Albany,n.y. Posted November 25, 2009 Share Posted November 25, 2009 They were talking about the Toyota recall of cars to fix a potential gas pedal sticking problem on NBC and played audio of a crash where the people died when the gas pedal stuck. Too bad that with multiple people in the car, nobody told the driver to put the car in neutal, where the gas pedal sticking can no longer accelerate the car. So if you ever get a sticking gas pedal, shift the car to neutral, especially if there's slower traffic around you. I drive a stick shift and one time the accelerator switch in the engine temporarily got stuck. The 1st thing I did was hit the clutch so the acceleration would stop. Since I was on the Thruway, going fast anyway, I was able to mix the clutch & break until I got to the rest stop. The engine was going at pretty good RPMs but a blown engine is preferable to a high speed crash. Somehow the problem stopped when I turned the car off & then back on, but I still took the car in a day or 2 later when I could get an appointment. Edit: Since I was fixing the spelling, I had an added thought: The real problem I see with the crash they showed was the 911 tape. The 911 operator is supposed to be trained to talk to people in emergency situations. The 911 operator should have immediately said-"put it in neutral and hit the breaks and if the breaks still don't work, use the emergency break." Instead all the 911 operator did is listen to the driver in passengers panic without giving the solution. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Arkady Renko Posted November 26, 2009 Share Posted November 26, 2009 Good advice. At the same time, I hate how people are focusing on blaming the victim. People panic and do not always think. I don't think it's much to ask for a car not to accelerate on its own. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DC Tom Posted November 26, 2009 Share Posted November 26, 2009 They were talking about the Toyota recall of cars to fix a potential gas petal sticking problem on NBC and played audio of a crash where the people died when the gas petal stuck. Too bad that with multiple people in the car, nobody told the driver to put the car in neutal, where the gas petal sticking can no longer accelerate the car. So if you ever get a sticking gas petal, shift the car to neutral, especially if there's slower traffic around you. I drive a stick shift and one time the accelerator switch in the engine temporarily got stuck. The 1st thing I did was hit the clutch so the acceleration would stop. Since I was on the Thruway, going fast anyway, I was able to mix the clutch & break until I got to the rest stop. The engine was going at pretty good RPMs but a blown engine is preferable to a high speed crash. Somehow the problem stopped when I turned the car off & then back on, but I still took the car in a day or 2 later when I could get an appointment. Flowers have petals. Cars have pedals. Volkswagon Beetles often have both. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Poojer Posted November 26, 2009 Share Posted November 26, 2009 Flowers have petals. Cars have pedals. Volkswagon Beetles often have both. HAHAHAHAHAHA...awesome!!!! ;) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Albany,n.y. Posted November 26, 2009 Author Share Posted November 26, 2009 Flowers have petals. Cars have pedals. Volkswagon Beetles often have both. Brain fart, corrected Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ExiledInIllinois Posted November 26, 2009 Share Posted November 26, 2009 Good advice. At the same time, I hate how people are focusing on blaming the victim. People panic and do not always think. I don't think it's much to ask for a car not to accelerate on its own. I agree. On one hand people panic. Yet, are we becoming so desensitized that some forget how to operate a car. Gimme a break... My son rides in my Jeep and he laments how he has to remember to lock his own door and manually roll up his window! Sorry son, no power windows and remote key fob with power locks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ExiledInIllinois Posted November 26, 2009 Share Posted November 26, 2009 I remember my 1998 Rodeo that was recalled because of a pedal problem... They put a new pedal on. People were claiming that at stop lights the car would lurch forward while on the brake pedal. When I first got the car, I had similar problems... But quickly realized it was MY FAULT. I drive toe-heel and when I am on the brake with that car, my size 10.5 tends to dip on to the accelarator... The car would lurch causing me to almost panic. This NEVER happened with my wife who is smaller and doesn't toe-heel drive. Oh... The new pedal? Ya, it was slightly designed to be more to the right away from the brake pedal. I wonder if they are making these rice-burners for the smaller folk? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KD in CA Posted November 26, 2009 Share Posted November 26, 2009 Good advice. At the same time, I hate how people are focusing on blaming the victim. People panic and do not always think. I don't think it's much to ask for a car not to accelerate on its own. That's fair, but I also don't think it's much to ask that people who operate thousands of pounds of machinery that travel at very high rates of speed know the bare basics of how the machine works and what to do in an emergency. I'm not saying people should know how to rebuild the engine, but I wonder what % of drivers don't know what to do if the car overheats, the tire blows out or they start skidding on ice. IMO, part of the requirement for being issued a drivers' license should include demonstrating some basic knowledge about how cars operate, safety, maintenance, etc. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ExiledInIllinois Posted November 26, 2009 Share Posted November 26, 2009 That's fair, but I also don't think it's much to ask that people who operate thousands of pounds of machinery that travel at very high rates of speed know the bare basics of how the machine works and what to do in an emergency. I'm not saying people should know how to rebuild the engine, but I wonder what % of drivers don't know what to do if the car overheats, the tire blows out or they start skidding on ice. IMO, part of the requirement for being issued a drivers' license should include demonstrating some basic knowledge about how cars operate, safety, maintenance, etc. Don't even get me started with bicycles and boats. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DC Tom Posted November 26, 2009 Share Posted November 26, 2009 That's fair, but I also don't think it's much to ask that people who operate thousands of pounds of machinery that travel at very high rates of speed know the bare basics of how the machine works and what to do in an emergency. I'm not saying people should know how to rebuild the engine, but I wonder what % of drivers don't know what to do if the car overheats, the tire blows out or they start skidding on ice. IMO, part of the requirement for being issued a drivers' license should include demonstrating some basic knowledge about how cars operate, safety, maintenance, etc. But driving a car is an inalienable right, not a responsibility, so the government should be responsible for all of that ****... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ExiledInIllinois Posted November 26, 2009 Share Posted November 26, 2009 But driving a car is an inalienable right, not a responsibility, so the government should be responsible for all of that ****... I know you are being sarcastic... Don't get all "Cincy" on me... Driving to me is still a privilege. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Arkady Renko Posted November 28, 2009 Share Posted November 28, 2009 That's fair, but I also don't think it's much to ask that people who operate thousands of pounds of machinery that travel at very high rates of speed know the bare basics of how the machine works and what to do in an emergency. I'm not saying people should know how to rebuild the engine, but I wonder what % of drivers don't know what to do if the car overheats, the tire blows out or they start skidding on ice. IMO, part of the requirement for being issued a drivers' license should include demonstrating some basic knowledge about how cars operate, safety, maintenance, etc. You'd also think that a large car manufacturer that prides itself on safety would be able to make pedals and floor mats that don't do stuff like this. I agree with your idea about requiring people to learn more about how to deal with dangerous situations as you describe. I just frequent car enthusiast sites where people were immediately jumping in to talk about what an idiot the driver is for not knowing to put the car in neutral. It was a little too much "the people who get in accidents just don't know how to drive" and "it's never going to happen to me, I am not an idiot" stuff going on there. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
justnzane Posted November 28, 2009 Share Posted November 28, 2009 I know you are being sarcastic... Don't get all "Cincy" on me... Driving to me is still a privilege. My liberal brother i must disagree. As part of "life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness", you must have some form of transportation to meet all of those needs. I am pretty damn sure the gov't didn't intervene much with people riding carriages in comparison to the amount of legislation towards automobiles now and days. Privilege gives the impression the you can only drive at certain places and times. To me driving is a revocable right that you can have taken away from you if you break certain laws (DWI, driving thru hostess stores, etc...) or proven incapable of doing so (terrible reaction time due to effects from old age or from inexperience). In addition, the gov't shouldn't have to mandate seat belt laws. It legislation against your own stupidity. That should never be a ticketable offense. Simply put, it should just absolve the other driver if you get hurt from not wearing a seat belt. IMO, too much legislation of driving allows for too many cops to collect overinflated salaries for running radar traps. Simply put, they could actually cut part of the deficit in NY by consolidating down the number of state troopers. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ExiledInIllinois Posted November 28, 2009 Share Posted November 28, 2009 My liberal brother i must disagree. As part of "life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness", you must have some form of transportation to meet all of those needs. I am pretty damn sure the gov't didn't intervene much with people riding carriages in comparison to the amount of legislation towards automobiles now and days. Privilege gives the impression the you can only drive at certain places and times. To me driving is a revocable right that you can have taken away from you if you break certain laws (DWI, driving thru hostess stores, etc...) or proven incapable of doing so (terrible reaction time due to effects from old age or from inexperience). In addition, the gov't shouldn't have to mandate seat belt laws. It legislation against your own stupidity. That should never be a ticketable offense. Simply put, it should just absolve the other driver if you get hurt from not wearing a seat belt. IMO, too much legislation of driving allows for too many cops to collect overinflated salaries for running radar traps. Simply put, they could actually cut part of the deficit in NY by consolidating down the number of state troopers. 1. Ya, it is called your FEET. 2. I agree. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ExiledInIllinois Posted November 28, 2009 Share Posted November 28, 2009 You'd also think that a large car manufacturer that prides itself on safety would be able to make pedals and floor mats that don't do stuff like this. I agree with your idea about requiring people to learn more about how to deal with dangerous situations as you describe. I just frequent car enthusiast sites where people were immediately jumping in to talk about what an idiot the driver is for not knowing to put the car in neutral. It was a little too much "the people who get in accidents just don't know how to drive" and "it's never going to happen to me, I am not an idiot" stuff going on there. Hey... I am a neat freak. During the winter months, I usually put some newspaper down on the floor under the mats to keep my ride clean (the rugs)... Then they can be thrown out when they get spent... Besides, get caught in a blizzard and you have soomething to read. Anyway, my point is... By doing that... It didn't take me too long to figure out that you can't put too much around the accelarator area or bad things can happen. I think I may have a job lined up with Toyota. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DC Mom Posted December 8, 2009 Share Posted December 8, 2009 More on this story: http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/2009/de...sh-had-earlier/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ExiledInIllinois Posted December 8, 2009 Share Posted December 8, 2009 More on this story: http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/2009/de...sh-had-earlier/ Wow! I would feel bad if I was the dude with the loaner and this happened to me: Bernard reported that the receptionist said he should tell the detail specialist on the lot when he picked up his car. Bernard did not say anything further and assumed the receptionist would tell the appropriate people. I know it is not one's responsibility, but why leave it in the hands of a receptionist... Really it isn't her responsibility either. Go right to a service advisor. People are just flat out lazy... Don't like crossing the T's and dotting the I's. Never assume, you will make an ASS out of U and Me. EDIT: What gets me was the car was an effing loaner... Why baby it... It would get it to stop! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Just Jack Posted December 8, 2009 Share Posted December 8, 2009 Wow! I would feel bad if I was the dude with the loaner and this happened to me: Bernard reported that the receptionist said he should tell the detail specialist on the lot when he picked up his car. Bernard did not say anything further and assumed the receptionist would tell the appropriate people. I know it is not one's responsibility, but why leave it in the hands of a receptionist... Really it isn't her responsibility either. Go right to a service advisor. People are just flat out lazy... Don't like crossing the T's and dotting the I's. Never assume, you will make an ASS out of U and Me. EDIT: What gets me was the car was an effing loaner... Why baby it... It would get it to stop! I'd respond to your post but I figure someone else will do it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ExiledInIllinois Posted December 9, 2009 Share Posted December 9, 2009 I'd respond to your post but I figure someone else will do it. Been the story of my life! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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