Questions on SURGE Issue by REPORTER

[gahunter]

SURGE PROBLEM
Hello - this is Jeremy Finley. I'm a reporter with the investigative unit with WSMV-TV.
We are working on a story about a gentlemen here in Nashville that was in a terrible crash following such a "surge" with his 2007 tacoma.
We are trying to find other people across the county who have experienced this phenomenon. Could you please contact me? My email address is jfinley@wsmv.com and my cell phone is 615-830-1269.
Hope to hear from you soon - thanks -

Jeremy Finley
Investigative Reporter
WSMV-TV
jfinley@wsmv.com
615-830-1269 (cell)

Anyone else received this PM? Was wondering if he sent to all or only those who have posted problems.

[mhadden]

Have you posted problems? I didn't get it, granted I never had a problem with this brake surge...

[kobrian85]

I got the same PM. I haven't responded. Not sure what he is looking for me to say really.

I did post in the thread that mine does it from time to time.

[rydr1]

i do hate the fact that the truck lurches forward with the A/C on but im not going to report it because if they find a problem i dont want them to take my truck and put it in the crusher .

[Janster]

Originally Posted by kobrian85

I got the same PM. I haven't responded. Not sure what he is looking for me to say really.

I did post in the thread that mine does it from time to time.

I'd be VERY HESITANT of speaking with a reporter. They'll take your words and turn it around making it look worse than it is (for the sake of the report).

I have a slight surge in the truck, but nothing I wouldn't consider normal for an Auto tranny.
Either I don't have it as bad as everyone else - or everyone else is really really sensitive to how the auto tranny works/shifts.

But - if people on here are willing to sacrifice themselves to a reporter - GO 4 IT! Personally - I wouldn't talk with anyone else but Toyota and/or governmental agency researching the issue.

[keezer36]

It's such a small issue.

And what's this guy gonna do? Put out a story that may drive down the resale value of the truck if it gets out of his local viewing market.

[BlackBelt]

In the words of Al Bundy (from the TV show Married With Children): "We don't talk to cops, or anyone else known as 'The Man'!"

Surge issue? What Surge issue? If I mentioned something about Surge issue before it was only in the company of friends and had nothing to do with any type of investigation.

[novataco]

Originally Posted by Janster

I'd be VERY HESITANT of speaking with a reporter. They'll take your words and turn it around making it look worse than it is (for the sake of the report).

I have a slight surge in the truck, but nothing I wouldn't consider normal for an Auto tranny.
Either I don't have it as bad as everyone else - or everyone else is really really sensitive to how the auto tranny works/shifts.

But - if people on here are willing to sacrifice themselves to a reporter - GO 4 IT! Personally - I wouldn't talk with anyone else but Toyota and/or governmental agency researching the issue.

Being in the news biz, I think you're being a bit paranoid. Your caution might be taken a bit more seriously if you weren't over-generalizing in such absolutes...

If the reporter is looking into an issue that could affect you, and make a potential problem better, I don't see why you wouldn't talk to him...

[Oxymar00n]

Originally Posted by novataco

Being in the news biz, I think you're being a bit paranoid. Your caution might be taken a bit more seriously if you weren't over-generalizing in such absolutes...

I'm with Janster on this one. The only people I trust less than those bloviating idiots in Washington are the people in the media.

[jdwilson]

could the reporter, or anyone else for that matter, not take what we say here on the forum and use it somewhere. this is public domain isn't it?

[BlackBelt]

Originally Posted by jdwilson

could the reporter, or anyone else for that matter, not take what we say here on the forum and use it somewhere. this is public domain isn't it?

------------------------------------
Reporters usually want a more credible source than some guy named something like "Idon'tBrushMyTeeth" @ the 'Cupcake and Oreo discussion forum' on the internet.
Their bosses frown on them not being able to factually back up what they say, and/or using internet rumor as a source.
As a current law-enforcement officer and a business owner, I can tell you that as a general rule, speaking to the press is NOT in your best interest most of the time.
An example: we had a guy that was talking about the poor quality job that a carwash did on his cadillac. The nice reporter went to his house and interviewed him. The camera caught the guys address on the side of his house. The next day his caddy was gone. Talk about telling the theives everything in one un-related news story! They knew where the guy lived, that he owned a 'blinged-out' caddy, that he worked 9-5, and they saw the general layout of his house. That's WAY too much info that an investigative reporter inadvertantly gave out on the man.
When the guy reported the theft to the police, he said he regretted ever saying anything to the press.
This is just one story, but there are literally hundreds of thousands of others that prove it's seldom in your best interest to speak to the press.
Just my opinion, and YMMV... (your mileage may vary)

[meauxjeaux]

Originally Posted by BlackBelt

------------------------------------
Reporters usually want a more credible source than some guy named something like "Idon'tBrushMyTeeth" @ the 'Cupcake and Oreo discussion forum' on the internet.
Their bosses frown on them not being able to factually back up what they say, and/or using internet rumor as a source.
As a current law-enforcement officer and a business owner, I can tell you that as a general rule, speaking to the press is NOT in your best interest most of the time.
An example: we had a guy that was talking about the poor quality job that a carwash did on his cadillac. The nice reporter went to his house and interviewed him. The camera caught the guys address on the side of his house. The next day his caddy was gone. Talk about telling the theives everything in one un-related news story! They knew where the guy lived, that he owned a 'blinged-out' caddy, that he worked 9-5, and they saw the general layout of his house. That's WAY too much info that an investigative reporter inadvertantly gave out on the man.
When the guy reported the theft to the police, he said he regretted ever saying anything to the press.
This is just one story, but there are literally hundreds of thousands of others that prove it's seldom in your best interest to speak to the press.
Just my opinion, and YMMV... (your mileage may vary)

Ohh really,then why has this reporter been sending us emails asking us to call him then?I think our trucks are great,and if there is a dangerous surging condition toyota will fix them,THE END.

[BlackBelt]

The reporter wants you to call him because he wants a story. He wants to use you and your experience for HIS benefit, not yours. He wants to build his career, and all you are is a rung on the ladder as he claws his way up. He doesn't care about you. He cares about getting his story, and will crap all over you if he has to in order to get it.
Why do you think that they have to ask SO many people just to get a very few that will respond? Answer: because they know that most people know better than to invite trouble into their lives.

For instance, just suppose you talk to the guy. He quotes you, giving your name. Lets say he angers some people at Toyota because he went WAY overboard with his 'investigative reporting'. Well, your name and that fact that you reported to him that you had issues with your toyota is now public record. Now fast forward a few months when you show up at the dealership for service. All of a sudden Tony, the Svc Manager gets quiet after reading his computer screen when he typed in your VIN number. Wonder what's on that screen?
Try complaining about a restaurant on TV then going into that restaurant for dinner some night. Same principle.

I'm not telling anyone to NOT talk to the guy. Just that my fellow TN'rs need to be aware that when you invite the devil inside for a nice sit-down tea party, sometimes it doesn't go as planned, and your house gets destroyed.
Like I said, this is just my experience that I've gleaned from working everyday for 22 years with reporters looking over my shoulder at everything I do.
If you guys want to give the guy your story, that's your business.
Sometimes people have to actually put their head in a guillotine to know that it works, while some people can just learn from hearing about others experience. Nothing wrong with either way of learning, except that one costs a LOT more!
Just my experience....YMMV.

[Janster]

Originally Posted by jdwilson

could the reporter, or anyone else for that matter, not take what we say here on the forum and use it somewhere. this is public domain isn't it?

Certainly.....

If you're LUCKY - you'll get a reporter who actually owns a tacoma and is experiencing the surge issue himself that he/she will truely & totally understand the issue.

Otherwise - they don't really understand and can take the information they read here and mis-interpret it. Hell........if they read all the posts about the surge issues - they'd think we have all sorts of problems with our trucks. So far..... I've seen the surge issue being blamed on: brakes, A/C, throttle by wire, transmission, torque converter, vacuum, computer programming, and gawd knows what else we could add to that list.

[meauxjeaux]

Blackbelt,I was referring to the first sentence of your post.Obviously the reporter does want info from someone on the internet named meauxjeaux,and I agree about not inviting the devil into your house for tea.I love my taco and that's that.