Not Logged In Log In   Sign Up   Points Leaders
Follow Us    12:14 PM

GasBuddy News Article

Category: Daily News Article Discussions > Topics Add to favorite topics  
Author Topic: Investigators say no explanation yet for Calif. Prius claim Post a Reply Back to Topics
REPLIES (newest first)
Profile Pic
my2002m
Champion Author Tulsa

Posts:3,794
Points:1,207,670
Joined:Jul 2008
Message Posted: Mar 15, 2010 1:10:39 PM

Leave these issues to the courts, time to give it a rest.
Profile Pic
FuelBarge
Champion Author Long Island

Posts:6,816
Points:1,612,315
Joined:Aug 2005
Message Posted: Mar 15, 2010 11:33:57 AM

It is hard to know if we are looking at a real problem here another another "balloon boy" wannabe. If it is a problem, they will hopefully find out what is going on.
Profile Pic
BEngr
Champion Author Illinois

Posts:4,283
Points:1,119,130
Joined:May 2008
Message Posted: Mar 15, 2010 10:37:24 AM

Toyota needs to investigate this further before they discount this problem.
Profile Pic
JediKnight
Champion Author Wisconsin

Posts:4,571
Points:1,836,960
Joined:May 2004
Message Posted: Mar 15, 2010 10:33:33 AM

REVLAW,

I can see Toyota jumping on any/all aspects of a situation that will give them the appearance of not being at fault... However NHTSA hasn't found anything yet. So even if Toyota is going all out to discredit the situation... other sources aren't disproving Toyota's "doubt" campaign.

I recall seeing News conferences and some of the 911 call and thinking it seemed he was being sincere.

But as others have stated I was curious why News reports weren't jumping on the "Why no Neutral? Why no Engine Shutdown?" options right off the bat.

Particularly after the Police arrived as an escort... While an Engine Shutdown isn't recommended for control issues... if it's an option and you have "cover"... a shutdown would be a safer option then an uncontrolled 50-90MPH accelerator.
Profile Pic
BlueTucson
Champion Author Syracuse

Posts:1,945
Points:977,935
Joined:Sep 2005
Message Posted: Mar 15, 2010 10:33:22 AM

I agree that Sikes' behavior regarding his failure to put the car into neutral when repeatedly told to do so seems suspicious. The worn-out brakes seem to indicate a problem stopping, but could have been caused by other factors (perhaps they were already worn out).
Profile Pic
sam7777
Veteran Author Grand Rapids

Posts:320
Points:66,485
Joined:Jun 2009
Message Posted: Mar 15, 2010 10:28:48 AM

THe details sound like someone is trying to get some Toyota cash by staging this. Who has time to call 911 and get a police car in front of you to slow you down. In all the time the 911 operator was talking to the person, they never told them just to take the car out of gear?
Profile Pic
sivart
Champion Author Arkansas

Posts:15,156
Points:2,615,780
Joined:May 2004
Message Posted: Mar 15, 2010 10:27:32 AM

BlackGumTree has the right idea...emergency fuel shut off!! Solve all safety issues but not the cause.
Profile Pic
WyrelessMike
All-Star Author Little Rock

Posts:991
Points:427,170
Joined:Aug 2008
Message Posted: Mar 15, 2010 10:21:18 AM

This won't be very surprising to ANYONE who has suffered from any consistent malfunction or annoyance that happens every day in the car, but simply cannot be duplicated for a mechanic the day you take it into the shop.
Profile Pic
OHMS
Champion Author Orange County

Posts:10,815
Points:1,253,445
Joined:May 2005
Message Posted: Mar 15, 2010 10:17:14 AM

something fishy here; and more players will join the game.
Profile Pic
esquared
Champion Author Oklahoma City

Posts:6,102
Points:1,577,875
Joined:Jan 2006
Message Posted: Mar 15, 2010 10:13:44 AM

Copycat accelerator "problems?"

If the moguls who now own most media outlets hadn't so severely downsized their investigative news units (in favor of reality "entertainment"), we'd probably know the truth by now, a la Woodward and Bernstein. Instead we're stuck with "reporters" regurgitating what they get from paid flackery and press releases.
Profile Pic
Wolfwings
Champion Author Delaware

Posts:6,418
Points:1,316,115
Joined:May 2004
Message Posted: Mar 15, 2010 10:03:27 AM

This will continue to be a NO NEWS item until something can be proved one way or the other.
Profile Pic
REVLAW
Champion Author San Antonio

Posts:8,037
Points:1,542,215
Joined:Jul 2007
Message Posted: Mar 15, 2010 10:03:15 AM

Hello thedennis64 ... I catch your "tongue in cheek". I have a new vehicle under "bumper to bumper" warranty that has an intermittent vibration or pulsation in the brakes when applied at highway speeds. On two separate occasions, I have left the vehicle with the dealer to correct the issue. On one occasion, they kept the vehicle a total of four days because they said "the frame was not aligned properly and so the wheel alignment could not be made (they thought the wheel alignment could be a part of the problem). They later discovered that their equipment was "out of calibration", and after calibrating the equipment they successfully completed the wheel alignment. THEY COULD NOT "DUPLICATE" THE PULSATION AT APPLICATION OF THE BRAKES, SO NO CORRECTION HAS BEEN MADE. The pulsation is still there. I offered to pay to turn the front rotors to "true" them, but they said they were within manufacturer tolerance. So, we live with the pulsation. NET OUT = "PROBLEM COULD NOT BE DUPLICATED, THUS IT WAS PROBABLY A HOAX."
Profile Pic
CISA
Champion Author Orange County

Posts:4,456
Points:1,102,700
Joined:Dec 2006
Message Posted: Mar 15, 2010 9:52:38 AM

fake
Profile Pic
Kimmunicate
Champion Author San Francisco

Posts:1,068
Points:371,420
Joined:Jan 2010
Message Posted: Mar 15, 2010 9:51:42 AM

It's already been reported that he faked the incident. With all the debt he racked up over the years, he thought this was an easy out. It doesn't make sense that when the 911 operated asked if he tried to put the car in neutral, he said "no" then when she asked him to try it, he again said "no" What a dumbass. He's ruining it for those who truly have a case as well as trying to dig Toyota into a deeper hole.
Profile Pic
REVLAW
Champion Author San Antonio

Posts:8,037
Points:1,542,215
Joined:Jul 2007
Message Posted: Mar 15, 2010 9:49:59 AM

A good defense is to bring into question the credibility of anyone damaging to your cause or profitability. In this case, it is best for Toyota to spend money to discredit Sikes and cause doubt to hide slow and irresponsible vehicle fault identification and correction. Of course, the media is good at playing this game. The First Amendment protects and provides an important freedom, but the media should understand that the "freedom to lie and misrepresent" was never intended nor included.
Profile Pic
thedennis64
Champion Author Ohio

Posts:1,015
Points:783,370
Joined:Aug 2003
Message Posted: Mar 15, 2010 9:49:56 AM

Problem could not be duplicated, thus, it was probably a hoax.
Profile Pic
Ready Eddie
Champion Author Twin Cities

Posts:3,420
Points:883,075
Joined:Feb 2003
Message Posted: Mar 15, 2010 9:49:56 AM

Sounds like someone wanted a little too much attention and a law suite. Not trying to say there is no problem but a good portion is operator error or hoax time. Got to claim someone else did or caused it instead of operator stupidity.
Profile Pic
BlackGumTree
Champion Author Virginia

Posts:14,904
Points:1,231,515
Joined:Dec 2005
Message Posted: Mar 15, 2010 9:48:13 AM

Vehicles should all have an emergency manual fuel shutoff where the driver can reach it. Diesels will have an engine brake to stop the engine but lack of fuel will stop any engine with less wear and tear.
Profile Pic
Jorgie
Champion Author Twin Cities

Posts:8,737
Points:2,495,965
Joined:Jul 2002
Message Posted: Mar 15, 2010 9:47:42 AM

According to a "quick" news report today more people have been killed in the last three years by sudden acceleration from Ford and Chrysler products than Toyota. Also why didn't this guy from San Diego even try to put his car in neutral?
Profile Pic
VTROCK
Champion Author Detroit

Posts:2,582
Points:646,305
Joined:Sep 2008
Message Posted: Mar 15, 2010 9:46:54 AM

Ii sounds like this guy may be runnkng a scam to try and cash in on the situation. However Toyotas has opened the door for this kind of thing because of the way they have handled the whole situation, so while I would hate to see some con-man profit from this I do not feel sorry for Toyota in the whole matter.
Profile Pic
Hunter114
Champion Author Chicago

Posts:5,550
Points:995,860
Joined:Apr 2009
Message Posted: Mar 15, 2010 9:46:18 AM

Can't they just reconfigure the computer system so this doesn't happen in the future??
Profile Pic
thegovner
Champion Author New Jersey

Posts:9,670
Points:1,976,225
Joined:Aug 2005
Message Posted: Mar 15, 2010 9:44:51 AM

for christ sake people, put the F***-ing car in neutral and safely pull the **** over....WHAT IS THE MATTER WITH YOU!
Profile Pic
RoadhogMA
Champion Author Boston

Posts:4,224
Points:898,070
Joined:Dec 2008
Message Posted: Mar 15, 2010 9:43:56 AM

Still in damage control mode. Should be out of it by now .
Profile Pic
madison8359
Champion Author Cleveland

Posts:5,757
Points:1,130,665
Joined:Apr 2008
Message Posted: Mar 15, 2010 9:43:37 AM

We know from past experience that Toyota denies there is a problem.

We also know that Toyota has been unable to find the source of the problem, floor mats, shims on gas pedals, etc.

I guess Toyota's damage control is to blame the drivers.

We know dead people can not tell what happened.

This is getting beyond what is acceptable for a company that claims to be tops in safety!

Toyota needs to do the responsible thing and remove the vehicles from the road.
Profile Pic
Italianman
Champion Author Twin Cities

Posts:1,739
Points:778,665
Joined:Feb 2008
Message Posted: Mar 15, 2010 9:41:47 AM

I think we have an ambulance chaser!
Profile Pic
Doubleeez
Champion Author Connecticut

Posts:5,080
Points:908,695
Joined:Sep 2005
Message Posted: Mar 15, 2010 9:39:57 AM

And now thousands more dollars are going to be spent in trying to figure out what happened even though there is no assurance that the cause will be discovered. Ante up Toyota.
Profile Pic
egd
Champion Author Twin Cities

Posts:6,069
Points:1,725,740
Joined:Mar 2005
Message Posted: Mar 15, 2010 9:38:54 AM

some things cant be determined one way or the other
Profile Pic
cnet1
Champion Author Arizona

Posts:1,955
Points:515,150
Joined:Nov 2008
Message Posted: Mar 15, 2010 9:38:41 AM

the guy with the prius is lying-he's tryong to get toyota to give him something for nothing
Profile Pic
Don20
Champion Author Oklahoma City

Posts:7,307
Points:2,156,095
Joined:Mar 2005
Message Posted: Mar 15, 2010 9:38:25 AM

"So far, we have not been able to find anything to explain the incident that Mr. Sikes reported," NHTSA said. "We would caution people that our work continues and that we may never know exactly what happened with this car."He probably has the dream of receiving a new car as replacement.. If you have a problem take it in and let them fix it...
Profile Pic
unicornpmb
Champion Author Buffalo

Posts:6,128
Points:1,164,570
Joined:Sep 2005
Message Posted: Mar 15, 2010 9:38:23 AM

Maybe it was all a bad dream, or I should say nightmare.
Profile Pic
Lizzylou
Champion Author Stockton

Posts:7,045
Points:2,004,050
Joined:Oct 2005
Message Posted: Mar 15, 2010 9:38:14 AM

Poor guy! Even though everyone smelled his brakes burning Toyota still saying that this was not a malfunction!
Profile Pic
DrLyon
Champion Author Michigan

Posts:4,459
Points:755,685
Joined:May 2006
Message Posted: Mar 15, 2010 9:36:18 AM

Keep testing, intermittent problems are hard to find...
Profile Pic
Tundralimited2009
Champion Author Dallas

Posts:32,722
Points:1,030,850
Joined:Feb 2009
Message Posted: Mar 15, 2010 9:36:15 AM

"YET"....good choice of words
Profile Pic
mreiff
Champion Author Louisville

Posts:3,366
Points:849,480
Joined:May 2009
Message Posted: Mar 15, 2010 9:34:24 AM

And this is typical for intermittent problems, particularly those of the electrical nature.

Right now I don't know who to trust but there were real incidents prior to the media blitz that brings out the scammers.
Profile Pic
bluenvoy
Champion Author Nashville

Posts:11,585
Points:1,503,440
Joined:Oct 2005
Message Posted: Mar 15, 2010 9:34:03 AM

The only thing Toyota can do is to open their wallet and start paying in all the lawsuits that will be filled against them.
Profile Pic
snorkels
Champion Author Twin Cities

Posts:5,303
Points:1,128,660
Joined:Aug 2008
Message Posted: Mar 15, 2010 9:34:03 AM

Install supplemental blacks boxes to the main computers and/or engine management systems that(permanently)store ALL signals to/from the engines of the Toyota vehicles in question. Eliminate the forensics guessing game.

[Edited by: snorkels at 3/15/2010 10:36:04 AM EST]
Profile Pic
ACTown
Champion Author Oregon

Posts:1,857
Points:1,122,375
Joined:Jun 2007
Message Posted: Mar 15, 2010 9:33:02 AM

It was a Pruis, they are the best thing since slided bread. They can do no wrong. He must be a faker.
Profile Pic
TopGunn
Champion Author Baltimore

Posts:6,836
Points:2,153,280
Joined:Aug 2004
Message Posted: Mar 15, 2010 9:30:17 AM

Is there any petroleum news worth reaing?
Profile Pic
kyrunner
Champion Author Lexington

Posts:6,605
Points:1,235,140
Joined:Aug 2008
Message Posted: Mar 15, 2010 9:29:17 AM

After reading about this claim and viewing the video about it, I have always felt this was at best fishy!
Profile Pic
arnerator
Champion Author Seattle

Posts:5,836
Points:1,157,885
Joined:Sep 2008
Message Posted: Mar 15, 2010 9:28:07 AM

This one is still a little fishy.
Profile Pic
must87searcher
Champion Author Maryland

Posts:6,677
Points:1,317,435
Joined:Apr 2008
Message Posted: Mar 15, 2010 9:28:04 AM

The more the questioning and suspicision, the more the negative people are going to put on Toyota and the investigators.
Profile Pic
gagal31525
Veteran Author Georgia

Posts:423
Points:377,120
Joined:Feb 2008
Message Posted: Mar 15, 2010 9:27:49 AM

How can they fix something they have no explanation for?
Profile Pic
jazzej
All-Star Author Michigan

Posts:989
Points:161,360
Joined:Jul 2009
Message Posted: Mar 15, 2010 9:25:48 AM

But it was also said that none of the reported incidents had been "duplicated" by engineers. So everybody lied?! And those that died just picked Toyota to blame their suicides on?
Profile Pic
Helms
Champion Author Fort Worth

Posts:4,734
Points:1,496,980
Joined:Jun 2005
Message Posted: Mar 15, 2010 9:25:24 AM

still beats the governments ratio of 98.9% Fraud!!!
Profile Pic
Lenguado
Champion Author Orlando

Posts:14,479
Points:2,601,040
Joined:Apr 2004
Message Posted: Mar 15, 2010 9:24:06 AM


EXPLANATION - Fraud. Period. Just like 65% - 70% of all the other claims.

Profile Pic
Dedonut
Champion Author Sacramento

Posts:25,056
Points:344,115
Joined:Apr 2006
Message Posted: Mar 15, 2010 9:22:44 AM

Gassed01: Apparently, there's talk on the radio that he's filed bankruptcy before and law suits followed. Who knows? It clouds the issue.
Profile Pic
PetrolPI
Veteran Author Indianapolis

Posts:282
Points:330,935
Joined:Jan 2009
Message Posted: Mar 15, 2010 9:22:32 AM

Stories like this are why every Toyota within the years in question, should be taken off the road.
Profile Pic
twiper1
Champion Author San Diego

Posts:5,492
Points:1,142,460
Joined:Oct 2008
Message Posted: Mar 15, 2010 9:21:26 AM

But that doesnt mean it didnt happen. Im sure it did
Profile Pic
FBI2991
Champion Author Michigan

Posts:2,171
Points:691,865
Joined:Nov 2008
Message Posted: Mar 15, 2010 9:21:10 AM

The lawyers are staged to make bundles of cash off the Toyota problems.
Profile Pic
tomok
Champion Author Portland

Posts:24,682
Points:1,881,535
Joined:Aug 2006
Message Posted: Mar 15, 2010 9:20:00 AM

it’s an elusive computer bug, - gotta’ find it and kill it, fast! But, fix that computer bug one moment and the next moment it’s back. Using wireless, electronic computer modules is not like the good physical connection made with a cable or other solid linkage. A cable is NOT affected by a bump in the road!
Post a reply Back to Topics