[Vwdiesel] Age, Diesel History, and Bonus TDI Tragedy

[Tad]

Another thing I meant to include- this may be one of the reasons that a DBW
VW (TDIs anyway) will NOT accelerate when the brake and gas are pressed
simultaneously.  If you do both, the ECU will default to a 1200RPM "limp
mode", apparently under the assumption that sumpin-ain't-right.

I just read that Toyota will be adding programming to do the same during the
current recall.

On Sun, Dec 13, 2009 at 2:08 PM, Tad <tadc at europa.com> wrote:

> Hard for me to imagine that the brakes couldn't overcome the engine's
> acceleration, but I'm not bright enough to do the physics calcs to prove
> it...
>
> And I'm not familiar with the model in question, but I've never seen a car
> (Prius included) that can't be shifted into neutral.
>
> On Fri, Dec 11, 2009 at 9:48 PM, William J Toensing <toensing at wildblue.net
> > wrote:
>
>> Thank you, you answered one of my questions. The electric power steering
>> is an electrical assist with manual connections. The TDI has Fly by Wire or
>> FBW. You got over my head on how to modify car's computer, but one of my
>> questions was not answered about Toyota's FBW. It a Prius starts to run
>> away, what do you do besides say a quick prayer? I don't own one but have
>> test driven one at a Toyota dealership. When you have your Toyota's key in
>> your pocket, or the salesman's pocket, you push the start button & you are
>> ready to go. If you want to stop it, you push the start button again. Some
>> other cars besides Toyota are using the same system. So, the question is,
>> how would you stop it in an emergency situation with run a way acceleration?
>> Would pushing the start button as you would to stop the car work? Would
>> putting the car in neutral work? There is a situation in San Diego where an
>> off duty CHP (California Highway Patrol)officer driving with his family in a
>> Lexus, experienced run-a-way acceleration, called 911 for help, hit speeds
>> over 100MPH, 120 MPH I think, & the whole family was killed. Prior to this
>> incident, Toyota was blaming unintended acceleration on floor mats but this
>> incident since CHP officers are highly trained for emergencies & high speed
>> driving but this incident caught Toyota's attention. I would think this
>> experienced officer would have put the Lexus into neutral, but this
>> apparently didn't work. The 911 tapes have been played over the air several
>> times. The CHP officer was pushing on the brakes but couldn't overcome the
>> engine's acceleration. Not a problem that I think I will have with any of my
>> cars, but to know an emergency response ahead of time might save someone's
>> life.
>> Bill Toensing, Nevada City, CA
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>
>