unintended acceleration question

[homebrewer_99]

Ha Ha Ha...
you had a FIERO ???

jk...

I had it for 6 years and put over 200,000 miles on it and it was never in the shop, except for recalls...

 

[TheBroonery]

Keep the computer out of the car and you won't have any problem. Why can't they just take a design from 10 or 20 years ago and build it today?? It would probably be a lot cheaper. You could even implement some modern efficiency and safety features but still keep the machine simple, and easy to repair.

 

[Beernik]

Cars from 20 years ago had computers. I had to replace one on an '88 Olds Cutlass Ciera twice.

The continuously variable transmission the Prius uses to switch between: combustion engine, electric motor, gliding, and regeneration wouldn't be possible without some serious programming. And I kind of like the 53 mpg I'm averaging.

 

[Scooby_Brew]

Keep the computer out of the car and you won't have any problem. Why can't they just take a design from 10 or 20 years ago and build it today?? It would probably be a lot cheaper. You could even implement some modern efficiency and safety features but still keep the machine simple, and easy to repair.

That’s as good question. All my PC’s crash once a while and I don’t even notice - I just reboot them, no big deal. But what if you are driving a car 75 miles/hour and your gas pedal ’stalls’ on you and you need to 'reboot' your Toyota in the middle of a highway? That would suck.

 

[IceFisherChris]

Keep the computer out of the car and you won't have any problem. Why can't they just take a design from 10 or 20 years ago and build it today?? It would probably be a lot cheaper. You could even implement some modern efficiency and safety features but still keep the machine simple, and easy to repair.

Because the driving factor of sales are what people want. People WANT something better than what they had before. They want something that is more advanced and has more features. Look at all the stupid stuff they are putting on cars. Windshield wipers that come on when they sense water, lights with their own windshield washers, tire pressure sensors, automatic back up. People are getting lazier and lazier, and they want convenience. What better way to prey on that than by selling fancy cars?
You'd never ever see a car that goes back to basics, because it would be too cheap and reduce sales.

Fuel injection and basic engine emission monitoring is as much as we need. Carburetors are a hassle and don't work right for certain things. But they really need to stop trying to make the whole car run on a computer.

 

[IceFisherChris]

Cars from 20 years ago had computers. I had to replace one on an '88 Olds Cutlass Ciera twice.

They didn't really control much of anything though. Some emissions controls, ignition, stuff like that. If you turned on the cruise control, it was likely run by engine vacuum (all mechanical.)

 

[Yooper]

Clarification for everyone:
Power steering is NOT needed to steer your car. The only time you really need power steering is when you're in a parking lot, or going below 10 mph and making sharp turns. At high speeds you don't even need it because you are making such small movements.

Possibly that's true for a small car. I will say it's NOT true for my big Chevy truck. My power steering pump suddenly broke while I was driving down a highway at nearly 60 mph. I had NO steering. None. I was headed across the center line, and trying desperately to turn the wheel away. The car coming towards me managed to swerve and get out of my way, and I had braking so I was able to stop the truck. At a very slow speed, I was able to maneuever the truck to the side of the road. At a higher speed, forget it. No control at all.

That really doesn't really apply to the "acceleration" issue, but I wanted to point out that saying it isn't necessary except for slow speeds isn't accurate.

 

[david_42]

Keep the computer out of the car and you won't have any problem. Why can't they just take a design from 10 or 20 years ago and build it today?? It would probably be a lot cheaper. You could even implement some modern efficiency and safety features but still keep the machine simple, and easy to repair.

My 1986 Ram has a computerized carburetor! What an abortion. I plan on yanking it and putting on a 32/38 Weber.

 

[hairnt]

Don't know if it's been mentioned here or not......but that guy in the prius admitted he was lying. As if it wasn't plainly obvious, that is if you know anything about the prius. This moron is going into bankruptcy and was just trying to make a quick buck. I guarantee that this isn't the first unintended acceleration story published that's been completely bogus. Hopefully the media is as anxious to report some of the couter-lawsuits for false accusations that I'm sure are soon to come. Maybe that will shut these idots up.

 

[Beernik]

I haven't seen it reported that he has admitted it. I saw where a former business partner said he thought it was a hoax.

 

[lamarguy]

But they really need to stop trying to make the whole car run on a computer.

It's basic engineering - features, cost, and reliability. Software is THE best way to achieve all three for complicated systems. You do want your next car to be affordable and still have the features you're accustomed to, right?

But, the problem isn't inherent to the software itself, it's the process used to design/implement/test the software. That's the difference between software that works 99.9% of the time and software that works 99.999% of the time.

For example, airplane control software goes through rigorous testing and verification to achieve high 9's reliability...Your Toyota, not so much.

 

[Marsdude]

Not to get off topic but I just heard today that Toyota's new motto will be:

"Once you drive a Toyota, you'll never stop!"