Researchers blaming radioactive cosmic rays for unintended acceleration

Some researchers are now blaming radioactive cosmic rays for unintended acceleration. Sounds fake? Well, believe it or not, there is some evidence to back it up.

Researchers believe that the some cosmic rays make it to the surface of earth and affect electronics. They think that if electronics are the cause of the unintended acceleration, although Toyota says otherwise, than these rays could be causing the electronic issues.

This issue was discovered during the 1950s at high altitude. Aircraft and spacecraft manufacturers install safeguards against such interference. In the 1970s, more research showed that some rays reach the surface and could affect small electronics, such as cell phones and computers. So maybe it could affect car electronics. However, though says that their electronics  “are not the same as typical consumer electronics. The durability, size, susceptibility and specifications of the automotive electronics make them robust against this type of interference.”

The only way to test the theory is placing moving vehicles in front of particle accelerators and spraying them with radiation. There are companies out there which can do this, but Toyota will have to lend them the cars, and also hand them quite a big wad of cash for the test. We’ll have to wait and see whether or not they’re willing to do so.

Source: Detroit Free Press via Autoblog

[Via http://theblogofcars.wordpress.com]

Mitsubishi Strada Vs. Toyota Hilux

The Mitsubishi Triton is a compact pickup truck produced by Mitsubishi Motors. It was originally known as the Mitsubishi Forte in Japan from 1978 to 1986, when the name was discontinued in favour of the Strada. For most export markets the name L200 is used, while Storm was used for Malaysia during the early 2000s. It was previously known as the Rodeo in South Africa until 2007. Cumulative sales of the first three generations now exceed 2.8 million units around the world.

The Toyota Hilux and Toyota Tacoma are compact pickup trucks built and marketed by the Toyota Motor Corporation. The Hilux name was adopted as a replacement for the Stout in 1969, and remains in use worldwide. In North America, the Hilux name was retired in 1976 in favor of Truck, Pickup Truck, or Compact Truck, until it was renamed the Tacoma in 1995. One popular option package, SR5 (Sport Rally 5-Speed), also became synonymous with the truck, even though it was used on other Toyota models as well. In 1984, the Trekker, the camper version of the Hilux, was changed to the 4Runner in Australia and North America, and as the Hilux Surf in Japan. The 4Runner is now a full SUV, and the more recent models do not resemble the Tacoma.

GENERAL SPECIFICATIONS

Length x Width x Height
Strada: 5000 mm x 1800 mm x 1780 mm
Hilux: 5255 mm x 1835 mm x 1810 mm

Wheelbase
Strada: 3000 mm
Hilux: 3085 mm

Ground Clearance
Strada: 205 mm
Hilux: 212 mm

Gross Vehicle Weight
Strada: 2570
Hilux: 2790

Curb Weight
Strada: 1850 kg
Hilux: 1880 kg

Minimum Turning Radius
Strada: 5.9 m
Hilux: 6.5 m

Fuel Tank Capacity
Strada: 75 l
Hilux: 76 l

Steering Capacity
Strada: 5 pax
Hilux: 5 pax

ENGINE

Model & Type
Strada: 2.5 Liter Intercooled Turbocharged Direct Injection Diesel (4D56)
Hilux: 3.0 Liter Diesel, 4-Cylinder, 16-valve, DOHC, Variable Nozzle Turbo with Intercooler (1KD-FTV)

Fuel System
Strada: Common Rail Direct Injection
Hilux: Direct Injection Common Rail (D-4D)

Displacement
Strada: 2447 cc
Hilux: 2982 cc

Maximum Power
Strada: 140 ps / 4000 rpm
Hilux: 163 ps / 3400 rpm

Maximum Torque
Strada: 32.7 kgm / 2000 rpm
Hilux: 35.0 kgm / 1400~3200 rpm

WHEELS AND TIRES

Wheels
Strada: 17” Alloy
Hilux: 15” Alloy

Tires
Strada: 245 / 65 R17
Hilux: 255 / 70 R15

Based on PH models and specifications
Mitsubishi Strada 4X4 GLS A/T
Toyota Hilux 4X4 G A/T

Notes and references:

http://www.wikipedia.org

Mitsubishi Motors Philippines Corporation
Toyota Motors Philippines Corporation

[Via http://jonleyrosdiecast.wordpress.com]

Quoted - Does D.C. have it in for Toyota?

Image via Wikipedia

Does D.C. have it in for Toyota?

Washington stands accused of launching a self-serving witch hunt into Toyota’s spectacular fall from grace — thanks, in part, to U.S. Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood, who warned Americans to stop driving all recalled Toyota vehicles before facts forced him to admit his advice was unwarranted. Indeed, with support from the governors of Alabama, Indiana, Kentucky and Mississippi, which all house Toyota plants, more than a few observers now wonder if public ownership of General Motors and Chrysler influenced the decision to hold congressional hearings into Toyota’s product woes.

Whatever the case, attitudes toward Toyota are clearly harsher in the States than Canada. (In this country, sales actually jumped 25% last month, despite federal rumblings about the need for a political probe.) “When people were dying from tampered Tylenol in the ’80s,” says American business professor Scott Testa, who teaches at Cabrini College in Philadelphia, “Johnson & Johnson pulled the product and gave everybody money back. And they stopped advertising. But I am still seeing ads for Toyota minivans. That’s insanity.”

http://www.canadianbusiness.com/managing/strategy/article.jsp?content=20100412_10006_10006

[Via http://scotttesta.com]

Why Toyota Can't Admit It Has Computer Problems

Toyota is desperate to convince a congressional committee that dangerous bouts of uncontrolled acceleration in its cars are the result of mechanical problems, not computer glitches. That’s because a faulty floor mat or a sticky gas pedal can be replaced. If the problem turns out to be electronic, Toyota is going to face a more difficult problem, both in the vehicle and in the minds of consumers.

The car maker understands this, which is why its worked long and hard to make this issue a mechanical problem. The company recently bragged that it saved over $100 million in 2007 by negotiating a recall of “defective” floor mats rather than thoroughly investigating electronic problems.  Now the ghost in the machine has resurfaced, and those savings are coming back to haunt them.

Read the full post over at BNET

[Via http://benpopper.com]

Next-generation Lexus IS may get wagon variant, hybrid-only drivetrain options

From 2001 to 2005, Lexus offered the IS in a wagon variant, called SportCross. Sadly, the following generation didn’t inherit this variant. However, Autocar reports that the next generation IS will be offered in a wagon variant.

The IS needs something to fight wagon competitors from the likes of BMW and Audi. The loss of wagon variant has hurt sales in Europe, so this move makes perfect sense.

It is also being reported that the next-gen IS will only be offered in hybrid form due to Lexus’ push towards hybrid technology. It’s unknown how this will affect the prospect of an IS F successor. However, it doesn’t sound like a very good idea to me, IS F or not.

The third-generation IS is due in 2011, so we’ll find out the truth soon enough. Hopefully it won’t be hybrid only, but I’m definitely looking forward to the wagon. IS F SportCross anyone?

Source: Autocar

[Via http://theblogofcars.wordpress.com]

Toyota's Troubles

We’ve all seen the news stories. Many of Toyota’s models had what I guess one could refer to as defective carpeting. When drivers were holding the throttle wide open, it would stay that way when they took their foot off. 4.2 million vehicles were recalled to have the floor mats replaced, and another 2.4 million cars were recalled to have a shim installed behind the gas pedal.

What I’m finding annoying with this whole story is how people and the media are reacting. The issue is know as Sudden Unintended Acceleration (SUA) and is nothing new in the automotive industry. Audi faced similar problems with the ‘82-’87 models of the Audi 5000. In the last decade, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration received 24 000 customer complaints regarding SUA involving almost every manufacturer. Very few of these cases were actual mechanical or electronic issues. It seems stupid, but many cases were most likely caused by driver error. To put it in other terms, confused individuals pressing the gas when they wanted to press the brake.

The other thing that gets on my nerves in this whole story is people wanting to make some money out of Toyota’s unfortunate situation. You might have heard of Jim Sikes by now, the guy who allegedly experienced SUA in his 2008 Toyota Prius on an interstate in San Diego, California. Obviously, the media made a huge circus of this, immediately pointing fingers at Toyota. We now know that Mr. Sikes has a history of suspicious behavior. For example, he recently filed for bankruptcy and gave the house to the bank, but his entire kitchen just happened to have been stolen. He attempted to defraud his own insurance company of $60 000, tiwce.

Toyota and the NHTSA investigated and could not explain the events. The Prius has a double redundant accelerator system, and if any irregularities pop up, they register in the onboard computer and the check engine light will come on. Yet in Toyota’s investigation report, they state “There were no diagnostic trouble codes found in the power management computer, nor was the dashboard malfunction indicator light activated.” When Sikes was on the phone with the 911 operator, she instructed him many times to put the car in neutral and apply the brakes, or to push the engine on button and hold it for three seconds to automatically cut the engine. All of these systems worked on Sikes’ Prius when tested, and as seen in the video below, applying the brakes should stop the car. It’s now been declared a hoax by just about every party involved, except Mr. Sikes himself, who still stands by his story and says he’s not after a lawsuit. Yeah…

Source: jalopnik.com

[Via http://carthing.wordpress.com]

Unintended ventilation

Rocky walked out to his Lexus Sunday morning and discovered that all four windows mysteriously opened overnight. This posed a problem because an overnight monsoon left the seats, carpet and dashboard badly soaked. Even the cupholders were holding water (without cups).

“Unintended acceleration gets all the attention, but unintended ventilation is far more insidious,” thought Rocky as he diligently wiped the seats with a trove of Trophy Wife’s dish towels. “At least with unintended acceleration, you can shift into neutral or turn off the engine.”

Since the outside temperature was in the high 30’s, Rocky did not open the windows intentionally. And because he keeps the passenger windows in “locked mode,” he could not have accidentally confused the door-lock and down-window buttons when exiting.

Other than an electronic problem, the best explanation is that Rocky sat on his key fob in an odd way. Rocky knew that if he pressed the key fob “unlock button” for 5 continous seconds, all of the windows opened. How could this happen? Rocky did not wear his trousers to bed, nor did he engage in any contortionist exercises. The only explanation is that Rocky “bent over,” as he occasionally must do.

[Disclosure: Rocky intends to contact the National Highway Safety Administration and lodge a complaint. Perhaps then Toyota will issue a key fob safety recall -- which will prevent unintended ventilation from ruining more fine wool suits and silk jackets -- as these fine garments are pressed against soaked leather seats.]

[Via http://onehonestman.wordpress.com]