Re: UNINTENDED ACCELERATION

[Michael Spiers <mikes@specnet.com>]

In the late 80's, there were a NUMBER of reports against Audi for having cars
that just took off for no reason.  Lots of accidents ans deaths resulted from
this.  It was ONLY automatics, and I think only 5000's.  Audi said it was
operator error, stupid Americans putting their foot on the wrong pedal.  They
wree right, by the way...  60 Minutes (the TV show) devoted a whole program to
this mess.  They couldnt' get an Audi to do the unintended acceleration even if
they tried.  People claimed that sometimed the car wold just take off, and no
matter how hard they pushed the brakes the car wouldn't stop.  60 minutes wired
the accelerator to full-throttle, let the car take off, then jambed on the
brakes.  No matter how fast the engine was reving/car was going, they always
stopped the car with no problems.  Didn't matter though, people had their
opinions.  Now, my '84 HAS had the unintended acceleration happen to it.  The
idle relay (not the stabilizer valve) went bad on it two years ago, and the car
would jump from idling at 850 RPM to about 4,500.  All I had to do was puch the
clutch, no big deal.  If the car was an automatic, I guess I can see how in a
panic you'd jamb your foot down, thinking you had the brake but actually being
on the gas.

-- 
-Mike
mikes@specnet.com
mks107@psuvm.psu.edu
87 5000CS TQ
84 5000S (2,000 miles away and a mile high)
90 80 (sibling's mode of transportation I get lynched into working on)