When it rains, it pours....

[aquaknight]

http://www.hulu.com/watch/125825/nbc...0%99s-troubles
It now appears there is a small problem with the brakes on many Toyota Prius's....
Anyway I was curious, just based on sheer numbers somewhere has to have had a Toyota that's fallen under the recall. Have you taken your Toyota in for the recall? Did they explain the recall/what the fix is to you?
From my understand, they are inserting a small metal plate to help the pedal from sticking. Well, isn't that piece going to limit the pedal travel, so you no longer have full throttle?
As far for the poll, I am very curious of everyone's thoughts.

 

[flower]

I have two opinions but can only vote once...

I always buy domestic (I believe in America!) I also don't think it will hurt Toyota; they will do fine in the end. If Tylenol could survive the death toll, Toyotas brakes are really nothing to worry about as far as people continuing to buy the product.

 

[sickboy]

Recall's happen all of the time, but it seems that the amount of press coverage will hurt Toyota. Had it been a "run of the mill" recall that goes under the radar, no harm. But now that the media is all over it, it will be damaging.

 

[dragonzim]

I currently own my second toyota. I think this will probably blow over fairly quickly and while their sales may be hurt for a year or 2 they will bounce back and be just fine.

 

[reefraff]

It will take them 3 or 4 years to recover from this in terms of sales. What will hurt them more than anything is not being able to sell any cars while the correct the problem. They will be fine though unless something comes out where they ignored a known problem.

 

[kjr_trig]

Tough one for Toyota, but as stated above, recalls are pretty common....At least Toyota doesn't need to take my tax $$$ to stay in business. I would buy a Toyota before a GM still.....Sorry Aqua.

 

[aquaknight]

Originally Posted by kjr_trig
http:///forum/post/3223827
Tough one for Toyota, but as stated above, recalls are pretty common....At least Toyota doesn't need to take my tax $$$ to stay in business. I would buy a Toyota before a GM still.....Sorry Aqua.
Though I don't mean GM specifically, that would be nice

Bump... The execs were in Washington today and Mr. Toyota himself will be in Captial Hill tomorrow.
I am still very interested in hearing from anyone here that might own a Toyota that's been recalled. I know they were installing the metal plate into the gas pedal, which all I can see that doing is limiting you to partial throttle.
The President of Toyota North Amercia said today that the issue with the throttle problem is with the electronics, and that they are still "working on a solution that they have not come to." I am curious as to what the dealers are telling you as a customer. Whenever you are safe to drive your car, the metal plate is only temporary, etc.

 

[socal57che]

Professionally speaking, I don't feel that this "shim" is going to fix jack. I think it's a problem with the rheostat in the accelerator pedal giving the PCM a false reading. My 2010 Tundra has an issue every now and then. Not with WOT, but with pressing the accelerator and nothing happens. It takes a second for the PCM and the pedal to communicate that I am attempting to accelerate. I thought it was a software issue until all this talk about sticky throttle pedals began.
The failures have done less damage to Toyota's reputation than Toyota's response to the situation. They would have had to do less damage control if they had admitted there was a problem earlier in the game.
I have not had mine repaired yet. I am waiting for a "real" fix before I let them scratch the truck and break trim parts installing a shim that, IMO, does zero good. Evidently the vehicles affected have around 30K miles on them before the stickiness shows it's face. This in itself does not jive with the shim fix. As parts wear, they should be less prone to sticking....especially in the case of a rheostat. "Break in" should make it work more freely.
There is a thread over at Tundra Solutions message board discussing the shim on the accelerator. I haven't even read it, but it's several pages deep already. I posted pics of my 2"-4" McGaughy's drop kit install over there. A few of the guys over there seem to have their heads on straight.
Gas pedal recall thread...
http://www.tundrasolutions.com/forum...e-recall-info/
McGaughy's lowering kit install on 2010 Tundra Double Cab...
http://www.tundrasolutions.com/forum...-lowering-kit/

 

[socal57che]

I started reading the recall thread over at TS and it seems that a few of the guys feel the same way I do. I really don't think it's a sticking pedal problem, but a miscommunication between the pedal and the PCM. I never did like the drive by wire idea. Toyota also controls partial steering with the PCM. Steering isn't as responsive on the models that have it as part of the stability control. Mine is a base model and does not have this feature. It was enough to turn me away from the other Tundra that had it. For a car guy, not being in control is a scary feeling and that's the feeling I got.

 

[reefraff]

It sounds like something electronic to me judging by the stories.
I am not a big fan of drive by wire either. I think they might want to consider changing the circuit so the ignition will cut the power to the fuel pump directly.
This is going to move Toyota to the back of the pack for a long time.

 

[aquaknight]

Thanks for the links. I read a bit of the thread (it's 22pages now lol), but the beginning and the end. I had no idea it appears there's two separate issues, the sticking throttle pedal, and then the "unintended acceleration" that the Camry/Avalon/Lexus have.
That's mostly what the Toyota guy talked about today what the "unintended acceleration" which is to me, by far the more severe issue, and obviously is going to be a lot harder to fix correctly.
How do you feel about the "brake override" fix? It is just a temporary fix to me, but I just hope other manufactures don't think about including it as a redundancy feature, as that would mean the days of brake-stand burnouts would be gone.
Our 2001 Chevy Suburban is drive-by-wire (and all our newer GM obviously as well). My Dad sorta called it back then, he really didn't trust them. I definitely miss the feel of the throttle cable. Jump in a car with a cable, and it's sort of a memory flash now.
Anyway, nice install and great write-up. Takes a set of "meat and two veg" to just go untorque that strut retainer nut like that

.

 

[bulldog123]

This problem has no effect on me because I would never buy anything new other than American! I do not support the Unions but rather I try to support American companies, the few that are left. My neighbor is retired from GM and says alot of the financial problem start with imports vs exports. Meaning everyone else can sell as much as they want here but it does not work the same way there. Gm can only sell so many cars in Japan, Korea, China, ect and complains its not fair and impossible to compete. I have never looked into this myself.

 

[ryancw01]

I am glad to see so many people on here buy American. There is no need to send our money to Japan and Germany when we have a great product right here made by Americans. People just don't think about that anymore. We were just at war with Japan and Germany a little over 60 years ago and now we are sending our money to them in buckets? Doesnt make any sense to me. I have a Cadillac CTS and guarantee it stands up to any Japanese or German sports car out there. Awesome car built by Detroit, Michigan sweat.

 

[socal57che]

Originally Posted by AquaKnight
http:///forum/post/3234728
How do you feel about the "brake override" fix? It is just a temporary fix to me, but I just hope other manufactures don't think about including it as a redundancy feature, as that would mean the days of brake-stand burnouts would be gone.
There are quite a few guys that take their trucks to the drag strip, especially the supercharged crowd. I wonder if it would work like a sort of line lock. You could mash the throttle to the floor, but power would not come on until you let off the brake. That might help people do a "real" burnout, but might make it harder to control your launch. I certainly don't want that option on my truck.

Originally Posted by AquaKnight
http:///forum/post/3234728
Anyway, nice install and great write-up. Takes a set of "meat and two veg" to just go untorque that strut retainer nut like that

.
I have had a lot of struts apart and the tension on the spring was light enough you could nearly compress the spring by hand enough to completely unload the strut. I read where someone else had already tried it with success. If there were any doubt as I got close to the end of the threads, I would have removed the struts and taken them to work so I could use the strut compressor. I considered leaving that part out of the write up just to be safe. I did include a disclaimer.

Several years ago, I had a strut "come unscrewed" from a wall mount compressor while my arm was in the line of fire. I have 2 small scars on my right bicep. As a result, I now lock vice grips on the spring to keep it from twisting in the compressor.

 

[bulldog123]

+1
My wife drives a 2005 ford and it has 165k. People believe only Japan makes a car that runs for 200k. They did a great job marketing and everyone took it hook line and sinker.

 

[spanko]

Did not vote as I did not see the option I wanted.
They should have their butts handed to them by congress, fix the problem, then let the market decide.
Anyone here still buying Tylenol after their recall?

 

[socal57che]

http://autos.aol.com/article/Ford-switch-recall-list
In October Ford updated it's recall list to include 14 MILLION cars spanning 18 years for cruise control switches that failed to shut down cruise control. It's not a matter of what company, it's a question of people in general. People build cars. People make mistakes. The UAW guys at the San Antonio Toyota plant where my Tundra was built might not hold the same point of view as some of the people advising against buying a Toyota. The ABS brake controllers were built entirely by US citizens in Ohio using US made parts. It's not black and white any more.

 

[bulldog123]

I could careless about the recall because it happens to everyone. Im on the BUY AMERICAN SIDE. It is impossible to buy american on everything nor is that what Im saying. But if we dont get somewhat back to the industrialized country that we were Im affaid where that will leave us.

 

[dragonzim]

Originally Posted by Bulldog123
http:///forum/post/3234844
I could careless about the recall because it happens to everyone. Im on the BUY AMERICAN SIDE. It is impossible to buy american on everything nor is that what Im saying. But if we dont get somewhat back to the industrialized country that we were Im affaid where that will leave us.
So how do you feel about the fact that most foreign cars sold in the US are built here these days?

 

[bulldog123]

Originally Posted by DragonZim
http:///forum/post/3234846
So how do you feel about the fact that most foreign cars sold in the US are built here these days?
Are they built in America or assembled in America.

And where do the profits go

How many Americans are employed buy foreign companies vs what was the great American Car Manufactures? Are their assembly plant capable of being converted to war factories?