Explaining the Toyota floor mat recall
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From: Elmo P. Shagnasty on 6 Oct 2009 11:41 http://blogs.cars.com/kickingtires/2009/09/explaining-the-toyota-floormat -recall.html "So, what is it about these floormats that�s causing the problem? Basically, any automaker�s floormats can slide forward if they�re not attached to a hook that keeps them in place. However, the Lexus and Toyota models in question include a hook that can be detached from the carpet, meaning there are two ways for the floormat to become dislodged. According to Hanson, the design stems from the fact that floormats are an option across the Toyota lineup, and someone buying a car without them wouldn�t want a fixed stem protruding from the carpet." If you look at the picture on the web site, then go look at your own floor mats, you'll see the issue. I can see it now: Toyota lawyers will design the fix such that the floor mats are hooked to the seat frame in some fashion--which fixes the complaint that hooks stick up from the floor itself--along with an electrical wire which will break if the physical connection fails and the mat moves. When the wire breaks, it will either light up a "floor mat" light on the dash, or--more likely, given Toyota's nanny-state lawyers--prevent the car from starting. They'll just light up the light and hook it all into the same security ignition key system that's already in the cars today, the car won't start until the wire's fixed, and Bob's your uncle. Sure, it's easy enough to short out that system and make it work no matter what. But the owner would have taken active steps to do that, and Toyota is off the hook (pun intended).
From: ron on 6 Oct 2009 14:14 Both our RAV4 and Highlander have the optional (hooked) floor mats as did our 2005 Avalon. We, as a matter of course because of the snow/mud around here, always throw after market mats on top. They have no hooks but "lugs/spikes" on backing. Yes they sort of float and a time or two a month need a 5 second repositioning. The Avalons (3 ) we had never had a problem with the optional (hooked) floor mat moving. Ron in Idaho
From: Gary L. Burnore on 6 Oct 2009 17:29 On Tue, 6 Oct 2009 11:14:15 -0700, "ron" <randus3(a)teranews.com> wrote: >Both our RAV4 and Highlander have the optional (hooked) floor mats as did >our 2005 Avalon. We, as a matter of course because of the snow/mud around >here, always throw after market mats on top. They have no hooks but >"lugs/spikes" on backing. Yes they sort of float and a time or two a month >need a 5 second repositioning. The Avalons (3 ) we had never had a problem >with the optional (hooked) floor mat moving. Some of the REALLY stupid parts of this is the guy who died and killed his family was supposedly a cop. Even I, not a cop, know if your car's a runaway, shut it off. If that doesn't work, neutral only blows up the motor. Secondly, just because some dumbass used a hair dryer in a shower we have warnings on hair driers. Now warnings on floor mats. Hell, you can't even set a new nav route in a toyota these days if the car is moving. It's smart enough to tell if there is no one or a kid in the passenger seat, can't it tell if there is for the nav?
From: News on 6 Oct 2009 17:56 Gary L. Burnore wrote: > On Tue, 6 Oct 2009 11:14:15 -0700, "ron" <randus3(a)teranews.com> wrote: > >> Both our RAV4 and Highlander have the optional (hooked) floor mats as did >> our 2005 Avalon. We, as a matter of course because of the snow/mud around >> here, always throw after market mats on top. They have no hooks but >> "lugs/spikes" on backing. Yes they sort of float and a time or two a month >> need a 5 second repositioning. The Avalons (3 ) we had never had a problem >> with the optional (hooked) floor mat moving. > > > Some of the REALLY stupid parts of this is the guy who died and killed > his family was supposedly a cop. Even I, not a cop, know if your > car's a runaway, shut it off. If that doesn't work, neutral only > blows up the motor. > > Secondly, just because some dumbass used a hair dryer in a shower we > have warnings on hair driers. Now warnings on floor mats. Hell, you > can't even set a new nav route in a toyota these days if the car is > moving. It's smart enough to tell if there is no one or a kid in the > passenger seat, can't it tell if there is for the nav? How did anyone survive the 1950s/60s?
From: Al Falfa on 6 Oct 2009 20:29
"News" <News(a)Group.Name> wrote in message news:x_WdnTPz3vuQIFbXnZ2dnUVZ_gJi4p2d(a)speakeasy.net... > Gary L. Burnore wrote: >> On Tue, 6 Oct 2009 11:14:15 -0700, "ron" <randus3(a)teranews.com> wrote: >> >>> Both our RAV4 and Highlander have the optional (hooked) floor mats as >>> did our 2005 Avalon. We, as a matter of course because of the snow/mud >>> around here, always throw after market mats on top. They have no hooks >>> but "lugs/spikes" on backing. Yes they sort of float and a time or two >>> a month need a 5 second repositioning. The Avalons (3 ) we had never >>> had a problem with the optional (hooked) floor mat moving. >> >> >> Some of the REALLY stupid parts of this is the guy who died and killed >> his family was supposedly a cop. Even I, not a cop, know if your >> car's a runaway, shut it off. If that doesn't work, neutral only >> blows up the motor. Secondly, just because some dumbass used a hair >> dryer in a shower we >> have warnings on hair driers. Now warnings on floor mats. Hell, you >> can't even set a new nav route in a toyota these days if the car is >> moving. It's smart enough to tell if there is no one or a kid in the >> passenger seat, can't it tell if there is for the nav? > > > How did anyone survive the 1950s/60s? Good question. Look at this crash demonstration: http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=8f9_1253308261 |