Toyota Prius Speeds Out of Control on SoCal FWY

When will Toyota get it right?

A runaway Prius in San Diego that had to be stopped by a poilice cruiser. This is the latest in a number of continuing problems with the Prius.
Though I love my Prius, I hate corporations. I feel that the only thing that businesses care about is the mighty dollar. They feel there are acceptable losses.
I know that I will hear from those who attend The Church of Toyota and will believe and praise them blindly, but when I see something that is wrong, I won't close my eyes and continue to praise those responsible.

 

Re: TV Tease - CHP stops runaway Prius

I'm just amazed that people can have the presence of mind (and time) to get out their phones and dial 911 and talk on the phone while trying handle their runaway car, yet they cant figure out to just flick it into neutral. Crazy or what?

Flicking into neutral would be the best option on the prius in my opinion. The gear selector is only inches from the stearing wheel and it takes all of about 1 second (pulling it across) to select it.

 

Re: TV Tease - CHP stops runaway Prius

I'd like to try shifting into neutral at highway speeds. I'd also like to try shutting the car down while in "drive". Do you think either of these moves would damage the engine?

I was coasting in neutral in an empty parking lot and shut the engine down using the start/off button. It worked fine. I seem to remember having to wait a minute or two before the car would turn back on.

 

Re: TV Tease - CHP stops runaway Prius

FWIW, when you shift to N or use the Power button, you have to hold
the shifter in N or the depress the button for 3 seconds. A "flick" won't
do.

In this specific case, the driver is alleging that the go pedal itself got
stuck down when accelerating.

 

I watched with amusement as my wife "banged" the shifter into the stops and her confusion that it didn't 'stick.' She is much happier with a fixed position shifter. But I can see where having the shifter 'stick', like the NHW11, is more familiar to older drivers. I've speculated about what it would take to make a 'sticky' shifter:

• detents in ball with ball bearing and spring
• music wire assembly but "B" is tricky
• holding magnets and metal collar
• duct tape ... Ok, maybe too sticky

Bob Wilson

 

Re: When will Toyota get it right?

Don't let the fact there is no evidence or the results of an investigation into the incident yet stop a good corporation witch burning.

Is it possible that the driver is a numpty who has failed to understand the cruise control on his vehicle or the driver is attempting to cash in on the Toyota woes and media circus ? Both scenarios are completely possible in addition to mechanical or electronic failures amongst no doubt many others.

But to my mind Toyota are doing the right thing and now more than ever they will ensure that this is investigated utterly by the book. They know what's at stake and the world is watching.

So until then, I'll save my book of matches for a witch burning another day maybe. I'm not completely loyal to Toyota, I just prefer actual valid premises to accept an argument.

 

Re: TV Tease - CHP stops runaway Prius

Yes, you are correct about the 3 second timeframe. I have tried this and it did shut down the car.

Since the San Diego driver didn't do this when his car became a runaway, I conclude either he did not know to hold the button down for 3 seconds, or he was concerned about losing his power steering and power brakes. Also, I wonder if the steering wheel would lock in position when the car is powered off.

Hmmm, I've got several experiments to perform in an empty church lot.

 

Re: TV Tease - CHP stops runaway Prius

The guy was obviously speeding and when he saw the cop in his rear view mirror decided to fake the accelerator being stuck! What a hoax!

 

When this all plays out the facts will show this guy is a faker. He obviously saw the cops in his rear view miorror and was speeding so he faked the whole thing. What a joke!

 

Re: TV Tease - CHP stops runaway Prius

The Prius does not have a steering lock.

 

Yes he does have a good point. In fact, my thought regarding the Woz's complaints from a few weeks ago was just that (silly him!). However I think the DRCC is a new feature only from the 2010 Prius. The one in this incident was 2008.

 

Re: TV Tease - CHP stops runaway Prius

FWIW He said it takes a second:

I do find it hard to believe that he wouldn't just put it in "N"
After reading the article it says he called 911 right away, the actual driver said on the readio he tried to reach down and move the mat, then pull on the pedal. All this at 90+ Mph...and yet he said he couldn't talk on the phone and drive at the same time.
So he can't talk on the phone, but he can reach down and look away from the road?

 

1) Putting a car into neutral does not cause it to go from 90 to 0 immeadiately. People run out of gas all the time and manage to safely stop, generally in rush hour traffic, middle lane.
2) I do not know, but, does "B" have any sort of govenor on it ? Can you go 90 in "B" mode ? You might be better to go to "B" immeaiately, then "N".
3) As cars technologicly advance, people need to advance with them. Some people will never be able to get the blinking 12:00 off their VCR, while others use Blu Ray and HDMI. If you have a VCR and it is blinking 12:00, do not buy a new car. Look for a mid 80's checker. You will be much happier.

 

Re: TV Tease - CHP stops runaway Prius

pressing the power button for 3 seconds,as suggested, wouldn't the car go into Park and damage the transmission.
When I reach my destination, I press power, not P, to shut down and the car is in Park.
Isn't it?

 

Re: When will Toyota get it right?

Since we know that stomping on the brake of the Prius cuts the full throttle power, the story sounds like it's either a speeder trying to get out of a ticket, or a person looking to shake down Toyota for some cash.

Rumple

 

This report from the news and your highlighted text indicates the how really bad the drivers on the roads are. After all the press that this subject has received; after all the demonstrations by multiple organizations on how to handle this very situation; after driving for xx number of years the subject driver has no clue whatsoever what to do in an emergency nor what the physics of a 3200# vehicle might be.

He states that he was 'afraid' that the car was going to come to a screeching halt from 90 mph to 0 in a heartbeat causing him possibly to be rear-ended. Thus instead if shifting to Neutral and slowing gradulally with the flashers on ( presumably ) he simply continued on at 90 mph leading the CHP over hill and dale.

 

Unfortunately your wishes are going to go for naught. The vast vast majority of the driving public is either a) a lot luckier than the drivers in CA or b) a lot smarter, thus they have no issues and they continue to buy Toyotas and enjoy them.

Sorry to disappoint you.

 

Wrong answer:

I wonder how many media trucks surround this dealership?

Bob Wilson

 

Re: Run Away Prius

But the brakes didn't actually fail. As noted in the post just before yours the update stated the the CHP told him via loudspeaker to stand on the brakes and apply the parking brake.

Guess what happened? The Prius actually began to slow down from 90 to 50 when the brakes were applied. Hmmmm. [cough...bogus BS...cough]

 

Re: Run Away Prius

You don't have to worry, your fears are not founded in fact. Again try it. I've done it in both my vehicles at a normal highway speed of 65 mph. What happens at 65 mph when you shift to Neutral?

1. If you don't apply the brakes, then simply because of the momentum of the vehicle you coast and coast and coast and coast and coast slowing down ever so gently until surface friction and drag bring you to a stop. This is even more gentle and gradual than normal braking.
2. If you do apply the brakes, then since the wheels are disconnected from the power source you'll stop very very quickly but under complete control. It's exactly what any 3200# vehcile moving at 90 mph would do.

Apply the flashers, shift to Neutral and regain control. It's the easiest thing in the world to do. Life is very uncomplicated if you're prepared.