ABC News expert recreates sudden acceleration without CPU error code *UPDATED w/Toyota response

[DainBramaged]

Earlier today, ABC News released a report asserting that the cause of Toyota's unintended accelerations issues might not be a faulty accelerator mechanism, but an electronic flaw in the automaker's engine control unit – something that's been suspected, although never confirmed, for some time.

David Gilbert, an automotive technology professor at Souther Illinois University and ABC's primary source for the report, claims to be able to duplicate the effect by short-circuiting one of the controls, which could be caused by moisture, wear or a combination of factors in Toyota vehicles.

Although the report goes into specifics, seeing is believing, and ABC News has done just that, putting Brian Ross behind the wheel as Gilbert trips the switch. The results are rather shocking – particularly since the ECU doesn't record a fault. You can see it for yourself after the jump.

UPDATE: In response to the allegation that an electronic fault is the cause of the unintended acceleration issue, Toyota has released a statement saying that Gilbert talked with the automaker on the March 16 after wiring a Toyota Tundra in a similar manner and causing the acceleration. Make the jump for the release and draw your own conclusions.

http://www.autoblog.com/2010/02/22/video-smoking-gun-abc-news-expert-recreates-sudden-acceleratio/


Tip of the hat to dkf for pointing out this story.

[thereismore]

1. See the video. The car overcame its breaks. Scary. nt

[dkf]

2. It's one thing to read about it and another seeing how it happens.

I'm glad I don't have a Toyota but everyone I care most about does. Yup this makes me nervous.

I was telling my sister to throw her car into neutral if she has this problem then I read this tonight:


"Pastotnik said his cursory probe suggests that at full engine power, putting the car into neutral takes far more effort than normal. He also notes that the San Diego sheriff's department lacked the resources to test any of the electronics systems in the Lexus, and that the NHTSA has done no further testing."

http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20100222/BUSINESS01/2220370/&imw=Y&template=fullarticle
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x7774625

[aquart]

3. The fancy, expensive Lexus is a death trap?

[1776Forever]

4. Runaway Car kills CHP Officer and Family - San Diego 6 News Story (Sudden Acceleration) YouTube

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gZWPItpu2bM

[aquart]

5. Has anybody started compiling a count?

[1776Forever]

7. Toyota’s Acceleration Complaints Cite 34 Deaths

By Jeff Plungis and Kiyori Ueno

http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601087&sid=alg.mJTLdoko&pos=7

Feb. 16 (Bloomberg) -- Toyota Motor Corp. vehicles have been linked to 34 deaths by consumers filing complaints with the U.S. government over unexpected acceleration, according to the Transportation Department.

The total jumped by 13 fatalities since Jan. 27 as nine more filings were added to a database the department’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration uses to track deaths, injuries and consumer complaints.

[HughMoran]

42. Yikes!

Wow, the reporting on that piece was damning. I've had a throttle stick on an aftermarket floor mat (going 100MPH at the dragstrip, no less), but I immediately shit the car off and let it coast to a stop. Most people don't have the wherewithal to immediately grab the key and turn the engine off!

[DeschutesRiver]

9. What happens if you turn the ignition off, ie pull out the key? nt

[dkf]

10. I think you may lose control of the power steering.

[DeschutesRiver]

12. If the power steering died, then it would steer like the cars/trucks of my youth, yes?

So it would make it harder to steer, but not impossible to control? I still have an old truck without power steering - we just use it as a ranch truck now, but it is merely unpleasant to steer, not impossibly difficult.

It got me thinking that as a lessor of two evils in an out of control car, it might be better to wrestle with the steering like we used to do, rather than fight an electronic issue that has seized the car and won't let it stop accelerating.

But if this is true, then I have to wonder why people like that CHPS safety officer, who was killed along with his family, didn't think of doing it. Or anyone else. So there must be a problem with just pulling the key that I am missing?

[DainBramaged]

13. CHPS car didn't have a key, push-button start/stop

have to hold the button for 3 seconds to shut it off IN NEUTRAL or park, won't shut off in drive. New Corvettes have same system. I have a feeling after this, EVERYONE is going back to keyed ignitions.

[DeschutesRiver]

15. Oh - I am such a dinosaur that I forget that there are cars without keys now.

That explains it. Man, that would make a person so out of control in this kind of situation - I think you are right about how popular keyed ones will be again.

DH told me that he has seen ads for cars that will parallel park themselves. Add a keyless ignition and a faulty electronics component and imagine how that could go wrong in a big way. Seems like all the latest car innovations have to do with letting the vehicle make more decisions than the driver.

[ReverendDeuce]

26. Really?

EVERYONE, eh? I doubt it.

I've had keyless for almost five years now. The first thing I read in the manual was how to stop the engine in an emergency. It's not hard. But then, I am an enthusiast so I read the manual. :)

But seriously, if Toyota's software works as described in another post -- that's a huge software problem. Who thought that was a good way to program throttle control? Toyota needs to get thumped for it.

[DainBramaged]

28. You doubt it. OK. Come back here in a couple of years and we'll discuss it.

:eyes:

[DeschutesRiver]

29. So what is the procedure to use to stop the engine in an emergency? nt

[Statistical]

52. Shift to neutral. Then push and hold button.

Engine not connected to wheels is no emergency.

The thing is people don't plan and then panic (understandably).

Everyone today should take a look at their care and roleplay like car is accelerating out of control. Go through motions for shifting into neutral. Might save your life.

[madokie]

16. For all intent and purposes power steering only comes into play at slow parking

and parking lot speeds. at highway speeds it matters not if the power steering goes out or not you won't know it if you're the one with the steering wheel in your hand.

I'd say over 50% of the vehicles I've owned didn't have power steering. I'm damn near 62 years old.

[DainBramaged]

23. If the engine stops turning and the pump is mechanically connected by a belt

you will still have major problems turning against the resistance in the steering rack and pump.

[madokie]

59. Been there and done that and it's tougher to turn not one finger but turnable nonetheless

by design the power steering is, so in case of a failure in the pump, hoses or whatever, you can still steer it. A little tougher but not impossible. I'm speaking from experience here too. I spent 2/3s of my life as a single person with several girlfriends and I always took care of their autos for them, because I didn't like to see them get ripped off and the fact I was born a mechanically savvy person who can fix anything and if need be make a new part in some cases if the situation called for it. You can still drive a modern auto without the power steering working, I stand with that statement :hi:

[Tesha]

89. You're wrong. If the tires are rolling, the effort isn't much larger.

If you're traveling fast, there's essentially no extra effort at all.

Tesha

[dysfunctional press]

18. nope.

power steering without the power part is MUCH harder to steer than a car without power steering.

test it yourself- find a stretch of rural road, or a large empty parking lot...start driving, then switch to neutral, turn off the engine, and try steering the car while the car is coasting.

[DeschutesRiver]

30. Is it worse than slamming into an embankment at 113 mph?

I can't imagine so. At least it is something to try - of course if these are keyless ignitions, then it makes no difference.

[dysfunctional press]

34. what does one have to do with the other...?

you asked if power-steering without the power was akin to driving a car that doesn't come with power steering...and it's not the same type of steering at all.

[DeschutesRiver]

45. No, originally I asked what would happen if a person in the middle of a crisis turned off the key

to shut the malfunctioning engine off. Response was that one thing that would happen is that you would lose power steering. Which I was thinking wasn't nearly as likely to be fatal, as would continuing to let the car barrel into a solid object, pond, etc.

And that made me remember that I used to drive without power steering, and think maybe it was the lesser of two evils. At least until someone pointed out that losing power steering on a car that came with it might be a different deal than with a car that never was equipped with it.

I was trying to put myself in this situation and wondering how in the heck a person could survive such a thing intact. Never hurts to think some of these things through in advance of need.

[dysfunctional press]

55. and that wasn't the post i read, or responded to...but rather, this one-

If the power steering died, then it would steer like the cars/trucks of my youth, yes?

and of course, the answer is "no".

[DeschutesRiver]

56. I understood that you were likely focusing on that one sentence - it was

for me just part of the whole equation that I was wrestling with, ie what the heck could I or someone else do if this happened to us?

[Tesha]

90. Funny: I tried it just last night, under several different circumstances and I can confirm...

...that you have no idea what you're talking about, although you've
said it many places.

Tesha

[JoeyT]

38. You mean the ones where you had to wind the wheel around like you

were steering hard to port and got easier to turn when you went faster? My first car was non-power steering (or brakes!) too.

The answer is: Not exactly. They steer a little worse when the power steering is out since they're not designed to be manhandled around the way cars without power steering are. If you actually turn it off far enough to take the key out of the ignition, you're going to engage the anti-theft steering lock and you won't be able to turn the wheel at all.

[DeschutesRiver]

47. Thx - hadn't thought about anti-theft steering locks (never had them!). nt

[beevul]

39. Thats not really accurate.

"If the power steering died, then it would steer like the cars/trucks of my youth, yes?"

A vehicle with power steering thats non functional, steers harder than a vehicle with manual steering.


"So it would make it harder to steer, but not impossible to control?"

More or less true, but the degree of which depends on a lot of things - vehicle weight over the front end, contact patch of the steering tires, the speed one is travelling, the diameter of the steering wheel...


Generally speaking, a vehicle with failed power steering, is MUCH harder to steer than a vehicle with a manual box or rack.


I used to replace the power box in my chevelles with a manual box to reduce parasitic horsepower loss, and even with the weight of an all cast iron big block over the front wheels it was not too hard to steer.

With a power box and no belt though, it was a bear.

[DeschutesRiver]

48. dup. nt

[DeschutesRiver]

dup. nt

[DeschutesRiver]

49. Thx . Making me think that these Toyotas were just death traps once this acceleration started. nt

[Statistical]

44. Not it will be much harder to steer.

Cars before power steering geared so that the vehicle could be controlled manually. With power assist the gearing is changed because power assist function is assumed. It is very hard to steer a vehicle who has power steering that has failed. I know this from my Brother's car. Very hard. At high rate of speed it is unlikely you would be able to control the vehicle.

Shift to Neutral.

[DeschutesRiver]

50. About shifting to neutral?

I was thinking the same thing, and then read an article in the Bend Bulletin about a women in TX who had her Lexus accelerate for about 6 miles (link isn't there anymore).

She said she tried the emergency brake, putting it in neutral, and throwing it into reverse, and that none of those things worked. Thought she was going to die, and then the car slowed of its own accord.

Maybe she was panicked and wrong about trying neutral (understandable), but she did say she tried that with no effect.

[Statistical]

51. I read that and commented on that thread. I find her claim unlikely.

I an not saying she is wrong rather she was panicked and in a traumatic situation trying lots of different things franticly.

Not exactly a scientific experiment. Every car I have ever encountered shifting to neutral physically isolates the engine from the powertrain. The engine will roar, it will actually even rpm faster given same amount of fuel and less drag but there is no link to the wheels. Technically the car computer should keep it from redlining but even if it failed the high rpm damaged the engine it would be better than being connected to that engine.

Just in case I would try
First shift to neutral, apply brakes, check speedometer.

If speed still continues to increase THEN try shutting off the engine.

Just be aware without power brakes stopping distance will be longer. Don't pump breaks the emergency cylinder has only a limited amount of power assist pressure. firm solid pressure on breaks. Also without power steering turning the vehicle will be very tough.

[DeschutesRiver]

57. I read a local news article about this - didn't know there was a thread about her

or I didn't see that part (my dialup has been bad news lately).

I really thank you for the tips - this whole deal is just disturbing to imagine. I don't drive a Toyota but there is no reason to not think through such issues so that a bit of thought/mental preparation might help in an emergency, no matter what rig I am driving.

[thereismore]

35. And power breaks. But it would be better to break without power breaks than

with the engine in gear. The best thing is to shift to neutral and break, but people in panic obviously don't always do the right thing.

[Statistical]

53. The other problem with losing power brakes is reserve cylinder.

You have limited amount of fluid in reserve cylinder.

Often in panic people will pump the brakes which leads to reserve cylinder being depleted faster and then it is really hard to stop the car.

You are right: best solution is shift to neutral, apply brakes, and check speed. If speed is decreasing continue until car stopped and then turn off.

If car speed doesn't decrease turn off ignition and press and apply firm pressure to brakes (do not pump and do not slam them so they lock).

I will admit up front easier said in front of keyboard then behind out of control car.

[1776Forever]

6. Feb 24th House Oversight will hold a hearing titled: "Toyota Gas Pedals: Is the Public at Risk?"

You can watch it here:

http://oversight.house.gov/index.php?option=com_jcalpro&Itemid=2&extmode=view&extid=118

[Lerkfish]

8. there is at least one person in jail that shouldnt be due to this design flaw

I don't have the link, but someone at DU posted it over the last couple of days.
That guy should own Toyota.

[Trekologer]

11. There are a couple of points other than the obvious surface ones

1. The ECM (engine control module--the car's computer) doesn't cut out the engine when the accelerator is at WOT (wide open throttle) and the brakes are applied. It should do this for safety reasons, mainly because if you have full throttle + full brakes its probably because the car is runaway. That should be simple to implement in the ECM and apparently other manufacturer's drive-by-wire systems do this. This may be a significant design flaw.

2. The professor shorts the ECM with a resistor, not full voltage. This can be caused in a real-world situation by moisture or corrosion. Its my understanding that the ECM calculates the position of the gas pedal not directly via a position sensor but instead indirectly based on how far the petal is moving away from the previous position. So this would mean that the professor isn't simply telling the ECM that the petal is fully to the floor but that the petal is continuing to move. After a while the ECM should detect that its essentially seeing the petal move past the floor, drop to idle and throw a code for the accelerator positioning sensor fault and light the MIL (malfunction indicator light--the check engine light). The Toyota does not do this. This is a serious design flaw, possibly more than #1 because it accepts an input that should be impossible to occur.


I have been somewhat skeptical about the "unintended acceleration" scenario because I've seen several cases where the drive thinks that the are pressing the brake but instead are pressing the accelerator. Then since the car doesn't slow or stop, they press what they think is the brake more and the car accelerates out of control. However, seeing the video where a short can cause an acceleration and the ECM doesn't detect what should be invalid input, I think that this is real occurrence on Toyotas.

[Hassin Bin Sober]

88. I too have been skeptical of sudden acceleration claims. Because I was almost involved in one.

I was working at a Buick dealership way back when the first new Roadmasters came out - eARLY '90S. I jumped in a Roadmaster in the service department to jockey the car out of my way. I put my foot on what I thought was the brake, put it in gear, and AWAY I went - burning rubber from one end of the shop to another. When I pressed harder on the "brake" the car just went faster. Luckily for me, I caught my mistake before going through the door.

How I didn't run someone, a customer or mechanic, over in that busy shop was a minor miracle.

If I had been stopped, prior to catching my error, by another car or solid object I would SWEAR to this day it was the accelerator that stuck and it was not my error.

The car was one of the first issue models that Buick, for some stupid reason, didn't include the shift-lock mechanism. This was only a couple years after the Audi cases so shift locks were standard on all Buicks - except the first Roadmasters.


Every once in a while, we would have an incident involving one of of lot porters smashing up a bunch of used cars while jockeying - every one would SWEAR the accelerator stuck.

This is not to say these Toyota claims aren't for real. They seem like the real deal.

[CanonRay]

14. That's all the proof I need.

who gives a crap what Toyota says.

[Last Stand]

86. I have my own proof.

This has happened to me in my 09 prius. I thought I was nuts at first. Then it happened again. It happens when I use cruise control--the car surges forward as if the pedal is on the floor. Good thing I don't tailgate.

[tech9413]

17. After 30+ years doing electronics repair

Any time someone tells me that software "can't" be the problem, I call BS. I spent years and countless hours trying to solve problems that the manufacturer knew about. Hardware/design problems were easy to sort out. Software problems were much more elusive.

[Kablooie]

37. I'm baffled as to why Toyota techs didn't find this years ago. Software is easy to update.

In fact my Prius has had several routine software updates since I got it in 2004.

[Romulox]

19. CR is going to have to go ahead and recommend the car from that video anyhow! K/R

[rgbecker]

20. Reminds me of the F-16 or F-18 Fly by wire problems.

As an older car enthusiast, I can tell you, with the potential of electric fault in aged vehicles affected by salt and corrosion the control of cars using electronics will lead to trouble sooner or later. Give me a cable to a throttle plate any day over an electric switch to solenoid or CPU.

[JPZenger]

21. Fed. Highway Safety has no software or electrical engineers

NPR this morning had a report about the Congressional investigation of Toyota. They found that the National Highway Safety Agency does not have any electrical engineers or software engineers on staff, and therefore they were in no position to investigate the possible electronic defects.

[rgbecker]

22. GOP will tell you government is too big...no need for anybody like that.

[c brand]

24. Who's paying Brian Ross for scaremongering?

34 deaths over TEN YEARS

[DainBramaged]

25. OH, so that's acceptable? It's OK with you these people died?

Hmmmmmmmm. :wtf:


815 crashes, 341 injuries and 19 deaths since 1999 verified. ...

[DainBramaged]

27. You didn't answer, what, your tongue caught behind your eye tooth

can't see the crap you are spewing? Or should we say your finger placed in an orifice and stuck there?

[Renew Deal]

33. How many were paralyzed?

How many were mothers, fathers, brothers, sisters? How many were critical to their community? And how much does one get paid to post this sort of message?

[Iggo]

40. It's spelled I-R-O-N-Y.

;-)

[Iggo]

41. double post

[Cali_Democrat]

43. How's your salary at Toyota?

How are the benefits? :rofl:

[RamboLiberal]

46. How many deaths/injuries caused by this problem

Were written off to driver error? And how many drivers had the crap scared out of them by having this problem occur but managed to stop the car? And who the hell wants to play the lottery that their Toyota vehicle will be the next to have the problem?

Reminds me of the rudder problem in 737's. Hundreds if not thousands took off every day. Two crashed. Less than 200 lost. But wouldn't you want the goverment to demand that all 737's have this problem fixed.

[1776Forever]

54. The total jumped by 13 fatalities since Jan. 27, 2010 - where did you get 10 yrs. from?

http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601087&sid=alg.mJTLdoko&pos=7

Toyota’s Acceleration Complaints Cite 34 Deaths
By Jeff Plungis and Kiyori Ueno

Feb. 16 (Bloomberg) -- Toyota Motor Corp. vehicles have been linked to 34 deaths by consumers filing complaints with the U.S. government over unexpected acceleration, according to the Transportation Department.

The total jumped by 13 fatalities since Jan. 27 as nine more filings were added to a database the department’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration uses to track deaths, injuries and consumer complaints.

.....

Get your facts straight before you start calling people scaremongers! Check out the CHP officer and family killed in one of these crashes on YouTube here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gZWPItpu2bM

[beevul]

31. This whole issue...

This whole issue makes me love my chevy - an 85 s10 pickup - with its ignition key and no computer, even more. Just like I loved my s10-blazer, and all my American cars before it.


Well, ok, I didn't love my chevette...

[Renew Deal]

32. This video should be played at the House Commerce meeting!

They're criminals

[Kablooie]

36. Whoa. That sure indicates that Toyota has a major problem on it's hands.

[liam_laddie]

58. Somewhere in the owner's manual,

there's an entry stating that holding the start button in for three seconds will turn off the engine. Apparently it's near the back of a very large manual. Lessee, at 70 mph, and adding a minimum of 3/4 second for reaction time plus those three seconds, you'll travel about 350 feet before the engine shuts down (supposedly) while steering with one hand. THEN you can brake...
Drive-by-wire permits engineers and designers to avoid pesky issues like snaking actual mechanical linkage such as cable or rod-and-lever through the structure. I'll settle for older mechanical systems.

[Romulox]

60. Kick! nt

[taught_me_patience]

61. ABC news has been doing excessive hit pieces on Toyota

seriously... there has been some extreme biased reporting from ABC since the beginning of this scandal.

[DainBramaged]

62. Really you call it biased and hit pieces?

You know what was stated ON THE RECORD a few minutes ago during the hearings? It's live on C-SPAN. OF THE CARS WHERE PEOPLE DIED OR WERE INVOLVED IN ACCIDENT DUE TO UNINTENDED ACCELERATION, THE PART IN THOSE CARS WAS NOT MADE BY CTS BUT MADE IN JAPAN.


Stick that in your pipe and smoke it......

[taught_me_patience]

64. When they spend 20 minutes on it

and all other "stories" get 1 minute, I call it sensationalism.

[DainBramaged]

66. I've spent HOURS on it am I biased or am I shining sunlight on a serious issue

Toyota has tried to shove under the rug on too many occasions at the expense of 36 lives, hundreds of injuries, and BILLIONS of dollars in value lost to Toyota owners.

I don't think you have a clue.

[taught_me_patience]

67. You are biased... it's clear.

But you're an indiviual stating and opinion and not a news organization.

[951-Riverside]

68. Arent you projecting? n/t

[DainBramaged]

70. And so are you, too bad

I've stood here for YEARS defending the Domestic auto industry, the UAW and the workers of this country to enable the right to a living wage and a job that promises a future.

What have you done?

[taught_me_patience]

85. I was the ONLY advocate for unions in my MBA class

I support labor. I work for a company that employs union workers (Actors, Writers, and Labor).
I'm not a scab. I refused to watch TV shows created by scabs. I go out of my way to purchase goods made in America. I work for a company that still manufactures in America. My mother owns a company that manufactures in America and pays health insurance for all employees.

[DainBramaged]

87. But you defend the japanese auto industry......

confused, maybe, hypocrite, definitely.

[blue_onyx]

74. Yeah right

Care to post links to the 20 minute segments you mention? I have watched ABC and they have never spent the entire show on Toyota.

[taught_me_patience]

77. It was the morning show w/ Stephanopolis (sp)

The first segment of the show is about 25 minutes. They spent about 20 of it on Toyota a couple of weeks ago. I know what I saw. Very shortly after that, Toyota announced they would stop advertising on ABC and I clearly understoon why.

[blue_onyx]

80. Actually it was a few Toyota dealers

in the south that pulled their advertising from ABC. ABC is reporting the news. It is unfavorable news for Toyota but that's Toyota's fault. Like I said, your problem is that they are reporting negative info on a corporation you worship, for some reason.

The fact that you actually support the use of corporate ad money to try to punish a news organization is sad. The influence of corporate money, both in the news and the political system, is a big problem for our country. I guess you don't mind the influence of corporate money as long as it's a corporation you love.

BTW, pulling their ad money made them look even more foolish.

[taught_me_patience]

81. They were excessive in their coverage

I really don't care about Toyota. However, I notice when they spend 20 min on one story and give other stories 1 min. what ABC did was blatant.

[DainBramaged]

82. I'm waiting for your answer to my question up thread

taptaptaptaptap

[951-Riverside]

65. ABC Investigating and reporting deadly faults is now considered "biased"?

...shameful.

[taught_me_patience]

78. Spending excessive time on it is

they have been fearmongering.

[DainBramaged]

83. So have the Republicans

[DevonRex]

69. So you don't care about the deaths that have happened and that ABC might be preventing?

Good grief.

[DainBramaged]

71. I may be a shil for GM, but some of these Toyota shills are heartless

[DevonRex]

75. Seriously. Why the hell wouldn't people want to KNOW

that Toyota is either lying or doesn't frickin' KNOW what the problem is. Either way, the "fix" isn't likely to "fix" the problem, is it?

Do they just not care that people are dying?

[DainBramaged]

76. Because they won't face facts, or are not who they claim they are.....

[DevonRex]

79. You nailed it.

I'm astonished at all the pro-Toyota posts on this board lately. And that the anti-Toyota posts get unrecced.

Their vehicles are killing people. Their plants in the US aren't union plants. They slap huge taxes on OUR vehicles over there, yet sell THEIR cars here dirt cheap here so that OUR automakers can barely compete. What the heck is to like about Toyota or Japanese and Korean cars?

My son is in Korea. Did you know that Kia and Hyundai sell for twice as much over there? And that is the result of them placing HUGE taxes on American and other imported cars. That means that American cars cost a frickin' FORTUNE over there, so nobody buys them. And it also means they can charge WAY more there for their own cars, thus supporting their own auto industry.

In the meantime, the Korean economy is doing pretty darned well. And they have great health care. :mad:

[blue_onyx]

73. What has Toyota done....

to make some people so blindly loyal. It is a corporation that doesn't care about people yet some defend the company as if it's their child.

So reporting Toyota's quality problems is bias? Interesting. I have a feeling that if it was GM and not Toyota, you wouldn't see any bias. I guess ABC should be like David Shuster of MSNBC and plead for people to give Toyota some kindness and consideration.

[woo me with science]

63. Regarding the update,

I don't know enough about cars to generate my own conclusions. I would like to hear how DU-ers who do know about cars interpret Toyota's response to the video:



PRESS RELEASE

Toyota's Statement in Regard to ABC News Story: Expert Recreates Sudden Acceleration in Toyota

Toyota spoke with Mr. Gilbert on February 16 in an effort to understand his concerns. During this discussion, Mr. Gilbert explained that he had connected a resistor between the output wires of the two accelerator pedal sensors on a Toyota Tundra. In other words, he had artificially introduced an abnormal connection between two otherwise independent signals coming from the accelerator pedal sensors. Mr. Gilbert advised Toyota that he believed that his intentional misdirection of these signals could cause the vehicle to accelerate unexpectedly.

In response to Mr. Gilbert's claim as communicated to Toyota, Toyota confirmed that what Mr. Gilbert described would not cause unintended acceleration to occur. In fact, under the abnormal condition described last week by Mr. Gilbert, if there is a short with low resistance between the two signals, the electronic throttle control system illuminates the "check engine" light and the vehicle enters into a fail-safe mode of engine idle operation. If there is a short with high resistance, outside the range of "check engine" light illumination, the accelerator pedal continues to be responsive to driver input and the vehicle will return to the idle condition when the foot is taken off of the accelerator pedal. Unintended acceleration would not occur.

After watching the story today on ABC News featuring Mr. Gilbert, Toyota was surprised to learn that Mr. Gilbert appears now to be making a different claim regarding the electronic throttle control system and in a vehicle other than as described to Toyota last week. Although it is difficult to tell from the footage used in the story, Mr. Gilbert appears to be introducing a different external and artificial method to manipulate the throttle. In order to set the record straight, Toyota welcomes the opportunity to evaluate the Toyota Avalon shown in today's story and the method by which Mr. Gilbert allegedly caused the vehicle to accelerate unintentionally. We welcome the attendance of ABC News at any such evaluation of this vehicle and Mr. Gilbert's testing.

[xultar]

72. They are basically saying that his testing is bogus and they used a different

vehicle than they said in their original contact.

I hate to say it but I can see Toyota's point here. It seems that there are too many factors in the test in the footage that need to be accounted for, like that board he used and the connections etc.

But I still don't trust Toyota.

[woo me with science]

92. Thanks. nt

[nonconformist]

84. Great video

Gotta love that Toyota quality. :thumbsup:

[DainBramaged]

91. Billboard here in NJ (now taken down)

If you can stop your Toyota, stop in (BLAH BLAH) Ford for a great deal on a new Ford.