PissedCanuck
Champion Author
Toronto
Posts:3,837
Points:821,210
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Message Posted: Mar 11, 2010 8:39:12 PM
What happens if the "smart pedals" in these vehicles fail. Instead of having a vehicle suddenly takeoff from you, you now have a vehicle that suddenly grinds to a halt without any warning. Not good if an 18 wheeler is about to ram up your rear end!
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leissp
Rookie Author
Toronto
Posts:3
Points:15,235
Joined:Nov 2005
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Message Posted: Mar 11, 2010 8:36:53 PM
How about turning the key off! or this just a good way to avoid a speeding ticket?
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rx7racerca
All-Star Author
Calgary
Posts:679
Points:256,500
Joined:Sep 2008
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Message Posted: Mar 11, 2010 8:36:13 PM
Finally, some common sense. This issue of "unintended acceleration" has been investigated many times over the years, and consistently NHTSA, police and other organizations come to the conclusion of driver error - hitting the gas instead of the brake, and then compounding it by continuing to squeeze the gas, because after all, the driver thinks they hit the brake in the first place. Audi was unfairly tarred for this in 1986 with the Audi 5000, and it took nearly 15 years for their sales and reputation to recover, but in every single reported case it was ultimately concluded driver error, not electronic gremlins or ghosts in the machine, were to blame.
The fact this only ever happens in automatic transmission cars is very telling.
[Edited by: rx7racerca at 3/11/2010 9:37:02 PM EST]
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rollma2
All-Star Author
Montreal
Posts:655
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Message Posted: Mar 11, 2010 8:29:20 PM
wow, I wouldn't want to know what break problems are
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Patch44
Champion Author
Buffalo
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Message Posted: Mar 11, 2010 8:29:20 PM
If it works, install it.
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Hazelnut
Champion Author
Greensboro
Posts:1,886
Points:754,580
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Message Posted: Mar 11, 2010 8:24:54 PM
I think that Toyota is telling the truth that there is nothing wrong with their electronics. A friend of mine has a Toyota Sienna and its air bag light was flashing. He found that the passenger seat side was the common incident while surfing the Internet. Then he went and disconnected the electrical connectors under the passenger seat and reconnected them. The flashing light went away and the problem was solved.
In light of this, it seems to me that the Japanese connectors are not the same as American made connectors. We tend to make them more reliable under corrosive conditions, like salt in the winter. The Japanese do not and it is possible that the connector became oxidized and produced a slight electrical resistance. Now if they made the gas pedal to accelerate when it senses more resistance, how much more resistance will be added to the circuit when a connector becomes resistive instantly. Perhaps Toyota should invert the circuit to sense less resistance as accelerating and problem may be solved when the connectors become resistant. It will slow the car down but at least the driver will be able to pull over and stop the car (another life saved). This goes the same for the brakes that are electronically controlled. They need to reverse the effects of this mysterious resistance. If they were investigating the source of malfunction, they would have to disconnect the unit and test it, thereby resetting the contacts as clean surfaces on the connector.
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Yonkers111
Champion Author
Scranton
Posts:6,328
Points:536,820
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Message Posted: Mar 11, 2010 8:22:41 PM
We need to see that drivers know the difference between the peddles.
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Z51Corvette
Champion Author
Austin
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Message Posted: Mar 11, 2010 8:16:07 PM
Bad sensors, darned safety devices are most of the problem... they fail and accidents happen.
No smart brakes, thank you!
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Prodaddy
Champion Author
Houston
Posts:3,667
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Message Posted: Mar 11, 2010 8:12:58 PM
I agree with Dmax13
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Dmax13
Veteran Author
Denver
Posts:400
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Joined:Oct 2009
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Message Posted: Mar 11, 2010 8:11:05 PM
Better put throttle cables back in cars and do away with drive by wire.
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72_Monte
Champion Author
Twin Cities
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Joined:Aug 2005
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Message Posted: Mar 11, 2010 8:10:23 PM
It takes only a common idiot to not know how to stop their car in a crisis...BEFORE a crisis occurs.
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socaltazz
Rookie Author
Orange County
Posts:3
Points:2,315
Joined:Mar 2010
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Message Posted: Mar 11, 2010 8:04:51 PM
how many excuses we has been listen, but $$$$$ fix any problem, and guess, who pay that !!!
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cheap2010skate
Champion Author
Tampa
Posts:1,096
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Message Posted: Mar 11, 2010 8:04:02 PM
I've never had a problem with brakes. Can only imagine how terrifying that would be.
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AKmailman
All-Star Author
Alaska
Posts:731
Points:594,025
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Message Posted: Mar 11, 2010 7:59:46 PM
Add a few $$$ more to the price of a new car.
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Dancin
Champion Author
Toronto
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Message Posted: Mar 11, 2010 7:58:30 PM
In much the same way that a microswitch deactivates cruise control, why can't it deactivate this mysterious electrical brake ?
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jcurley
Champion Author
California
Posts:3,415
Points:839,815
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Message Posted: Mar 11, 2010 7:57:07 PM
I remember this problem in one type of car, possibly a VW, but the gas and brake pedal were very close to each other.
But the op-ed piece is an interesting read from someone with experience with this issue.
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