Class action suits are being “organized” I believe in all 50 states concerning"our" problem. Problem with trading it in is that some of us have the sort of ethical code that prevents us from passing on a dangerous machine to others. Not even thinking about the greatly reduced value the vehicles now have. My truck has become like a shotgun I inherited. The shotgun has a design flaw with its safety. I would never trade it in, use it again or sell it. Some day I will just take it in to the local police department and have it destroyed. It’s value is minimal. My 07 Tacoma "Christine"on the other cost me quite a bit and leaves me in a tough situation. As of today it still isn’t going to be recalled. It attempted to runaway quite severely twice in 07. 5 weeks ago was the last time it tried. It now seems to have settled down and I am able to control it. Toyota says I don’t have a problem.
Ok! Insult me, no worries. I have read many pages here and elsewhere. The bottom line is that there is a computer problem that is the cause— due to the lack of mechanical linkage. If a floor matt causes the problem, you should have nuts or hormone glands cut/removed instead of blaming Toyota. Some cars even have electric buttons for the shifter? How numbnuts. Do not buy these cars!! If you are after the most cup holders or oak thumb-rests, you are the problem! Have you ever designed a motor mount or clutch linkage? I have. It is not so easy! So many want something “new and improved” That was achieved in 1969 except for the little buttons for the TV and cruise control. Shut up!
This should be a wake-up call to all car manufactures, foreign and domestic. They have ALL had the same problem. The only answer is to get away from this “high tech” garbage and get back to 1940-50-60 basics for something so easy as a throttle control. Make it all mechanical, rods or cables to the throttle body. Eliminate the computer, or at least make a fail safe so if the brake is depressed, (12v signal from the brake light) it cancels the chip and tells it to IDLE. Come on, this is so simple! Hello flung some dung, just admit it and send out some new chips. I like BBQ. Get’er done If you want to make things hard to work on, then you pay the price. Stop the foolishness engineers. I would call you dirty words and say you wear funny tennis shoes, but will not go there. Just fix the chips get back to basics and from now on. Make parts easy to get to if you screw up again. Drive thru recall lanes. I like that. Thank You. woodcutter foresthill ca.
Cars very soon will not have throttle bodies. (or throttle plates) I hope you never fly—commercial airliners are flown by software for 90% or more of the flight’s duration these days, and all flight control surfaces are ‘drive-by-wire’.
While I get nostalgic for those old cars that are so simple, computers in cars are an overall vast improvement. Today’s computer controlled cars (process controlled really, for those with an engineering bent) are here to stay. Do you really want to go back to the days of cars spewing smoke and unburnt fuel? Of pumping the gas to prime the carb and set the choke, then pray it starts when it’s below zero? Of adjusting points every month or two? Of engines with 400+cid that make barely 200 at the wheels and get 9 MPG?
Other fun blasts from the past: carburetor backfires (and sometimes fires), engine run-on, vapor lock, fuel-line freeze up, “flooded” engines, stuck floats, dirty needle-valves. Straining to get the mixture just right, and then it isn’t any more when the outside temp is 20 degrees different.
I think a few bugs are a small price to pay for the ease and performance of modern vehicles. Toyota should have designed their software to return the engine to idle when the brake is depressed like so many other manufacturers have from the beginning of ‘drive-by-wire’ (Though it will be a shame when you can’t “powerbrake” your hotrod any more)
The bottom line is that there is a computer problem that is the cause
How did you come to that conclusion. Sorry…but it’s very obvious you have very very little technological knowledge.
" The bottom line is that there is a computer problem that is the cause "
Yes, I don’t recall anyone proving that yet. Does woodcutter have access to some information that none of the rest of us do? I’m sure the government would be very interested to hear from him/her if so.
We are told: "Simply put the car into neutral then turn the engine off."
MAY NOT BE SO SIMPLE! Check out these video clips:
TESTIMONY OF TOYOTA DRIVER WHO ‘LOST ALL CONTROL’
(after putting car in neutral and unable to turn off engine!!!)
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/8533129.stm
and
"IS TOYOTA’S SOFTWARE TO BLAME FOR SAFETY PROBLEMS"
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/8535477.stm
and the CA crash:
“911 Call Released from Crash that Prompted Initial Toyota/Lexus Floor Mat Recall”
(with police officer driving unable to stop vehicle)
http://www.cardealerreviews.org/?p=247148
"Witnesses saw flames coming from the front and rear tires of the speeding 2009 Lexus ES 350 before it crashed Aug. 28 in Santee, suggesting ?long, constant heavy braking,? said Sgt. Scott Hill, the lead sheriff’s investigator. "
As the OP, I say, to all responders and ESPECIALLY dma444 (who is flooding these forums with the same response), let’s close this thread. Therehave got to be a dozen of these already, so let’s close this one.