Conflict of Interest - US Government vs. Toyota

Sounds like junk cars finally getting outted. I thinkThe problem is in an electronic component though but time will tell. Yes I have the background to say that. 20 years in fuel systems everything from the gas cap to the injector point

reply to post by dolphinfan


I respect your opinion as a fellow dolphins fan.

But what I think was happening was just planting a seed in peoples mind that Toyota is bad/worse than previously thought.

reply to post by JBA2848


THAT'S WHAT THE EMERGENCY BRAKE IS FOR!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! LIKE I SAID people need to KNOW how to FULLY operate their car before getting behind the wheel. Were they foreigners? I mean man we make every excuse for stupidity in this country. Look that is a terrible tragedy but that is 3 PEOPLE OUT OF MILLIONS!!!!!!!!!!!! That tragic loss of life in no way necessitates government getting involved in something like this.

reply to post by Zosynspiracy


I think you fail to understand that brakes stop cars from rolling yes. Brakes don't stop cars that are fully throttled and moving. A car moving at full throttle will simply make the brakes heat and completely fail to work. Use common sense and maybe read your book some more.

Wow.

So, if your accelerator sticks, or maybe on carbureted cars, your throttle gets caught for some reason, what should be your first initial reaction?

Can anyone guess?

Although stepping on the breaks to stop it is important, a driver, who IS a SAFE driver, would immediately know of instinct, of respect for HOW a car works, to shut off the ignition and put it in neutral. It's easy. Auto? Flick it up one notch with your right hand and immediately go to turn the key.

Carbureted, Fuel injected, automatic, manual, it's what you should do if your throttle gets stuck.

Anyone who has a throttle stick (it does happen) who does not know to turn off the ignition and put it in neutral, is asking for an accident. So much for all of our 'great' education. Where is the importance in understanding the processes of the things that you use?

reply to post by JBA2848


It's very simple to stop a car that is accelerating out of control. These people could have also put the car in neutral, slammed on the breaks, turn the key off or any combination of such. to act like these cars just automatically become possessed by some paranormal entity in which a human being has no control over whatsoever is ridiculous and silly. Like I said 50% of the drivers out there on the roads expect their car to do their laundry and cook them dinner and have no idea how their vehicle works.

reply to post by mynameisjuan


That's EXACTLY MY POINT! Most people and I know this for a fact have no clue how their car works. I see all these dumb housewives driving these huge SUV's and they probably couldn't tell you how to put their vehicle in 4 wheel drive let alone the difference between 4 hi and 4 low.

reply to post by Zosynspiracy


According to Consumer Reports magazine, the process is basic and very simple. "First, brake hard then put the car in neutral. After coming to a stop, simply shut off the engine. While the engine may continue to rev loudly while coming to a stop, don't turn off the engine before stopping if you it can be avoided. While a driver will still be able to steer the car and have use of the brakes, the 'power' assisting these functions will be lost making steering and braking more difficult without engine power. Also, if the driver turns the key too far it could lock the steering wheel causing loss of steering control of the car. While a revving engine is not good for the internal parts of the engine, it is much easier to stop the car when power steering and power brakes are fully functional.

reply to post by Zosynspiracy


I agree with you. If you dont know how something works, don't use it. If you aren't willing to learn, then don't use it.

Tho if you turn the key competely off you will lock the steering. And it is in the car manual what to do if something goes wrong.

I had a woman try to pull a uturn in front of me a couple of years ago. I was in her blind spot so she didn't see me, was her comment. How about looking over your bloody shoulder?!?!

Sometimes it is a problem with a car, but more often than not its the driver.

PS. When I go 4wdriving, the passengers usually get out.

Here is what Toyota advises to do in case you become a victim of a stuck gas pedal:

What if you experience a sticking accelerator pedal while driving?

Each circumstance may vary, and drivers must use their best judgment, but Toyota recommends taking one of following actions:
If you need to stop immediately, the vehicle can be controlled by stepping on the brake pedal with both feet using firm and steady pressure. Do not pump the brake pedal as it will deplete the vacuum utilized for the power brake assist.
Shift the transmission gear selector to the Neutral (N) position and use the brakes to make a controlled stop at the side of the road and turn off the engine.
If unable to put the vehicle in Neutral, turn the engine OFF. This will not cause loss of steering or braking control, but the power assist to these systems will be lost.
If the vehicle is equipped with an Engine Start/Stop button, firmly and steadily push the button for at least three seconds to turn off the engine. Do NOT tap the Engine Start/Stop button.
If the vehicle is equipped with a conventional key-ignition, turn the ignition key to the ACC position to turn off the engine. Do NOT remove the key from the ignition as this will lock the steering wheel.

Yuppers GBM...its all the govs handywork....hmmm...CTS(american co.)making pedals for Toyota...none of the denso (japan) pedals are affected...we just started installing new pedals today and will prolly start the trimming of pedals on friday for the floormat campaign,plus a reflash of the puter so the engine goes in a limp mode for brake and accel on at the same time at a certain throttle percentage.It all boils down to lack,better yet,non existence of common sense in society today.Any who...is the market bearish or bullish end of the week into next?

Good question

Tougher answer

I would just continue to be short AUD & NZD vs USD

My thinking is the dollar remains in a stronger position for a while here, so that means mundane market movement if you are playing it by the book

How is this a gov't conspiracy when it was a voluntary recall? Toyota made the recall, Toyota made the public anouncement, and Toyota decided to stop selling certain models fo a limited time. Where does the US government com in to the picture? Oh because they said it is recomended to take the car back to the dealership untill it could be fixed.

The reason Toyota is getting so much press is because of their previous reputation. It is shocking news that effects between 5.7 and 6.1 million. That is why it is news worthy.

The same thing happened when the nations best selling SUV the Ford Explorer was recalled for tire issues. The news talked about "roll over deaths" and called them "death traps."

reply to post by MikeNice81


It's what they have said publicly on TV that made Toyota shares lose about 3% immediately following comments and gov has controlling interest in a car company, where they stand to benefit.

Wouldn't you agree this has been the most publicized car recall that you can think of?

Originally posted by GreenBicMan
But what I think was happening was just planting a seed in peoples mind that Toyota is bad/worse than previously thought.

You mean like with the Audi 5000, back in the 80s?

That's the last time I can remember a recall getting this kind of press - and yeah, it destroyed Audi in the US market. Turned out to be driver error everywhere in the world except the USA, where they called it "bad pedal design".

There is a problem. Whether it's with the floor mats, the CTS (USA) produced gas pedal assembly, a design flaw in the drive by wire system, user error or all of the above is yet to be determined.

What's clear though is the numbers: there have been a little over 2000 cases reported in the last decade. The current recall is approaching 10 million cars. That's an incidence rate of 0.02 per cent. It's actually higher than that - because the recalls only go back to 2005 (the earlier cases with Lexus dating back to 1999 were investigated by the NHTSA - who found that there was no design flaw or defect).

All in all, it looks like something of a hatchet job to me. The litmus test will be the coverage of the Pontiac Vibe recall for exactly the same issue. How is the media treating that?

reply to post by GreenBicMan


I think the Ford recall was just as bad. I remember seeing senators commenting on TV. Motor Trend's show that came on TNN/Spike did simulations to show drivers how to overcome the loss of control. Plus they did a test to prove the loss of control was mainly driver error. It was all over the place for a while.

The reason the government is involved is because about 6 million cars were recalled. Plus they figure taking swipes at Toyota will help them look more populist when the elections roll around. I think it is more about saving face and creating an image than helping out GM.

I could be completely wrong though. It has been known to happen.

I don't have any idea either, its all just conjecture, and it's not like GM is even trading right now, they have a new IPO supposedly coming sometime soon, but again I think it was more of a mental thing

Is it bad engineering.
Or just not good enough engineering.
Engineering is fairly exact if design proven and tested work is used.

The basic things like gas and breaks are faulty.
Engineering can be ruled by the Illuminati way of doing things.
Looks like the idiots running things should move out and hide in
another car company.

ED: Fords would run over people in park. The mechanical drive
select disc, for non console cars, had too weak and small an indent
to overcome pressure to shift.
[edit on 2/15/2010 by TeslaandLyne]
ED: Wonder how many people will shift into neutral. Perhaps
they are smarter than that so as not to see the engine run
wild and blow up. Much safer to crash. That seem to un stick
the accelerator for some reason.
[edit on 2/15/2010 by TeslaandLyne]
ED: The Audi break pedal was like a break pedal.
Break pedals are wide to give you max chance of
hitting it. The gas pedal is narrow to only allow one
position to control the car. Also a few more details
need to be figured out.


[edit on 2/15/2010 by TeslaandLyne]

I honestly thought it was me seeing this entire news lately about Toyota. I have owned nothing but Toyota's since I have been driving (and I haven't owned many because they last forever with regular maintenence). This recall seems to wayyyyyy overdone. I have seen recall with American cars come and go with one report. But this recall with Toyota (who acknowledges a fault and is correcting it), seems to be an attack on the company.

I don't know if it's "inside" America that is sending Toyota/Japanese a message. This is a severe attack on the company itself which has done nothing but turn-out incredible cars year after year after year.

Also, I have many friends who also own Toyota's and never seem to have had a problem with their autos.

I will still buy Toyota and support them.

reply to post by GreenBicMan



OMG, yes, you've hit the nail in the head. I have had this sneaking suspicion all along. And I don't drive a toyota and do not find those cars appealing in the least, but I've always known that their quality standards have put to shame american cars for decades. To be fair though American cars have made very drastic quality improvements in the last 15 years.

But still, why haven't other car recalls had the same volume of media coverage? why congressional hearings? this is a gigantic PR stunt and I don't buy it.

For some context about the types of recall that have happened within recent years have a look at this:

www2.sanduskyregister.com...

Why aren't those as widely discussed as the toyota recalls?

-rrr