Run away cars

[Tony]

Damn, he said he would not be back.

knock knock who's there? Orange. Orange who? Orange you glad I use black text!

[Tony]

I do it all the time on my 2000 chevy 3500 van, with an automatic transmission and my 2002 Saturn SL2, also automatic. There are a couple mile long declines I drive on and often take it out of gear and coast.

[bud--]

I believe it was a 2008 Prius.

Probably had a recall for floor mat that _might_ interfere with the accelerator pedal. I believe the 'victim' said that didn't happen.

Only other Prius recall I have heard about is the 2010 (new model) with a brake hesitation which I believe was fixed in software. (Far as I know brakes were always available if the pedal was pushed harder.)

Prius has not (so far) been in any of the acceleration recalls.

I also have some major questions about this one.

[The Daring Dufas]

If people knew that a certain brand of automobile was spying on them, I'm sure many people would avoid that brand. I'm very distrustful of the GM OnStar system especially after the government has gotten its hands on GM. I know it's already being used to track certain owners. Certain governments don't want their diplomats driving such cars.

TDD

[Bob F]

My '94 Caravan with an electronically controlled automatic does the same.

[mkirsch1]

What, we don't have any readers here with a toyota prius?

I know a couple of prius owners and they're not willing to do a full- throttle shift-to-neutral test on their cars.

I really want to see if the stuff I've been reading about the computer not letting the transmission shift into neutral to protect the engine are true.

[Harry K]

And still ignoring the FACT that no one has cited anything showing they _cannot_ be shifted to reverse - only speculation.

I guess when you are stupid, it is easier to remain that way rather than trying to learn... at least it seems so in his case.

Harry K

[Harry K]

ide quoted text -

2005 Ford 500 - shiftable into neutral, key turns off (doesn't lock wheel), etc.

Harry K

[Harry K]

Almosst certainly _not_ true but it would be nice to have an official source.

No need for the Prius owners to do a full throttle test, just driving normally is good enough. The claim from the "speculators" is that they cannot be shifted while moving.

Of course when it is proven that they can be shifted while moving they will then claim "but can it be done on the 5th Tuesday of a month"

Harry K

[clare]

The law REQUIRES they can be put into neutral

I doubt THAT is true. Any forensic computer tech could get the data out of the box. Might not be able to make sense of it though--. It's likely encoded - but if an enterprising hacker WANTED to know badly enough, a couple days work would crack the code -guaranteed.

[clare]

That is true.

[clare]

Not true. The engine protects itself with a "rev limitter" which selectively miss-fires the engine to limit speed to a "safe" level by cutting out fuel injection (not spark)

[clare]

Only two things are infinite. The universe, and stupid.

[Ed Pawlowski]

"Jack" wrote

You do not like the color of my print ... Don't read it.

Two comments:

1. Newsgroups are supposed to be plain text as it eliminates a lot of problems between news readers
2. You say "Don't read it" but in fact, many can't read it because of the light color. You may think it look snazzy, but it hurts the eyes of others.

OK, one ore comment. We come hear to learn and to help. If you want to be treaded special, it is not going to happen. You are very welcome to join the discussions and start new ones but to have a combative attitude you'll spoil your own fun. Learn how to do plain text on Web TV. It can be done.

[willshak]

Jack wrote the following:

I don't know what the problem could be

[clare]

Get the year, make and VIN of the car that can NOT be shifted into neutral. I'd really like to know.

According to what I"VE found, it is a REQUIREMENT that they CAN be shifted into neutral. Law in both USA and Canada.

Looking for cite - but I know [problems with the old Packhard transmission brought the situation to light back in the fifties.

[Jim Yanik]

willshak wrote in news:iMydnTiP48LsKwTWnZ2dnUVZ [e-mail]:

but many modern EFI motors have rev limiting programmed into the ECU. it cuts off the fuel flow at a preset RPM limit. You won't damage them that way.

still better to blow up a motor than to crash into a solid object at 100 MPH. you can always replace a motor.

good reason to drive stick shift. it's a really rare failure when you can't put in the clutch.

[Ed Pawlowski]

"Jim Yanik" wrote

Happened on my '62 Corvair. Engine mount broke and slackened the clutch cable. I still managed to shift gears and drive the car home, just could not come to a stop. Yes, kiddies, it is possible to shift both up and down and not use the clutch. It is one of those things you have to practice, just like shifting into neutral in an emergency.

[trader4]

Yes, I think we all would like to see a link to any credible source. All I've seen is:

A - speculation from various individuals that it might be possible that some of the Toyotas can't be shifted into neutral under runaway conditions

B - some of the people driving the runaway cars have claimed they could not shift them into neutral

C - Toyota has said at least on the Lexus that they can be shifted into neutral at any time. They may have also said it about more cars than the Lexus, not sure about that.

If there were an intentionally designed system to prevent shifting into neutral while moving, I would think there is a 99% chance we would have heard about it by now.

[LSMFT]

How can somebody be too STUPID to shut the switch off.