Is my Toyota under recall?

[splatterdog]

Just kidding. But the full scale skewering by the media sure has the public brainwashed. The big three haven't had this scrutiny since corvairs/pinto's. They are recall record holders. Must be spending advert money in the news dept. now.....

This is only the beginning of throttle problems as simple throttle cables are replaced with computer systems. The affected part on the Toy's is just a friction device to make the pedal feel like, well a gas pedal. And none have done that well. They are all so vague and have a slow response time vs. a cheap cable.

Progress......

[Petros]

I looked up the fix, and I thought the whole design is bogus. What is wrong with a spring? Just like cars have always had, they are trying to save 7 or 8 cents by putting a plastic friction washer in the linkage rather than a spring. It did not occur to them that a friction device will eventualy wear? Looks like a bad idea, the fix appears only temporary too. While the number of these friction washers going bad appears to be rather small, none of these cars are very old, so what will happen when they get to be 10 or 20 years old? That shim fix will not prevent sticking pedals.

The soft ware issue is more troubling. I have recently heard the AVERAGE modern car has over 100,000 lines of embed ed computer code and 7 or more processors. Almost all systems are now controlled by a processor of some sort.

No thanks, I am going to just keep fixing my 25 year old Tercel for the rest of my life.

[terceldude]

never gonna get a new TOYOTA unless its a 2010ish Supra and has no safety recalls on it. Otherwise, I'll keep my 23yo Tercel Wagon and buy a Benz in addition and pick up ladies, lol!

[keith]

Well its all Toyota's fault, they allowed us to raise our expectations. Their cars have been too reliable, they have even been accused of repairing problems in cars during routine oil changes so the owner would never know the problem existed. Now we are totally in shock that they have a recall.

We have forgotten when cars needed a tune up every year, an oil change and chassis lube every 2 months and new tires every 12,000 miles. By the time the engine gave out at around 100,000 miles, it went through several clutch discs, a couple of starters, a generator or tow, several batteries, several brake jobs, a couple of U joints, a radiator or two, many hoses and fan belts, but no coolant, we just used water.

[takza]

I was always suspicious of fly by wire throttles...I guess because I'm stuck in the '80s. But now that the seed of suspicion has been sown...we'll never hear the end of it?

So I'd guess that in 20 yrs or so when I'm driving these cars...the problems will be all wrung out?

[splatterdog]

Sadly I only see it getting worse. Even the cig lighter may eventually get a "module", if not totally eliminated due to PC.

I've read that steering will go this way too. NO DIRECT CONNECTION! Circuit boards and electric motors with chinese components will do it for you. Not the advanced computer between your ears. I wonder if you can even pull over when the check steering light goes on?

Much of it seems to be a method for automakers to take repair options away from the consumer and aftermarket. Look at newer Audi's. A dealer level scan tool is required to retract the rear caliper pistons for new pads or even "code" a new car battery. New expensive and never heard of before repairs are being invented everyday. Many of them requiring the car to visit the palace that sells them.

It's hard to not like the old T4 more and more....

[keith]

You are right about the steering for the new Toyota's except it will be made in Dyersburg, TN.

[splatterdog]

Made in Dyersberg or assembled?

Nowadays the majority of circuit boards in most any product are heavily populated with Chinese components if not entirely manufactured there.

[keith]

Assembled, parts come from many places including China, Japan and Korea.

[Jarf]

So, as I understand it, Toyo is buying these pedal assemblies from a "supplier". I wonder if this same supplier is supplying pedal assemblies for other manufacturers and if so, when will they start to show signs of failure?

While I was at Jag we had fly-by-wire as of '98. I was never totally comfortable with the idea or the sensation.
Not too mention what an inhospitable place the drivers foot-well can be, what with snow, ice and mud.
Who ever thought that putting an electrical device on the gas pedal without a cable back-up should really be shot.

One of my customers once remarked at how much he liked the anti-skid control feature as he was being inattentive one day and hit a corner going
"way too fast" and of he hadn't had the computer intervention he would surely have lost it.
I found myself thinking, "what the hell are you doing driving down a winding gravel road, doing 140kph and not paying attention?"

Unfortunately, those that don't like to actually drive are now in control of designing cars, just look around at some the features now available:
Heated and cooled seats, climate control for each seating position, power everything with auto functions embedded, memory power seats and steering wheels, smart cruise control, navigation and best of all cars that parallel park all by themselves.
Soon, the DRIVER will be redundant.

I much prefer to have a vehicle that requires MY input to go,
Heck, I don't even want an auto transmission!
If I don't FEEL like driving, I will take a bus or a train or have someone else drive.
I really don't get the whole "give me a car that will drive by itself" mentality.
The less involvement the driver has, the less likely that he will be paying attention to driving and the more likely that something bad will happen.

[splatterdog]

The more "brains" you give a car the sooner it will have a mind of it's own.

[takza]

Some of the fly-by-wire is probably an attempt to improve mpg and "safety" handling....also your throttle could be electronically interfered with...which the cops really want.

There is a certain govt/business org that has BIG PLANS....where highways will control the car...you just sit back like George Jetson and go along for the ride?