It's not what they do, it's how they do it. They are a former client of mine (designing and manufacturing a critical piece of their auditing electronics) and I've met a few of them and read more than I should have about them. What moneys they charge for their "services" is a problem, and the biggest problem is how they treat the minions that cannot afford the sessions: it turns out to be slave labor (in the least). I hope that they get what they deserve.
and I drive my paid for, 16mph Ford F150 just about everywhere. And oh yeah, I haul wood, pull a horse trailer and a 24foot camper. I'll buy a bettery mileage car when I can justify it. I was driving a Chevy Cobalt EFI (5 speed manual, 2.2L, 30-37mpg) for 3 years but one of my kids is driving it now. The wife drives a 30+mpg Toyota Avalon.
Yes, believe it or not, L.Ron Hubbard could write science fiction, or at least fiction. Just look at all of the $cientologists that have bought into his sceme.
A locksmith that I worked for once upon a time said (I installed and fixed security systems for him): "locks are to keep honest people honest". If someone wants to steal something bad enough, they will find a way.
When I'm designing stuff (mechanical, schematic, PCB layout), I need a desktop computer: good optical mouse, comfortable chair, big monitor, full-sized keyboard, fast/loaded computer. I have tried to do that on a tablet or notebook, it's not even close. I agree with Spacejock, there is no replacement when you need real development.
and maybe Staples for simple stuff. I only use Best Buy for stuff like my 55" Sony Bravia, etc. I've been burnt a couple of times buying desktop computers there, and don't get me started with Circus City (mis-spelling intended).
The power brakes will work for 2-3 times when the engine is turned off. But with full throttle the engine is NOT making vacuum, so the engine might as well be turned off. And I've tried to stop a car with power brakes with a bad brake boost: it's really, really hard. So Toyota thought it was a good idea not to shut the engine off when the driver commanded it.
but neither he nor the 911 operator knew this. I owned my 2007 Toyota Avalon when this happened and I didn't know this. Shame on me for not reading my owner's manual, but this is such a departure from "normal" UI that there should have been a big deal made out of it with all of the other stickers about air-bags, etc. that they put on the car. And it takes over 3 seconds before the engine shuts off, I've tested it.
There IS more to the story. He tried to turn off the car: he didn't know that the START button had to held in for almost 5 seconds.
He tried to shift it out of gear: it's shift by wire.
Once the engine control is "in the weeds", all bets are off.
At full throttle the engine isn't making vacuum for the power brakes so he probably pressed the brake pedal more than 5 times.
This is near and dear to me as I happen to own a 2007 Toyota Avalon.
So Toyota made the stupid decision (I have to believe this was a mis-guided safety decision) to not shut the engine down when the START button is pushed. Their resoning (and my response):
1. When the engine is off, the power part of the power steering doesn't work (you only need power steering below 20mph, not necessary at 100mph)
2. When the engine is off, you're not making vacuum for the power brakes (you're not making vacuum at full throttle, either. There are still a couple brake actuations with power even after the engine is off)
Before this I have never had a vehicle that wouldn't shut off IMMEDIATELY when I commanded it to do so. I've had to do that a few times over the years (almost 40 years). Stupid.
Not quite so simple.
The mode that I saw on CNN was where the person couldn't shift out of gear, or rather shifted out of gear and the transmission didn't respond. That's the shift by wire problem. I design embedded electronics, this is very much a firmware issue. NASA took a look at it and didn't find anything definitive, but they found some loops that might have an issue under the right/wrong situation.
When they "fixed" my 2007 Toyota Avalon, I'm about 100% certain that they upgraded the firmware, but they will not admit to it.
The biggest problem is that it takes almost 5 seconds for the engine to shut off while holding in the START button. Who would have known that? I'm pretty sure that that is not in my owner's manual.
How about the simple solution to allow the driver to shut down the engine on demand?
I have a 2007 Toyota Avalon (I bought it 3 months old, I will NOT buy a new non-domestic automobile) that was recalled. So the REAL problem is I have to hold the START button down for about 5 seconds before the engine stops. I don't think that that is in the manual. Oh, and the gear shift is not a direct linkage, and the accelerator pedal is not a direct linkage.
Their philosophy to not let you shut it down (so I've read):
You'll lose power steering: you don't need power steering at 120mph, only below 20mph.
You'll lose power brakes: you're not making vacuum at full throttle, and you'll have 3-5 presses with power after the engine is shut off anyway.
Any other car/truck engine that I've owned can be immediately shut down. Who made up these new rules?
Stupid. Stupid. Stupid.
and cited the state department rules link. I feel better. I hope that they read it and do something about it. An am presently an AA rewards member, but may be cancelling soon if they don't respond properly.
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interesting semlab report. I would have guessed that lead would have prevented the problem. I guessed wrongly.
It's not what they do, it's how they do it. They are a former client of mine (designing and manufacturing a critical piece of their auditing electronics) and I've met a few of them and read more than I should have about them. What moneys they charge for their "services" is a problem, and the biggest problem is how they treat the minions that cannot afford the sessions: it turns out to be slave labor (in the least).
I hope that they get what they deserve.
and I drive my paid for, 16mph Ford F150 just about everywhere. And oh yeah, I haul wood, pull a horse trailer and a 24foot camper. I'll buy a bettery mileage car when I can justify it.
I was driving a Chevy Cobalt EFI (5 speed manual, 2.2L, 30-37mpg) for 3 years but one of my kids is driving it now.
The wife drives a 30+mpg Toyota Avalon.
says an owner of a 2007 Avalon.
There's an SUV pulling into my driveway right now...
and contrary to what they want you to know, L.Ron was taking a LOT of pain medications (so I've read).
Yes, believe it or not, L.Ron Hubbard could write science fiction, or at least fiction. Just look at all of the $cientologists that have bought into his sceme.
A locksmith that I worked for once upon a time said (I installed and fixed security systems for him): "locks are to keep honest people honest". If someone wants to steal something bad enough, they will find a way.
If $cientologists are in charge in 2132, it will be further proof that the world ended (as we humans know it) on December 21, 2012.
That was the first game system that I bought. But in the end, not very popular.
When I'm designing stuff (mechanical, schematic, PCB layout), I need a desktop computer: good optical mouse, comfortable chair, big monitor, full-sized keyboard, fast/loaded computer. I have tried to do that on a tablet or notebook, it's not even close. I agree with Spacejock, there is no replacement when you need real development.
Sony may be evil (some divisions, although I keep buying their Sony Bravia LCD TVs), but Walmart is worse. IMHO.
and maybe Staples for simple stuff. I only use Best Buy for stuff like my 55" Sony Bravia, etc. I've been burnt a couple of times buying desktop computers there, and don't get me started with Circus City (mis-spelling intended).
The power brakes will work for 2-3 times when the engine is turned off. But with full throttle the engine is NOT making vacuum, so the engine might as well be turned off. And I've tried to stop a car with power brakes with a bad brake boost: it's really, really hard.
So Toyota thought it was a good idea not to shut the engine off when the driver commanded it.
not if the engine control is off in the weeds.... the transmission shifter is through the control, not a direct link.
but neither he nor the 911 operator knew this. I owned my 2007 Toyota Avalon when this happened and I didn't know this. Shame on me for not reading my owner's manual, but this is such a departure from "normal" UI that there should have been a big deal made out of it with all of the other stickers about air-bags, etc. that they put on the car. And it takes over 3 seconds before the engine shuts off, I've tested it.
THAT is the solution.
it will not stall if it has an automatic transmission.
he could not put it in neutral.
There IS more to the story. He tried to turn off the car: he didn't know that the START button had to held in for almost 5 seconds. He tried to shift it out of gear: it's shift by wire. Once the engine control is "in the weeds", all bets are off. At full throttle the engine isn't making vacuum for the power brakes so he probably pressed the brake pedal more than 5 times. This is near and dear to me as I happen to own a 2007 Toyota Avalon. So Toyota made the stupid decision (I have to believe this was a mis-guided safety decision) to not shut the engine down when the START button is pushed. Their resoning (and my response): 1. When the engine is off, the power part of the power steering doesn't work (you only need power steering below 20mph, not necessary at 100mph) 2. When the engine is off, you're not making vacuum for the power brakes (you're not making vacuum at full throttle, either. There are still a couple brake actuations with power even after the engine is off) Before this I have never had a vehicle that wouldn't shut off IMMEDIATELY when I commanded it to do so. I've had to do that a few times over the years (almost 40 years). Stupid.
Not quite so simple.
The mode that I saw on CNN was where the person couldn't shift out of gear, or rather shifted out of gear and the transmission didn't respond. That's the shift by wire problem. I design embedded electronics, this is very much a firmware issue. NASA took a look at it and didn't find anything definitive, but they found some loops that might have an issue under the right/wrong situation. When they "fixed" my 2007 Toyota Avalon, I'm about 100% certain that they upgraded the firmware, but they will not admit to it. The biggest problem is that it takes almost 5 seconds for the engine to shut off while holding in the START button. Who would have known that? I'm pretty sure that that is not in my owner's manual.
ah, but the real problem was how Toyota implemented too much "fly by wire".
How about the simple solution to allow the driver to shut down the engine on demand?
I have a 2007 Toyota Avalon (I bought it 3 months old, I will NOT buy a new non-domestic automobile) that was recalled. So the REAL problem is I have to hold the START button down for about 5 seconds before the engine stops. I don't think that that is in the manual. Oh, and the gear shift is not a direct linkage, and the accelerator pedal is not a direct linkage.
Their philosophy to not let you shut it down (so I've read):
You'll lose power steering: you don't need power steering at 120mph, only below 20mph.
You'll lose power brakes: you're not making vacuum at full throttle, and you'll have 3-5 presses with power after the engine is shut off anyway.
Any other car/truck engine that I've owned can be immediately shut down. Who made up these new rules?
Stupid. Stupid. Stupid.
and cited the state department rules link. I feel better. I hope that they read it and do something about it. An am presently an AA rewards member, but may be cancelling soon if they don't respond properly.
Isn't this all that they need to continue their trip? how can we get this information to them??????????