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Hybrid Vehicles Hybrid Vehicle Maintenance Repair and Concerns
142 messages, Last post on Feb 07, 2010 at 9:58 PM
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Replying to: Mr_Shiftright (Apr 27, 2009 10:35 pm) Well I used to drag race and for a short while I did some stock car racing a few years before that as well as a handful of Demolition derby events (held on the infield) at the stock car track. So I think I have a good idea of what it takes to stop a car at WOT. But when you're out on the road, you've been hit bad and you are facing large trucks and cars coming at you as well as buildings. It's a whole different game. That's why I hate automatics to this day. It's easy to say it doesn't happen but when it does it's bad and virtually everyone will call you a liar. Those Cop interceptors were pretty damn fast in their day, at WOT they were a handful. As I said plenty of witnesses and all were ignored. Thankfully the guy who hit me lived as did I. You don't have time to turn the key or bang it into neutral, I know I tried, you need both hands on the wheel at that point. I was finally able to spin the car out and hit neutral before I jumped out. Lots of witnesses. They all saw and heard what happened. The cops didn't take any statements from anyone and moved the car from the scene even tho it was at the side of a building not blocking anything. |
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Replying to: tiff_c (Apr 27, 2009 1:33 pm) The car was part of a recall. A little plastic bushing in a part of the accel linkage deteriorated and the throttle becamed jammed after I popped it during a test drive. I immediately jammed hard on the brakes while noticing the cinder-block wall ahead becoming closer, and closer. The front brakes locked, but the rear wheels continued to spin on the damp pavement. Onward and closer to the wall I sped. Then, in a flash of panic, I reached forward and switched off the ignition. The parking/emergency brake was of little use, as it was the old-type that required pulling on a handle. Besides, if the V-8 engine was able to overpower the rear brakes, then the parking brake would not help at all. The whole thing came to a stinking, smoking stop just yards short of the building wall. I immediately ordered, and then replaced the neoprene bushing with the modified metal version. I could hear my heart pounding in my ears. My breathing was short and checked. It was a heck of an experience!
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Replying to: whitey9 (Apr 28, 2009 6:22 am) I have still never heard an adequate explanation of how an electronically throttled car could go WOT from idle at a stoplight. That would be interesting to hear, as a theoretical problem, from an engineer who might know. A mechanical throttle like your Benz would only stick as far as you stepped on it---although I could see a spring failure causing you to go WOT when you didn't want to. But as you say, all you have to do is switch off the ignition. It's a good thing for everyone to practice actually. This is why race cars have a big red ignition shut off in easy reach. The Prius power button isn't too hard to reach...if you remember to do it.
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I have a Honda Civic Hybrid (2003). My air conditioner will quit cooling after about 20-30 minutes of driving. This is a sporadic problem and seems to occur more on a warm day. It will not cool again until the car has been off for an hour or more. Turning of the a/c for an hour while still driving does nothing. I went to the Honda Dealership about 3 to 4 weeks ago. It did not fail for them and they tested the a/c - checking the freon, hoses, connections, and used their guages, etc. They recommended we try replacing a relay as they thought it might be overheating. They did not know if it would work or not. So, we tried that and it has not worked. They also said they did not know what it could be if the relay did not work. So, I'm not real confident about going back there. Any ideas on what the problem could be? Should I go to a different Honda dealership or try one of the local auto repair shops?
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Replying to: jmt4 (May 10, 2009 5:04 pm) |
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Replying to: Mr_Shiftright (Apr 28, 2009 7:27 am)
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Replying to: hpmctorque (May 19, 2009 3:51 pm) |
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I am purchasing a new Fit and my dealer is trying to sell me an Advent security system for $320, which he claims is at their cost. I'm not really sure what this low end security system does. I can upgrade this system to one that includes an alarm but is $800. I live near an area that has its share of auto thefts. Do I really need an additional security system with alarm or without? Or is this a ripoff? Or would the "standard security system with remote control" that comes with the car be enough?
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Replying to: fitnfun (May 22, 2009 8:06 am) If you are worried about contents INSIDE the car (sound system, etc) there is no defense against theft. They'll just break your window with a rock, and everyone ignores audible alarms.
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Replying to: Mr_Shiftright (May 22, 2009 8:34 am) Good point about the rock...
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