Archive

Investigators couldn't replicate runaway toyota prius

  • Glory Days
    http://www.vindy.com/news/2010/mar/15/memo-investigators-can8217t-replicate-ru/?newswatch

    it doesnt seem like the guy did this on purpose, but things dont seem to add up.
    The memo, obtained Saturday by The Associated Press, said the experts who examined and test drove the car could not replicate the sudden, unintended acceleration James Sikes said he encountered. A backup mechanism that shuts off the engine when the brake and gas pedals are floored also worked properly during tests.
    “Every time the technician placed the gas pedal to the floor and the brake pedal to the floor the engine shut off and the car immediately started to slow down,” the memo said. Also, the Prius is designed to shut down if the brakes are applied while the gas pedal is pressed to the floor. If it doesn’t, the engine would “completely seize,” according to the report that cited Toyota’s “residential Hybrid expert.”
    Sikes’ car was covered by the floor-mat recall but not the one for sticky accelerators. He later told reporters that he tried to pull on the gas pedal during his harrowing ride, but it didn’t “move at all.”
    i wonder how he tried to pull on the gas pedal. i mean, the last thing i would do at almost 100mph would be to stick my head under the steering column to try and use my hand to pull it out.
  • tk421
    I think he's looking for a payday. It's no coincidence this "accident" happened right in the middle of all the government inquiries. Plus, him and his wife are like $900,000 in debt.
  • pepperpot
    I think he faked the entire thing for $$$.
  • thavoice
    Frew years ago when someone allegedy found a needle in their pepsi can there were also some hoaxes out there.

    No doubt that some will also do the same with this. Not saying he did...but you can bet someone has and will do so.
  • NNN
    Don't forget the guy who shot up his own car during the height of the "highway sniper" case.
  • september63
    Also dont forget Toyota hasnt validated anything either. Thet have failed to replicate any of their mechanical issues. Just last week many experts were still questioning whether Toyota has even identified the acutal reasons for the problems, let alone designed a permanent solution.

    Toyota has been in the wrong for so many years. To me they lose the benefit of ANY doubt.
  • Thunder70
    september63 wrote: Also dont forget Toyota hasnt validated anything either. Thet have failed to replicate any of their mechanical issues. Just last week many experts were still questioning whether Toyota has even identified the acutal reasons for the problems, let alone designed a permanent solution.

    Toyota has been in the wrong for so many years. To me they lose the benefit of ANY doubt.
    this...
  • Manhattan Buckeye
    This guy seems like an opportunist, I'll see if I can find the link where I listened to the 9-11 call but he didn't seem very credible during the call. The recent revelations about his bankruptcy, current hundreds of thousands of dollars in debt, failure to make payments on his car and rumored involvement in the adult website industry makes me even more skeptical.
  • justincredible
    Manhattan Buckeye wrote: This guy seems like an opportunist, I'll see if I can find the link where I listened to the 9-11 call but he didn't seem very credible during the call. The recent revelations about his bankruptcy, current hundreds of thousands of dollars in debt, failure to make payments on his car and rumored involvement in the adult website industry makes me even more skeptical.
    I fail to see anything wrong with adult websites.
  • Manhattan Buckeye
    Nothing wrong with the sites, but the industry is known to attract some shady business connections and shady business procedures.
  • Fab1b
    This could go two ways of course, I'm not to quick to believe Toyota in this whole ordeal either. I wait to see further what comes out of this, but I agree something isn't right I'm just not sure about on whom yet.
  • september63
    I agree with most everything here. However, Im just saying Toyota really hasnt demonstrated any reason yet, where they should be given the benefit of the doubt. Their business actions, to this point , over the past decade are far shadier than the actions of an adult website operator behind on his bills.
  • ManO'War
    So after Government Motors gets rid of Toyota, is Honda next? Or is it going to be Nissan?
  • Con_Alma
    No benefit of the doubt is being sought that I know of....proof of liability and fault should be, however.
  • september63
    You mean the millions of vehicles already recalled that have proven Toyota guilty of having faulty mechanisms in several model vehicles?
  • lhslep134
    september63 wrote: You mean the millions of vehicles already recalled that have proven Toyota guilty of having faulty mechanisms in several model vehicles?
    You're so quick to attack Toyota but the reason the parts were recalled were so nothing like this (even though I believe it was duped) would happen again, not because there was a substantial issue there.

    There's a reason Toyota is the class example of lean production and value add system streamlining over the past decade, something you clearly fail to see.

    THAT's what Toyota has done to earn the benefit of the doubt.
  • ManO'War
    Just do a quick google search on recalls for GM, Ford, and Chrysler...they have tons, yet you hear nothing about them.
  • Con_Alma
    september63 wrote: You mean the millions of vehicles already recalled that have proven Toyota guilty of having faulty mechanisms in several model vehicles?

    Nope. That's not what I mean at all.
  • lhslep134
    ttt

    I'm sending this back to the top because September is SOOOOO wrong is it's absurd. Toyota has been the benchmark of quality for the past 10 years, I dont know what kind of idiot can blatantly ignore that fact.
  • derek bomar
    lhslep134 wrote:
    september63 wrote: You mean the millions of vehicles already recalled that have proven Toyota guilty of having faulty mechanisms in several model vehicles?
    You're so quick to attack Toyota but the reason the parts were recalled were so nothing like this (even though I believe it was duped) would happen again, not because there was a substantial issue there.

    There's a reason Toyota is the class example of lean production and value add system streamlining over the past decade, something you clearly fail to see.

    THAT's what Toyota has done to earn the benefit of the doubt.
    lean mfg doesn't directly correlate to quality...it's about reducing waste...isn't six sigma what they'd have to be involved in in order to decrease defects? It's great to be lean, but I don't see how that's going to ensure that my prius doesn't drive me off a cliff any more than someone who isn't as lean would...right?
  • lhslep134
    Derek, right, that's why I made another post talking about quality.

    But at the same time, lean production is about reducing waste WHILE improving quality.
  • september63
    Lean production is the reason they are in this situation. Take a little more time and do things correctly the first time. Take a bit more time on safety checks and engineering. Your lean production example did not help your agruement, it hurt it!!
  • Glory Days
    september63 wrote: Lean production is the reason they are in this situation. Take a little more time and do things correctly the first time. Take a bit more time on safety checks and engineering. Your lean production example did not help your agruement, it hurt it!!
    they spent 2 hours testing this single car and couldnt find anything wrong. how long should they safety check each system on each vehicle?
  • derek bomar
    lhslep134 wrote: Derek, right, that's why I made another post talking about quality.

    But at the same time, lean production is about reducing waste WHILE improving quality.
    how I understood it is that if you can improve quality great, but it's about reducing waste while maintaining quality
  • LJ
    derek bomar wrote:
    lhslep134 wrote: Derek, right, that's why I made another post talking about quality.

    But at the same time, lean production is about reducing waste WHILE improving quality.
    how I understood it is that if you can improve quality great, but it's about reducing waste while maintaining quality
    You're correct.
    Basically, lean is centered around preserving value with less work.
    Of course "lean" is a Toyota concept in itself.