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Report: Toyota May Replace Gas Pedals in Floormat Recall

Discussion in 'Prius, Hybrid, EV and Alt-Fuel News' started by ggood, Nov 16, 2009.

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  1. ggood

    ggood Senior Member

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    Looks like Toyota's $0.05 solution to fixing the "sudden acceleration" issue with many of their models, including the 2004-2009 Prius, does not quite fly with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). According to a report in Reuters, Toyota is meeting the US government's demands to replace gas pedals in all effected models. Honestly, Toyota was asking for this type of bitch-slap response from the feds when their voluntary response was to fix this arguably deadly issue with a nickel's worth of zip-ties.
     
    #1 ggood, Nov 16, 2009
  2. EZW1

    EZW1 Active Member

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    Re: 1 voteBuzz up! Report: Toyota May Replace Gas Pedals in Floormat Recall

    Toyota will probably put in shorter pedals like those in an MGB.
     
    #2 EZW1, Nov 16, 2009
  3. JimboPalmer

    JimboPalmer Tsar of all the Rushers

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    Re: 1 voteBuzz up! Report: Toyota May Replace Gas Pedals in Floormat Recall

    Or hinged pedals, so you can tip it to let the floormat slide off.
     
    #3 JimboPalmer, Nov 16, 2009
  4. dogfriend

    dogfriend Human - Animal Hybrid

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    Re: 1 voteBuzz up! Report: Toyota May Replace Gas Pedals in Floormat Recall

    I'd rather see them replace the floor mats. I had to patch my drivers side because I wore a hole through the all weather mat.

    It should be all about me. :madgrin:
     
    #4 dogfriend, Nov 16, 2009
  5. mgb4tim

    mgb4tim Noob

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    Re: 1 voteBuzz up! Report: Toyota May Replace Gas Pedals in Floormat Recall

    I love my MGB!
     
    #5 mgb4tim, Nov 17, 2009
  6. KK6PD

    KK6PD _ . _ . / _ _ . _

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    Re: 1 voteBuzz up! Report: Toyota May Replace Gas Pedals in Floormat Recall

    Another "Cover Your nice person" solution, to a problem that does not really exist.

    Just make sure YOUR mats are clipped in properly, and NO after market mats on top of the existing mats!!!

    What next.......?????
     
    #6 KK6PD, Nov 17, 2009
  7. Danny

    Danny Admin/Founder
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    Thanks for posting the news, I've added it to the front page:

    Zip ties not good enough for the NHTSA; Toyota might replace gas pedals | PriusChat

     
    #7 Danny, Nov 17, 2009
  8. hm800x

    hm800x New Member

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    Re: 1 voteBuzz up! Report: Toyota May Replace Gas Pedals in Floormat Recall


    You're right, just another DRIVER'S responsibility trowed to the manufacturer.

    Next step I would say that any diagnosed stupid driver should be replaced or at least restrained to the passenger seat !!!
     
    #8 hm800x, Nov 17, 2009
  9. V8Cobrakid

    V8Cobrakid Green Handyman

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    I agree... Fix the stupid people... The pedals work fine if you have half a brain.
     
    #9 V8Cobrakid, Nov 18, 2009
  10. fuzzy1

    fuzzy1 Senior Member

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    It is far faster, easier, and cheaper to fix the pedals than to fix the people.
     
    #10 fuzzy1, Nov 18, 2009
    1 person likes this.
  11. RavenFan

    RavenFan New Member

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    Kind of a no brainer...two little holes in the floor mat...two little hooks sticking up out of the floor...and look! They line up...maybe the little hooks go into the little holes? Amazing how even stupid people can figure out things going into holes to reproduce but they can't figure it out for a floor mat :)
     
    #11 RavenFan, Nov 18, 2009
  12. HTMLSpinnr

    HTMLSpinnr Super Moderator
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    Despite the fact that I've been anal about ensuring my mats are on the hooks, if Toyota offers to shorten the accelerator pedal in the '04, I'll take them up on it because I couldn't promise my wife would be as diligent, nor could I promise that she'd know to go into neutral or press power in the unlikely event the mat became wedged on her car.

    Zip-ties = Fail.

    Shortened Accelerator - right move.
     
    #12 HTMLSpinnr, Nov 18, 2009
  13. Patrick Wong

    Patrick Wong DIY Enthusiast

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    The zip tie "fix" was lame. Changing the accelerator pedal should solve the floormat issue, if that issue even exists.

    However I think a hybrid vehicle ECU firmware change is needed that will positively reduce (not eliminate) engine power when the brake pedal is depressed. According to the 11/8 LA Times story, the drivers of at least some of the cars undergoing unexplained acceleration were able to find the brake pedal, based upon skid marks left, brakes catching on fire, etc.
    http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-fi-toyota-recall8-2009nov08,0,6120294.story
     
    #13 Patrick Wong, Nov 18, 2009
  14. dogfriend

    dogfriend Human - Animal Hybrid

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    Watch this video by Carolyn @ Luscious Garage. I think the very last part where she yells out an expletive is very interesting.

     
    #14 dogfriend, Nov 18, 2009
  15. The Electric Me

    The Electric Me Go Speed Go!

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    I for one thought the zip tie "solution" was brilliant. So it was cheap and utillitarian? But if applied, solved the problem. Applicable, instantly across Toyota's entire line. It was Toyota's way of saying "Houston, we have a prob.....hey how about zip ties?".

    Actually the Reuters article makes it sound like it's all still in negotiation. It will be interesting to see how this all plays out.
     
    #15 The Electric Me, Nov 18, 2009
  16. Rhino

    Rhino New Member

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    The average IQ is 100. That means that there are many people with lower IQ and/or mobility. Then there are many young and old people who may not be as updated with the latest issues and may not have the life experience. Further, foreigners (illiterates in English) who don't know any English. They may not have any Priuses in their home country. There are first time drivers (cute looking sons, daughters, fathers, mothers, grandmas, grandpas etc).

    These people don't deserve to die. This is not a life or death IQ physical dexterity test. I am glad we are a compassionate country who can reduce the risk for all these people.
     
    #16 Rhino, Nov 18, 2009
  17. KK6PD

    KK6PD _ . _ . / _ _ . _

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    Driving with out shoes, is A - STUPID, and B - in many states Illegal.....

    Other than that the system seems to work/....
     
    #17 KK6PD, Nov 18, 2009
  18. Politburo

    Politburo Active Member

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    Although it's accepted as common knowledge, it turns out that barefoot driving is not illegal in any state.
     
    #18 Politburo, Nov 18, 2009
  19. dogfriend

    dogfriend Human - Animal Hybrid

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    The point of the video above was not that she was driving barefoot (she did that so it was easier to see how she was manipulating the pedals) the point was how she was surprised by the rate that the car accelerated when she had the go pedal floored and released the brake pedal.

    Go Pedal held down by mat or otherwise activated + release brake = rapid acceleration (295 ft lbs worth)
     
    #19 dogfriend, Nov 18, 2009
  20. qbee42

    qbee42 My other car is a boat

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    Correct. There is a catch-all law where you can be cited if your bare feet prevent you from properly controlling the vehicle, but simply driving with bare feet is not illegal.

    Tom
     
    #20 qbee42, Nov 18, 2009
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