Toyota suspends sales...

[safari62]

http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/2010...rius&st=Search

Prius panic!!!!!

[ROBERT CROSS]

......Looking skyward to unravel Toyota's woes.

"Federal regulators studying whether space radiation could be a culprit."

[Gene]

According to a story in the NY Times about 10 days ago there have been acceleration problems in Japan too. Japan has few consumer protections so these things don't get reported there and little is done about consumer issues. If I recall properly, there have been recalls in Europe too.

Gene

[Bob Thompson]

The unconventional shift pattern on the Prius should be used on future standardized IQ tests. Even most 15 watt'rs should get it! Could be used to set the lower percentile limits.


The California Driver with the run away Prius was 8 months behind in his payments and still couldn't master the shift pattern!

[Airstreamer67]

I heard the driver tell the 911 operator, who recommended several times that he turn the ignition off and/or shift into neutral, that:

A. He would not shift it into neutral because:

1. He was too busy driving (and presumably especially since he was also talking to the operator trying to get info on what to do, what to do); and,

2. He was afraid the car would "roll" if he shifted into neutral.

B. He would not turn off the ignition because:

1. He was afraid all the traffic around him would strike his car if it began to slow down with the ignition off.

Nothing about this makes much sense, except the conspiracy theory.

[Gene]

Expecting highly rational behavior from someone whose car has decided to go 90 mph in traffic, seems to me irrational. I don't know what really happened, but I do know people get scared and act irrationally under such circumstances. That's as good an explanation of the situation as a number of other explanations.

Gene

[moosetags]

Irrational behavior in those circumstances is understandable, but the pieces of that San Diego Prius incident just don't fit together right. I can't but help being suspicious that the whole story has not yet been disclosed.

Brian

[newroswell]

Consumer Reports Cars Blog: Toyota investigation reveals more details in San Diego Prius case

[doorgunner]

Originally Posted by CrawfordGene

Expecting highly rational behavior from someone whose car has decided to go 90 mph in traffic, seems to me irrational.

Gene

training goes a long way.
those of us that fly aircraft are schooled to "fly the plane" when an incident happens think/ act differently. Last thing I would be doing would be interrupting my train of thought/problem solving during an emergency.
Like asking someone to pray for me or wasting valuable time yaking with a 911 operator.
It's partially about $$. take a bs test, give your $ and get a operators permit.
problem is The Cars Are Smarter than the drivers.
and now "black boxes", they been around for a while already.
big brother involvement, not for me

[safari62]

Originally Posted by CrawfordGene

Expecting highly rational behavior from someone whose car has decided to go 90 mph in traffic, seems to me irrational. I don't know what really happened, but I do know people get scared and act irrationally under such circumstances. That's as good an explanation of the situation as a number of other explanations.

Gene

I suspect others on the same highway travelling at 75 mph are only slightly more rational. And they were all going in the same direction. The calming effect of cell chatter and texting sometime helps while multitasking away those commuting hours.That extra 15 mph must be the difference between proforming one of several acts to stop the car and twenty minutes of ignored instructions of what to do.

But as the CU article mentions, placing the tranmission in neutral removes the engine from the equation, even though this particular toyota has a brake/engine override system.

I wonder what the pilot of the jet that landed in the east river off NYC would have done if he have an extra 17 minutes to land the plane?

[safari62]

Originally Posted by doorgunner

training goes a long way.
those of us that fly aircraft are schooled to "fly the plane" when an incident happens think/ act differently. Last thing I would be doing would be interrupting my train of thought/problem solving during an emergency.
Like asking someone to pray for me or wasting valuable time yaking with a 911 operator.
It's partially about $$. take a bs test, give your $ and get a operators permit.
problem is The Cars Are Smarter than the drivers.
and now "black boxes", they been around for a while already.
big brother involvement, not for me

Saying cars are smarter then many of their operators certainly is not much of a reach.

But what many of (us) suspect that are also worried about big brother is the top secret Darwinian Elimination Attachment Device (DEAD) that is being installed on many new vehicles. This system automaticily disconnects the brakes while pushing the throttle and points the car towards a large tree if the operator continues to use the brake as the gas pedal.

This is a program that big Guvment along with big InsurEance Companies have secretly installed in mostly beige colored Toyotas as a way to remove challenged drivers from our bloody highways. This program will be expanded as the unemployment rate increases and mortgage payments continue to go unpaid. Toyota has agreed to be part of this effort as part of their history of cultural shame that still continues from WWII and the backlash from almost snuffing the big three.

So keep those payments up to date on the house and insurance policy!

Have to go now....hear noises upstairs and the phone company van has been parked outside all morning.......

[2airishuman]

originally this thread was about the recalls/sales suspensions and potential FIXES...

for the 'yota models specifically RECALLED with floor mat/pedal/accelerator issues and NOT controllable with d'brakes.

the tiny hybrid wasn't part of that and still isn't.

it does have issues but they are different.

and apparently 'yota isn't worried about those cars falling backasswards off cliffs...

since they DO have "brake interupt" of throttle input.

as should be expected.
_______

the cali' story is just another cali' story the hardware and wingnuts change but the crazy script continues.
_______

so the REAL and important 'yota stuff has been buried here now.

how 'bout getting back to the vehicles that ARE STILL at issue

and the fixes and so on.

this started out as a potentially vEry USEful thread.

now it's not and the entertainment value is gone too.

in other words the thread has become as dull as the products 'yota offers...

zzzzzzzzz.....

cheers
2air'

[HowieE]

This is a completely different look at the Toyota problem form one who has managed similar problems.
Yahoo!

[doorgunner]

run the country like a union business?

anyway had a chit chat with a friends son last weekend. he is a instructor at a local california college, automotive dept. seems as a few other mfgrs use Toyota components and yet they are not having problems.
But--- cars that never had the problem that went in for some problem and had the cpu flashed develop the problem.. omg--- they think they have a software virus.

[Al - K4GLU]

All is now explained.

Are cosmic rays really causing Toyota's woes? | freep.com | Detroit Free Press

And I'm sure if this isn't the answer then it has to be flying saucers.

[GettinAway]

Originally Posted by 2airishuman

in other words the thread has become as dull as the products 'yota offers...

zzzzzzzzz.....

cheers
2air'

Your post started off pretty good, then you threw this in?? What is exciting to you? A street rod? 9mpg, and in the shop every monday?

[Aage]

Dunno about the US, but here in the Toronto area, they are offering new cars at 0% interest for five years.

Maybe it's time to get that Camry I always wanted!

[Gene]

Another view on this:

Op-Ed Contributor - Sudden Acceleration Often Caused By Drivers - NYTimes.com

Gene

[Aage]

Originally Posted by CrawfordGene

Another view on this:

Op-Ed Contributor - Sudden Acceleration Often Caused By Drivers - NYTimes.com

Gene

Good Lord, I wonder if this is what is at the core of Toyota's current problems!?

[2airishuman]

read yesterday on the news wire they have decided to provide NEW go pedals...

to ANY or all of the 8 million recalled units at no cost.

customer has to have the tiny metal shim fix done FIRST...

then say "i don't like it, it is still haunted"

"i want a new pedal or i'm gonna by a low mileage vintage yUgo..."

then the service folks can offer a brand spanking new go pedal.
__________

the dealers have been instructed NOT to mention the new pedal beforehand.

of course the corporate letter with the details is now webwide.
__________

IF the customers come back STILL unhappy after the new go pedal...

shops have been advised to offer these...



i want one!

cheers
2air'