Unintended Acceleration - really happens

[SJ]

> From: "John S. Lagnese" <jlagnese at massed.net>
> Subject: Re: Unintended Acceleration - really happens
> To: "Jim Jordan" <j8k3sp00n at gmail.com>, <quattro at audifans.com>
>
> In the 80s most of the UA was found to be driver error. The accelerator
> pedal was usually found twisted. The driver was stepping on the gas
thinking
> it was the brake.

**** Yup! My 74 Plymouth Duster, auto . .had a UA issue . . . .which turned
out to be ME.
The brake pedal was the usual wide one . .sucker was about 6" wide . .which
was placed rather close to the gas pedal.

After some time . . .  with rear drum brakes not adjusted . . .the brake
pedal would sink lower and lower . .till it was at same level when braking
as the gas pedal. You could access either pedal with heel planted on floor
and slight rotation of the foot. To get even lazier, only a small part(left
edge) of the right foot was on the brake pedal . . .the rest of foot was
dangling in the air . . .right over the gas pedal!
In a hard stop, the right foot would stomp on the brake pedal . .the foot
would rotate and right side of foot would hit the gas pedal - - you were
applying gas at same time as brakes!  The more you pushed on the brake, the
more the foot rotated and pushed more on the gas.

I caught on real fast and made it a habit to LIFT the foot and place it
squarely on the brake pedal.


SJ
85 Dodge PU, D-250, 318, auto
85 Audi 4k - - sold but still on the road
88 Audi 5kq
90 Audi 100q