This is just... stupid
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Printed Date: 03 September 2026 at 11:51am
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Topic: This is just... stupid
Posted By: Tolgak
Subject: This is just... stupid
Date Posted: 09 March 2010 at 10:34am
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http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/us_runaway_prius - Runaway Prius Another stuck pedal. Why doesn't anybody think to throw the car in neutral and turn off the engine? How thick are these people who let their cars get away from them so easily? ------------- 
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Replies:
Posted By: merc
Date Posted: 09 March 2010 at 10:48am
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im so gunna rent a toyota and just speed by cops and then blame it on that crap... ------------- saving the world, one warship at a time. |
Posted By: FROG MAN
Date Posted: 09 March 2010 at 11:05am
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"After the car decelerated to about 50 mph, Sikes turned off the engine
and coasted to a halt." doesn't your steering wheel lock if your turn off your engine? ------------- <1 meg sig = bad> |
Posted By: DaveEllis
Date Posted: 09 March 2010 at 11:22am
If you remove the key it locks, but if you turn off the engine you depending on the position will have power or no power steering. And thank god he was driving a car with no muscle, that's probably the fastest a Prius has ever gone. |
FROG MAN wrote:Posted By: tallen702
Date Posted: 09 March 2010 at 11:46am
http://consumerist.com/2010/02/video-one-toyota-drivers-horror-story.html - Doesn't work that way
You're taking the complex computer controlled integrated systems in today's automobiles and trying to equate them with older technology or manual systems which, quite frankly, is like trying to compare a fly-by-wire modern Airbus with an old Ford Tri-Motor. Apples to oranges Tolga. The systems in modern automobiles, especially in technologically "advanced" vehicles like hybrids, are controlled by a central computer system which has virtually no redundant back-ups. It simply doesn't make any sense these days to not have backup systems in automobiles. While some systems such as the power steering are self-redundant (power steering isn't a critical system, it isn't even a primary system, it's a secondary system to the driver's own muscle-power) things like the throttle, brakes, and even the gear-box in an automatic aren't backed up by anything if the computer fails. Which brings me to ask this. Most all of us have back-ups for our computer systems because we know that computers crash. I store my valuable information on a solid-state hdd in another box which isn't hooked up to anything other than a power source to keep everything in working order. Why would a company such as Toyota, which I guarantee you backs up all of its computer systems at its offices, rely solely on computers to keep its customers safe? This is a big wake-up call for the whole industry. First and foremost, Chinese components can't be trusted to meet the standards of developed countries such as Japan and the US. Secondly, redundant safety systems are a must in cars, especially with the millions of people out there driving every single day. My Mazda has redundant back-ups. My Subaru had amazingly good redundant back-ups. Even my old '90 Camry had redundant back-ups. My Subaru had a shredded propeller shaft and it still worked. The teeth on 3rd gear had literally been stripped off and the propeller shaft snapped, but that car would still drive, and did drive for a week before I could get it back to the shop (200 miles away) albeit, it made some really really bad sounds. But Subaru has a build requirement in all of its cars since the mid 1990's when they started incorporating more technologically advanced systems. That requirement is a "limp home" ability which allows the driver to get the car where it needs to go even with the most catastrophic of failures. Why can't Toyota do this? Why can't they build in safety systems to back up their computers, especially in $30K-$40K cars which are considered "luxury" cars by the public? ------------- <Removed overly wide sig. Tsk, you know better.> |
Posted By: ParielIsBack
Date Posted: 09 March 2010 at 11:59am
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So, fail transmission then? Since it's not actually switching into neutral. ------------- BU Engineering 2012 |
Posted By: Tolgak
Date Posted: 09 March 2010 at 12:49pm
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Tallen She still didn't turn the engine off. Now, maybe there would be an issue if it was a push button starter, but I've never heard of a car that wont turn off when given the command to. Aside from that issue with the neutral position not working, I think people panic too much in these situations and just don't see the simple solutions. -------------
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Posted By: tallen702
Date Posted: 09 March 2010 at 12:55pm
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I doubt you'd be so calm as to find a "simple solution" in that kind of situation Tolga. Furthermore, there have been many reports that people have tried to turn the ignition off only to have the car not respond. As this woman said, even with the ignition off and the keys out, her radio was still playing meaning that the electrical disconnect wasn't even there, chances are turning off the key wouldn't have done anything. ------------- <Removed overly wide sig. Tsk, you know better.> |
Posted By: SSOK
Date Posted: 09 March 2010 at 1:07pm
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I like of the redneckish sloagans coming out of this. "Toyota: Moving Foward, even when you dont want to" and "Toyota: making me buy American one recall at a time". ------------- 
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Posted By: DeTrevni
Date Posted: 09 March 2010 at 1:10pm
Tolga:
To me this implied she did indeed try to turn off the motor. ------------- Evil Elvis: "Detrevni is definally like a hillbilly hippy from hell" 
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Posted By: RoboCop
Date Posted: 09 March 2010 at 3:12pm
This is why everyone should drive manual transmission.  Just smack it out of gear and let the engine rev like crazy.
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Posted By: __sneaky__
Date Posted: 09 March 2010 at 3:25pm
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^ Grenaded engine > Dead. ------------- "I AM a crossdresser." -Reb Cpl Forum Vice President RIP T&O Forum |
Posted By: Enos Shenk
Date Posted: 09 March 2010 at 3:38pm
Prius's are push-button starts. My dad owns one. Anyway...As posted, the problem is that a Prius is very computer-controlled. In even a modern non-hybrid the gas pedal just operates a cable that opens the throttle butterfly valve. On a Prius the gas pedal tells the computer to adjust the engine. I've been saying since this started that this is a software glitch. If the computer wigs out, the gas pedal physically does nothing because it's just a pedal on a potentiometer. If the computer wigs, the brakes on a hybrid will be compromised because a good portion of a hybrid's braking power is supplied by shutting down the engine and using the cylinders as air cushions, and switching the motors to generator mode, which induces drag. I should take my dad's Prius out and see if I can shut the car off while driving. Hell even a modern car will do nothing if you're desperate enough to try to drop it in park at speed. ------------- 
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Posted By: Rofl_Mao
Date Posted: 09 March 2010 at 4:51pm
lawl |
Posted By: ammolord
Date Posted: 09 March 2010 at 6:08pm
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Times im glad I can shift the transfer case on my jeep into nuteral if for some reson I cant shift the tranny. ------------- PSN Tag: AmmoLord XBL: xXAmmoLordXx ~Minister of Tinkering With Things That Go "BOOM!"(AKA Minister of Munitions)~ |
Posted By: usafpilot07
Date Posted: 09 March 2010 at 6:25pm
Just hire smaller ones, and stop killing them while you're on the bottom. ------------- Buffalo buffalo Buffalo buffalo buffalo buffalo Buffalo buffalo |
Posted By: ammolord
Date Posted: 09 March 2010 at 9:15pm
Im 95% sure you ment that for another topic. ------------- PSN Tag: AmmoLord XBL: xXAmmoLordXx ~Minister of Tinkering With Things That Go "BOOM!"(AKA Minister of Munitions)~ |
Posted By: jmac3
Date Posted: 09 March 2010 at 9:32pm
I am 95% sure he didn't. ------------- Que pasa? 
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Posted By: Tolgak
Date Posted: 09 March 2010 at 9:57pm
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OK. I'll admit it. Maybe them's ain't so stupid. All the previous being said, I never knew there were cars out there that wouldn't turn off when given the command. -------------
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Posted By: ParielIsBack
Date Posted: 09 March 2010 at 10:14pm
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Tranny. Think about it. ------------- BU Engineering 2012 |
Posted By: tallen702
Date Posted: 10 March 2010 at 1:03am
 ------------- <Removed overly wide sig. Tsk, you know better.> |
Posted By: mod98commando
Date Posted: 10 March 2010 at 2:16am
I initially felt the same way about all this runaway prius stuff and I'm shocked to find out that the computer has complete control over the vehicle. It's well-known that computers control the vast majority of functions in modern cars but, as Tallen said, there should always be some sort of backup. In all of the cars my family owns you can shift into neutral while driving, shut the engine off, or pull the e-brake and have it work regardless of what the computer wants to happen. I remember one time when my dad did something to our Ford Escort before we went out and the throttle got stuck while we were driving. The car started accelerating fast and once my dad realized the throttle was unresponsive he just threw it in neutral and pulled over so he could fix it. This happened probably at least 10 years ago but the car was recent enough that it still had a computer for a brain, controlling a whole bunch of stuff. It's pretty absurd that these Toyota's don't have any sort of "plan B" in case "stuff" hits the fan. They'll probably lose a huge amount of sales over this and rightfully so. ------------- oreomann33: Everybody invades Poland Rofl_Mao: And everyone eats turkey Me: But only if they're hungary Mack: Yeah but hungary people go russian through their food and end up with greece on everyth |
Posted By: DeTrevni
Date Posted: 10 March 2010 at 2:32am
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My next vehicle is going to be as basic as possible. I'm thinking an old truck. Roll-down windows, analog everything, carbeurated; just the basics. I'll probably have an auto transmission though. In a city like Houston, the stop-n-go driving is not conducive to a manual.
------------- Evil Elvis: "Detrevni is definally like a hillbilly hippy from hell"
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Posted By: Mack
Date Posted: 10 March 2010 at 10:10am
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Has anyone considered the fact that this might be happening with Prius's because they have become self-aware and decided to eliminate us?
------------- 
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Posted By: slackerr26
Date Posted: 10 March 2010 at 10:25am
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if the machines wanted to eliminate us, they would have chosen a vehicle better suited than the prius ------------- 
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Posted By: __sneaky__
Date Posted: 10 March 2010 at 10:41am
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No, the Prius is the perfect cover. It's meant to save the environment, but the process that goes into making a prius creates more environmental damage than a lifetime of driving a sports car or SUV. It's well known to be a slow car, but it will quickly show you what it can really do, even if you don't want it to.
Its obviously either a Japanese plot to kill America, or simply a sign that machines are ready to take us out. ------------- "I AM a crossdresser." -Reb Cpl Forum Vice President RIP T&O Forum |
Posted By: mod98commando
Date Posted: 10 March 2010 at 1:17pm
They are meant to save the environment by killing the very creatures who threaten it; us. We should make this a movie ------------- oreomann33: Everybody invades Poland Rofl_Mao: And everyone eats turkey Me: But only if they're hungary Mack: Yeah but hungary people go russian through their food and end up with greece on everyth |
Posted By: Eville
Date Posted: 10 March 2010 at 1:35pm
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I am waiting for the day when they all get together to form a giant, walking, murdering robot, like on Gundam. ------------- 
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Posted By: usafpilot07
Date Posted: 10 March 2010 at 2:05pm
Obviously you are both partially right, along with Mack. They are designed to save the enviroment. They have become self-aware. All they care about is their mission objective. And they have reprogrammed themselves to kill people instead of save gas. It's so clear. ------------- Buffalo buffalo Buffalo buffalo buffalo buffalo Buffalo buffalo |
Posted By: RoboCop
Date Posted: 10 March 2010 at 3:42pm
| iRobot reference |
Posted By: ammolord
Date Posted: 10 March 2010 at 4:45pm
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http://www.toyotasimulator.com/ - Here we go. ------------- PSN Tag: AmmoLord XBL: xXAmmoLordXx ~Minister of Tinkering With Things That Go "BOOM!"(AKA Minister of Munitions)~ |
Posted By: jmac3
Date Posted: 10 March 2010 at 9:27pm
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I am sick of hearing about crashes with Toyota vehicles. People just seem to try to use it as a cover I swear.
------------- Que pasa?
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Posted By: Eville
Date Posted: 10 March 2010 at 9:32pm
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I wonder if I could start burning Toyotas and claim self defense... -------------
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Posted By: MeanMan
Date Posted: 10 March 2010 at 11:01pm
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I want to rent a Toyota and see how fast they really do go... Eventually when my tires go flat at the end of the chase and I roll it, I'll say the Toyota did it. ------------- 
hybrid-sniper~"To be honest, if I see a player still using an Impulse I'm going to question their motives." |
Posted By: __sneaky__
Date Posted: 11 March 2010 at 12:09am
------------- "I AM a crossdresser." -Reb Cpl Forum Vice President RIP T&O Forum |