1. Attachments are working again! Check out this thread for more details and to report any other bugs.

Article From Seattle Times- Old but I have questions

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Main Forum' started by djasonw, Jun 28, 2009.

  1. djasonw

    djasonw Active Member

    Joined:
    Jul 13, 2004
    951
    116
    0
    Location:
    Coconut Creek, FL
    Vehicle:
    2004 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    Here is a link to an article I just found today. It is from April 09 but I really respect MOST of the participants of this forum as you're highly educated with respect to Prius issues and such. The article annoyed me so much that I needed to take a Xanax after reading it!!

    Seattle News - The Flip Side of the Perfect Prius - page 1

    I've NEVER experienced any of these issues and I need to know what the heck is really going on.
     
    #1 djasonw, Jun 28, 2009
  2. F8L

    F8L Protecting Habitat & AG Lands

    Joined:
    Aug 14, 2006
    19,011
    4,081
    50
    Location:
    Grass Valley, CA.
    Vehicle:
    Other Non-Hybrid
    Model:
    N/A
    I've never ever heard of such an incident that was qualified in any way.

    I would wager that the majority of the claims are from people who screwed up bad and didn't want to own up to the fact or they had the "floor mat" issue. A few could even by propoganda and the incidents are not even real. I put nothing beyond tha capability of marketing people and their schemes nor the self-absorbed human society and their lack of accountability. :)
     
    #2 F8L, Jun 28, 2009
  3. timberwolf

    timberwolf New Member

    Joined:
    Oct 26, 2008
    220
    31
    0
    Location:
    UK
    Vehicle:
    2008 Prius
    #3 timberwolf, Jun 28, 2009
  4. fuzzy1

    fuzzy1 Senior Member

    Joined:
    Feb 26, 2009
    17,513
    10,293
    90
    Location:
    Western Washington
    Vehicle:
    Other Hybrid
    Model:
    N/A
    The Seattle Weekly is now part of the same corporate chain as the Houston News, which originated this drivel without disclosing a conflict of interest. See the previous threads here in PC:

    Houston Press "Investigates" Safety Record of Toyota Prius

    Wild Rides in the Prius
     
    #4 fuzzy1, Jun 28, 2009
  5. djasonw

    djasonw Active Member

    Joined:
    Jul 13, 2004
    951
    116
    0
    Location:
    Coconut Creek, FL
    Vehicle:
    2004 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    Actually a few months ago I had unintended acceleration but it was my fault. Here's what happened. I went to have the car washed and they took out the mats to clean and vacuum. They put the mats back in but did not mount them on the hinge. Since it was dark and I was in a rush, I figured I'd hook it myself the next day. Anyway, I forgot and I was driving on the turnpike and it happened. The car took off like a bat out of hell!! I knew right a way what it was. I grabbed the mat and pulled it back and the acceleration ceased. This brings me to another question. Is the braking on our cars solely based on electronics? if so, is it possible to have a braking issue IF there is a software glitch? Is there some type of redundancy system in the event there is a problem with the brakes?
     
    #5 djasonw, Jun 28, 2009
  6. JimboPalmer

    JimboPalmer Tsar of all the Rushers

    Joined:
    Apr 14, 2009
    12,470
    6,871
    2
    Location:
    Greenwood MS USA
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius v wagon
    Model:
    Three
    So far as I know, the parking brake is mechanical.
     
    #6 JimboPalmer, Jun 28, 2009
  7. timberwolf

    timberwolf New Member

    Joined:
    Oct 26, 2008
    220
    31
    0
    Location:
    UK
    Vehicle:
    2008 Prius
    Yes, there is redundancy in the braking system. There is a hydraulic system and a backup 12v power supply (charged capacitors) for the brake system. The hydraulic system works mostly operates at low speeds, but even at higher speeds hydraulic braking may be needed to assist what can be achieved with regen braking depending on how hard you need to brake.

    If you want some reassurance that the hydraulic system would stop you, find a quiet road, take your speed up to say 30 mph, move the gear shift to Neutral, and press the brake pedal.
     
    #7 timberwolf, Jun 29, 2009
  8. Frayadjacent

    Frayadjacent Resident Conservative

    Joined:
    Mar 22, 2009
    375
    21
    0
    Location:
    Austin, TX
    Vehicle:
    2009 Prius
    The braking system will failsafe to the friction brakes if the software or controllers fail.

    From what I've gathered, it is likely that many of the 'unintended acceleration' events were likely floor mat related. It happened to me in a previous car once (that was not a Prius).
     
    #8 Frayadjacent, Jun 29, 2009
(You must log in or sign up to post here.)