Toyota's Recall "Fix" to Prevent Accelerator Sticking

 

I had my 06 at the dealer today based on mileage (routine service) and
in response to the accelerator pedal recall.

The "fix" was to remove the rubber floor mat that I keep atop the
factory mat and to thread two daisy-chained black cable ties through
the factory mat anchor holes and attach them to the seat supports.

The only thing missing from this bit of southern engineering was
chewing gum and duct tape.

With the cable ties passing through the anchor holes there was no room
for the anchors; the mats were resting atop the anchors. I promptly
removed the cable ties, re-anchored the floor mats (because if they
haven't come off the anchors in four years, I think they're not likely
to) and reinstalled my thin rubber mat. It, too, has not caused a
problem by bunching up under the accelerator pedal in the past four
years.

I have measured the distance between my accelerator pedal in all
positions and my rubber floor mat at random time intervals since I
first learned about this problem. The rubber mat moves forward at an
(estimated) inch in six months if not pulled back -- but it is pulled
back frequently as I remove it to shake it out or scrub it. The worst
case I found was with the rubber mat in its normal position: four
inches of clearance. This happens to be the same number as on my 06
Avalon before it was "fixed" with a shim and a shortened accelerator
pedal installed. The dealer also installed new firmware in the Avalon
(but not the Prius) computer so that if the brakes are applied while
the gas pedal is depressed (triggering parameters not specified) the
fuel flow will be constricted or shut off and the car will slow. If the
computer functions properly, that is.

I can't speak to the cause of Toyota accelerator-pedal sticking because
I don't know the floor-mat configuration or other characteristics of
any Toyota that has experienced the issue, or the circumstances of its
driver, but I have serious doubts about the floor mat being involved,
if only because people have been putting double floor mats in cars
since about 1897, and today everybody does it.* The practice doesn't
seem to have caused much of a problem. At first I dismissed the claims
of people who said they could not shift into neutral, but of course the
same computer that controls acceleration controls the transmission.
Still, unlike the self-styled experts here, I do not claim know what
the problem is. I'm not convinced, however, that Toyota knows. either.

This issue in and of itself is insufficient to put me off Toyota cars;
mine have been excellent. Toyota's weaselly, procrastinating, and
prevaricating response to the issue, however, could do that.

Davoud

*Don't bother telling me that _you_ don't do it; instead, spend the
time studying "figurative speech."

--
I agree with almost everything that you have said and almost everything that
you will say in your entire life.

usenet *at* davidillig dawt cawm

 

Davoud wrote:


No one has ever claimed that they could not shift their Toyota into
Neutral.



--
Posted with OS/2 Warp 4.52
and Sea Monkey 1.5a

 

I work as a auto mechanic for a city in California, two years ago we had two
prius's come in with the
 complaint that they would not stop,  Both cars had the original floor mats
replaced with THICK heavy Rubber floor mats.
In both cases the clip that hold the mat had broken and the mat slide up to
the accelerator peddle.
They BOTH interfered with the peddle and held it at 1/2 throttle when
depressed.
We removed the mats. problem fixed.