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Author Topic: Tests cast doubt on runaway Prius account Post a Reply Back to Topics
REPLIES (newest first)
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honda0105
Champion Author Tallahassee

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Message Posted: Mar 15, 2010 8:46:43 PM

and in the mean time, no one even mentions GM's power steering issues (okay, I just did...)
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honda0105
Champion Author Tallahassee

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Message Posted: Mar 15, 2010 8:44:40 PM

sneakers, isn't it funny... if he's not suing, why have a lawyer in the first place?
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Sneakers55
Champion Author Houston

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Message Posted: Mar 15, 2010 4:07:19 PM

It's interesting that the guy says he's not going to sue, but his lawyer is sure getting a lot of air time!
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Sneakers55
Champion Author Houston

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Message Posted: Mar 15, 2010 3:11:01 PM

Martinman wrote:

>Toyota has not been able to "reproduce" the runaway event on a single
>vehicle they have tested - it's why they can't figure out what is wrong -
>and why the inside industry concensus is that this is an electrical
>issue with the ECM (engine control module).

Seems that there's a lot of data in the black boxes that's coming out now.

Something about 250 actuations of the brake pedal, none of them long enough to trigger the brake override.

>Toyota is using the republican tactic of trying to discredit the
>individual by attacking their perceived credibility.

That's NOT exclusive to Republicans. Democrats do it very well.

>It's a cheap tactic that is likely to backfire in Toyota's face.

It's not backfiring on the Stock Market. Toyota ADR's are up $1.10 a share.

And you've got Government Motors (call 'em like I see 'em) using my tax dollars to offer "Toyota assistance."
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rx7racerca
Champion Author Calgary

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Message Posted: Mar 15, 2010 12:14:47 PM

Martinman: or perhaps Toyota has been placed in the awkward position Audi was in the 80's with the 5000 and supposed "unintended acceleration" that in fact was eventually shown to be caused by driver error in pressing the gas instead of the brake, then continuing to squeeze harder on what they thought was the brake when the car surged unexpectedly. Which is to say, if Toyota blames operator error, they get branded the bad guy, just as Audi was, and suffered depressed sales for 15 years. So instead, Toyota has delivered numerous apologies, justified or not, but is still taking a beating in the media.
Worth pointing out - Toyota hasn't attacked the credibility of claimants - it's just that the media have actually started being a little more critical of claims - especially ones like the San Diego Prius where the story and actions of the driver don't add up, and past fraud and money problems of the claimant are easily uncovered.
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hauler43
Champion Author Oakland

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Message Posted: Mar 15, 2010 7:46:05 AM

What about the other reports of Toyota's speeding up have they been tested?
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LocalSpyGuy
Champion Author Tampa

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Message Posted: Mar 15, 2010 7:34:33 AM

I thought the story sounded a little suspicious when I first heard it.
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RdHogg
Champion Author Houston

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Message Posted: Mar 15, 2010 7:21:13 AM

Good Morning !!!
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bugc
Champion Author Boston

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Message Posted: Mar 15, 2010 7:17:37 AM

Some problems cannot be replicated by testing.
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jedintheshed
Champion Author Colorado Springs

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Message Posted: Mar 15, 2010 7:03:51 AM

It is a strange story indeed
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DerHahn
Champion Author Illinois

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Message Posted: Mar 15, 2010 6:59:47 AM

just get rid of the drive by wire and put the cable back. it's worked reliably for over a century.
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Buck_on_Bass
Champion Author Tennessee

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Message Posted: Mar 15, 2010 6:58:33 AM

As one post stated, the plot thickens. Other reports I have seen state the brakes were well worn but did not appear to have been worn from continuous application in this incident. The NHTSA bought the engine controller (computer) and some related hardware from the car owner.

There are a number of questions concerning the incident that are not answered yet. Maybe we'll learn more in Toyota's announcement later today.
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Beau2140
Champion Author New York

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Message Posted: Mar 15, 2010 6:58:04 AM

Maybe someone is looking for money.
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Daddybud
Champion Author North Carolina

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Message Posted: Mar 15, 2010 6:54:53 AM

Well, well, well.
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FuelOilOH
Champion Author Cleveland

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Message Posted: Mar 15, 2010 6:54:47 AM

There is a problem but this Prius incident is very strange.
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matman01
Champion Author Detroit

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Message Posted: Mar 15, 2010 6:51:26 AM

Maybe they should have let Mr. Sykes drive the thing!
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Bou
Champion Author Maine

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Message Posted: Mar 15, 2010 6:51:19 AM

We had a lot of could not duplicate problems with electrical systems while I was in the Naval Aviation, could happen to cars.
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mk9999
Champion Author Rochester

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Message Posted: Mar 15, 2010 6:51:09 AM

An excuse for a lawsuit?
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Zuman
Champion Author New York

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Message Posted: Mar 15, 2010 6:50:12 AM

Toyota's have ghost BOO.
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rvn4me
Champion Author Texas

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Message Posted: Mar 15, 2010 6:48:55 AM

Sounds like the story of the boy in the homemade balloon. Someone wanted some attention.
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TeachR06
Champion Author Raleigh

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Message Posted: Mar 15, 2010 6:48:43 AM

If toyota was the only one doing the testing I might be skeptical that they would deny the problem but with the independent investigators too, it's hard to figure out.
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no_monkey2002
Champion Author Tallahassee

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Message Posted: Mar 15, 2010 6:45:36 AM

anything is possible
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TomT2Lee
Champion Author Cincinnati

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Message Posted: Mar 15, 2010 6:45:12 AM

Just wait until the Hollywood movie comes out and the last vestiges of truth will be swept away.
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gasandgoAL
Champion Author Alabama

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Message Posted: Mar 15, 2010 6:43:49 AM

the whole incident sounded suspicious.
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LetItSnow
Champion Author Hartford

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Message Posted: Mar 15, 2010 6:43:37 AM

When I first heard the report of the runaway Toyota I thought - "hoax". However, I was hoping they might be able to find something with a smoking gun. I don't like that Toyota is so adamant that there is nothing wrong with their electronics. Electronics are so fickle.
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arinkrat17
Champion Author Twin Cities

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Message Posted: Mar 15, 2010 6:41:59 AM

enough about Toyota sick about hearing about them
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fltdoc
Champion Author Oklahoma

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Message Posted: Mar 15, 2010 6:41:49 AM

He may not have made the wisest decision!
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ifallsguy
Champion Author Minnesota

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Message Posted: Mar 15, 2010 6:41:45 AM

The big question is why his brakes don't show the expected wear
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tomok
Champion Author Portland

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Message Posted: Mar 15, 2010 6:40:40 AM

It’s an elusive computer bug - gotta’ find it and kill it, fast! Using wireless, electronic computer modules is not like the good physical connection made with a cable or other solid linkage. A cable is NOT affected by a bump in the road!
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JCUBE
Champion Author Michigan

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Message Posted: Mar 15, 2010 6:40:22 AM

They're covering their collective back sides, don't want to give any grounds for a law suit....Yoyota's not to blame.....HA!
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Skipper52
Champion Author Massachusetts

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Message Posted: Mar 15, 2010 6:39:20 AM

People will do anything to get a law suite and make money.
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FieroGT
Champion Author Twin Cities

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Message Posted: Mar 15, 2010 6:39:11 AM

Something intermittent. Not so surprising.
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MertieMan
Champion Author Lexington

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Message Posted: Mar 15, 2010 6:38:51 AM

The very reason that they can't replicate it is because it didn't happen legitimately to begin with. This guy is just trying to jump into a lawsuit against Toyota and now he has gotten caught with his pants down, so to speak.
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murushi
Champion Author Ontario

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Message Posted: Mar 15, 2010 6:37:11 AM

I'll reserve judgment for now. Too much conflicting info...
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SpaceCowboy9
Veteran Author Raleigh

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Message Posted: Mar 15, 2010 6:35:20 AM

Wouldn't surprise me if this James Sikes guy was either a union thug or on the Owe-bama payroll...
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Rick01
Champion Author Utah

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Message Posted: Mar 15, 2010 6:34:48 AM

Computers have glitches that are very hard to duplicate. This guy might too.
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jimraehl
Champion Author Utah

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Message Posted: Mar 15, 2010 6:32:45 AM

A firmware race condition is very hard to duplicate, but software such as VX Works can detect it.
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JimL1
Champion Author Phoenix

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Message Posted: Mar 15, 2010 6:31:40 AM

The consensus of opinion seems to be that this joker tried to be a copycat / "jump on the bandwagon" lawsuit, though he lacked the intelligence/knowledge to pull it off.
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Lukus
Champion Author Halifax

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Message Posted: Mar 15, 2010 6:31:25 AM

If a computer bug could be replicated easily then they would never make it to market. That is why computer programs go through rigourous testing before they go to market and still some flaws slip through.
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REKEY
Champion Author South Carolina

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Message Posted: Mar 15, 2010 6:30:34 AM

I wondered how a man could not know to put car in N or cut it off. It has been in papers for weeks. I guess 50 MPH must be his limit and then he freaks out.
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fcdriver
Champion Author Tennessee

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Message Posted: Mar 15, 2010 6:26:59 AM

i bet he ws just truying to get out of a speeding ticket
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Cheymike
Champion Author Wyoming

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Message Posted: Mar 15, 2010 6:24:33 AM

The telling truth in this is that his brakes showed no signs of being applied full strength for a sustained period of time. He could have braked, or simply turned off the key. The guy was looking for publicity and a lawsuit.
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epf
Champion Author Grand Rapids

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Message Posted: Mar 15, 2010 6:24:19 AM

This does not surprise me, hop of the litegation bandwagon.
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danny999
Champion Author Florida

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Message Posted: Mar 15, 2010 6:24:00 AM

some BOZO thought he was going to get rich quick by accusing Toyota OF MAKING A FAULTY CAR.cALIFORNIAN AT THAT.
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TheSnowstorm
Champion Author Montreal

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Message Posted: Mar 15, 2010 6:23:49 AM

The plot thickens....
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rocket_ron
Champion Author Grand Rapids

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Message Posted: Mar 15, 2010 6:23:10 AM

Hope they replaced the brakes first! Anyway, they have not been able to duplicate any of the occurrences. Just means that they have not found where the problem is yet. Until they do, each one of their cars are ticking time-bombs, regardless of if they had recall repairs completed.
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paneinthegas
Sophomore Author London

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Message Posted: Mar 15, 2010 6:22:37 AM

Don't you think that if Toyota could duplicate the problem that they would be able to solve the problem? The problem is intermitant. It doesn't happen to all Toyotas and it doesn't happen every time in the ones that do have the problem. They are not telling us anything we don't already know.
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turbosaab
Champion Author Cleveland

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Message Posted: Mar 15, 2010 6:22:30 AM

They can't explain the worn brakes. Even though Toyota can't reproduce the incident, clearly doesn't mean it didn't happen.
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billy44bo
Champion Author Mobile

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Message Posted: Mar 15, 2010 6:20:53 AM

Don1222 hit it right on the mark "Has Toyota been able to duplicate any of the 30 plus incidents? "
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BKool
Champion Author Michigan

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Message Posted: Mar 15, 2010 6:19:39 AM

Sikes must be investigated, maybe a Michael Moore plant:)
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