Braking problem

[eglmainz]

Originally Posted by darkleafar

Doug Coleman definetely needs to comment on this.

Doug, and the rest of "PriusTeam" are in Toyota Motor Sales Marketing Department. I would prefer they answer the markerting and promotion questions.

This would be something that I would say that if you are concerned, I would bring it to my service technician, and let them have a look at it. I think that asking anyone to make a diagnosis on something this critical based only on an online description is foolish. If you are worried, have it looked at.

[spiderman]

Originally Posted by eglmainz

This would be something that I would say that if you are concerned, I would bring it to my service technician,

I don't know... my service department (manager) didn't even know what kind of oil the car took.

[eglmainz]

Originally Posted by spiderman

I don't know... my service department (manager) didn't even know what kind of oil the car took.

Agreed. That can be an issue. My point is that if someone is afraid of a potential brake failure issue, I would not be demanding and answer from a marketing executive, no matter how cool and hip me may be.

While I am far from an expert, if my brakes concerned me, rather than ask someone to diagnose from my description posted to a blog, I would have a technician look at and drive my car to diagnose it. That's all.

[tumbleweed]

Originally Posted by eglmainz

Agreed. That can be an issue. My point is that if someone is afraid of a potential brake failure issue, I would not be demanding and answer from a marketing executive, no matter how cool and hip me may be.

While I am far from an expert, if my brakes concerned me, rather than ask someone to diagnose from my description posted to a blog, I would have a technician look at and drive my car to diagnose it. That's all.

I agree that "team Toyota" will not answer this kind of question. They are, as you said, marketing people and they do not answer questions that are critical of the car anyway.

The problem with going to a dealer for this kind of issue is the technician will drive it around the block, step on the brakes a couple of times, and tell you "feels fine to me, you don't have a problem". You may well be considered a chronic complainer if you persist. I know because that is exactly what I run into when I had suspension problems with my Gen2.

Might be better to report the problem to the NHSTA, if they get enough complaints they will take some action, maybe.

These kind of intermittent problems are always difficult for the owner because the technicians at the dealerships simply are not trained or motivated to find problems that only occur occasionally or only happen to a few vehicles.

[eglmainz]

Originally Posted by tumbleweed

I agree that "team Toyota" will not answer this kind of question. They are, as you said, marketing people and they do not answer questions that are critical of the car anyway.

The problem with going to a dealer for this kind of issue is the technician will drive it around the block, step on the brakes a couple of times, and tell you "feels fine to me, you don't have a problem". You may well be considered a chronic complainer if you persist. I know because that is exactly what I run into when I had suspension problems with my Gen2.

Might be better to report the problem to the NHSTA, if they get enough complaints they will take some action, maybe.

These kind of intermittent problems are always difficult for the owner because the technicians at the dealerships simply are not trained or motivated to find problems that only occur occasionally or only happen to a few vehicles.

Yes, once again, I agree with this too. My only point here is that they are not to answer that sort of thing, neither should anyone else, without seeing the car. However, if there were a significant issue, a technician is much more likely to see it than someone looking at a blog.

We have not even established that this is an issue. Seems that many of us on here, with some experience in the Prius all see to feel that this is not an 'issue' per say, or a problem, but rather a normal operating variance of the braking system. To the untrained (myself included the first time), the feeling of acceleration (or more accurately, decreased deceleration) is scary, but apparently not dangerous, as many would have ha collisions if this were the case in the real world. That is all I meant.

[qbee42]

Originally Posted by eglmainz

Yes, once again, I agree with this too. My only point here is that they are not to answer that sort of thing, neither should anyone else, without seeing the car. However, if there were a significant issue, a technician is much more likely to see it than someone looking at a blog.

We have not even established that this is an issue. Seems that many of us on here, with some experience in the Prius all see to feel that this is not an 'issue' per say, or a problem, but rather a normal operating variance of the braking system. To the untrained (myself included the first time), the feeling of acceleration (or more accurately, decreased deceleration) is scary, but apparently not dangerous, as many would have ha collisions if this were the case in the real world. That is all I meant.

Well put. I like concise, clear, and civilized language.

Thanks,
Tom

[basspro]

I have had my V with NAV since early June and it has happen to me about four times...and it scares the S... out of me all four times. I really hope that it does not pose a real problem besides just giving us cause to change our underware

[Politburo]

This is an easily reproducible phenomenon, at least in my daily commute. I have a stop sign on a downgrade that is also a bus route. The bus tears up the pavement leading to the stop sign, so there is always some kind of bump or pothole. You gotta be on the brakes to 'stop' at the sign before the bump, so almost 100% of the time I get the phenomenon.

If you're going to take it in for service, I recommend you find a similar road condition in your area where you can readily reproduce the effect.

[tumbleweed]

Originally Posted by eglmainz

Yes, once again, I agree with this too. My only point here is that they are not to answer that sort of thing, neither should anyone else, without seeing the car. However, if there were a significant issue, a technician is much more likely to see it than someone looking at a blog.

We have not even established that this is an issue. Seems that many of us on here, with some experience in the Prius all see to feel that this is not an 'issue' per say, or a problem, but rather a normal operating variance of the braking system. To the untrained (myself included the first time), the feeling of acceleration (or more accurately, decreased deceleration) is scary, but apparently not dangerous, as many would have ha collisions if this were the case in the real world. That is all I meant.

If you are right and this is not going to result in a loss of braking or occur at higher speed I can live with it. But as Basspro said it is pretty frightening. I think I have some idea when it might occur now and hopefully I will be prepared for it next time. I do think it is something that shouldn't happen, if it is a normal operating variance then it shouldn't be. My brakes should be predictable, of course the adrenalin rush was kind of thrilling.

[a priori]

Originally Posted by Politburo

This is an easily reproducible phenomenon, at least in my daily commute. I have a stop sign on a downgrade that is also a bus route. The bus tears up the pavement leading to the stop sign, so there is always some kind of bump or pothole. You gotta be on the brakes to 'stop' at the sign before the bump, so almost 100% of the time I get the phenomenon.

If you're going to take it in for service, I recommend you find a similar road condition in your area where you can readily reproduce the effect.

Exactly right.