OT: Lexus – Unsafe at any speed?

[paramount]

I had a Crown Vic that had a similiar problem where the throttle would get stuck quite frequently.

It seemed to be a problem related to vacuum not breaking during hard acceleration.

[equalizer]

[quote=jamsvet]You just can’t tell me that he wasn’t pressing down on the accelerator rather than the gas pedal. I drove an Audi and it happened to me. I could have sworn that I was on the brake but I was really on the gas. Luckily I figured out the problem in time.

No modern car can overcome the brakes. It’s just that simple. Don’t believe it? try it.

Even though he was a CHP officer, they are not gods. I am saddened by his and his families demise, but anyone can make a fatal error.

I don’t think that we will ever know the true reason for the crash, maybe that’s why they call them accidents.[/quote]
If the pedals are not indistinguishable, then why isn’t it a design flaw? Are the pedals in the Audi too close to each other or is the brake pedal too small? Are the Lexus mat holders or all-weather mats susceptible to operator error? If so, then it is a prima facie design error.

Lexus pedals aren’t too small or too close to each other. If mats are the cause, then bolt the damn things to the floor.

Audis-
“And the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration embarked on a lengthy investigation. The agency concluded that because the Audi’s accelerator and brake pedals were placed close together, inattentive drivers were confusing the two by pressing the accelerator when they intended to brake. Europeans, it should be noted, recorded no such incidents.”

American car drivers are used to large brake pedals. Import makers should design cars around customers needs and expectations.

http://blogs.thecarconnection.com/marty-blog/1020726_a-short-sad-history-of-so-called-sudden-acceleration

[equalizer]

[quote=jamsvet]You just can’t tell me that he wasn’t pressing down on the accelerator rather than the gas pedal. I drove an Audi and it happened to me. I could have sworn that I was on the brake but I was really on the gas. Luckily I figured out the problem in time.

No modern car can overcome the brakes. It’s just that simple. Don’t believe it? try it.

Even though he was a CHP officer, they are not gods. I am saddened by his and his families demise, but anyone can make a fatal error.

I don’t think that we will ever know the true reason for the crash, maybe that’s why they call them accidents.[/quote]
If the pedals are not indistinguishable, then why isn’t it a design flaw? Are the pedals in the Audi too close to each other or is the brake pedal too small? Are the Lexus mat holders or all-weather mats susceptible to operator error? If so, then it is a prima facie design error.

Lexus pedals aren’t too small or too close to each other. If mats are the cause, then bolt the damn things to the floor.

Audis-
“And the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration embarked on a lengthy investigation. The agency concluded that because the Audi’s accelerator and brake pedals were placed close together, inattentive drivers were confusing the two by pressing the accelerator when they intended to brake. Europeans, it should be noted, recorded no such incidents.”

American car drivers are used to large brake pedals. Import makers should design cars around customers needs and expectations.

http://blogs.thecarconnection.com/marty-blog/1020726_a-short-sad-history-of-so-called-sudden-acceleration

[equalizer]

[quote=jamsvet]You just can’t tell me that he wasn’t pressing down on the accelerator rather than the gas pedal. I drove an Audi and it happened to me. I could have sworn that I was on the brake but I was really on the gas. Luckily I figured out the problem in time.

No modern car can overcome the brakes. It’s just that simple. Don’t believe it? try it.

Even though he was a CHP officer, they are not gods. I am saddened by his and his families demise, but anyone can make a fatal error.

I don’t think that we will ever know the true reason for the crash, maybe that’s why they call them accidents.[/quote]
If the pedals are not indistinguishable, then why isn’t it a design flaw? Are the pedals in the Audi too close to each other or is the brake pedal too small? Are the Lexus mat holders or all-weather mats susceptible to operator error? If so, then it is a prima facie design error.

Lexus pedals aren’t too small or too close to each other. If mats are the cause, then bolt the damn things to the floor.

Audis-
“And the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration embarked on a lengthy investigation. The agency concluded that because the Audi’s accelerator and brake pedals were placed close together, inattentive drivers were confusing the two by pressing the accelerator when they intended to brake. Europeans, it should be noted, recorded no such incidents.”

American car drivers are used to large brake pedals. Import makers should design cars around customers needs and expectations.

http://blogs.thecarconnection.com/marty-blog/1020726_a-short-sad-history-of-so-called-sudden-acceleration

[equalizer]

[quote=jamsvet]You just can’t tell me that he wasn’t pressing down on the accelerator rather than the gas pedal. I drove an Audi and it happened to me. I could have sworn that I was on the brake but I was really on the gas. Luckily I figured out the problem in time.

No modern car can overcome the brakes. It’s just that simple. Don’t believe it? try it.

Even though he was a CHP officer, they are not gods. I am saddened by his and his families demise, but anyone can make a fatal error.

I don’t think that we will ever know the true reason for the crash, maybe that’s why they call them accidents.[/quote]
If the pedals are not indistinguishable, then why isn’t it a design flaw? Are the pedals in the Audi too close to each other or is the brake pedal too small? Are the Lexus mat holders or all-weather mats susceptible to operator error? If so, then it is a prima facie design error.

Lexus pedals aren’t too small or too close to each other. If mats are the cause, then bolt the damn things to the floor.

Audis-
“And the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration embarked on a lengthy investigation. The agency concluded that because the Audi’s accelerator and brake pedals were placed close together, inattentive drivers were confusing the two by pressing the accelerator when they intended to brake. Europeans, it should be noted, recorded no such incidents.”

American car drivers are used to large brake pedals. Import makers should design cars around customers needs and expectations.

http://blogs.thecarconnection.com/marty-blog/1020726_a-short-sad-history-of-so-called-sudden-acceleration

[equalizer]

[quote=jamsvet]You just can’t tell me that he wasn’t pressing down on the accelerator rather than the gas pedal. I drove an Audi and it happened to me. I could have sworn that I was on the brake but I was really on the gas. Luckily I figured out the problem in time.

No modern car can overcome the brakes. It’s just that simple. Don’t believe it? try it.

Even though he was a CHP officer, they are not gods. I am saddened by his and his families demise, but anyone can make a fatal error.

I don’t think that we will ever know the true reason for the crash, maybe that’s why they call them accidents.[/quote]
If the pedals are not indistinguishable, then why isn’t it a design flaw? Are the pedals in the Audi too close to each other or is the brake pedal too small? Are the Lexus mat holders or all-weather mats susceptible to operator error? If so, then it is a prima facie design error.

Lexus pedals aren’t too small or too close to each other. If mats are the cause, then bolt the damn things to the floor.

Audis-
“And the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration embarked on a lengthy investigation. The agency concluded that because the Audi’s accelerator and brake pedals were placed close together, inattentive drivers were confusing the two by pressing the accelerator when they intended to brake. Europeans, it should be noted, recorded no such incidents.”

American car drivers are used to large brake pedals. Import makers should design cars around customers needs and expectations.

http://blogs.thecarconnection.com/marty-blog/1020726_a-short-sad-history-of-so-called-sudden-acceleration

[equalizer]

Here’s a link to a professional Mechanical Engineer who studies this issue

http://mfes.com/suddenaccel.html

“A Different Problem: Stuck Throttles
A stuck throttle event may be termed a “sudden acceleration” by someone who experiences it, but it is, in fact, a very different problem. This phenomenon arises after the operator depresses the throttle pedal and releases it, but the throttle remains engaged to some degree. I have found throttles which failed to release fully for the following reasons at one time or another:

* deep-pile floor mats that hooked the pedal
* worn carb shot-pump barrel
* chafed housing that caused the inner cable to rust/stop moving smoothly
* pieces of debris that jammed the throttle plate open
* a misassembled airbox gasket that got sucked in and jammed the butterfly

[equalizer]

Here’s a link to a professional Mechanical Engineer who studies this issue

http://mfes.com/suddenaccel.html

“A Different Problem: Stuck Throttles
A stuck throttle event may be termed a “sudden acceleration” by someone who experiences it, but it is, in fact, a very different problem. This phenomenon arises after the operator depresses the throttle pedal and releases it, but the throttle remains engaged to some degree. I have found throttles which failed to release fully for the following reasons at one time or another:

* deep-pile floor mats that hooked the pedal
* worn carb shot-pump barrel
* chafed housing that caused the inner cable to rust/stop moving smoothly
* pieces of debris that jammed the throttle plate open
* a misassembled airbox gasket that got sucked in and jammed the butterfly

[equalizer]

Here’s a link to a professional Mechanical Engineer who studies this issue

http://mfes.com/suddenaccel.html

“A Different Problem: Stuck Throttles
A stuck throttle event may be termed a “sudden acceleration” by someone who experiences it, but it is, in fact, a very different problem. This phenomenon arises after the operator depresses the throttle pedal and releases it, but the throttle remains engaged to some degree. I have found throttles which failed to release fully for the following reasons at one time or another:

* deep-pile floor mats that hooked the pedal
* worn carb shot-pump barrel
* chafed housing that caused the inner cable to rust/stop moving smoothly
* pieces of debris that jammed the throttle plate open
* a misassembled airbox gasket that got sucked in and jammed the butterfly

[equalizer]

Here’s a link to a professional Mechanical Engineer who studies this issue

http://mfes.com/suddenaccel.html

“A Different Problem: Stuck Throttles
A stuck throttle event may be termed a “sudden acceleration” by someone who experiences it, but it is, in fact, a very different problem. This phenomenon arises after the operator depresses the throttle pedal and releases it, but the throttle remains engaged to some degree. I have found throttles which failed to release fully for the following reasons at one time or another:

* deep-pile floor mats that hooked the pedal
* worn carb shot-pump barrel
* chafed housing that caused the inner cable to rust/stop moving smoothly
* pieces of debris that jammed the throttle plate open
* a misassembled airbox gasket that got sucked in and jammed the butterfly

[equalizer]

Here’s a link to a professional Mechanical Engineer who studies this issue

http://mfes.com/suddenaccel.html

“A Different Problem: Stuck Throttles
A stuck throttle event may be termed a “sudden acceleration” by someone who experiences it, but it is, in fact, a very different problem. This phenomenon arises after the operator depresses the throttle pedal and releases it, but the throttle remains engaged to some degree. I have found throttles which failed to release fully for the following reasons at one time or another:

* deep-pile floor mats that hooked the pedal
* worn carb shot-pump barrel
* chafed housing that caused the inner cable to rust/stop moving smoothly
* pieces of debris that jammed the throttle plate open
* a misassembled airbox gasket that got sucked in and jammed the butterfly

[temeculaguy]

paramount, i don’t know if you still have it or if you bought it new but the used ones that were taxis or police cars had an issue that was caused by inordinate amount of time being in idle, it caused the idle air intake valve and other parts related to idling to fail, resulting in unintended acceleration. Not sure if you can blame the car since they are primarily used for cops and cabs, they idle well beyond what would be considered normal or tested for, probably more than 10x normal. If you think about it, both users pretty much live in the car, support aftermarket electronics and keep the ac going when not driving, so they idle more than they are driven, that cop or cab sitting there waiting for their next thing to do isn’t sitting in a car that has the engine off. The cop is wearing a vest and a few layers of clothes and the cabbie doesn’t want to roast his next fare. It’s a cheap fix and a friend of mine who encountered it said the dealer fixed it for free.

[temeculaguy]

paramount, i don’t know if you still have it or if you bought it new but the used ones that were taxis or police cars had an issue that was caused by inordinate amount of time being in idle, it caused the idle air intake valve and other parts related to idling to fail, resulting in unintended acceleration. Not sure if you can blame the car since they are primarily used for cops and cabs, they idle well beyond what would be considered normal or tested for, probably more than 10x normal. If you think about it, both users pretty much live in the car, support aftermarket electronics and keep the ac going when not driving, so they idle more than they are driven, that cop or cab sitting there waiting for their next thing to do isn’t sitting in a car that has the engine off. The cop is wearing a vest and a few layers of clothes and the cabbie doesn’t want to roast his next fare. It’s a cheap fix and a friend of mine who encountered it said the dealer fixed it for free.

[temeculaguy]

paramount, i don’t know if you still have it or if you bought it new but the used ones that were taxis or police cars had an issue that was caused by inordinate amount of time being in idle, it caused the idle air intake valve and other parts related to idling to fail, resulting in unintended acceleration. Not sure if you can blame the car since they are primarily used for cops and cabs, they idle well beyond what would be considered normal or tested for, probably more than 10x normal. If you think about it, both users pretty much live in the car, support aftermarket electronics and keep the ac going when not driving, so they idle more than they are driven, that cop or cab sitting there waiting for their next thing to do isn’t sitting in a car that has the engine off. The cop is wearing a vest and a few layers of clothes and the cabbie doesn’t want to roast his next fare. It’s a cheap fix and a friend of mine who encountered it said the dealer fixed it for free.

[temeculaguy]

paramount, i don’t know if you still have it or if you bought it new but the used ones that were taxis or police cars had an issue that was caused by inordinate amount of time being in idle, it caused the idle air intake valve and other parts related to idling to fail, resulting in unintended acceleration. Not sure if you can blame the car since they are primarily used for cops and cabs, they idle well beyond what would be considered normal or tested for, probably more than 10x normal. If you think about it, both users pretty much live in the car, support aftermarket electronics and keep the ac going when not driving, so they idle more than they are driven, that cop or cab sitting there waiting for their next thing to do isn’t sitting in a car that has the engine off. The cop is wearing a vest and a few layers of clothes and the cabbie doesn’t want to roast his next fare. It’s a cheap fix and a friend of mine who encountered it said the dealer fixed it for free.

[Author]

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