Toyota halts sales and issues recalls on top sellers.

[Chaotic_Warlord]

Just in case any of you own any of these models here's some info.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/201...ecall

http://pressroom.toyota.com/pr....aspx

[MinisterofDOOM]

You know...I remember saying 6 or 7 years ago that these electronic throttlemajiggers would turn out to be more trouble than they're worth. I remember saying "what's wrong with an old-fashioned cable?"

Well, Toyota? How 'bout them cables?

[drksolest]

ya i heard this on the news this morning... scary

[numbnuts240]

i just heard about this on the news this morning.

and people talk trash about "made in china" products.

Quote »The problem part comes from one U.S. supplier and does not affect models that use parts from different suppliers, Takeuchi said. Toyota's Japan plants are not affected.[/quote]

[Mr1der]

yeah...I don't get throttle by wire...it's just a way to let the machines rule us

[MinisterofDOOM]

I can see it being beneficial in a couple of places, but not anywhere near beneficial enough that it's worth the added complexity.

The LS has a really nonlinear electronic throttle. I need to stop by the Ford dealer and ask them if there's a reprogram for it like there was for some of the early Nissan ones.

[car nut]

I can see it being beneficial in a couple of places, but not anywhere near beneficial enough that it's worth the added complexity.

Completely. First time I drove a stick with a throttle cable was amazing.

i just heard about this on the news this morning.

and people talk trash about "made in china" products.

[Bubba1]

You know...I remember saying 6 or 7 years ago that these electronic throttlemajiggers would turn out to be more trouble than they're worth. I remember saying "what's wrong with an old-fashioned cable?"

Well, Toyota? How 'bout them cables?

You think we might soon hear something similar with Nissan's CVT??

[MinisterofDOOM]

You think we might soon hear something similar with Nissan's CVT??

If that's what it takes to get them to start putting cogs back in their transmissions, I say bring on the failures.

[Chaotic_Warlord]

Am I the only one who misses the days when you could work on your own car without needing a Master degree from MIT.

[Dittoz7]

Today A Passed A Burning Lexus GS On The Side Of The Road.

Wonder If The Two Are Related Some How....

[s0m3th1ngAZ]

The

I can see it being beneficial in a couple of places, but not anywhere near beneficial enough that it's worth the added complexity.

The LS has a really nonlinear electronic throttle. I need to stop by the Ford dealer and ask them if there's a reprogram for it like there was for some of the early Nissan ones.

There isn't THAT much added complexity...in fact...it get's rid of all those wires and in some cases (such as Porsche) that is a boon indeed. A sensor and a motor, along with additional programming is all that's needed.

With that...you get a host of improvements over a mechanical throttle. It's now integrated with the car's other systems that help in situations like losing traction in the snow and depending on the amount of nanny-ing it reacts faster and more efficiently than even your positronic brain could conceive MoD.

No more mechanical failures...binding, springs failing and causing the engine to rev till kingdom come, noise, etc. Sure there will be failures of the sensor/motor combo but with minimal moving parts it will be certainly less.

Here's the big problem with them though. From the factory they are programmed on the conservative side. For instance our 04 Cooper S had a weird tip-in throttle issue, it bucked a little when shifting, and just plain felt disconnected. AFTER A REFLASH...it was like a whole new car...shifts were smooth, there was instant throttle response, and there was no more "wobbliness" in the throttle. So definitely look into that reprogram mod...it's awesome.

Anyways...the technology is certainly a better option than a mechanical linkage...but let's hope they iron out all the kinks before too long.

I leave you with a display of throttle-by-wire prowess.

http://video.google.com/videop...fox-a#

[PEZi]

yeah...I don't get throttle by wire...it's just a way to let the machines rule us

[flohtingPoint]

I guess it's a good thing they pulled out of F1. They were spending a fortune on it and not getting any results.

[Jesda]

Whats funny is that first-generation Lexus LS400s have an occasional sticky throttle too. Happened to a friend of mine with a '90, so he just pulled over in neutral and shut it down. Wiggled the cable a few times and it seemed fine.

[krimsonviper]

You know...I remember saying 6 or 7 years ago that these electronic throttlemajiggers would turn out to be more trouble than they're worth. I remember saying "what's wrong with an old-fashioned cable?"

Well, Toyota? How 'bout them cables?

My motor is ETB. Nothing wrong with it, other than being sluggish.

[bmike818]

I am sure happy I don't own a Toyota.

[jdansmith]

Oh What A Feeling.................WOT Toyota

[Razi]

I don't get throttle by wire either.What's the point?

Our Pathfinder has it and it takes it half a second to respond, meanwhile our Q45 responds instantly.

[krimsonviper]

I don't get throttle by wire either.What's the point?

Our Pathfinder has it and it takes it half a second to respond, meanwhile our Q45 responds instantly.

Do you mean electronic throttle? Wire is instant.

[Razi]

Yes, electronic throttle/throttle-by-wire same difference.

[krimsonviper]

I figured throttle by wire, was the traditional throttle?

[Dattebayo]

I figured throttle by wire, was the traditional throttle?

Not wire, CABLE. CABLE is traditional.

[krimsonviper]

[PEZi]

cable good... wire bad

[ADDirishboy]

Toyota FAIL.

[r34 gtr]

About 300 workers who build V8 engines at a Toyota plant in Huntsville, Ala will be effected

Nooooo! Not my local economy! You bastards!!

[PBfrEAk]

I chuckled a bit.

[nissangirl74]

This has been going on for so long, makes you wonder how Toyota can afford the fix. On the news today, there were reports that some insurance companies are refusing to insure Toyota vehicles until the issue is completely cleared up.

[MinisterofDOOM]

There isn't THAT much added complexity...in fact...it get's rid of all those wires and in some cases (such as Porsche) that is a boon indeed. A sensor and a motor, along with additional programming is all that's needed.

With that...you get a host of improvements over a mechanical throttle. It's now integrated with the car's other systems that help in situations like losing traction in the snow and depending on the amount of nanny-ing it reacts faster and more efficiently than even your positronic brain could conceive MoD.

No more mechanical failures...binding, springs failing and causing the engine to rev till kingdom come, noise, etc. Sure there will be failures of the sensor/motor combo but with minimal moving parts it will be certainly less.

Yeah, being able to integrate the TB into other systems is a bonus as it simplifies operation and centralizes control while having the potential to work very quickly (I say potential because AdvanceTrac + TBW is still slower to react than me). It's useful for automatic transmissions, traction control, and stability control. But I still don't think those benefits are worth the tradeoff.

As for the "no more mechanical failures..." that's just a silly way to look at it. How many times have you heard of mechanical throttles failing? Failing OPEN? And how much easier is it to fix a mechanical throttle? How much cheaper? Electronic throttles are MUCH more likely to fail than mechanical ones, and as with most electronic parts the solution isn't repair, it's replacement. Which gets expensive.