Eric Wolf wrote:

> >
> > A good driver, with steady nerves, can hopefully think to pop the car
> > into neutral, which is the best thing to do when the Toyota goes wild.
> >
>
> Is that necessarily a good idea?  If you pop it into neutral it's
> going to red line the engine when the load comes off of it.  Seems
> like you would be better served to turn the key off and let the
> friction of the drivetrain bring it to a stop.  This doesn't seem to
> carry any more inherent risk than a vehicle that stalls out while
> driving.
>

To turn the key off you will lock the steering column on most cars
in North America. While moving that would not be good.

BTW Toyota's accelerator lockup type problem has happened
on other cars two of which I have had personal knowledge.

Audi in the late 80's had a very interesting software problem in
an engine control. They had two control loops one related to
using the accelerator as a set point and a second related to
maintaining a smooth idle.

Shift into gear after a cold start in a MA winter and step on
the brake to keep the car from moving while the garage door is
rising. The engine with the extra load slows and the idle loop
adds power the driver (my sister in law) adds brake until
engine idle overcomes the rough running engine. Car 1 garage
door 0.

I had one of the first 100 Datsun 240Z's back in the days
when that was kind of fun. It was a service monster (but
a fun monster) Most of the engine computing was done
with dash pots, airflow and pressure differentials. In the first
couple months It twice locked up the engine at at full
throttle. It was a standard that you could turn the key
off. The first time happened as I pulled out from a light to a road
that led to a highway, buried the tach remembered key
before clutch. Most what I remember was the amount
of engine noise and acceleration you could get out of first
gear.. The second time was less dramatic I was on a highway
already and was a lot more prepared.


Regards,

Walter..
--
Walter Banks
Byte Craft Limited
http://www.bytecraft.com

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