Bad advice...

[Danny_Ocean]

Watching Fox News a few days ago and they were discussing the Toyota "sudden acceleration" recall. Toyota says it's the floor mats, while owners/experts are saying it's the "fly by wire" throttle controller.

Reporter was discussing the (San Diego) case of the off-duty CHP officer and his family that died when their Toyota/Lexus accelerated to 120+ and crashed into another car at a freeway off-ramp. Driver's brother, in the back seat, had time to call 9-1-1 and describe the problem they were having before the crash. Apparently, it wasn't sudden.

After reading the story, I wondered why an experienced CHP officer wouldn't know to turn off the ignition to slow/stop the vehicle? I know the new Toyota/Lexus have a push-button start, so not sure how that works come time to turn it off.

Nonetheless, the reporter tells the entire world "DO NOT TURN OFF THE IGNITION. IT WILL RENDER YOUR STEERING AND BRAKES USELESS"

I say BS. You will still have steering/brakes, and your vehicle won't be accelerating.

Bad advice on behalf of the reporter?

[m21sniper]

does turning it off lock the steering wheel? That would be BAD.

[stomachmonkey]

I'd rather shift into Nuetral and risk blowing the motor. On a modern car the rev limiter should kick in regardless and you'll still have full braking power.

As far as turning off the ignition on a keyed car not so sure I'd try that.

Do all steering locks work the same? Meaning does the key need to be physically removed to engage it or will it engage on some cars if the key is turned all the way back but not removed?

[legion]

Toyota is trying to downplay a major production flaw?

From what I hear on this BBS, Toyotas never have problems, last forever, and are better in every way than all other manufacturers.

[gtc]

I call BS. Have you ever seen a Toyota do 120? My empirical research leads me to believe that they're electronically limited to 3mph below the posted speed limit.

[Danny_Ocean]

You cannot lock the steering wheel just by turning the ignition to "off". Typically key (or whatever) has to be removed and vehicle must be in P or N to lock wheel. Try it (in the safety of your driveway).

[mistertate]

I believe ignition switches have on click before they lock so you can safely shut the car off as described, you only have to do it for a second, '80s Porsches at least. Haven't you guys tried this?
My wife's blessed 928 occasionaly cuts ignition when you turn off the headlights so you have to put it in neutral and re-start the car while coasting.
One of my friends tried turning off his '04 Mercedes S class going down the freeway to diagnose a squeak/noise that was bothering him. It went full code red and he had to take it to the dealer to get it fixed.
You gotta love drive-by-wire and CAN networks...

[Noah930]

If you turn off the engine using your key, you'll lose your power brakes, but you're correct in the brakes will still kinda work. However, you will lose your steering. Not just the power portion, but likely the steering lock will activate (as in your moment of panic you'll probably turn the key ALL the way off, and not just to the first detente) and as soon as you turn the wheel more than a few degrees off center, it'll engage and you'll be stuck with the wheel in that position.

Still, better to have crappy brakes and possibly no steering (as long as you're pointed straight to begin with) as long as the car is no longer accelerating at full throttle.

Other option (probably the smarter one) is to throw the automatic transmission in neutral. Rev limiter may or may not kick in, but who cares if you blow your motor at that point? At least you'll be able to stop and steer.

[Danny_Ocean]

Originally Posted by stomachmonkey

I'd rather shift into Nuetral and risk blowing the motor.

That's what the reporter suggested. I'm still confused as to why the CHP guy didn't do either. I would instantly turn off the key. Not going to blow my motor.

[Noah930]

Originally Posted by Danny_Ocean

You cannot lock the steering wheel just by turning the ignition to "off". Typically key (or whatever) has to be removed and vehicle must be in P or N to lock wheel. Try it (in the safety of your driveway).

I guess the cars that I've had are different. Turn the key "off" beyond the first click and the steering will lock, even if you haven't removed the key from the ignition. At least that's been true in all the cars I've ever paid attention to. I've tried it.

[Danny_Ocean]

Originally Posted by Noah930

If you turn off the engine using your key, you'll lose your power brakes, but you're correct in the brakes will still kinda work. However, you will lose your steering. Not just the power portion, but likely the steering lock will activate (as in your moment of panic you'll probably turn the key ALL the way off, and not just to the first detente) and as soon as you turn the wheel more than a few degrees off center, it'll engage and you'll be stuck with the wheel in that position.

I just went out to my rental car ('09 Saturn), started it, put it in "D" and tried to turn off the ignition. Key went to the off position, but would not go to the locked position. Only after I put the car in P was I able to turn the key to "lock".

[Danny_Ocean]

Originally Posted by Noah930

I guess the cars that I've had are different. Turn the key "off" beyond the first click and the steering will lock, even if you haven't removed the key from the ignition. At least that's been true in all the cars I've ever paid attention to. I've tried it.

I misspoke...I meant car must be in P before turning to lock. Key can then be removed.

[HardDrive]

Why wouldn't you just shift into neutral? Duh. Let the engine scream at the limiter and blow itself up. Who cares? At least your not dead.

[Danny_Ocean]

Originally Posted by HardDrive

Why wouldn't you just shift into neutral? Duh. Let the engine scream at the limiter and blow itself up. Who cares? At least your not dead.

Agreed. The car he was driving was a loaner anyway.

Sad and tragic story, but we'll never know what was going through his mind.

[legion]

Maybe his wife was nagging him and he decided to show her...

[Noah930]

There was a story on one of those "Real Stories of the Highway Patrol" type shows about a similar incident in a Jetta. The woman had enough time to call 9-1-1. Supposedly the transmission would not shift into neutral. Perhaps there was a similar situation this time? Hard to imagine multiple people sitting in a car along with a 9-1-1 dispatcher wouldn't have thought of that at some point.

[Noah930]

Originally Posted by Danny_Ocean

Sad and tragic story, but we'll never know what was going through his mind.

Bits of the front windshield...

[Danny_Ocean]

Originally Posted by Noah930

Supposedly the transmission would not shift into neutral. Perhaps there was a similar situation this time?

Yeah...coulda been part of the malfunction. Is the transmission "fly by wire" too on these things?

[Danny_Ocean]

Originally Posted by Noah930

Bits of the front windshield...

Ooohhh...that's bad.

[McLovin]

A car isn't going to blow up by being put in neutral. All even remotely modern cars have rev limiters. The car can bounce of the rev limiter a long, long time before any damage is done to the engine.

BMW and Mercedes used to test engines running them at redline for days at a time.

As far as turning the car off, on a normal key ignition, you of course can turn it off without locking the steering wheel.

(Not sure how these gimmicky push button systems work, but my strong hunch is if you simply push the button to turn off the car, the steering won't lock).

This CHP story is so odd, since there were any number of ways anyone with any knowledge of cars could have avoided the tragedy.