Toyota Suspends Sales of 8 Models

[tussery]

Originally Posted by MoneyGuy

My Rav is on the list but I haven't seen a recall notice yet. Have they gone out yet?

http://pressroom.toyota.com/pr/tms/t...ry-102572.aspx

All that is available right now. You will receive notification in the mail.

[zamler]

Originally Posted by calculoso

If the accelerator is jammed, wouldn't shifting to Neutral blow your engine?

No. All modern engines have rev limiters, the engine will not over rev and destroy itself.

To clear up some misconceptions, the braking system on basically every car is more than capable of stopping the car, even if the engine is at full throttle. The problem comes in if the throttle is wide open and the driver pressed the brake pedal several times, this depletes the vacuum making the brakes far less effective. This happens because at wide open throttle, the vacuum to the brake booster drops to near zero. So what ends up happening is the brakes cannot be fully applied (unless you are the Hulk) so you get partial brake application, which heats up the pads to very high temperatures, making them essentially useless.

Most (if not all) German cars have a system in place that looks for certain conditions, and if they are met, will prevent a full throttle engine occurrence. In other words, if you mash the gas pedal, and slam on the brakes, the computer will reduce engine power, and there will be more than enough engine vacuum to assist the brakes and overpower the engine. For some bizarre reason, Toyota has no such fail safe put in software, so it is entirely possible that if the accelerator pedal mechanism gets stuck and puts the engine to full throttle, the driver could end up with a car that can't be stopped by using the brakes.

I am not sure exactly which models can easily be put in neutral and which cannot (if any) so I cannot say if people with a runaway Toyota simply could have just put the car in neutral and coasted to a stop. The tests I've seen on a couple of Toyota's showed that putting the car in neutral always stopped the car, but a frantic driver may not think of it, or not know exactly how to do it. (some models have a somewhat abstract gear selector)

[Bill Bumface]

Originally Posted by calculoso

If the accelerator is jammed, wouldn't shifting to Neutral blow your engine?

Many choose that over fatal collisions at 180km/h.

[Bill Bumface]

Originally Posted by zamler

No. All modern engines have rev limiters, the engine will not over rev and destroy itself.

Not true. I know for example that MKIV 1.8T Volkswagens did not.

You can also fade your brakes very quickly if you're full throttle in 3rd gear at high speed.

[zamler]

Originally Posted by hulkrogan

Not true. I know for example that MKIV 1.8T Volkswagens did not.

You're right I should have said most. But as you mentioned, a blown engine is highly desirable if the alternative means death.

Either way, call me old fashion, but I like to have mechanical links to the throttle and transmission. And I like a car with a physical key so I can turn off the engine when I want to, not when the car thinks it's okay to do so.

...and I would like to know how Toyota let something like this happen, it strikes me of just plain cutting corners.

[Acey]

The misconception in this thread is only a smidge of that in the general public. This news brought a smile to my face when I saw it this morning.

[zamler]

Originally Posted by Acey

This news brought a smile to my face when I saw it this morning.

Why?

[Acey]

If this will make people even one person consider going to other dealers for a look to see that Toyotas aren't the greatest things in the world and there are many other quality vehicles available, the world will be a better place.

[Canada 02]

Ford has halted production of some commercial vehicles which have the same accelerator issues. Will be interesting to see what other car company has this part manufactured by CTS

CTS makes gas pedal systems for various auto makers, though Toyota and Ford are the only ones to announce production stoppages.

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/repor...rticle1447265/

[zamler]

Originally Posted by Acey

If this will make people even one person consider going to other dealers for a look to see that Toyotas aren't the greatest things in the world and there are many other quality vehicles available, the world will be a better place.

I see. So if Toyota has to stop production, a few people crash their cars, or even some people die as a result of the flaw, it's worth it because "the world will be a better place" due to the fact that some will consider other vehicles besides a Toyota.

Great logic man, great logic.

[TimSJ]

Toyota added another 1.1 million vehicles to the recall today. Including the Vienza and Highlander as well now.

[Burninator]

Originally Posted by Acey

If this will make people even one person consider going to other dealers for a look to see that Toyotas aren't the greatest things in the world and there are many other quality vehicles available, the world will be a better place.

Wow, I am embarrassed, but I've completely forgot the name of that car company that has never had a major recall. Boy is my face red. I'm sure you could remind me.

[REDVAN]

Originally Posted by Burninator

Wow, I am embarrassed, but I've completely forgot the name of that car company that has never had a major recall. Boy is my face red. I'm sure you could remind me.

I understand your point, but disagree.

If this was GM saying they had a faulty pedal, this entire thread would be about how GM sucks and anyone who has a GM is an idiot. Just because it's Toyota (and Ford?) doesn't mean they shouldn't be held to the same criticism standard.

[Table 5]

Well, this is what happens when you've been making good cars for decades....you get some leeway from the public, and it takes a while for that position to change. They give you the benefit of the doubt. When you're GM, and you've been making crap for decades, do you really expect there not to be some residual skepticism? It will take decades of quality cars for them to get their reputation back.

Just because Toyota is making mistakes, doesn't mean that GM has suddenly become a better car.

[TimSJ]

The Wholesale Auctions in the US have also suspend the sale of the affected Toyota Models as of this afternoon.

[IliketoPuck]

I just need to find myself a nice American made car that has a gas tank essentially hidden behind the rear bumper. That way if I ever get rear ended I won't have to worry about whether or not I can get a new car with my insurance, since my car will be written off due to the ensuing fireball from the gastank. Can't wait to buy American.........

If your accelerator jams, put it in neutral and let the engine blow. This wasn't Toyota's fault necessarily, it was the supplier of the parts. From my understanding Toyota isn't the only company affected, just the one most affected.

[REDVAN]

Just saying that people are giving Toyota way more leeway than they'd give GM... and yes, rightfully so.

I wanna buy a cheap Toyota, who's selling?

[IliketoPuck]

I would say that if you looked at the track records for the last 20 years and compared Japanese manufacturers to American ones you would get a fair understanding of why people give Toyota a little more leeway in a situation like this. My parents bought a brand new Gremlin back in the day (ugly I know) it was a company car, so it was free. They literally drove it home and went to close the driver's side door and the inside panel fell off of the door. This was ~20 minutes into the ownership of the vehicle. And that was just the start of the laundry list of problems.

I will never buy an American car. Ever. They have about the same chance of getting my business as Telus or Direct Energy.....less than zero if that is possible.

Toyota will get this fixed, stop doing business with the parts supplier and life will be back to normal.

[burn_this_city]

Originally Posted by IliketoPuck

I just need to find myself a nice American made car that has a gas tank essentially hidden behind the rear bumper. That way if I ever get rear ended I won't have to worry about whether or not I can get a new car with my insurance, since my car will be written off due to the ensuing fireball from the gastank. Can't wait to buy American.........

If your accelerator jams, put it in neutral and let the engine blow. This wasn't Toyota's fault necessarily, it was the supplier of the parts. From my understanding Toyota isn't the only company affected, just the one most affected.

Yeah stay away from those 76 Pintos. All manufacturers use suppliers to provide the majority of the components. They should be testing the components and providing surveillance at the manufacturing facility to ensure a quality product.

Haha you realize AMC has been out of business for 25 years?

[IliketoPuck]

^ Haha of course. I just thought that was a pretty funny comparison. Someone could have kicked your back bumper in one of those and you'd go up in flames!