It's getting ugly at Toyota

[marmar]

via Yahoo:



Toyota halts US sales of 8 recalled vehicle models
By KEN THOMAS, Associated Press Writer


WASHINGTON – Toyota Motor Co. said Tuesday it was suspending U.S. sales of eight recalled vehicle models to fix accelerator pedals that stick, the latest quality problem to confront the world's No. 1 automaker.

As part of the plan, Toyota said it was halting production at five manufacturing facilities for the week of Feb. 1 "to assess and coordinate activities." There are 2.3 million vehicles involved in the recall, which was announced last week.

"This action is necessary until a remedy is finalized," said Bob Carter, Toyota's group vice president and general manager.

The Japanese automaker says the sales suspension includes the 2009-2010 RAV4, the 2009-2010 Corolla, the 2009-2010 Matrix, the 2005-2010 Avalon, the 2007-2010 Camry, the 2010 Highlander, the 2007-2010 Tundra and the 2008-2010 Sequoia.

It was unclear how long Toyota would suspend production of the vehicles. In an e-mail to employees, company officials said, "we don't know yet how long this pause will last but we will make every effort to resume production soon." Toyota officials did not immediately return phone messages. .........(more)

The complete piece is at: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100126/ap_on_bi_ge/us_toyota_recall

[HysteryDiagnosis]

1. In 2010, making a footspeed that doesn't function appropriately

is akin to making water that isn't wet. I just don't get it.

[physioex]

3. Unfortunately its not quite that simple....

As a matter of fact, cars are getting more complicated. The newer cars use whats called throttle by wire. So there is no physical connection from the pedal to the throttle body. Your input goes to a computer which controls the throttle body based on many other parameters. This is done to improve fuel and emissions. I don't think the problem is mechanical its most likely a bug in the software. There are some work arounds to this.

[HysteryDiagnosis]

6. Oh yeah, I'm well aware of the potential foibles of multi ecm

systems... it's a damn shame they cannot find this bug during development and not after deployment.

[physioex]

8. I was reading an yahoo article....

They mentioned the brake pedal should be an override to the accelerator so if the brake pedal is being pushed, as a work around the computer should not rev the engine.

[HysteryDiagnosis]

9. Too simple, what engineer would want to do that?? I jest, n't.

[madrchsod]

11. adding to what phyioex wrote here is another problem...

the failure rate of millions of electrical parts.

my daughter makes parts for Chrysler. the part is a simple mechanical device that is on every chrysler product that has been made for years. in the 4 yrs she`s worked there has never been a complaint from chrysler. that is close to 4 million defect free parts. since this is a simple device the failure rate after several years would be insignificant.

toyota`s problem maybe millions of electrical parts that are very difficult to assure that something won`t go wrong. if the failure rate is 1% that`s a lot of automobiles. drive by wire maybe ok for limited production vehicles but for millions of vehicles that is a whole different problem.

from personal experience with toyota this is a really big blow to their corporate ego.

[Codeine]

2. Had an American manufacturer done this

the DU voices would be raised to the heavens. But it's Toyota, so nobody will have a bad word to say.

[physioex]

4. Toyota has had a lot of problems...

They were know for having sludge build up in their engines in their Lexus and Toyota brands. They denied this till the end.

[blue_onyx]

7. Yes, that's how things work on DU

I posted the topic and it also got few posts

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x7577080

I hope buyers who can't purchase a Toyota right now at least consider a vehicle from the US automakers.

[Tansy_Gold]

14. Shows how much YOU know.

I've stood by my 2000 Chevy S-10 Blazer faithfully, even when the BF has encouraged me to buy a "better" vehicle from Toyota or Mazda or Honda.

I happen to prefer American-made vehicles, and I'm doing a whole lot of "ITYS" over the Toyota recalls.

Toyota knew they had a problem and they didn't fix it. Their problem cost people's lives, and in my book that's unforgivable. No one's perfect, and mistakes can be made, even tragic mistakes, but it'll be a snowy day in Apache Junction before I have anything to do with Toyota.



Tansy Gold

[HopeHoops]

16. You haven't read my posts on the subject then. Toyota is the sleaziest car company on the planet.

I wouldn't ride in one, much less own one.

[alstephenson]

5. Well isn't that reassuring???

Only existing owners are in danger of dying or killing someone else. Thanks, Toyota!

[JHB]

10. So who will be blamed for this?

The design engineers, or the assembly workers?

Toyota said the company would stop producing vehicles at plants in Indiana, Kentucky, Texas and Canada. They said no other North American Toyota facility would be affected by the decision.

Great time for a de facto layoff, even if all goes well and it's a short one. Thanks a bunch, Toyota executives.

[madrchsod]

13. if it is an electrical part.....

a sub assembly plant in china or a third world country. then i`d blame the engineers for thinking drive by wire is a practical system for millions of vehicles.

by the time the parts get to the assembly line it`s to late

[flvegan]

12. So you can have a Yaris or a Prius.

Or no Toyota for you. Wow, that's going to be tough on dealerships and their sales staff for sure.

[PJPhreak]

15. I have been a happy Toyota owner since 1983...

i have had 4 of 'em...a 1980 sr5 truck,a 1979 corolla,a 1989 4runner and the current one that I own a 1986 Corolla 4-door.

That being said I agree that modern automobiles are getting too complex...I used to be able to do most if not all my own repairs/upgrades,but nowadays I can't seem to even find the dipstick much less fix anything.

So what am I going to do about this? I'm gonna buy one of these...



Parts are never gonna be hard to find,the aftermarket has that covered,they take really well to Hot-Rodding,are really good in most any weather,don't burn much gas and are a blast to drive!