Witnessed possible WOT accident this morning

[RickB]

Does any aircraft maker also make cars?
I might trust them.

 

[DrEntropy]

SAAB!?!?

 

[RickB]

SAAB!?!?

Well if it's as the commercials imply...
You <span style="font-weight: bold"><span style="font-style: italic">can</span> </span>trust advertising right???

 

[14dna]

Someone asked if other cars were DBW.
BMW first introduced it in 1988 and the 1989 NSX came equipped with it.
Almost all cars are now DBW and manufacturers, like vultures, are all over Toyota, but don't have an alternative.

I understand everyone's concern, but I really feel this is a computer problem rather than the throttle itself.
Having said that, only time will tell, but if any of you have a car newer than 2000, you are likely using DBW.

Dave

 

[Westfield_XI]

SAAB!?!?

And I am sure that there is a significant crossover of engineers between the automotive and aerospace divisions...... NOT!!!

And I am sure that they share the same assembly line workers too.......

Seriously, has Saab even made an aircraft in the 21st century? Oh, wait wasn't the plane that crashed in Buffalo last year a Saab 340?

 

[DrEntropy]

:lol: :wink:

 

[3798j]

Initially I thought if I was driving a runaway Toyota, I could easily handle the situation and bring it to a controlled stop. Listen to Rhonda Smith's compelling testimony, and think of what you might have done differently to get it stopped. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jM6hi5R0PNw

 

[Westfield_XI]

There is a thread about this on another forum I monitor and they posted about a Car & Driver test to see if the brakes could stop a runaway. They tested a a Camry V-6, an Infiniti G-37 and a Roush Mustang for stopping distance at WFO from 70 and 100 mph. Supposedly they all stopped in a bit more than the distances recorded with closed throttle. Although the 540hp Mustang took longer it did stop.

They did say that if the driver pumped the brakes more than 3 times it was not possible to stop since there is NO brake boost with an open throttle plate since there is no vacuum in that situation.

 

[bthompson]

Funny you should mention that: I was just remembering, back in the '80s when Audi had their little "unintended acceleration" problem with the 5000. Car & Driver performed similar testing then and came to the conclusion that<span style="font-style: italic"> no </span>car could out-power its brakes, WOT or not.

 

[RickB]

I guess that if the software can interface with the throttle and the brakes then it's just not true any more.

 

[Deleted member 8987]

I did it with an Audi.
I think they had defective power brake check valves, AND gas/brake pedals that were large, close together, same height, and hidden from view.
I could nail the brakes, and the edge of my shoe hit the gas, and the power assist went AWAY, and we went all the way around the building.
Full brakes.
No stop.

 

[jvandyke]

Initially I thought if I was driving a runaway Toyota, I could easily handle the situation and bring it to a controlled stop. Listen to Rhonda Smith's compelling testimony, and think of what you might have done differently to get it stopped. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jM6hi5R0PNw

What!!!
This isn't about a little steel spacer at all. This blows my mind. What the heck? This is all about complete failure of the entire control system isn't it?
How did she finally get it to slow then, brakes? I guess.
Suddenly I LOVE the 55 year old "technology" of my Midget. I know it's not going to go FUBAR and try and kill me.

 

[DrEntropy]

As far as you know... I've had more'n one throttle return spring fatigue and spontaneously snap...result? WOT!! Clutch, key and binders.

It all comes down to training and experience, no matter the sophistry of the equipment. Know your gear, think ahead.

Majority of drivers think a car is like an appliance. Blind faith that it will always just work.

 

[SilentUnicorn]

This all comes down to distracted driving. Drivers are concentrating on things other than controlling the 2 ton vehicle they are driving. Cars have become very reliable, weld the hood shut and drive it kind of thinking. And with that has come a feeling that you no longer need to be paying attention. Bring on the cell phones and texting.

It is all about situational awareness. People need to think about what is happening around them and what to do if something happens. What if the brakes fail? what if a tire blows? What if that car takes a left? what if the throttle goes wide open? there are a zillion things that can happen, and today's cars are even more complicated and have a whole order of magnitude of the things that can go wrong compared to our cars. Emergency situations happen all the time. Thinking about them is the first step to being able to react to one.

mark

 

[jsfbond]

We had a problem with the GT6 when I first bought it the connecting rod to the throttle linkage was cracked (the nylon ends). My wife would mash the pedal when she drove and it would come off, then its just idle to the side of the road, pop the hood, and push back on. I could drive for a week without it coming loose. There is a nice replacement with metal ends and balls from John Deere that solved the problem.

 

[DrEntropy]

It appears Mark an' I were typin' at the same time... I hit th' trigger first, :wink:

 

[SilentUnicorn]

It appears Mark an' I were typin' at the same time... I hit th' trigger first, :wink:

does that mean i am dead??!!?

m

 

[DrEntropy]

Hardly!!! Just more verbose.

 

[JPSmit]

There is a nice replacement with metal ends and balls from John Deere that solved the problem.

OT I know but could you post a picture & details of that? sounds interesting.

thanks

 

[MikeP]

That weld the hood shut thing is why aircraft and/or miltary technology can be problematic in a car. Aircraft and military hardware undergoes near constant checks and maintenance cycles to ensure it's functioning.