Joe Hornaday
Product recalls cause headaches for everyone involved with them, and the recent announcement by Toyota Motor Corporation is affecting millions.
Recently, Toyota has recalled and stopped selling and building eight different models of its vehicles. Toyota has identified a serious problem involving the possibility of the accelerator getting stuck in a partially depressed position or returning slowly to the idle position thus creating a very dangerous driving situation, according to a statement from Indiana State Police Sgt. Noel Houze.
While Toyota has identified this problem and is in the process of taking appropriate measures to make corrections, auto makers and experts have advice for drivers should they find themselves with a stuck accelerator.
According to Consumer Reports magazine, the process is basic and very simple. “First, brake hard then put the car in neutral. After coming to a stop, simply shut off the engine. While the engine may continue to rev loudly while coming to a stop, don’t turn off the engine before stopping if you it can be avoided. While a driver will still be able to steer the car and have use of the brakes, the ‘power’ assisting these functions will be lost making steering and braking more difficult without engine power. Also, if the driver turns the key too far it could lock the steering wheel causing loss of steering control of the car. While a revving engine is not good for the internal parts of the engine, it is much easier to stop the car when power steering and power brakes are fully functional.
Consumer Reports has a video that can be viewed demonstrating this procedure by accessing the Internet and going to http://tinyurl.com/yegvesp.
Drivers should not pump their brakes if they find themselves in this situation. Press firmly and steadily, the ISP explained. According to Toyota, pumping the brake pedal can deplete the vacuum assist which boosts braking force using power from the engine. If this power is depleted, it takes much stronger pressure on the brake pedal to achieve braking power and it still may not be enough power to stop safely.
“If the engine goes to wide open throttle it’s really scary,” John Heywood, director of MIT’s Sloan Automotive Lab, explained. “You have to jam your foot on the brake really hard.”
If for some reason a driver can’t put the car in neutral, he or she should turn the engine off. Although doing this will not cause loss of steering or braking control, the power assist in these systems will be lost.
Toyota advises: if the vehicle is equipped with a conventional key-ignition, turn the ignition key to the accessory (ACC) position, but don’t remove the key from the ignition, because it will lock the steering wheel; if the car is started by pressing a button instead of turning a key, push and hold the start-stop button for at least three seconds to turn off the engine, and do not tap the button.
