Toyota "Sudden Acceleration" Lawsuits

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Old Nov 5, 2009 | 04:46 AM
  #31  
code58's Avatar
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From: So. Cal.
Originally Posted by Labnerd
I think yer forgetting that most of todays automatics are electronic. Most have a "feature" that once the rpms pass 2500 the transmission cannot be shifted to protect the engine from overreving. This is where the electrical systems on todays cars/trucks suck. The vehicle is designed to protect itself from moron drivers and keep the car companys out of court. Unfortunately, these same systems can fail and they don't always default like they are suppose to. It only takes one sensor to default wrong and the ECM reads WOT and there is nothing you can do about it except turn off the key. In the case of the CHP officer, I would assume the guy would have tried that because of his training. Maybe at 100+ mph and the steering locked up after he got the key off is when he lost control.
Labnerd- This was a Lexus ES 350 I believe, and you are so right about not being able to shift above a certain RPM. My 1st thought was why didn't he shift to neutral or turn the key off. This car, like some others has keyless start and stop, and also electronic shift, no direct mechanical connection, only electronic. He was unable to turn the key off because you don't even put a key in the ignition, only needs to be on your person. He had tried to push the start/stop but it did nothing. Because it was a loaner ('09, from the dealer), he was not aware you have to hold the S/S button for 3 seconds to get it to shut off under emergency conditions like that. He was also not able to shift to neutral because of the RPM and he had already burned the brakes out trying to stop it. That was painful to listen to, because they were dead people, they just hadn't stopped breathing yet. And I, for one, DO NOT believe it was floor mat related. I have twice seen 1st hand uncommanded full throttle acceleration. Audi got away with murder a few years back. One of the cars I saw it with was one of those Audi's and it was without question, foot on the brake, uncommanded full throttle and only very quick thinking on the part of the co-worker moving the car that avoided a disaster.
 

Last edited by code58; Nov 9, 2009 at 03:12 AM.
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Old Nov 5, 2009 | 09:24 AM
  #32  
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Originally Posted by ManualF150
So some of you might say there is no time to do that... well... as a matter of fact there is. If you panic too much, you shouldn't be driving. Period.
Originally Posted by ManualF150
However, the interesting part... I should never drive an automatic... ever! First I accidently set the ebrake while going 70 mph when I was attempting to downshift... but there was no clutch; there was an ebrake. Secondly, when I panicked, I tore the shifter off... tore it off in the sense that the whole unit popped out of the center console. As I am screeching down a 65 mph road, there are a few cars behind me, and they veer off to not to rear end me. Here's the funny thing: I didn't know how to undo the parking brake. I was looking for a lever or a switch or something, I didn't know you had to press down on it again... but it took me like 2 or 3 minutes to figure it out, and it didn't help that I was stuck in the middle of a busy highway with people nearly rearending me every minute or so, and lots of looks, beeps, and the such. When I got destinated, I noticed that the rear tires were out of round, contributing to the aweful noise I was hearing after my little incident.
Originally Posted by ManualF150
People are victims of their own stupidity!
Sounds like you should turn in your drivers license.
 
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Old Nov 5, 2009 | 09:29 AM
  #33  
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I really want to learn how to drive stick
 
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Old Nov 5, 2009 | 09:38 PM
  #34  
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From: Pittsburg, Texas
Originally Posted by TruckGuy24
I really want to learn how to drive stick
shoot go learn! not that hard, i tought myself in a busted **** '86 honda
 
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Old Nov 5, 2009 | 10:12 PM
  #35  
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Ya, it's pretty easy. Just hold the throttle to the floor then dump the clutch.
 
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Old Nov 5, 2009 | 10:18 PM
  #36  
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Originally Posted by MTM Ford
Ya, it's pretty easy. Just hold the throttle to the floor then dump the clutch.
no! you gotta do like all the rich kids with their ss's and vipers that dont know squat about cars!

hold the gas at about 3k rpms and let the clutch out REEEEAAAL slow

you never get the smell of burnt clutch out of your car
 
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Old Nov 5, 2009 | 10:25 PM
  #37  
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From: Butler, Pennsylvania
Originally Posted by f150fella08
no! you gotta do like all the rich kids with their ss's and vipers that dont know squat about cars!

hold the gas at about 3k rpms and let the clutch out REEEEAAAL slow

you never get the smell of burnt clutch out of your car
I know exactly what you're saying. There's a kid that runs around here in a Integra. It seriously takes him 30-45 seconds to get the thing to move. He'll sit there at 3-4,000 RPM's and then half the time stalls it.
 
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Old Nov 5, 2009 | 10:48 PM
  #38  
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Originally Posted by MTM Ford
I know exactly what you're saying. There's a kid that runs around here in a Integra. It seriously takes him 30-45 seconds to get the thing to move. He'll sit there at 3-4,000 RPM's and then half the time stalls it.
that gets on my nerves. then when they try to race, they spin out instead of getting a good launch. geez i dont get whats so hard! you'd figure after driving one so long you would get it down, guess not

hell i taught myself, not hard at all after my trip through town, then onto a big city with lots of stop and go and roll backs
 
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Old Nov 6, 2009 | 10:09 AM
  #39  
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The only problem I really have is getting movin on a hill. I was drivin my buddies 89 150 when I was putting the oil pan on my truck. It was a 302 with a 4 speed and 4:11 gears. If you stalled it you were screwed cause it wouldn't start back up until it cooled down. Well, I wasn't payin attention and had it 4th gear at this red light on a hill and stalled it. Sat there for a while tryin to get it started back up, people goin around me flippin me off, honkin their horns. About 25 mins later I got it started slammed it in 1st gear and floored it. I thought the whole truck was gonna shake apart. It was the BIGGEST pile of junk I ever seen. But it had 330,000 miles on it, it leaked about 1 quart of oil an hour and never had anti-freeze in it but the SOB still ran, damn good for a matter of fact.
 
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Old Nov 6, 2009 | 11:31 AM
  #40  
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Anyone can learn! Just takes time and practice!
 
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Old Nov 6, 2009 | 07:25 PM
  #41  
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Originally Posted by avfrog
Anyone can learn! Just takes time and practice!
once you drive something like my first truck you can drive ANYTHING!
 
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Old Nov 6, 2009 | 07:50 PM
  #42  
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Originally Posted by ManualF150
Maybe I'm too old school...
Arent you what 19?
 
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Old Nov 7, 2009 | 07:43 AM
  #43  
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Originally Posted by Patman03SprCrw
Arent you what 19?
No.

I learned from me driving older vehicles and my Dad that old school is way better. I'd love to have a Chevelle SS with a 454 versus anything new if I wanted a car. I know a Chevy, but they were real cars back in their time just like how Ford used to be.

Actually there are a lot of older Ford vehicles I'd love to have.
 
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Old Nov 7, 2009 | 08:15 AM
  #44  
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From: Pittsburg, Texas
Originally Posted by ManualF150
No.

I learned from me driving older vehicles and my Dad that old school is way better. I'd love to have a Chevelle SS with a 454 versus anything new if I wanted a car. I know a Chevy, but they were real cars back in their time just like how Ford used to be.

Actually there are a lot of older Ford vehicles I'd love to have.
my old ford "changed its own oil" i just had to change the filter for it
 
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