Interesting study on Throttle by Wire

[AVConsult]

A study done during the throttle debacle. It compares pedal force for cable and TBW as well as voltage curves. Also explains why the shims were put into some pedals.

http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j...U6qzYw&cad=rja

[Ralph6410]

Wow.. a very interesting read. Thanks for sharing this. Not the kind of testing I would like to do on my 2011 HL but gives some confidence that one could.. and not blow it up.

[Subaryota]

I hope they're not implying that the more complicated and less intuitive gear selector was a contributing factor to the unintended acceleration.

This unintended acceleration reared it's head back in the 1980s with the Audi 5000.... the more aerodynamic model. That resulted in designing a transmission interlock where you had to be pressing the brake prior to the gear selector allow movement out of "P".

If people are getting confused with the less intuitive gear selector, my personal opinion would be that they should not be driving as the task of driving is far more complicated than the gear selector's lack of intuition. If they can't handle the gear selector, they sure as .... should not be driving.

I'll get off my soap box now.

[Ralph6410]

I think the point was that in an emergency situation taking the gearshift our of gear is just a tad more complicated than a straight throw would be. Just like the keyless situation, to turn off the engine is easier and more intuitive with a key. I was impressed with the depth of thought that went into all the scenarios that could arise.

[Limited11]

I'm not a fan of the throttle by wire, I don't know, maybe it's my truck, maybe it's me, but when there are those instances when I need a little more throttle than normal and I press the pedal, there's a delay/hesitation of response and then it forces me to mash my pedal to get going to the speed I want. It's happens mostly on the highway when switching lanes.

[TrailDust]

Originally Posted by Limited11

I'm not a fan of the throttle by wire, I don't know, maybe it's my truck, maybe it's me, but when there are those instances when I need a little more throttle than normal and I press the pedal, there's a delay/hesitation of response and then it forces me to mash my pedal to get going to the speed I want. It's happens mostly on the highway when switching lanes.

Hmm, I don't experience that. Have you tried the battery disconnection/ECU reset thing? Having your Highlander relearn your shift points might make a difference....

[sweeneyp]

Originally Posted by TrailDust

Hmm, I don't experience that. Have you tried the battery disconnection/ECU reset thing? Having your Highlander relearn your shift points might make a difference....

Likewise (the quote). almost sounds like you are wanting it to down-shift to accelerate (at hw speeds), but only pushing the pedal a little of the way it needs, I've never had that happen

So they are saying because the shifter's are less intuitive (the sideway slide on our HL's vs single forward motion), it can cause people to get confused in a panic situation? That seems kind of extreme in my book. With ours, I just push at a slight angle and it will go along the "path" on its own, I don't have to methodically think about it. So I'm not sure how much I get that point. Nice to see though that if you accidentally shift into R or P the transmission won't do anything (I've had a friend who put his car in P while going forward, was rewarded with a nice grinding/slipping sound from the tranny as the car front wheels semi-skidded to a stop. I have always been cautious after that). But what I never understood was why they couldn't shift to N. Its straight forward on the shifter so how could that be confusing?!?

But it was nice to be able to get some data, I found it interesting it took 270lb of force on the brake pedal to prevent movement without vacuum. I don't think everyone could put that kind of force on a pedal(granted they did say no vehicles were totally without vacuum ever).

[julyaric720]

This unintended acceleration reared it's head back in the 1980s with the Audi 5000.

[Subaryota]

Originally Posted by sweeneyp

But it was nice to be able to get some data, I found it interesting it took 270lb of force on the brake pedal to prevent movement without vacuum. I don't think everyone could put that kind of force on a pedal(granted they did say no vehicles were totally without vacuum ever).

I actually tried to lose vacuum with my other car by going WOT, then pump the brake pedal 5-6 times before losing vacuum causing the brake pedal to stiffen up quite a bit.

In driving school, we were taught to push the transmission selector to N in such a situation.

With all the auto tranny selectors that I've come across, they are all designed such that all it takes is a push forward (non-steering column mounted) on the selector. Even the fancy gated selectors are all designed to have N directly ahead of D and all it takes it a nudge forward.