AP: What to do if your car suddenly accelerates according to Toyota

[Omaha Steve]

ASSOCIATED PRESS

What should you do if your car suddenly accelerates? Here are three ways to stop the vehicle, according to Toyota:

• Step on the brake pedal with both feet using firm and steady pressure. Do not pump the brakes.

• Shift the transmission gear selector into neutral. Use the brakes to make a controlled stop by the side of the road.

• If you're unable to put the vehicle in neutral, turn off the engine. This will cut off power assist to the steering wheel and brakes, but as long as the key is in the ignition, you will still be able to steer and brake. If you have an engine start/stop button, press it firmly for three seconds to turn the engine off. Do not tap it. If you have a conventional key ignition, turn the ignition key to the ACC position. Do not remove the key from the ignition.

[ecstatic]

1. Gee, thanks Toyota

:eyes:

[Christa]

2. How comforting.

:scared:

[LeftyFingerPop]

3. What do you do if...

you are on the Cross Bronx Expressway, during a snowstorm, during traffic, surrounded on all sides by 18 wheelers? Besides shit yourself, I mean.

[PATRICK]

4. My "recall" letter for my Chevy Cobalt

gave similar comforting advise while we await them coming up with new steering parts from one of their defunct plants- only not so well advertised in our patriotic media. In a skid or accident and the steering failure light blares on? Stay calm, wrestle with the wheel because it now is transformed to manual steering. Should you survive the thing will probably go back to normal for your next run at fate.

There, we are duly warned. Who needs automatic steering anyway?

[Omaha Steve]

5. I have a Cobalt too

I was surprised when I got to work and learned from a friend about the recall.


http://www.lemonauto.com/complaints/gm/chevrolet_cobalt.htm

GM told the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration about the recall on Monday. NHTSA began an investigation into 905,000 of the models on Jan. 27 after getting 1,100 complaints that the cars lost their power steering assist. The complaints included 14 crashes and one injury.

The automaker will fix older models first because it usually takes 20,000 to 30,000 miles of driving for the condition to develop, Adler said. GM also will have to repair thousands of vehicles on dealer lots before they can be sold, he said.

[elocs]

6. Everybody should know how to stop a car that accelerates on its own.

This is a no-brainer and nobody should be allowed to drive if they do not know how to stop their vehicle, no matter what the model, if it suddenly accelerates.