Toyota Press Release -

Which incompetent marketing flack posted *that* one?? It's full
of typos.
.
_H*

 

Good releases, tks Bob.

This is the type of real data that should have been out in the hands of the public months ago. Granted no one foresaw the FUD frenzy that was going to take place, but publishing this list of Myths/Facts and certainly presenting it at the Congressional hearings would have saved many drivers, owners, dealers and Toyota a lot of agita.

It probably won't deter the unethical but at least now the truth that many of us already know is clearly out there. It just needs wide desemination now.

 

I think you are so right about us becoming the source of "hands on experience". I have people all of the time at work asking me about the Prius in particular and Toyota in general. Since they know I read PC I have become the source of "factual" information versus the media, which is a good thing.

I did have a manager that told me that he was concerned about me after the runaway Prius story. I tried to explain the facts as I know them and that neither my wife nor I was worried. He said that his family had bought many Toyota's in the past but would not buy one in the immediate future. He did not want to hear any facts as he already had his mind made up.

On the other hand, I had another incident where some good friends were staying in a local hotel and my wife and I were meeting them for dinner. My car was first in the parking lot and I joked that I would be glad to drive if they were not worried about SUA. They both said they did not believe this and thought it was a conspiracy against Toyota! His wife, now, asked me why the driver did not put it in neutral !! As I was driving down the highway, I pulled the stick to neutral and they both said, "THAT IS ALL !!", and I said yep, that is all.

 

LOL, nice!

 

With all the "drive by wire" systems, I've not gotten up the nerve to try a power down while at high speed. Please post the result on this thread if/when your wife returns from her test.

 

RhythmDoc, many have done so and posted already in other threads. There's also been many instructional videos posted showing how it works. I encourage you to have the courage on a safe stretch of lonely road.

- D

 

If/when you do this, remember that you won't be able to restart the Prius until you've stopped on the side of the road. So, don't do this on a road where you have impatient drivers behind you and nowhere to pull over. Good luck.

I'm ignoring the typos in the press release, but am still having trouble understanding the following Myth and Fact:

"Myth: The start/stop button on the dash will not turn off my Prius while it’s running.

Fact: On early to 2010 models with a push-button smart key system, pushing and holding the button on the dash for about three seconds will shut off the ignition system on the vehicle – even if it’s in gear and moving along the roadway. Newer models may have different control logic – you only have to press the button briefly to shut down the vehicle. Check your Owner’s Manual for details on your vehicle’s system."

What does "early to 2010" mean? Does that mean model years 2004 to 2010?

Also, what does "Newer models" mean? Is that referring to model year 2011, or 2010 vehicles produced after some date, or ??

 

No listing of which models have what type of recorder (pre- + post- vs. post)? Also, no listing of the duration of the recording of pre- crash data? It would also be quite useful to know the different data elements that are recorded for each model.

Toyota, since you seem to be monitoring these threads, it really will help your case to provide the above information. And it would help your case in San Diego immensely if you can provide the data logs from Mr. Sikes' Prius. Since Mr. SIkes' Prius was not driven much after the sudden acceleration episode, the data recorder should have a good bit of the experience in its records if it is of the pre-crash variety.

 

I agree that while Toyota was at it they could have been a bit more specific about what is available in the different types of logs, which cars have which types and what the log durations are. As many have pointed out tho, due to privacy concerns, I highly doubt the log is long enough to be of much use. And if it IS long enough (as in more than a few seconds) Toyota will be in trouble for THAT too.

- D

 

So the Event Data Recorder is basically worthless unless the sudden acceleration also results in a collision?

 

As far as we know, yes. We've also wondered if at least the most recent few seconds is available at any time, but that would be tough to get much use out of in most cases. Consider Sikes' car, if he powered it off at 55mph or so as indicated, then the few seconds prior might be available. But what if someone powered on the car after that and before the data could be retrieved? Tick-tock tick-tock and no useful data remains.
But that's why it would have been nice to get even more specific info from that press release - we just don't know for sure.

- D

 

I hope they mean something else, otherwise the statement is a bit BS. I mean, you make a system to record EDR and you don't have a software that reads it out in its final release, but just a "testing phase" level software? I mean, you read this and you think "they have EDR recorders but they don't know how to get the data out of them?!?!?!???"
Either the statement is wrong or they mean something different, or OMG...

 

BTW: they teach you the content of the whole answer, at driving school in EU... I am pretty sure I can ask anybody if they are supposed to turn off their vehicle while running and will get the answer that all servo-systems will not work and it might be hard to steer and brake.
They even teach you, when you have manual transmission, that when you brake you *have* to press the clutch to avoid the engine shutting down and incur into several engine-off issues...

 

This is actually very interesting. I didn't know this. I wonder if normal cars are doing this as well.

 

Thanks for the releases Bob.

Pakitt, its my guess that they are repeating the bs they have been saying in court to not read these devices. I agree to OMG if they have willfully kept buggy software around since 2001. I have no knowledge though, and Toyota sure isn't talking.