Toyota Drivers - SHIFT INTO NEUTRAL!

Originally Posted by SportEL

There is a simple solution. For emergencies, use the E-brake! Duh. Make sure to pull up fast and hard.

"Emergency Brake" is actually a misnomer. The correct term is parking brake. The NHTS or whomever creates the regulations for this brake in cars only requires that this brake be able to keep the car in a PARKED position. It is not required to be able to STOP the car.

The emergency brake is build into the traditional braking system. There are 2 separate systems in the hydraulic brake system (as you may know). In EL's, one system is the L front and R rear brake; the other 2 brakes are in another system.

IMO, a parking brake should NEVER be used in driving with the exception of drifting and other weight-shifting maneuvers, and if both hydraulic systems fail. Using the park brake usually locks the wheels, thereby making ABS useless and on a larger scale, the tires less able to grip the road.

When I was in highschool I was driving my mom's 2001 Camry. I came up to a t-intersection much faster than I meant to. Because I had heard the parking brake referred to as the "emergency brake," I figured my best bet was to yank that and slam on the regular brakes. Doing this prevented me from being able to steer the car under full braking (btw this is a HUGE asset of ABS--a great reason not to disable it) and simultaneously threw the back end of my car into a fish-tale. Had I known that the parking brake should not be used in an emergency, I probably could have stayed on the road and prevented the accident that ensued. All this from my driving instructor not telling me to never pull the parking brake while driving.

Originally Posted by florida

IMO, a parking brake should NEVER be used in driving with the exception of drifting and other weight-shifting maneuvers, and if both hydraulic systems fail. Using the park brake usually locks the wheels, thereby making ABS useless and on a larger scale, the tires less able to grip the road.

Agreed, pulling the e-brake is a terrible idea, especially for someone who isn't sure how to control the vehicle in that situation.

Guys, I was being sarcastic about the e-brake idea. Check my follow-up post, hahaha.

Originally Posted by Colinin

You make a good point, I'm not trying to downplay that Toyota seems to suddenly be having serious problems. That should not be happening.

However what if someone uses non-custom floor mats - in ANY brand of vehicle, it jams the accelerator and they have no one to blame but themselves for the problem... they should know how to use the car.

Also, for some people not having power steering could be an issue, especially at lower speeds when the force of the vehicle isn't behind it to help. A friend of mine, who's a girl (not to be sexist, just recounting a true story), had her power steering break and she had a really hard time driving the car where she wanted it to go. The concern is if the key is in the off position it locks the wheel and you lose complete steering.

Yeah...I don't know what the heck is happening and more importantly, if this is a widespread US problem or global...hmmm. Did everyone notice that the affected models were made in the US and Canada in a total of 5 plants? Did I also mention that Magna's been trying to supply parts to Toyota but always fail to do so because apparently North American vehicle engineers design things like mounting holes a bit bigger in case certain parts didn't fit nicely where as Toyota's parts don't leave any room for that and still Magna throws away more parts due to manufacturing inconsistencies!!! Did I mention that there was a Colbalt that was driven off the lot and an entire axle fell off due to a welding fault...also from Magna. This is one of many plants so I don't know how bad the standards are at other plants. Last year with the need to cut costs, is it possible that North American plants decided to "really cut costs" and let go of any quality that was left? Something to think about...lol.

Never go to off position while driving...even if you're going in a straight line...turn it to ACC so that you can still steer and remember, friction is the least of your non-powersteering problems when going 90mph. So unless the car doesn't turn off the engine when you tell it to...there's no reason why someone can't stop a car safely.

And yeah...don't rip the e-brake unless you know how to deal with that...but at 90mph...frig...don't do it! lol

Originally Posted by phoeniXfury

Yeah...I don't know what the heck is happening and more importantly, if this is a widespread US problem or global...hmmm. Did everyone notice that the affected models were made in the US and Canada in a total of 5 plants? Did I also mention that Magna's been trying to supply parts to Toyota but always fail to do so because apparently North American vehicle engineers design things like mounting holes a bit bigger in case certain parts didn't fit nicely where as Toyota's parts don't leave any room for that and still Magna throws away more parts due to manufacturing inconsistencies!!! Did I mention that there was a Colbalt that was driven off the lot and an entire axle fell off due to a welding fault...also from Magna. This is one of many plants so I don't know how bad the standards are at other plants. Last year with the need to cut costs, is it possible that North American plants decided to "really cut costs" and let go of any quality that was left? Something to think about...lol.

Never go to off position while driving...even if you're going in a straight line...turn it to ACC so that you can still steer and remember, friction is the least of your non-powersteering problems when going 90mph. So unless the car doesn't turn off the engine when you tell it to...there's no reason why someone can't stop a car safely.

And yeah...don't rip the e-brake unless you know how to deal with that...but at 90mph...frig...don't do it! lol

why is this stuff not common sense to people especially to police ?

Anyone hear about the accidents involving Toyota Prius, one on Monday and one Today. Both times pedals jammed. The one on Monday, the guy phoned the police and the police talked him through slowing it down going 95mph and a lady today drove into a stone wall.

Originally Posted by SportEL

Anyone hear about the accidents involving Toyota Prius, one on Monday and one Today. Both times pedals jammed. The one on Monday, the guy phoned the police and the police talked him through slowing it down going 95mph and a lady today drove into a stone wall.

lol thats wat the link on the first post is about

Originally Posted by cklwilliam2008

lol thats wat the link on the first post is about

Hahaha, I didn't even look at the first post. I thought we were just talking about the same old thing.

Here's the pic of the one that crashed into the wall.

looks like it'll pass crash safety at least...lol

no one teaches the police how a car works...it's no surprise most of them might not know how to handle a car either...especially those answering calls in a chair.

It is obvious that most of these crashes have nothing to do with the actual vehicle. Now people are just crashing because they want money or press exposure; or they are simply blaming regular crashes on their "stuck accelerator pedal." If someone was crashing from this kind of accident every day for the last 5 years we would have heard about it a long time ago.

Sport-- I wasn't directing my rant at you, just anybody that would listen, lol. I totally missed your funny follow up post. haha