TOYOTA SEZ IT HAS [another] FIX FOR PEDAL ... DO YOU BELIEVE IT?
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From: Mike Hunter on 18 Feb 2010 10:19 (Cross posting deleted, automatically) "C. E. White" <cewhite3(a)mindspring.com> wrote in message news:hljh6j$vm8$1(a)news.eternal-september.org... > > "Tegger" <invalid(a)invalid.inv> wrote in message > news:Xns9D22703ADB9E2tegger(a)208.90.168.18... >> me <noemail(a)nothere.com> wrote in >> news:tfmmn5176t66e9rq1cvmrgsfb52qa6c9ic@ >> 4ax.com: >> >> >>> >>> Well, Honda would like you to think so. Must be why they stopped >>> releasing their TSB's to the public >>
From: Mike Hunter on 18 Feb 2010 10:19 (Cross posting deleted, automatically) "Tegger" <invalid(a)invalid.inv> wrote in message news:Xns9D235F106E1DBtegger(a)208.90.168.18... > "C. E. White" <cewhite3(a)mindspring.com> wrote in news:hljh6j$vm8$1 > @news.eternal-september.org: > > >> >> I think the problem is that Honda (and Toyota)
From: C. E. White on 18 Feb 2010 11:51 I just saw this interesting article on the gas pedal assembly problem... http://www.designnews.com/article/print/448825-Poor_Plastic_Selection_Caused_Gas_Pedal_Failures.php Toyota says a high-performance plastic used as friction levers in accelerator pedal assemblies causes the gas pedal to malfunction in certain weather conditions. Toyota outlined the problem in a recent letter to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, including details of problems dating to March, 2007, when internal testing on the plastic accelerated. Chris Santucci, manager of technical & regulatory affairs for Toyota Motor North America, says: "Due to the manner in which the friction lever interacts with the sliding surface of the accelerator pedal inside the pedal sensor assembly, the sliding surface of the lever may become smooth during vehicle operation. In this condition, if condensation occurs on the surface, as may occur from heater operation (without A/C) when the pedal assembly is cold, the friction when the accelerator pedal is operated may increase, which may result in the accelerator pedal becoming harder to depress, slower to return or in the worst case, mechanically stuck in a partially depressed position." The problem was first reported in March, 2007 when Toyota received field technical information of accelerator pedals demonstrating symptoms such as rough operation or being slow to return to the idle position. The accelerator pedal assemblies in the vehicles (Tundras) contained a friction lever made of the polyamide (nylon) 4/6 material. Toyota's investigation found that the material was susceptible to humidity, which could cause the friction lever to absorb moisture and swell. It is well known that nylon is a hygroscopic (water-absorbing) polymer. In February 2008, the material of the friction arm was changed to PPS while investigations continued. "In June 2008, Toyota concluded that while accelerator pedal feeling could change under certain conditions, Toyota considered it to be a drivability issue unrelated to safety," said Toyota's Santucci in a Jan. 21 letter to Daniel C. Smith, associate administrator for enforcement at the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Starting in December of 2008, Toyota received field technical information from Europe that the accelerator pedals using the PPS were also sticking. The reports predominantly involved right hand drive versions of the Toyota Aygo and Yaris vehicles. Toyota began a detailed investigation of returned pedals in March of last year. "Internal inspection of the sliding surface of the friction lever and the pedal arm was found to be partially smooth," wrote Santucci. "Toyota conducted some duplication tests, and it was found that the internal friction could increase if moisture was attached to the sliding surface of the friction lever as the surface became smooth. This made the accelerator pedal stick in a partially depressed position under the condition where condensation occurs on the accelerator pedal."
From: C. E. White on 18 Feb 2010 12:32 "Tegger" <invalid(a)invalid.inv> wrote in message news:Xns9D235F106E1DBtegger(a)208.90.168.18... > "C. E. White" <cewhite3(a)mindspring.com> wrote in news:hljh6j$vm8$1 > @news.eternal-september.org: > > >> >> I think the problem is that Honda (and Toyota) forced third party >> sites like Alldata to stop posting the TSB titles for free. > > > > Check out EBSCO-Host. It's all free, except for what it costs you > for a > library card at your local library. > > > >> This made >> it harder to learn of TSBs that might affect your vehicle. > > > Go to your local library and get a library card. The librarians will > tell > you how to log on to EBSCO using your library card number. All the > TSBs you > could possibly find are there. For free. Does it include the full text of TSBs, or just the titles? I need to get a library card (or use my sons). Ed
From: C. E. White on 18 Feb 2010 12:46
To me the key line in the Design News article is "Toyota considered it to be a drivability issue unrelated to safety." Who would claim a sticking gas pedal is not a safety issue? And, since they knew in 2007 that these pedals were sticking, or could stick uder some conditions, why in the heck didn't Toyota change the material sooner? It seem irresponsible to keep using the same material for 3 years after you recognize their is a problem. I guess this is a question of the left hand not knowing what the right hand was doing. If they had spent less time convincing NHTSA that they didn't need to investigate the problem, and more time fixing this "drivability issue" [HA HA], then there wouldn't be any big frenzy now. http://www.designnews.com:80/article/print/448825-Poor_Plastic_Selection_Caused_Gas_Pedal_Failures.php A neighbor of mine ran his Tacoma into a building last week. See http://www.dailyadvance.com/news/driver-stuck-gas-pedal-caused-wreck-15332 I think it is interesting how quickly Toyota snatched up the vehicle. I suppose if I was a Toyota executive I wouldn't want to let it fall into the hands of some scum sucking lawyer either. No telling what they might find. Do 2009 Tacomas include a flight recorder function? If I had a problem like this, I would not let the manufacturer impound the vehicle until I had an independent party to look it over and document the condition of the vehicle. Ed |