Toyota has 270,000 faulty engines in Toyota and Lexus models

[szh]

More problems for Toyota and Lexus ... faulty engines in 270,000 vehicles!

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/38030466/ns/business-autos/

Z

[PEZi]

le sigh

[MinisterofDOOM]

Stupid article. No details. Just "faulty" and "can stall." Awesome. Facts are irrelevant. Controversy and page views are WIN.

[Jesda]

Doesnt sound like a safety issue, but seems like a nuisance.

[Otto.]

We all know that the media is going to jump on this about how unsafe Toyota's are.

Now we're going to have to deal with all these old fogies crashing their cars and blaming it on the engine.

[MinisterofDOOM]

We all know that the media is going to jump on this about how unsafe Toyota's are.

I dunno, I think the government should require high-OD safety lenses when viewing most of the Toyota lineup in order to prevent permanent damage to the retina.

[krimsonviper]

Well, where's all that money they're touting in their commercials, really going to?

[Jesda]

OM NOM NOM

[ADDirishboy]

Doesnt sound like a safety issue, but seems like a nuisance.

If the engine stalls while in motion though, won't the driver lose power steering and brakes?

[MinisterofDOOM]

Doesnt sound like a safety issue, but seems like a nuisance.

If the engine stalls while in motion though, won't the driver lose power steering and brakes?

No. They'll loose power to the steering and brake ASSIST, but both still work. If people managed to stop with manual drum brakes for over half a century, I think temporarily losing power assist for modern discs shouldn't be an issue. Then again, we are talking about the same people who can't even figure out how to shift into neutral...but that's not Toyota's fault.

And power steering is really only needed at low speeds anyway. Most modern cars reduce power assist at speed by design.
And a lot of modern cars have electric power steering, so it may well continue operating as long as the ignition switch stays in the run position.

[Jesda]

And power steering is really only needed at low speeds anyway. Most modern cars reduce power assist at speed by design.
And a lot of modern cars have electric power steering, so it may well continue operating as long as the ignition switch stays in the run position.

Yeah, but in a 4000lb Avalon its not so easy. When the PS pump went out in the BMW it felt like a serious loss of control (3900lbs with me in it).

[MinisterofDOOM]

I wonder what motor this is regarding...
With it being Toyota and Lexus, I'm assuming 2GR.

[s0m3th1ngAZ]

Yeah losing brake and steering assist in modern cars is serious business. It's not like in a miata where you can yank the power steering and not notice it at all...I remember our chrysler mini-van's serpentine belt snapping while I was driving and thought I was going to plow through a cement wall while standing on the brakes.
Vehicles with power assist are designed much differently than ye olde time automobiles with drum brakes and no vacuum assist. IE. much higher master cylinder:slave cylinder ratio.

[Looneybomber]

Wow, before all of these recalls and safety issues with Toyota, I hadn't even thought about buying one of their vehicles. But now that resale values are dropping, I may have to take a look.

[ADDirishboy]

No. They'll loose power to the steering and brake ASSIST, but both still work. If people managed to stop with manual drum brakes for over half a century, I think temporarily losing power assist for modern discs shouldn't be an issue. Then again, we are talking about the same people who can't even figure out how to shift into neutral...but that's not Toyota's fault.

And power steering is really only needed at low speeds anyway. Most modern cars reduce power assist at speed by design.
And a lot of modern cars have electric power steering, so it may well continue operating as long as the ignition switch stays in the run position.

My 2002 Mitsubishi stalled on me the other day and I lost power everything. I was doing about 45 down the road. I was able to keep control and get into a parking lot, but just barely. It was crazy how difficult it became to turn the wheel.

[asoomal]

No. They'll loose power to the steering and brake ASSIST, but both still work. If people managed to stop with manual drum brakes for over half a century, I think temporarily losing power assist for modern discs shouldn't be an issue. Then again, we are talking about the same people who can't even figure out how to shift into neutral...but that's not Toyota's fault.

And power steering is really only needed at low speeds anyway. Most modern cars reduce power assist at speed by design.
And a lot of modern cars have electric power steering, so it may well continue operating as long as the ignition switch stays in the run position.

It's easier to stop a car with non assisted drums than non assisted discs.

Drums are self energizing, discs are not.