Feds to probe cause of runaway Prius in California

According to his own email reply to one of our members, he wants a new car from Toyota.

 

There was a brief news item yesterday that indicated Sykes had filed for bankruptcy in 2008, and that he currently is in debt over $700,000. Is it possible that the odds of a settlement with Toyota appeared better than a PowerBall jackpot?????

BTW, it seems that Toyota engineers are finding the same type of inconsistant evidence with the Prius that was a "runaway" in New York a short while back.

 

They just finished reading the EDR data from the crashed Prius in Westchester today: Toyota, government probers take on N.Y. Prius crash - Drive On: A conversation about the cars and trucks we drive - USATODAY.com

According to Toyota spokesman Wade Hoyt, the EDR data will reveal engine speed and pedal position. I'll bet it will show that the woman had stomped on the gas pedal rather than the brakes.

 

I can see it now ... Mr. Sikes is never charged with a crime, despite overwhelming evidence of foul play. Weeks later, when the dust has settled, his publisher leaks the forthcoming book "The Runaway Prius Hoax: If I did it, here's how it happened". In it are numerous facts, observations and conclusions quoted from PriusChat contributors.

 

Was Sikes by chance wearing gloves? If it don't fit, you must acquit!

I can see his new book title: 101 Ways to "Sike" the Whole World.

Or maybe: How to Win Friends and Sike People

 

As long as we get credit...

 

According to CBS news, "the "black box" data from a 2005 Toyota Prius that crashed in suburban New York March 9 showed that the driver did not apply the brakes as claimed."

Data Puts Another Prius Crash in Question - CBS News

 

Thanks. If that is in fact the case, then the high number of brake and gas applications seem acceptable. I may have read that the recorders are short duration but not sure in which case, such high numbers may not be physically realistic.

 

Correct. The EDR is limited to just a few seconds. On the other hand, the ECUs contain diagnostic codes and counters that can accumulate data over extended periods. Some of the ECU codes clear after a few starts, some have to be manually cleared with a scanner. It all depends on which code and what data.

Tom

 

With today's technology the EDR should store information longer than just a few seconds. At any rate, those final seconds seem to have vindicated Toyota in many of these recent incidents. Why don't people accept responsibility for their actions? How stupid are they to think that their assertions will be taken at face value? Maybe this is the last of it because now people will think twice before pointing fingers especially due to the high level of scrutiny now.

 

Again, thanks for the interesting info. Now the question to ask then is how long is the brake and gas pedal actuation recorded as Toyota indicated about 250 pedal activations. Hardly possible over a few seconds or minutes perhaps by manual leg pressing but realistic over a much longer time period.

 

None of us know for sure. Toyota indicated that the 250 activations were for the previous period of operation. Saying that differently, the ECU maintains the count from the last power-on/power-off cycle.

Tom

 

If that is the case, why did they bother to report that? To me it read like the driver pumped his gas and brakes which wore down the pads, not his high speed braking, implying something totally different.

 

That is the implication. During the drive in question, the driver operated the brakes *and* gas at the same time for at least 250 applications. Most people would infer that this was from a deliberate attempt to burn the brakes.

Tom

 

Now both sides have their stories....what's the latest development of this case (if any)?

 

Wait for the final report from NTHSA.

 

Since this Sykes guy is the cause for the current value drops can we not start a class action lawsuit for him causing the values to drop form is shenanigans (not like he has any money though)?

 

Yes, Prius owners should get together and hire a lawyer to sue this guy.

 

You mean under the water? :mod: