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

Toyota to Use Zip Ties to Fix Floor Mats

Discussion in 'Prius, Hybrid, EV and Alt-Fuel News' started by ggood, Oct 8, 2009.

  1. Winston

    Winston Member

    Joined:
    May 19, 2007
    614
    20
    0
    Location:
    SF Bay Area, California
    Vehicle:
    2007 Prius
    While that Lexus was not a Hybrid, it does have push button start/stop.
     
  2. darelldd

    darelldd Prius is our Gas Guzzler

    Joined:
    Jan 17, 2006
    6,057
    389
    0
    Location:
    Northern CA
    Vehicle:
    2006 Prius
    So here's the deal as I see it. No fancy interlock is needed. I don't think there is a mass produced car on the road that can overcome the brakes with the engine. I don't care what car you're in... if it starts going to fast, don't look for the shifter or the ignition... STOMP on the brakes. Use both feet. Whatever it takes. Get the car slowed down and THEN look around for how to shut it off or disable it. There is no mystery, and no rocket science needed. Just use the brakes.

    An interlock is a great idea. But not every car will have it of course, and nobody thinks clearly in a panic situation. USE THE BRAKES. And if the brakes don't work then... well panic.
     
  3. Airbalancer

    Airbalancer Active Member

    Joined:
    Aug 6, 2009
    892
    73
    0
    Location:
    Cobourg, On, Canada
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    Costco have Michelin rubber floor mats for $10 off , down to $26 for 4
    Will try them when the wife gettes back in a couple of weeks

    Does it come with Zip ties LOL
     
  4. Silver bullit

    Silver bullit Right Lane Cruiser

    Joined:
    Mar 21, 2009
    608
    210
    15
    Location:
    San Diego, California
    Vehicle:
    2009 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    I have the all weather mats and the gas pedal is not close to the mat
     
  5. Silver bullit

    Silver bullit Right Lane Cruiser

    Joined:
    Mar 21, 2009
    608
    210
    15
    Location:
    San Diego, California
    Vehicle:
    2009 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    Friends believe CHP officer did all he could to avoid crash

    By Debbi Baker
    Union-Tribune Staff Writer
    2:00 a.m. October 18, 2009
    [​IMG] CHP Officer Mark Saylor died with family members in a wreck Aug. 28. (Courtesy family)


    [​IMG] Mark Saylor, 45; daughter, Mahala, 13; and wife, Cleofe, 45, of Chula Vista were believed to be headed to Mahala's soccer practice when they died in a Santee crash. (Courtesy family)


    RELATED STORIES


    CHP veteran among four thought to be victims of Friday crash

    200 pay tribute to family killed in car crash

    CHP releases 911 call in officer's fiery crash

    Floor mat suspected in fatal car crash

    Inspection order by Toyota linked to Santee crash

    Sudden-acceleration cause proves divisive

    Toyota to order huge recall over possible floor mat flaw



    The constant second-guessing only added to their grief after losing their friend and fellow highway patrol officer and his family in one horrifying instant. Second-guessing from strangers over what Mark Saylor tried to do to stop a borrowed Lexus speeding down a highway out of his control at an estimated 120 mph.
    Saylor and his wife, daughter and brother-in-law died in the fiery August crash where state Route 125 runs into Mission Gorge Road in Santee.
    Did Saylor yank up on the accelerator? Did he try to shut off the engine?
    “I'm positive he did everything he could do,” said Mike May, who worked alongside Saylor at the San Diego office of the California Highway Patrol.
    May and CHP Officer John Concepcion spoke yesterday about their friend, providing the first detailed interviews about Saylor.
    Both pointed to the 911 call that Saylor's brother-in-law made seconds before the car hurtled off the road, and remarked at how calm his voice was and how there seemed to be no panic in the car.
    “I know his family had all their faith in him that he was doing what he could to stop that car,” May said Go to complete article Friends believe CHP officer did all he could to avoid crash - SignOnSanDiego.com
     
  6. joewein

    joewein Driving in Japan

    Joined:
    Aug 2, 2008
    35
    17
    0
    Location:
    Tokyo, Japan
    Vehicle:
    2013 Prius Alpha
    Model:
    N/A
    Unfortunately it's not quite as straightforward as that.

    The brake servo in most cars runs off a vacuum generated by the action of the throttle valve in the air intake manifold of the engine. When the accelerator pedal is floored, this valve is fully open and as a result, the usual vacuum is significantly reduced (if not eliminated) as nothing but the air filter element stands in the way of air rushing into the engine. Push the pedal a couple of times in that state and the servo assistance could be gone.

    I guess this may not be a problem in the Prius, which has an electric air pump to supply the vacuum, as it needs servo support even when the ICE is stopped.