Dafuq? Woman's accelerator gets stuck

[Nintendesert]

If the article below is right, the car had a mechanical shifter and testing showed that the problem was not "reproducible" (is it ever?).

http://www.wheels.ca/news/insider-editorial-a-high-speed-nightmare/

I know how you can reproduce the problem, put the dumb :whiste: back behind the wheel.

 

[wirednuts]

I know how you can reproduce the problem, put the dumb :whiste: back behind the wheel.

so true

what does this lady do when the toaster is burning the bread? if she is consistent, i guess she puts paper towels on top of it to keep the fire from coming out then runs outside and calls 911 as she watches her house burn down. then likely go on to sue the bread manufacturer.

 

[jagec]

My car can't go into Neutral if it is being driven, I assume hers is the same.

I have never in my life seen a car that can't go into neutral while being driven. Not to say that it's impossible, but I've never seen it.

As for locking the steering wheel when you turn the car off, that's why I ALWAYS prefer ignition switches that go from Lock->Accessory->On->Start, where you have to push a button or push in the key go turn to Lock from Accessory.

The switches where you actually turn the key counterclockwise from Lock to get to Acc are bad news. Although most cars that I've driven require you to actually remove the key from the ignition before the wheel will lock if the car have been turned on.

 

[OrByte]

she is a heck of a driver!

I doubt she did all of this to avoid a dui/ticket. Essentially what some of you guys are saying is that she would rather put her life (and others) in danger in order to avoid a ticket....uhhh no that is doubtful.

I also doubt that the mechanics of the car somehow failed, and that's where my mind is at. I really want to know what happened to this car...if anything.

For now, based on evidence, that is all we have to go on...I just really would like to know what the heck happened to that vehicle?

 

[jagec]

Have you actually tried this? I have.

My Mazda 6 2003 totally locks the steering wheel when I turned it off in the middle of highway (I did out of sheer curiosity and turned it back on without probs).

I just looked at the owner's manual for the 2003 Mazda 6, and the only way to get into the Lock position from the Acc position is by pushing in the key (manual transmission) or putting the shifter in Park (automatic transmission). Furthermore, the steering wheel shouldn't actually be able to lock until the key is REMOVED. It's possible that the former owner of the car disabled these safety features, or that they are malfunctioning.

I doubt she did all of this to avoid a dui/ticket. Essentially what some of you guys are saying is that she would rather put her life (and others) in danger in order to avoid a ticket....uhhh no that is doubtful.

People are illogical. Plenty of people have run from the cops (and gotten into far worse trouble, or crashed) to avoid getting a ticket for expired registration and other minor nonsense.

Furthermore, while she may not have intended to go >100MPH for a while just to fool the cops, she might have started to run, then the gas got stuck and she panicked. At that point she could have easily screwed up the emergency recovery procedures. How many old people mistake the gas for the brakes every year?

 

[Imp]

Furthermore, while she may not have intended to go >100MPH for a while just to fool the cops, she might have started to run, then the gas got stuck and she panicked. At that point she could have easily screwed up the emergency recovery procedures. How many old people mistake the gas for the brakes every year?

None, duh.... It was the car's fault or the car company.

 

[Gunbuster]

You know how people are told not to ride the brakes. I bet something goes haywire in their head and they think they cant press the brakes until they get the accelerator unstuck/stop the engine from revving.

Only thing worse than stupid people is panicked stupid people. The 911 operator should be strung up for not simply and repeatedly saying "hold the ignition button" to turn off the vehicle.

 

[Imp]

"I'm sorry," Preston Carter told CNN affiliate KTLA. "I lost control of the car. The brakes failed, I think."

http://www.cnn.com/2012/08/29/us/california-school-crash/index.html?hpt=hp_t3

There you have it, "the brakes failed".

 

[wirednuts]

You know how people are told not to ride the brakes. I bet something goes haywire in their head and they think they cant press the brakes until they get the accelerator unstuck/stop the engine from revving.

Only thing worse than stupid people is panicked stupid people. The 911 operator should be strung up for not simply and repeatedly saying "hold the ignition button" to turn off the vehicle.

they stomp on the brakes at first then panic and start pumping them. at WOT, there is no vacuum so the brake booster fails as your pumping the brakes. at that point, most women are not strong enough to overcome the added resistance.

but if they would at first just put both feet on the brake, smash it down and hold it there they would stop. the trick is to not pump.. as soon as you do you just lost your brakes.

 

[wirednuts]

For now, based on evidence, that is all we have to go on...I just really would like to know what the heck happened to that vehicle?

sounds like a bad throttle cable to me. the fact that it finally stopped when she pulled UP on the gas pedal says it all to me.

my guess? she floored it trying to get around someone. likely in a bitchy mood. smashing the gas pedal down all the way made the cable hang up somehow. its not common of course but throttle cables have been known to stick.

then she pumped the brakes, lost those.

an hour later, she pulls up on the gas pedal and therefore the throttle cable is released from its hangup. engine rpm's wind down, vacuum is restored and the brakes are working again. so she stopped.

then she had to have the police officer put it in park because she is not a very intelligent person.

 

[DCal430]

Why not? How do you avoid engine braking such as on ice?

What vehicle?

When the Vehicle is being driven the shiftier is LOCKED. This is an Automatic transmission. Toyota Camery

 

[wirednuts]

When the Vehicle is being driven the shiftier is LOCKED. This is an Automatic transmission. Toyota Camery

are you sure it cant even go to neutral? that would be a shocking bad safety hazard... i know some cars wont go to park while being driven... but most actually do because even park is just neutral with a gear notch.

 

[DCal430]

are you sure it cant even go to neutral? that would be a shocking bad safety hazard... i know some cars wont go to park while being driven... but most actually do because even park is just neutral with a gear notch.

Nope, you cannot move the sifter at all.


I should clarify, the sifter will not move unless the break is fully pressed. I actually don't know what will happen if both the accelerator and break is pressed at the same time. I never actually tried shifting with both pressed together.

 

[JeffreyLebowski]

That sounds suspicious. The odds of the shifter failing, the starter button failing, and the accelerator sticking are pretty slim. I've driven a LOT of Sorrentos from that model year. Never had a problem.

You do understand most vehicles got away with mechanical linkages for most items and everything is computer controlled. CPU freaks out, all kinds of things can happen.
My mustang had a control module crap out and even though the car was drivable, no interior lights, or external lights worked, nor did power windows, AC, radio ect. 1 thing going bad can cause a slew of other things to go bad.

 

[wirednuts]

You do understand most vehicles got away with mechanical linkages for most items and everything is computer controlled. CPU freaks out, all kinds of things can happen.
My mustang had a control module crap out and even though the car was drivable, no interior lights, or external lights worked, nor did power windows, AC, radio ect. 1 thing going bad can cause a slew of other things to go bad.

im pretty sure most vehicles still connect to the tranny with a mechanical link or cable. there is assisted computer control on most of them now, but most cars arent 'fly by wire' yet

and that would be a body computer that went weird on you.. it shouldnt effect driving. most cars have 3 or more computers on them now. engine, body, tranny... etc...

 

[wirednuts]

Nope, you cannot move the sifter at all.


I should clarify, the sifter will not move unless the break is fully pressed. I actually don't know what will happen if both the accelerator and break is pressed at the same time. I never actually tried shifting with both pressed together.

i just dont get that. why would they lock the shifter when its in drive? i understand on all late model cars you have to press the brake to get it out of park... but why would they want the shiftier locked while in drive?

 

[halik]

sounds like a bad throttle cable to me. the fact that it finally stopped when she pulled UP on the gas pedal says it all to me.

my guess? she floored it trying to get around someone. likely in a bitchy mood. smashing the gas pedal down all the way made the cable hang up somehow. its not common of course but throttle cables have been known to stick.

then she pumped the brakes, lost those.

an hour later, she pulls up on the gas pedal and therefore the throttle cable is released from its hangup. engine rpm's wind down, vacuum is restored and the brakes are working again. so she stopped.

then she had to have the police officer put it in park because she is not a very intelligent person.

C note says that car doesn't have mechanical throttle linkage.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/10-11-Hyund...Truck_Parts_Accessories&vxp=mtr#ht_2532wt_744

 

[halik]

When the Vehicle is being driven the shiftier is LOCKED. This is an Automatic transmission. Toyota Camery

Nope, you cannot move the sifter at all.


I should clarify, the sifter will not move unless the break is fully pressed. I actually don't know what will happen if both the accelerator and break is pressed at the same time. I never actually tried shifting with both pressed together.

False. If you push on the brakes and push the button the shifter, you will get it into neutral. Some cars have the brake interlock on the auto shifter.

There's no such thing as "brakes full depressed", the pedal has one momentary switch, about an inch of travel will trip it (and your brake lights go on).

 

[Mark R]

Turning off the car is bad. You lose power stearing.

In any modern car, though, the breaks will overpower the accelerator. There's no excuse if she wasn't pushing the breaks. Ticket + driving school should be in her future.

Yes. You lose power steering, but if the car is rolling, even without power assist, the steering is easy to turn unless you have some form of physical disability.

The power steering went out on one of my old cars a while ago (burst pipe). I just cut the belt off (to avoid damaging the pump which now had no fluid in it) and drove it for the next week until I could get it booked in for someone to repair the pipe.

Sure, the steering was a bit stiff when parking - but when the car was rolling, you didn't really notice much.

I've also noticed some comments about shift locks. It's possible that things have changed in the last year or so, but even in 2010 cars, I've NEVER seen any form of transmoission lock between Drive and Neutral - at all. If you are in Drive, you can always shift to Neutral, there is no need to press the button on the selector stick, no need to press the brake. Other selections may be locked (e.g. Park to Reverse is locked unless the key is in, brake depressed AND selector button pressed). Certainly in a Lexus, there is absolutely no restriction whatsoever in shifting from drive to neutral - you can always shift just by nudging the lever - no buttons, no brakes. I'd imagine that a Camry was similar.

 

[Rudee]

The woman has what they call a very low Emotional IQ. That is, under stressful situations, she is unable to think and act quickly and logically.

 

[jupiter57]

When the Vehicle is being driven the shiftier is LOCKED. This is an Automatic transmission. Toyota Camery

are you sure it cant even go to neutral? that would be a shocking bad safety hazard... i know some cars wont go to park while being driven... but most actually do because even park is just neutral with a gear notch.

Nope, you cannot move the sifter at all.


I should clarify, the sifter will not move unless the break is fully pressed. I actually don't know what will happen if both the accelerator and break is pressed at the same time. I never actually tried shifting with both pressed together.

You too, DCal, need to make a visit to your Dealer or a reputable mechanic, as you have a serious safety issue.

I would not dare attempt to drive a vehicle in which all of the Safety features did not function correctly!

 

[LTC8K6]

When the Vehicle is being driven the shiftier is LOCKED. This is an Automatic transmission. Toyota Camery

Then it's broken. Get it fixed. You need to be able to change gears and use neutral and even downshift when coming down a long hill to control your speed.

 

[LTC8K6]

im pretty sure most vehicles still connect to the tranny with a mechanical link or cable. there is assisted computer control on most of them now, but most cars arent 'fly by wire' yet

and that would be a body computer that went weird on you.. it shouldnt effect driving. most cars have 3 or more computers on them now. engine, body, tranny... etc...

No, all modern cars with autos are shift by wire.

 

[alkemyst]

You too, DCal, need to make a visit to your Dealer or a reputable mechanic, as you have a serious safety issue.

I would not dare attempt to drive a vehicle in which all of the Safety features did not function correctly!

Being it's DCal, I'd ask is he pushing the button on the lever/knob in.

 

[eits]

that car should have a power button. hold and press the power button down for 3 seconds. if it doesn't have a power button, throw it in neutral.