Why the "Out of Control" Prius Driver Is Full of It

web1b · Mar 16, 2010

It wouldn't even be necessary to induce all of the brake wear during the 20 minutes after he called 911. Some of it could have been done in advance.

ETP · Mar 20, 2010

web1b said: ↑

It wouldn't even be necessary to induce all of the brake wear during the 20 minutes after he called 911. Some of it could have been done in advance.
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How to Deal With Unintended Acceleration - MSN Autos

wwest40 · Mar 20, 2010

drajkuma said: ↑

I feel like a villain for questioning what hobbit said, because in my mind, him along with a few others such as Patrick are extremely knowledgeable. But, if the guy attempted to do this, yes, the smell would be evident. However, this is what is baffling me.

....Toyota said in a statement that the accelerator pedal was tested and found to be working normally

and a backup safety system worked properly.

Toyota is being a bit liberal, TOO liberal IMMHO, with this "backup safety system" statement. The Prius has no, and needs no, backup safety system because it already has one by default. When the brakes are applied, even ever so lightly, the HSD system programming is such that the system should immediately stop "DRIVING" and switch into regenerative braking mode, or "neutral" if no regen is required.

So, in essence, ALL Toyota HSD systems have a BTO, Brake/Throttle Override, always have had.

The automaker said the front brakes showed severe wear and damage from overheating, but the rear brakes and parking brake were in good condition....

Toyota dismisses account of runaway Prius - Yahoo! News

Assuming that the front brakes are favored more when the brake pedal is depressed, and the power to the wheels is turned off (because the brake pedal is depressed), how would the front brakes show severe wear and tear, while the rears are okay? Or am I missing something? Unless his front brakes were pretty bad to begin with.

I wish I could "catch" more questions this easy to answer.

The front braking effort was being compromised by the fact that they not only had to overcome the inertia of the vehicle but also the DRIVING force of the WOT runaway HSD system.

The rear brakes would have been effective except for the likely ABS activity. ABS would have been operating only on the rear wheels in order to prevent the rear wheels from slowing disproportionately in comparison to the front wheels.

Thus "saving" the rear brakes.

Is it possible to shred the front brakes that bad in 20 minutes of accelerating and braking? Can a driver maintain sustained speeds of over 60 miles per hour driving a Prius with this driving pattern?

From a programming point of view, I feel that just because there were no DTC codes, doesn't mean that there isn't anything wrong. It could possibly mean that the error/event-handling is inadequate.

Just my $0.02 and I still drive my Prius happily. I have also instructed my wife as to what she can do if and when her Sienna starts accelerating and she is comfortable with that. Other than this baffling scenario, we are both happy with our vehicles, including the 94 Corolla.
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The 2010 Prius AOB braking recall is for "improper programming" of the ABS ECU....

Why the "Out of Control" Prius Driver Is Full of It

web1b Active Member

ETP 2021 Prime(Limit),Highlander HYB Plat,B52-D,G,F,H

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Why the "Out of Control" Prius Driver Is Full of It

web1b Active Member

ETP 2021 Prime(Limit),Highlander HYB Plat,B52-D,G,F,H

wwest40 Member