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From: dr_jeff on 7 Feb 2010 18:52 Al Falfa wrote: > > > "Tegger" <invalid(a)invalid.inv> wrote in message > news:Xns9D1750E6FA99tegger(a)208.90.168.18... >> john <johngdole(a)hotmail.com> wrote in >> news:099eb70a-19f1-46de-b6d5-2c63c0d3642d(a)u15g2000prd.googlegroups.com: >> >>> I don't know why some dealers like to BS like this: faults are normal >>> and "within spec", so "get used to it" !!! >>> >> >> >> >> You're aware that Ford has admitted to having the exact same problem with >> its hybrids? >> > Does Ford still license their hybrid technology from Toyota? Ford cross-licensed its technology with Toyota. Ford got a lot of its technology from Volvo. When Ford lawyers looked at the patents, they saw that their technology was similar, so they had to cross-license the patents, with Toyota get access to some of Ford's other technology. Jeff
From: dr_jeff on 8 Feb 2010 06:32
The Tree wrote: > In article > <c3f7f08e-6636-40d3-955c-6683699a78de(a)o3g2000yqb.googlegroups.com>, > Neo <residualselfimage1999(a)gmail.com> wrote: > >> On Feb 6, 12:20 am, john <johngd...(a)hotmail.com> wrote: >>> I don't know why some dealers like to BS like this: faults are normal >>> and "within spec", so "get used to it" !!! >>> >>> Bart has taken her Prius into the dealer twice. "They've said they >>> can't find anything and they can't duplicate it," she said. "You have >>> to hit it just so." >> >> It is the owner's responsiblity to define the exact >> conditions when the problem occurs - the >> problem must be repeatable if the cause and >> solution is to be determine. You have the >> same problem when you go to the doctor >> - if the doctor can't find a repeatably >> measurable problem with you - he's going to >> assume you are a hypochondriac. >> you need to have all your ducks in a >> row if you expect to make any progress. >> >> >>> One owner from Commerce Township told the National Highway Traffic >>> Safety Administration that he or she could reproduce a lurching in a >>> Prius every time a certain pothole was hit. >>> >>> The Prius owner said a Toyota dealer had responded the car was "within >>> specifications ... and we just have to get used to it." >>> >>> http://www.freep.com/article/20100204/BUSINESS01/2040468/2010-Prius-c... >> >> As with any car with Electronic Stablity Control, when >> the car hits a pothole at high speed the computer sensors will >> sense that the tire has momentarily loss traction in that wheel >> and which would mean that hydraulic brakes would be momentarily >> useless in that particular wheel. In order for the car not to spin >> out of control while it is going in a straight line, the ESC would >> try to adjust the speed on the other wheel on that same axle >> so both wheels on that axle are going at the same speed. >> However, this situation should not cause the car to >> accelerate the throttle or lose braking power. At low speeds , when >> the tire loses traction - a hybrid should shuts down the electric >> motor to prevent the electric motor from burning out. When a tire >> loses >> traction at high speed, if anti lock brakes were applied on a >> conventional car, the computer would automatically pump/pulse >> the hydraulic brakes at regular interval - all the driver needs >> to do is keep pressing the brake pedal and the comptuer >> does the rest. To increase braking response time, Toyota >> can reprogram the brakes to have shorter the time delay >> between pulsing the hydraulic brakes. The other possible >> change that I've read about is shortening of the time delay >> from switching over from the regenerative brakes to hydraulic >> braking system during braking operations - when an emergency >> stopping situation is sensed. I drove a 2006 and a 2008 >> Prius rental from Enterprise for a combination of over >> 1200 miles in 2008 but never noticed any braking problems, >> sudden acceleration problems or any operational problems >> at all while I was behind the wheel. So I was very surprised >> to read about this problem last year. I suspect that this is >> not so much a problem with Toyota but with the >> technology they've used -and while some people are >> frustrated and upset with Toyota - some of the racist >> anti-japanese comment's I've seen on some of the newslink >> are downright reprehensible and ugly. > > You hit the nail on the head. > > Toyota vehicles have become too sophisticated for drivers. They have > not a clue as to the innovative features on their new car. For those, > we must have a model T to drive, with air conditioning. We have barely a clue how the usenet groups work, but, we still manage to use it. I understand most of ideas around how the software works on my computer (it's an Apple, so it works well), but, I don't need to understand the details. Rather than expect the user to learn how everything works on a car, the car makers need to make it so that the cars work in an intuitive way so that users can make intelligent decisions about using the car. Jeff |