Consumer Reports sees what happens when your floor mat sticks
In the wake of Toyota's huge floor mat recall, theorists have come up with several survival strategies designed to overcome a throttle that's stuck wide-open. Putting some of these theories to the test – and debunking several myths in the process – is the team over at Consumer Reports.
With a large test track and a fleet of vehicles at their disposal, the magazine's engineers initially focused on the "just step hard on the brakes" method of bringing the car to a halt. Interestingly enough, CR tested a Mercedes-Benz E350 and a Volkswagen Jetta Wagon – both fitted with drive-by-wire "smart throttles" that are designed to ignore conflicting inputs (throttle and brake at the same time). CR reports that these cars simply shut down to idle and came safety to a stop. The story was a bit different with a Toyota Venza and Chevrolet HHR, however. When the brakes on those vehicles were firmly applied at 20 mph, their transmissions downshifted to fight the deceleration. The vehicles were both eventually brought to a stop after the first test. However, when the test was repeated at 60 mph on brakes that had been cooled since the earlier run, both vehicles quickly suffered fade from their overheated brakes and were unable to come to a complete stop.
As is the general rule, a vehicle's braking system is stronger than the engine when the car is standing still. However, the tests conducted by Consumer Reports demonstrate that the power of the engine combined with the momentum of a car at highway speed is often enough to overtax the braking system's ability to bring the car to a stop (the brakes overheat and fade). Their suggestion is to simply slide the transmission lever to neutral – removing the engine's power from the equation – and apply the brakes firmly to bring the car to a stop. Once stopped, shut the engine off and then shift safely into Park. This "shift-to-neutral" action was equally effective on all four vehicles. The CR team also explored shutting off the engine (turn the key or hold the Start/Stop button down for more than a few seconds). This method also worked well, but it does present some danger. Switching off the engine disables power steering on most vehicles, eliminates brake boost, and may lock the steering wheel if the key is turned back too far – making a safe stop nearly impossible.
[Source: Consumer Reports | Image: George Heyer/Getty]]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
Brandon 6:08PM (10/15/2009)
I was talking about the family in the fiery Lexus with my friend the other day and we found ourselves laughing... as terrible of an incident as it was. There are just too many ways they could have avoided the crash, as detailed above... shifting into neutral, braking, shutting the engine off...
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bwzd7p2 6:28PM (10/15/2009)
I still want to know what position the shifter in the Lexus was found in. After someone complained about the design on cars.com, I went to their site and looked at it. The "N" isn't directly beside the Neutral position. Rather, it's directly beside the upshift gate for the manumatic transmission. I could see how someone not familiar with the design could get confused in an emergency. Now that Hyundai has moved the gate to the driver's side on some of their shifters, the situation is just as bad or worse: most of the letters don't line up with the actual positions.
beemerdude 6:53PM (10/15/2009)
Note to 'Brandon'... you're a total jerk. Obviously, you chose not pay attention to the part of the story where the vehicle was seen emitting smoke from somuch pressure being applied to the brakes just before it crashed.
But no... Brandon and his 'bud know better!!
Shutting off the engine when the vehicle is going 130 mph? You will lose control of the vehicle when all of your power steering and braking cease... Not to mention the steering wheel locking up.
You've really got a nerve thinking you know EXACTLY what happened to that poor family.
You don't. You weren't there.
jv2k 7:23PM (10/15/2009)
beemerdude
I would feel a bit more sympathy or worry for the guy if he didn't make it to 130 mph before crashing.
If his brakes were smoking it was either because he did slow down, but didn't turn the car off and they wore out(more likely scenario is that his probably hit the brakes so he wouldn't hit whatever it was that they crashed into). Besides that there is still neutral and turning the car car off(not taking the keys out which wont lock the wheels). He could have also shifted to a lower gear(all automatics have this option) in order to not go 130mph(although this I'm not 100% on I don't play around with the lower gears on automatics too often).
The guy died as a result of his own automotive ignorance. It's sad but there is really no arguing this. The cause of the accident has been stated to be something as simple as the accelerator being pushed down a little by a carpet, the fact that he allowed the vehicle to proceed to accelerate to 130mph is ridiculous. Once you find yourself over 80 you should at least start hitting the brakes and switching the car into neutral.
seanleeforever 7:37PM (10/15/2009)
i have absolute NO sympathy to that off duty CHP offer, however, i feel for his family members.
come on, he is a freaking CHP..... driving on the high way is what he does and what he is trained for and what he is PAYED for. CHP are trained to react in emergency situations, he has at least 2 minutes to react yet he doesn't know what to do, yet he fail to react. Could you seriously trust you life to someone one who cannot think logically when situations calls? remember, he also carries weapons around.
neutral is always above drive. there is no exercise to make here. Lexus or BMW or Honda.. they are all in the same place. and this Lexus ES is not known for sporty or power, pretty much he floor the car to begin with and then somehow jammed the pedal, in which case, he should KNOW the problem, and again, he failed to use his brain.
Lastly, I find this a very laughable that Toyota get blamed for this incident. let's lie down the facts:
1st. The original factory carpet floor mats from Toyota did not cause the accident.
2nd. The dealer went out and bought a All-weather rubber floor mats that weren't for Lexus ES.
3rd. the dealer install the INCORRECT rubber mat over the carpet floor mats.
4th. Instruction from Lexus state specifically do NOT place rubber mat over floor mat.
5th. we get this CHP officer who floored the pedal and get jammed.
6th. CHP fails to notice that.
7th. CHP fails to put the car in neutral.
8th. CHP get two minutes try to figure out what to do.
9th. incident.
okay. so just because this CHP is killed for his failure to use his brain and this dealership totally ignore the safety instruction, somehow this become Toyota's fault. oh i see, the person who is killed is a CHP, we MUST make him a hero and blame the corporation.
I wonder if i stick a wire into the wall plug and electrocute myself, will the Edison company responsible for that?
here is a note for all CHPs: instead of hiding in the bush and try to catch people who go 70 on a 65, please spend some time to learn, you know, driving.
Dev 8:16PM (10/15/2009)
So you laugh at people's unfortunate death.
And we had so many ways to avoid 9/11 from happening....so laugh at that. No?
Pathetic. I hope your friends have a good laugh on your funeral.
Nuieve 9:59PM (10/15/2009)
I'm pretty sure I've seen these new on autoblog a few weeks ago with this exact picture.
Not THAT Matt 12:38AM (10/16/2009)
Given Consumer Reports' love for Toyota, it isn't suprising to see them putting out an article like this to help them keep selling Camries.
Have to appeal to your core audience, you know?
Seminole 6:21PM (10/15/2009)
I'm not sure about all cars with push button start, but I know with my 328 if you push the start/stop button while in motion the car won't turn off.
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Michael Harley 6:21PM (10/15/2009)
Hold it down for 3 seconds...
- Mike
Michael Harley 7:15PM (10/15/2009)
I just spoke with BMW about your car.
Late model BMWs, like your 3 Series, do NOT have a steering wheel lock (most models since 2007). If you hold the start/stop button down for a couple seconds (or tap it three times), the engine will shut off. You will retain steering control (the low beam headlights will also reportedly turn on for safety). All vehicle electronics remain functioning (some vehicles with electric steering pumps may also retain power steering). All models of BMW with e-throttle (since about 1999) have been programmed to cut engine power if the brake is pressed simultaneously with the throttle. In addition, BMW has a floor-mounted gas pedal (on a raised platform) meaning it is much more difficult for something to become lodged underneath it.
- Mike
Seminole 5:25PM (10/16/2009)
Thanks! Did not know that.
NudeLove93 6:26PM (10/15/2009)
Have they tested the PRAY PRAY PRAY, OH OH OH! method?
It may not work in a Lexus, but I am curious what it would do in other cars.
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NudeLove93 6:27PM (10/15/2009)
I'm sorry.
ILMCNL 11:20AM (10/16/2009)
wow, i knew the guy that made that 911 call. it was very hard to listen to that call, now you make fun of it. i hope no one you know is ever that scared...or maybe i don't.
spw 6:29PM (10/15/2009)
but the point is that shutting the car off is the worst option - as it will even lock your steering wheel. So you should not shut the car off, you need to put it in neutral which is one flick up in every Toyota/lexus vehicle on the market.
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Level 7:25PM (10/15/2009)
shutting off the engine does not lock the steering wheel unless you also remove the key from the ignition
ChrisHS2000 9:12PM (10/15/2009)
Even if the steering wheel locked, WHICH IT DOESN'T, I'd take no steering at 80 over no way to slow the car down (assuming I'm as retarded as this CHP officer) at 130 any day.
Tourian 10:02AM (10/16/2009)
You can't remove your key from the ignition in a car with a smart key. I believe his question is what happens in a car that you hold the button down to turn it off.
Jake 6:29PM (10/15/2009)
The institute of highway safety is recommending installing a boat anchor in all cars now that the user can deploy in a panic situation. It'll make all cars weigh 400 lbs more, but we'll be safer.
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