Toyota Recall 2 5

[bob9250]

I have read the previous question involving the Toyota recall and there was more things i was wondering about this incident. There is alot of talk about a "drive by wire" system.How does this system work? I also heard that Audi had the same problem about 20 years ago. What happened in that situation? Thank you for answering.

 

[TDAA]

Tsk Tsk... he said "retard"

Wasn't the whole point about slowing the car to a stop?

 

[izzmus]

I don't doubt that Audi issued a recall.

Audi also installed vacuum pumps to ensure that the brake booster absolutely, positively never lost vacuum. And then, they went to hydraulic brake assist.

As far as control is concerned, it works on the same principle as the Ford units.

 

[GregLocock]

One outcome of the Audi SUA witchhunt was that we had to fit interlocks, such that you could only start the engine if the T bar was in P or N, and your foot was on the brake.

Not the end of the world, but you the consumer ended up paying 10-50 bucks per car for that.



Cheers

Greg Locock


New here? Try reading these, they might help FAQ731-376

http://eng-tips.com/market.cfm?

 

[evelrod]

Better plan for more, Greg. I'm guessing the Toyota deal will add a few more bucks in "master shutoff"...

Rod

 

[TrackRat]

Cars already have a master shut-off. It's called the ignition switch... <LOL>

 

[izzmus]

That's not a master shutoff, it's just a request switch. It's still up to the electronics to decide if and when to shut things off.

You cannot cure human ignorance through technology. I have known people who were not aware that you could manually unlock a door in a power lock equipped car.

 

[TrackRat]

Maybe we could place the battery in the passenger seat with a quick release so the driver could toss it out the window when their car has "unintended acceleration"? Would that be a master cut-off is has Satan taken over control of these cars? <LOL>

 

[Nico3d3]

These electronic throttle pedal have been used for a long time on VW and Audi cars. In fact, all Volkswagen equipped with a TDI (diesel engine) are using this setup since more than 10 years.

 

[ivymike]

Would that be a master cut-off is has Satan taken over control of these cars?
jettisoning the batteries might work, but you'd also have to add an indicator light or flashing (up/down) arrow to show whether it was satan or the lord who had control... wouldn't want to inadvertently interrupt a miracle.

 

[NickJ67]

As mentioned above VW/Audi have been using FBW throttle on their TDIs for years. My '96 A6 has one but they have been around since '93, possibly a year so longer. They don't fail often, but when they do you get a car that will idle but nothing more. Mine has 203K miles without issues so far.
Pressing brake and throttle together does not cut the throttle, or at least not for several seconds - I'll have to do some more trials to see if anything happens if you persist. As the car is manual with a conventional ignition key, stopping shouldn't be an issue in any case.

Nick

 

[evelrod]

That's the "key", Nick...(pardon the pun)!

Rod

 

[BrianPetersen]

The VW/Audi system in my car will cut throttle immediately if you are on the accelerator pedal first and THEN step on the brake. It will allow the accelerator pedal input if you are on the brake first and then step on the accelerator; this is to allow heel/toe downshifting.

Here's the odd thing; despite the accelerator/brake interlock, VW/Audi are not excluded from "sudden acceleration" reports to NHTSA. It still happens to them. Operator error ...

 

[dgallup]

Sundays paper said the rate of reported uncontrolled acceleration problems has gone up 20 fold since the first of the year. Prius brake problem reports have go up much faster. Sounds like a mass hysteria to me.

 

[franzh]

In 1988, I was asked to test a Volvo that was supposed to exhibit the same problem, the engine overruning the brakes. In every case, I was able to bring the car to a stop (simutaneous application of brake and throttle in 10 mph increments from idle to 100 mph.) At higher speeds, I encountered brake fade but I was still able to control the vehicle.
The Volvo did have a mechanical throttle link (cable actuated).
I believe Ford recently did a study on their high performance Mustang and found that they could control it as well, and the Mustang has several times the wheel horsepower as the Camry or Prius.
Franz

eng-tips, by professional engineers for professional engineers
Please see FAQ731-376 for tips on how to make the best use of Eng-Tips Fora.

 

[TrackRat]

Now officials are starting to wonder what I wondered last week... Did the 94 mph Prius driver in CA create the situation to get media attention? They've inspected the vehicle and find nothing wrong with it. It has an over-ride so that when you apply the throttle and brakes it returns to idle - and it functions. According to engineers the electric motor would seize if what the driver reported actually happened, yet there is no seizure.

There appears to be nothing wrong with the vehicle and the brakes were not burned out and function fine. You would expect the brakes to be burned up if the driver was actually trying to stop over the long distance that he traveled.

It's impossible to prove the incident was staged, isn't it?

 

[thruthefence]

Saw the San Diego Prius guy on TV with his mouthpiece, squealing "No lawsuit is planned"!!

Heard the 911 operator several times suggesting knocking trans into neutral.

He says "I'm trying to control the car" (while talking on a cell phone)

This has 'balloon boy' part 2 all over it.

Neighbors and friends (?) say he's a grifter & BS artist.

 

[Ultraworld]

When Audi was going through the unintended acceleration debacle, they were 11th on the list of complaints. GM was number one. A California newspaper reports that one of the Prius complaint ants had just files for bankruptcy & was $700,000 in debt. The car had no brake pad material left on the front brakes.

 

[Ultraworld]

Great video. That needed to be said. I'm also tired of running over these things & Smart Cars in the left lane

 

[evelrod]

You must not live in SoCal....The traffic on the I 15 averages about 80 and the Prius things along with the crazies in the Smart for Two's run right along with them. Even the trucks in the "slow" lane are usually well over the speed limit. Only time I have any difficulty with them is climbing the hills going down to San Diego.

Rod