Toyota woes
Posted by: Calum F on 04 February 2010
I have to say, no sympathy for TOYOTA over the recall thing. Over the years they have become so smug it beggars belief.
As for their cars they are deadly dull to look at and drive, Avensis especially and the Auris (replacement for Corolla)
who'd want one ?
Posted on: 08 February 2010 by Officer DBL
quote:
I don't drive an auto as much as a manual, can the lever be moved out of D on the move?
Both our cars are automatics (and neither are Toyotas) and you can select neutral on the move; I would imagine that this is the case for most automatics - unless Toyota have a strange auto box.
Posted on: 08 February 2010 by Derek Wright
When not used to auto boxes I have gone straight from Drive thru neutral to Reverse while still going forward at 50mph. A bit of a screetch from the tires and then then realised error and put it into neutral and then drive. And on we went.....
Posted on: 08 February 2010 by Onthlam
quote:
Originally posted by Derek Wright:
When not used to auto boxes I have gone straight from Drive thru neutral to Reverse while still going forward at 50mph. A bit of a screetch from the tires and then then realised error and put it into neutral and then drive. And on we went.....
I did that once on purpose. Don't ask me why but, A dog crossed in front of me and it was to close. I put it in reverse and slammed on the gas. I stopped. Bad neck ache,but I stopped. Quick. It was almost surreal.
MN
Posted on: 08 February 2010 by mykel
a couple more things...
Even in an automatic, park can be used. Will make a huge racket but will not lock up the wheels. ( Designed as a saftey system )
As well, just hit the brakes. Any current road car's brakes will stop the vehicle from 100+ mph whilst under full throttle. Stop and turn off ignition.
See latest Car and Driver issue for a test - they tested a few cars including a 500+ HP race car, and all would brake to a stop under full throttle. The same was said and proved about Audio back in the day...the brakes will stop the vehicle even in full "unintended" acceleration situations.
One more thing, probably not a good idea to turn off the ignition while still moving. If you miss the accessory position you will chance locking the steering column in addition to losing the power steering and brakes...the brake assist will help in stopping the run-away beast.
michael
Posted on: 08 February 2010 by mykel
quote:
Originally posted by mykel:
a couple more things...
Even in an automatic, park can be used. Will make a huge racket but will not lock up the wheels. ( Designed as a saftey system )
As well, just hit the brakes. Any current road car's brakes will stop the vehicle from 100+ mph whilst under full throttle. Stop and turn off ignition.
See latest Car and Driver issue for a test - they tested a few cars including a 500+ HP race car, and all would brake to a stop under full throttle. The same was said and proved about Audi back in the day...the brakes will stop the vehicle even in full "unintended" acceleration situations.
One more thing, probably not a good idea to turn off the ignition while still moving. If you miss the accessory position you will chance locking the steering column in addition to losing the power steering and brakes...the brake assist will help in stopping the run-away beast.
michael
Posted on: 08 February 2010 by Onthlam
quote:
As well, just hit the brakes. Any current road car's brakes will stop the vehicle from 100+ mph whilst under full throttle. Stop and turn off ignition.
The family mentioned during the call that they are trying the brakes. But, to no avail. The brakes did not stop the car under full throttle. This, due to the shared system of the vacuum.When the throttle is at max, there is not enough vacuum to be used for the master to apply sufficient pressure to the discs.
MN
Posted on: 08 February 2010 by jayd
Posted on: 08 February 2010 by u5227470736789439
Clearly there is a need for a large red "emergency engine stop" button as easily used as say the windscreen wiper switch to be compulsorily fitted on the dash board [firewall in USA] of all new cars, as they are becoming too complex to be used with safety by today's drivers. Driver training is more than obviously not enough.
This "emergency stop" button should be introduced with legislative force in all territories as soon as possible.
Strangely such an emergency stop has been a feature of almost all agricultural tractor made in the last sixty years. It cuts the fuel mechanically, without the need for any secondary system to be activated.
The modern ignition key or button clearly will not serve as the steering may be locked in the process ... It must be an otherwise redundant single safety system completely independent of any other system, and one that should be checked at least annually by qualified service engineers. Having a properly working emergency stop should be a legal requirement enforced at all times - and subject to spot roadside inspections - with legal sanction against the owner and driver of any car so equipped should the car be being used when the emergency stop system is defective. This should be made no less an offense than driving with faulty tyres or brakes
ATB from George
Posted on: 09 February 2010 by Officer DBL
Whilst the idea of a emergency stop or deadman's handle works for agricultural vehicles (or trains), those types of vehicle are rarely out and about in traffic, so it is safe for such a device to be triggered in a field or on a track.
Imagine the chaos that would ensure were such a device fitted to cars and inadvertently triggered in heavy traffic.
The key problem is the liveware's inability to use the hardware correctly or to act correctly when things go wrong. Give the liveware a BIG RED BUTTON and you are on the road to mayhem.
On the whole, when it comes to driving I think that its the liveware that needs to be upgraded....
Posted on: 09 February 2010 by Guinnless
quote:
Originally posted by Marc Newman:
quote:
Originally posted by Derek Wright:
When not used to auto boxes I have gone straight from Drive thru neutral to Reverse while still going forward at 50mph. A bit of a screetch from the tires and then then realised error and put it into neutral and then drive. And on we went.....
I did that once on purpose. Don't ask me why but, A dog crossed in front of me and it was to close. I put it in reverse and slammed on the gas. I stopped. Bad neck ache,but I stopped. Quick. It was almost surreal.
MN
Presumably these vehicles now are sold on?
"One careful owner"
Cheers
Steve
Posted on: 09 February 2010 by Derek Wright
perhaps sold on as one owner but with many users - my experience was in a rental.
Posted on: 09 February 2010 by Guinnless
quote:
Originally posted by GFFJ:
Clearly there is a need for a large red "emergency engine stop" button as easily used as say the windscreen wiper switch to be compulsorily fitted on the dash board [firewall in USA] of all new cars, as they are becoming too complex to be used with safety by today's drivers. Driver training is more than obviously not enough.
Well people on here have gone for the transmission shifter instead of the brake during an emergency situation.
Maybe we could introduce an "emergency stop" into the driving test?
Seriously if people can't instinctively go for the brake in an emergency then a big button the the dash isn't going to be much use either, except maybe for the kids to press when the parents aren't looking.
quote:
This "emergency stop" button should be introduced with legislative force in all territories as soon as possible.
My 20 year old Honda has a red emergency stop button.
quote:
Strangely such an emergency stop has been a feature of almost all agricultural tractor made in the last sixty years. It cuts the fuel mechanically, without the need for any secondary system to be activated.
Tractors are often used as motive power for external machinery and have hand throttles so I suspect this is why they have an emergency cutoff.
quote:
The modern ignition key or button clearly will not serve as the steering may be locked in the process ... It must be an otherwise redundant single safety system completely independent of any other system, and one that should be checked at least annually by qualified service engineers. Having a properly working emergency stop should be a legal requirement enforced at all times - and subject to spot roadside inspections - with legal sanction against the owner and driver of any car so equipped should the car be being used when the emergency stop system is defective. This should be made no less an offense than driving with faulty tyres or brakes
One my 21 year old Sierra Cosworth the steering lock doesn't engage unless you remove the key. On Toyotas you need to press a button to remove the key.
We don't need a "numpty button" that numpties wouldn't think to use anyway. If they can't think to use the brake pedal and switch the ignition of then they shouldn't be on the road.
Anybody driving on the road with brake fluid over two years old has "faulty brakes", I would guess that this is most people. Not me though.
Cheers
Steve
Posted on: 09 February 2010 by Onthlam
quote:
Originally posted by Guinnless:
quote:
Originally posted by Marc Newman:
quote:
Originally posted by Derek Wright:
When not used to auto boxes I have gone straight from Drive thru neutral to Reverse while still going forward at 50mph. A bit of a screetch from the tires and then then realised error and put it into neutral and then drive. And on we went.....
I did that once on purpose. Don't ask me why but, A dog crossed in front of me and it was to close. I put it in reverse and slammed on the gas. I stopped. Bad neck ache,but I stopped. Quick. It was almost surreal.
MN
Presumably these vehicles now are sold on?
"One careful owner"
Cheers
Steve
As you might guess, I did not care at the time what may happen to the car. I was 18 or 19 years old. That car was not suited for rental after I get done with it.
MN
Posted on: 09 February 2010 by davie1967
i see that the car in which the family members died was a "loaner" .
in the Uk. if a car being aquired has any defects that are not spotted by the hirer and driven away then it becomes their fault if say, the police stop you and the 4 tyres are bald. or a headlight is out etc etc. pathetic law imho.
Posted on: 09 February 2010 by BigH47
You do sign to say the car you are hiring/loaning is in good shape, therefore you should actually look at the car before driving off.
Posted on: 09 February 2010 by gary1 (US)
No symapthy here for Toyota. These problems have been going on for years but as typical the govt agencies continued to give the Big Corporation a pass even when there were accidents and deaths from these malfunctions.
Same story different company.
Posted on: 11 February 2010 by mudwolf
now Honda has a big recall on air bags I think.
Posted on: 11 February 2010 by Onthlam
quote:
Originally posted by mudwolf:
now Honda has a big recall on air bags I think.
375 thousand of them.
