Toyota Recall: NASA To Investigate Acceleration Problems

Sure, they can't even get the O-ring right.

 

I'm looking at $3 million and wondering how much they will be able to accomplish. Now if they also had the Dept. of Energy, Battelle Labs, it would be perfect. Those folks have the tools, expertise, and experience to do a through job. Both NASA and the NAS would be well advised to consult with Oak Ridge.

Bob Wilson

 

I can hear it now; Prius III, go with throttle-up.

 

...initiating roll...

Tom

 

LA Times story on this subject:
Toyota's acceleration woes part of two new inquiries - latimes.com

 

As I listened closely to CNN, the headline was all about Toyota, but the details were that NASA would investigate ALLl cars with "electronic controls." Trying to determine if power lines and other magnetic fields in the area can effect ANY vehicle's electronics. The details are not quite as "juicy" as a slam against Toyota.

 

Spot on.
I would say that I don't believe American engineers are necessarily any better than Japanese engineers but if it helps the xenophobic media and mob- let's go for it.

 

DOE labs?? Given the amount of stuff that Argonne and Oak Ridge
*missed* or got wrong in their original analyses of the Prius in
its first two generations, I would put in my vote of no confidence.
They'll sit there for a while sucking down taxpayer dollars and
Gilberting around with pedal wiring and find absolutely nothing
we can hang our hat on.
.
_H*

 

It is great that NASA has something to do now that the moon shot and mars trip are out of the question. I wonder what we will get for our money? Will we get wild theories of what scary things could happen to electrical systems if everything went wrong? Will there be probability estimates to go along with each of these theories to put them in perspective? Will there be an investigation of each alleged incident to prove it's validity? Or will this be another cheap (expensive to us) drama to fill our 15 minute attention spans.

 

Oh, you can place your trust on Americans engineers.
But I cannot say the same to American media.

 

I discovered many years ago that if the integraty of the ground strap from the engine to the chasis is poor, current will flow through the the accelerator cable, causing it to heat and stick to the plastic housing that it runs through. This will cause pedal sticking and un wanted acceleration. This happens more at night when headlights are on and more current bypasses the poor ground cable connection and flows through the accelerator cable. Worth checking out.

[email protected]

 

my sister works at Ford and they have a joke going around the office.

Toyota's new theme song;

"Nothing's gonna stop us now" by Jefferson Starship

 

Apparently LaHood (an exceptionally unintelligent Republican IMO) thinks that an electronics engineer is more qualified to deal with cars than an automotive engineer. My brother-in-law, a graduate of Kettering, says that's about as dumb as him investigating airplanes.

I'm sure Dr. Keith Anderson's visit had something to do with it.

Between this and his intention to "bell the hybrid" to save blind people from us, I'm wondering about the "environmental" commitment of this administration.

 

The problem with that theory is that there is no accelerator cable on these cars.

 

Although I have have my own issues with Ray LaHood, please don't underestimate his intelligence.

I'm pretty sure if we resurrected Einstien and Newton to analyze the 'problem,' we would find nothing to worry about.

Details? This is news to me. Who is he and why should I care?

I'm keeping an open mind ... and my powder dry.

Bob Wilson

 

I'm am not advocating that NASA is the best choice, but NHTSA does not have qualified electronic and software experts to investigate the issue. Why does your brother-in-law think an automotive engineer without experience in electronics or software could be qualified to investigate software and electronic issues. Also, since automotive manufacturers have not acted honestly in safety investigations, why would you want to continue to handicap the investigations to only use the manufacturers engineers. Let the US government hire American engineers to investigate, and the Japanese government hire Japanese engineers. Unless you think the safety agencies should have no expertise.

Also agree that their is no statistical evidence to bell the hybrid. I read the article and didn't see anything about that is this investigation.

 

I've seen and heard him talk. I'm not codfnvinced that he got this job because he was the best manager. His comments about not driving Toyotas didn't help. His congressional career is notable mostly for the amount of earmarks he got through (particularly to his campaign contributors).

I agree- I just don't see that NASA engineers (aerospace) are the experts. It also looks like we think American engineers are better than Japanese, and there is little reason to believe such.

Sorry about that. Got Dr. Keith Armstrong and Dr. Anthony Anderson combined! The ones with the press conference at the National Press Club and the meeting with NHTSA on the way to San Diego (my supposition on the latter). Both are paid electronics and EMI expert witnesses.

Trying to find ways to limit sales of hybrids and EVs is not pro-environment. Not that I am likely to vote for the other side any time in the next century (unless Theodore Roosevelt rises from the dead).