Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Runaway Toyota Prius reached 90 mph - police
Reuters ^

Posted on 03/09/2010 8:02:35 AM PST by Sub-Driver

click here to read article


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-6061-80 ... 121-139 next last
To: Sub-Driver

Why can’t you just slam these runaway cars into neutral?

SnakeDoc


21 posted on 03/09/2010 8:11:09 AM PST by SnakeDoctor (The night is darkest just before the dawn, but [...] the dawn is coming. -- Harvey Dent)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Sub-Driver

22 posted on 03/09/2010 8:12:03 AM PST by Uri’el-2012 (Psalm 119:174 I long for Your salvation, YHvH, Your law is my delight.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: BallyBill

“Was he a UAW member by any chance?”

This was my exact thought. This whole Toyota think stinks to high heaven and I do not like Toyotas or Lexuses and many of their drivers (often libs). Subaru’s are even more lib.

I drive a Ford/LM product myself. Japanese? I would take a Honda over Toyo any day but this is all BS.

If Toyota’s had this major problem - they would be crashing all over the USA and in foreign countries.


23 posted on 03/09/2010 8:13:16 AM PST by Frantzie (TV - sending Americans towards Islamic serfdom - Cancel TV service NOW)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: cweese
Doesn’t pass the smell test.

That's his story and he's sticking to it. Nervy bastard, imho. He'll probably lawyer up and try to collect off Toyota as well. I hope the judge throws his sorry kister in the hoosegow for a nice long sociable stretch.

24 posted on 03/09/2010 8:13:31 AM PST by Lonesome in Massachussets (The naked casuistry of the high priests of Warmism would make a Jesuit blush.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

To: johniegrad

Reminds me of the old joke about the “Rolls-Canardly”:
Rolls down one hill —’canardly’ get up the next.


25 posted on 03/09/2010 8:13:38 AM PST by Carl LaFong (Experts say experts should be ignored.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 6 | View Replies]

To: Sub-Driver

Sounds fishy... But... Why don’t people just put the car into neutral... Have automatic transmissions made us that dumb?


26 posted on 03/09/2010 8:13:39 AM PST by xenob
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: N. Theknow; Bean Counter; SnakeDoctor

The Prius has an electronic transmission. From what I read about it last night, it seems the ‘gear selector’ simply tells the computer what you want. The computer then applies an electrical charge to the transmission to make it happen.

I had never heard of such a thing, but it seems plausible that on a Prius, the computer might decide you didn’t really want neutral, and not give it to you.


27 posted on 03/09/2010 8:14:48 AM PST by Mr Rogers (I loathe the ground he slithers on!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 12 | View Replies]

To: Sub-Driver

I intitally thought that these people were just too dumb to turn off the engine, put the car in neutral or use the brake or e-brakes. Since then I have heard of this happening to a friend of a friend and he did all those things and they didnt work.


28 posted on 03/09/2010 8:14:57 AM PST by Hacklehead (Liberalism is the art of taking what works, breaking it, and then blaming conservatives.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Sub-Driver

PUT. IT. IN. NEUTRAL. YOU. IDIOT.


29 posted on 03/09/2010 8:14:58 AM PST by 60Gunner (But there's this one particular harbor...)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Sub-Driver

Fishy story. Never once did the driver nor the police attempt to put the car in neutral.


30 posted on 03/09/2010 8:15:50 AM PST by avacado
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: xenob

The gear knob on a Prius isn’t attached to the transmission. It is simply an input to the computer. Freaky!


31 posted on 03/09/2010 8:15:58 AM PST by Mr Rogers (I loathe the ground he slithers on!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 26 | View Replies]

To: UriÂ’el-2012

My guess this is a Rahm set up. the message to Toyota is - put UAW workers in your American plants or we will have one of these stories a week and then twice a week and so on.

Many Toyo owners are lib AH’s so they could harm their business fairly quickly. It is BS.


32 posted on 03/09/2010 8:16:36 AM PST by Frantzie (TV - sending Americans towards Islamic serfdom - Cancel TV service NOW)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 22 | View Replies]

To: Sub-Driver

It save gas by killing the driver.


33 posted on 03/09/2010 8:17:08 AM PST by bmwcyle (Free the Navy Seals)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Hacklehead
I intitally thought that these people were just too dumb to turn off the engine, put the car in neutral or use the brake or e-brakes. Since then I have heard of this happening to a friend of a friend and he did all those things and they didnt work.

Well that's some scary stuff then... If the brakes, gas, and transmission are that computer controlled then were is the mechanical override? That's some HAL 9000 stuff there...
34 posted on 03/09/2010 8:17:15 AM PST by xenob
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 28 | View Replies]

To: Sub-Driver

And not one of these people knows how to shift into neutral.


35 posted on 03/09/2010 8:17:38 AM PST by Darksheare (Tar is cheap, and feathers are plentiful.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Mr Rogers

“The Prius has an electronic transmission. From what I read about it last night, it seems the ‘gear selector’ simply tells the computer what you want. The computer then applies an electrical charge to the transmission to make it happen.”

Its not just the Prius but many Toyotas. Its fly by wire, where the gear shift isnt physically connected to the gearbox anymore. Same may apply to the brake and ignition. I think you are just pushing buttons that suddenly no longer respond.


36 posted on 03/09/2010 8:18:41 AM PST by Hacklehead (Liberalism is the art of taking what works, breaking it, and then blaming conservatives.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 27 | View Replies]

To: Sub-Driver

He’s a Prius owner. He was really only going 30 but it felt like 90.


37 posted on 03/09/2010 8:18:58 AM PST by Juan Medén
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: LouAvul

You should always be able to shift into neutral. I believe that modern ignition switches cannot lock the steering wheel with the car in drive or reverse. However, there is a switch position which kills the ignition but leaves the steering wheel free.

Step 1: Throw the car into neutral.
Step 2: Kill the ignition.
Step 3: Coast to the side of the road or other safe position.
Step 4: Shut down completely, remove key.


38 posted on 03/09/2010 8:19:06 AM PST by Lonesome in Massachussets (The naked casuistry of the high priests of Warmism would make a Jesuit blush.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 7 | View Replies]

To: 60Gunner
PUT. IT. IN. NEUTRAL. YOU. IDIOT.

ITS. FLY. BY. WIRE. FRIEND.

39 posted on 03/09/2010 8:19:19 AM PST by TChris ("Hello", the politician lied.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 29 | View Replies]

To: Sub-Driver
Christine
40 posted on 03/09/2010 8:19:30 AM PST by auboy (Men who cannot deceive others are very often successful at deceiving themselves. Samuel Johnson)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-6061-80 ... 121-139 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson