From: Grumpy AuContraire on 6 Aug 2010 20:30 Nate Nagel wrote: > On 08/06/2010 03:34 PM, Grumpy AuContraire wrote: >> Brent wrote: >>> On 2010-08-06, N8N <njnagel(a)hotmail.com> wrote: >>> >>>> I'm curious why instead of aiming for a tree, ASSuming that all >>>> "normal" methods for stopping the car failed, she didn't just >>>> sideswipe some Armco or Jersey barrier and ride it down until it was >>>> going slow enough to safely turn off the ignition (assuming she was >>>> worried about the steering lock. If it could be turned off without >>>> locking the steering, that would have been the first thing to do.) >>> >>> With all these 'runaway' cars these days I am thinking that over century >>> of dumbing people down has worked. >> >> Gawd... Don't get me started on the dumbing down road. For me, a >> sensible policy would include (when getting a first driver's license) a >> test on the four basic functions of internal combustion powered cars; >> Fuel level, Engine temperature, Oil pressure and Electrical status. >> >> Call me old fashioned, but simple knowledge can keep you out of a world >> of hurt.. > > I agree! What happened to the full gauge panel? People have been dumbed down to the point that they don't have any idea of what they are. Hell, most people cain't find the west coast on a map. >> >>> The federally mandated solution will probably be some complicated >>> central control on-star like thing complete with real time tracking and >>> logging instead of a simple kill switch (or outlawing the automatic >>> transmission :) ) >> >> >> Gawd... Don't bet me started on guv'ment mandates as to auto >> manufacturing. How helpless have we become??? Can't even check tire >> pressure anymore. Grrrr > > I for one love real TPMS though... beats the heck out of checking the > tires in the dark (only time they're likely to be dead cold) and even > better if it's raining... just start the engine, push a button a couple > of times, and you are reassured (or not) that your tires are properly > inflated. Maybe, but it should be an option, not a requirement. What will happen to them thar' sensors after a few salty seasons? JT
From: Grumpy AuContraire on 6 Aug 2010 20:34 The Real Bev wrote: > On 08/06/10 12:34, Grumpy AuContraire wrote: > >> Brent wrote: >>> On 2010-08-06, N8N<njnagel(a)hotmail.com> wrote: >>> >>>> I'm curious why instead of aiming for a tree, ASSuming that all >>>> "normal" methods for stopping the car failed, she didn't just >>>> sideswipe some Armco or Jersey barrier and ride it down until it >>>> was going slow enough to safely turn off the ignition (assuming >>>> she was worried about the steering lock. If it could be turned >>>> off without locking the steering, that would have been the first >>>> thing to do.) >>> >>> With all these 'runaway' cars these days I am thinking that over >>> century of dumbing people down has worked. >> >> Gawd... Don't get me started on the dumbing down road. For me, a >> sensible policy would include (when getting a first driver's license) >> a test on the four basic functions of internal combustion powered >> cars; Fuel level, Engine temperature, Oil pressure and Electrical >> status. >> >> Call me old fashioned, but simple knowledge can keep you out of a >> world of hurt.. > > We had a '68 Ford whose HOT light came on only after steam was issuing > from the engine compartment and the engine itself was shutting down. > Current Caddy is nice -- it has an actual engine temperature readout > with real NUMBERS! > >>> The federally mandated solution will probably be some complicated >>> central control on-star like thing complete with real time tracking >>> and logging instead of a simple kill switch (or outlawing the >>> automatic transmission :) ) > > Don't dump on automatics; when you're injured or recovering from > childbirth, > a clutch is the last thing you want to use your muscles for. Not my comment. I love automatics. My old Honda Civic gen II has one that works just like an ol' Ford-O-Matic. Not one electrical connection on it as it works on throttle pressure and governor and that's just fine. Old grumpy people like me like to "push 'n go" and "push 'n stop." Great in traffic too! >> Gawd... Don't bet me started on guv'ment mandates as to auto >> manufacturing. How helpless have we become??? Can't even check >> tire pressure anymore. Grrrr > > What, there's a law against that now? DAMN! Well, the law does mandate that tire pressure sensor thingy. No thanks, I'll check my own, thank you... JT
From: Nate Nagel on 6 Aug 2010 20:39 On 08/06/2010 08:30 PM, Grumpy AuContraire wrote: > Nate Nagel wrote: >> On 08/06/2010 03:34 PM, Grumpy AuContraire wrote: >>> Brent wrote: >>>> On 2010-08-06, N8N <njnagel(a)hotmail.com> wrote: >>>> >>>>> I'm curious why instead of aiming for a tree, ASSuming that all >>>>> "normal" methods for stopping the car failed, she didn't just >>>>> sideswipe some Armco or Jersey barrier and ride it down until it was >>>>> going slow enough to safely turn off the ignition (assuming she was >>>>> worried about the steering lock. If it could be turned off without >>>>> locking the steering, that would have been the first thing to do.) >>>> >>>> With all these 'runaway' cars these days I am thinking that over >>>> century >>>> of dumbing people down has worked. >>> >>> Gawd... Don't get me started on the dumbing down road. For me, a >>> sensible policy would include (when getting a first driver's license) a >>> test on the four basic functions of internal combustion powered cars; >>> Fuel level, Engine temperature, Oil pressure and Electrical status. >>> >>> Call me old fashioned, but simple knowledge can keep you out of a world >>> of hurt.. >> >> I agree! What happened to the full gauge panel? > > People have been dumbed down to the point that they don't have any idea > of what they are. Hell, most people cain't find the west coast on a map. > > >>> >>>> The federally mandated solution will probably be some complicated >>>> central control on-star like thing complete with real time tracking and >>>> logging instead of a simple kill switch (or outlawing the automatic >>>> transmission :) ) >>> >>> >>> Gawd... Don't bet me started on guv'ment mandates as to auto >>> manufacturing. How helpless have we become??? Can't even check tire >>> pressure anymore. Grrrr >> >> I for one love real TPMS though... beats the heck out of checking the >> tires in the dark (only time they're likely to be dead cold) and even >> better if it's raining... just start the engine, push a button a >> couple of times, and you are reassured (or not) that your tires are >> properly inflated. > > Maybe, but it should be an option, not a requirement. What will happen > to them thar' sensors after a few salty seasons? > > JT > I dunno, the only car I've had with them is a 2008, so too soon to tell. The sensors are physically inside the tire though (actually integrated with the valve stem) so I ASSume that they'll last a decent amount of time... nate -- replace "roosters" with "cox" to reply. http://members.cox.net/njnagel
From: Brent on 6 Aug 2010 21:46 On 2010-08-06, The Real Bev <bashley101(a)gmail.com> wrote: >>> The federally mandated solution will probably be some complicated >>> central control on-star like thing complete with real time tracking >>> and logging instead of a simple kill switch (or outlawing the >>> automatic transmission :) ) > > Don't dump on automatics; when you're injured or recovering from > childbirth, a clutch is the last thing you want to use your muscles for. You'll need a special permit and a note from your doctor ;)
From: Hachiroku ハチロク on 6 Aug 2010 22:04
On Fri, 06 Aug 2010 15:56:32 -0700, The Real Bev wrote: > On 08/05/10 20:25, News wrote: > >> Hachiroku ハチロク wrote: >>> On Fri, 06 Aug 2010 01:05:24 +0000, Matthew Russotto wrote: >>> >>>> In article<i3faj2$s3m$1(a)news.albasani.net>, >>>> =?iso-2022-jp?q?Hachiroku_=1B$B%O%A%m%=2F=1B=28B?=<Trueno(a)e86.GTS> wrote: >>>>> That's what gets me about these calls. You have time to yap on the phone? >>>>> And, what's with the dispatcher NOT telling her... >>>>> >>>>> Depress the brake >>>>> Move the shift lever into neutral >>>>> Turn the key to the OFF position or >>>>> Hold the START button for 5 seconds... >>>> Step 1 is not to depress the brake. Step 1 is to remove both feet >>>> from the pedals. >>> >>> First thing I do, just in case the cruise control has a mind of it's own. > > The fewer "automatic" features a car has, the better. One disturbing thing I have noticed about my newest car is, even if you come to a complete stop, the cruise control retains it's last setting. On the old non ECU controlled cruises, when you went below ~30 MPH it lost it's 'memory' and had to be reset. So, you come off the highway, come to a stop light and in the course of making a turn the side of your hand hits the stalk mounted control, hits the "Resume" function, and, since your last set speed was 75, it's OFF TO THE RACES!!! I am willing to be this accounts for at least half of the 'unintended acceleration' cases. And accounts for why when I get off the highway I turn the cruise control OFF...it HAS happened to me due to the way the stalk is mounted. > >> Consider that this occurred in New Hampshire, the "live free or die" state. > > Is that "free" as in beer? |