The big red E-stop button.

[DeanFL]

Originally Posted by garygid

If the car is runaway due to a simple throttle stuck under something heavy (mat, foot, brick, etc.), the shift to N, or the 3-sec OFF, would most probably work well.

However, if there is some "control computer" problem, it is quite possible that neither control will perform its intended function. But, even a Big Red Button does not prevent software-produced accidents.

Just yesterday, my Prius-III backed up with sudden unintended acceleration, with my foot only on the brake pedal. I recognized what was happening because it happened once before, just over 2 months ago, just a few days after I got the car. I suspect that some unusual element of timing and internal state of the computer and hybrid power system combine to produce this "abrupt" reverse acceleration as I am gently easing off my foot pressure on the brake pedal. Others have noticed this "bug".

Yes, in this case pressing the brake stops the car, and shifting to N and then R again "resets" the software so that further backing is the expected gentle movement.

However, the unexpected "jump" backward might have caused an accident, crashing the car into anything behind me. And, who would believe me when I said "The Prius-Bug did it, not Me!"?

I would hope THIS is a joke. The '10 Prius has "sudden unintended acceleration" in reverse? And "others have noticed this bug"? What the???

If not a joke - what's the story? Imagine backing out of a parking space, this occurs and you suddenly back into a stroller or such before able to brake harder to compensate.

Can someone substantiate this supposed software bug --- or debunk???

[spiderman]

Originally Posted by rachaelseven

So the kids can play "Deal or No Deal" while you're driving? Awesome.

Good point... I didn't think about that. Scratch my idea.

[rachaelseven]

Originally Posted by DeanFL

I would hope THIS is a joke. The '10 Prius has "sudden unintended acceleration" in reverse? And "others have noticed this bug"? What the???

If not a joke - what's the story? Imagine backing out of a parking space, this occurs and you suddenly back into a stroller or such before able to brake harder to compensate.

Can someone substantiate this supposed software bug --- or debunk???

No clue what this person is talking about. There are definitely some cases of grabbing brakes in reverse - it has happened to me - but that was a case of stronger than desired braking, not sudden acceleration. There is no acceleration at all in that situation as a matter of fact, just sudden stopping. This is the very first claim of sudden acceleration I've seen on the forum. Likely a misunderstanding of the grabbing brakes issue. Otherwise, probably just a person that hit the wrong pedal and tried to blame it on the car.

[jburns]

Originally Posted by rachaelseven

No clue what this person is talking about. There are definitely some cases of grabbing brakes in reverse - it has happened to me - but that was a case of stronger than desired braking, not sudden acceleration. There is no acceleration at all in that situation as a matter of fact, just sudden stopping. This is the very first claim of sudden acceleration I've seen on the forum. Likely a misunderstanding of the grabbing brakes issue. Otherwise, probably just a person that hit the wrong pedal and tried to blame it on the car.

Yep, grabbing brakes sometimes in reverse is the only thing I've heard about and experienced. This is the first mention of any type of unintended acceleration.

[Shawn Clark]

Originally Posted by BlueIce

Is there a hack to add a switch to shut down a car thats in runaway mode?

No. We are all going to die a horrid, yet spectacular flaming death behind the wheels of a Prius.

[bac]

Originally Posted by IraS

You press and hold the start button for 3 seconds.

Or simply apply the brakes.

-Brad

[Rokeby]

Guess what?

You can buy a red start/stop button for the Gen III right this very moment!



$199 from Sigma Automotive,

Toyota Prius 2010 ZVW30 Performance, Handling & Electronic Accessories :: Sigma Automotive

Wonder if it is a retro-fit to the Gen II.

[a64pilot]

Originally Posted by bac

Or simply apply the brakes.

-Brad

While it true that the brakes will indeed hold the car stationary, I'm not so sure they could stop a car from high speed as well as the engine being at full power. Remember brakes work by converting kinetic energy into heat, they may not be able to handle that much heat if you were going say 70 or 80 MPH and accelerated 10 MPH or so before you recognized the problem and applied corrective action.

[BlueIce]

Originally Posted by rachaelseven

The Prius is not an "automated machine", my driver's seat is not a factory floor, there is no "runaway mode" and this post is a deliberately incendiary bomb that reeks of trollfart.

The Prius is an automated machine.

Runaway Mode is a failure mode, your car has one. Hopefully you never see it.

I have been behind the wheel of a runaway car before. The gas pedal cable stuck. Lucky that I had time and my speed was lower when it happen. Shifted to neutral , stopped and then turned off the key to stop the engine. The gas pedal cable was frozen because of ice.


Here are my reasons for wanting a switch.

2 sec to neutral at 60 mph = 176 feet
3 sec to push the power button at 60 mph = 264 feet
5 sec to try both neutral and the power button = 440 feet plus

That's a long way before the car even starts to slow down.

The idea of a switch (The big stop E-stop ha ha...) Is to be quick...not what should I do first, neutral or power button...by than you will have travel another 176 feet. In some peoples cases they just resign to the fact that they are gone to die and forget about neutral or the power button.

I have worked with and have designed control systems using the Big red E-stops. They are a requried part of any automated machine. I can sleep at night, know that the equipment which I have designed will and can be shut down when thing go wrong. Sure an E-stop system can fail or may not be ideal, that just another fact about automated equipment.

If I get a chance to upload the electrical schematics, hacking in a switch maybe a simple task. Just thought someone may have done this before... and I could just wire the switch. The safety red flip cover is a good idea.

[qbee42]

Push Park. That causes the Prius to instantly switch to Neutral.

Tom