, you're not alone.
I'd be curious if and how you resolved this issue.
I don't log on here much, but feel free to contact me
regarding the outcome.
I plan on contacting Toyota myself.
Best of luck.
 
mrsatoriyahoo.com

#55 of 63 Re: Plasmacluster [scorpioman] by lzc

Mar 07, 2008 (8:48 pm)

Replying to: scorpioman (Mar 07, 2008 5:40 pm)
You may be confusing ozone generators with ion generators. The Sharper Image air cleaner has come under criticism for generating ozone (as well as not working!). The Toyota Plasmacluster system generates positive and negative ions. The two are not the same.

#56 of 63 EMF, Etc by pat85

May 19, 2008 (11:44 am)

As far as the electric motor, it is in front of the engine and under the hood. This is what's known as a Farraday shield. Why a car is the safest place in lightning is because it is steel and is a Farraday shield.
 As far as the cables from the batteries under the rear seat to the electric motor, the cables are conducting current to and from the motor.. It is an electric circuit. The current is flowing from the positive battery terminal and returning to the negative terminal. That means that EMF induced by the positive is cancelled by the EMF induced by the negative currents. The EMF's are self cancelling
Most measurements will measure the earth's magnetic field. which varies from 300
to 600 milli- Gauss. EMF's are not detectable by smell.
The Plasmacluster filter has 3 levels of filters which filter successively smaller particles. It is called a micron filter. The last stage adds negative ions to counteract the accumulating positive ions. I looked in the fuses in the owners manual. There is not a specific fuse for the filter or it would be simple to disable
 I look at positive ions as havining on OH ion Strong bases have positive ions
 A negative ion could be viewed as having a H ion. Strong acids have Hydrogen ions
If you look at the reaction between an OH and H you get HOH or H2O.
 I find it difficult to explain the symptoms you are experiencing. They come and go in severity, so it is hard to pinpoint.
I have not had my heater blow any air while off.
I have it set on auto with my temp set at 68. My wife has her side set at 72. Nothing happens when heat is called for until the engine has warmed up enough for heat. So even when my heater is "on"" it may delay blowing any air.
 
 The plastic components emit gases as they age. It may be that is what you are smelling as a metallic taste. I have had vehicles that looked like someone had smoked cigarettes in them as dirty as the inside windows got from plastic out- gassing. Clean your inside windows and look at the paper towels and see if they don't show up as some what dirty from the plastic out gases that collect on them
  .
 
  

#57 of 63 Re: EMF, Etc [pat85] by mrpat

Oct 11, 2008 (10:18 pm)

Replying to: pat85 (May 19, 2008 11:44 am)
from mrpat0038 to [pat85] I dont know if I am replying correctly as this is my first reply. I appreciate the knowledgable reply you gave on the EMF issue.
 
When we first got our 2007 tch I noticed a faint unpleasant odor. Over time I have associated it with moisture in the AC. I started garaging it with the windows open and ran it at 80 deg til it warmed up as advised in someone elses post. I had the cabin air filter changed because of the odor a month ago, no help.
 
Yesterday it began smelling like chemicals when the ac compressor runs. I now leave the compressor off for fear of having a bad heat exchanger. Has anyone had similar problems . Is there a tsb out on it?

#58 of 63 Re: EMF, Etc [mrpat] by wvgasguy

Oct 12, 2008 (3:53 pm)

Replying to: mrpat (Oct 11, 2008 10:18 pm)
I typically have my AC on. When I do turn it off for an extended time I do smell an annoying musty odor. If I turn the AC back on it will go away. I've had mine since May 06

Messages Page 6 of 7

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