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| Thread ID: 105856 | 2009-12-16 10:45:00 | What's with the Oz runaway Ford thing? | Billy T (70) | PC World Chat |
| Post ID | Timestamp | Content | User | ||
| 840272 | 2009-12-17 06:11:00 | Link here:- www.abc.net.au HTH. |
Sweep (90) | ||
| 840273 | 2009-12-17 06:11:00 | This nutter should lose his licence until he's had a psych assessment. Do they do sych tests on trees? Seriously about the trees... when I went on a defensive driving course in the '70s, we were told that a row of trees 2-3 inches thick were a great way to stop a car. At that thickness they snap off and slow things down rapidly without doing to much damage to the driver. Never had to try it out myself. :2cents: Ken |
kenj (9738) | ||
| 840274 | 2009-12-17 19:21:00 | I wrote about this in another forum and this was one of the replies. It sounds like his biggest problem was his panic, I honestly can't see any reason to be stuck like that for such a distance. I have a Ford Explorer and although I'd not recommend pulling the ignition key out of any car as it will almost certainly set the steering lock (yeah I know, Saab drivers and others can sneer here), he could certainly have turned the engine off without damage though he would definitely find the steering a complete bar-steward when the power assistance dies - I know because my idler pulley bearing went out 2 weeks ago and I had to wrestle the thing all the way home. The Explorer also has the master switch for the cruise control mounted on the steering wheel - he could have used that to try to decelerate, cancel the speed setting or turn the cruise control off altogether. Additionally, Explorers are not available with a manual gearbox so he could easily have shifted it into neutral from drive at any speed without damage. The explorer handbrake is a dedicated rear shoe fitted inboard of the rear discs and independant of any of the foundation braking system or it's hydraulics so it would have been more than adequate for the job of slowing down once it was into neutral. But I think the cruise control is a red herring here and the biggest clue lies in his statement that the brake pedal "went hard". My opinion is that his ABS pump or sensors went faulty, putting the pump into "self test" mode (it does this itself every time the car reaches around12 MPH for the first time following an engine start; the pump runs for a few seconds and it performs all of it's electronic magickery). When the pump is in self test mode, the brake pedal acts as if the ABS has been triggered, going rock hard and giving the classic "vibrating foot massage" whilst little or nothing happens at the wheels and there is no indication on the dash. In this case I think the ABS self test has prevented the ABS deactivation switch from receiving the signal to turn off, resulting in exactly the scenario described. |
wmoore (6009) | ||
| 840275 | 2009-12-18 04:20:00 | certainly sounds like panic. we had a diesel 4x4 locally that ran on its engines oil and took of. driver jumped out and let it crash ! | tweak'e (69) | ||
| 840276 | 2009-12-18 09:29:00 | Additionally, Explorers are not available with a manual gearbox so he could easily have shifted it into neutral from drive at any speed without damage . The explorer handbrake is a dedicated rear shoe fitted inboard of the rear discs and independant of any of the foundation braking system or it's hydraulics so it would have been more than adequate for the job of slowing down once it was into neutral . I've seen one forum post stating that the auto gear selection was electric rather than direct physical connection . If true it is possible that some fault was stopping the gearbox changing . Drum or disc, most hand brakes are for parking and adequate for slowing down might be overstating the case . Have you tried the hand brake recently? |
PaulD (232) | ||
| 840277 | 2009-12-18 19:50:00 | Cruise control failure is all very well, but I can't see how it could lock the transmission in drive, or prevent the ignition key from shutting off the engine, cruise control wouldn't be linked to either of those so unless it was an electrical failure and both the transmission and the steering were electronically controlled it just couldn't happen like that. On top of that, if the driver really did pull the key out (which means turning the engine off), the steering would have locked on him with any significant steering movement and he'd have speared off into the barrier pretty damned quickly. After all that, in the end he stopped it with the brakes anyway, so it all sounds like he was off his head to me, or was having a real US of A 'girly-girl' moment. Is there anybody deeply technical with cars around who could explain how come the key didn't turn off the engine or key removal lock the steering? I'd be curious to know what SJ thinks about all this too. Billy 8-{) Being FORD - I can believe almost anything negative - but I hate Ford-things anyway. On another negative side, Ford ignition switches and steering locks have had mechanical failures for years - although I cannot recall THIS ever happening. It's just not logical. Cruise control is SUPPOSED to release when the BOO switch (Brake-On-Off) is activated - and they are pretty failsafe. Typically if it fails, the BOO defaults and releases the CC, ASC and ABS too. Shift-by-wire isn't the culprit here either. Pulling the key out obviates the locked steering wheel too, and if the Ford's new enough, it has to also be in PARK to get the key out anyway. I smell an ambulance chaser (attorney) and client who aren't being completely truthful here. I hope Ford beats this in court and the guy and his mouthpiece get a thorough public pillorying. |
SurferJoe46 (51) | ||
| 840278 | 2009-12-18 20:09:00 | I love Ford especially English Fords and think it might be an anti Ford beat up. Looks like the panic stricken plonker doesn't deserve to own or drive a Ford. |
prefect (6291) | ||
| 840279 | 2009-12-18 20:27:00 | I love Ford especially English Fords and think it might be an anti Ford beat up . Looks like the panic stricken plonker doesn't deserve to own or drive a Ford . No - there's also a lie involved here if I read the posts correctly . The key cannot come out without a couple of things happening at or around the same time . The steering will lock - that's a default . No key - no turn-y the steering thing . It must be in Park - no Park position, no key release . The ABS or ASC may have failed from lack of electrical power and/or loss of a belt or the engine died . When a small bump is recorded by the ECM or the Dynamic Fuel Shut Off Sensor - the engine shuts OFF . If the engine shuts off there is NO power steering, loss of braking is likely if the driver uses up all the a) EITHER reserve vacuum b) OR reserve accumulator pressure if so equipped . You only get two or three brake pedal applications if the engine dies before you are on sub-manual non-assisted braking . But it will stop, albeit a longer stopping zone is required . We don't see Fords here with electro-mechanical hydraulic brakes and accumulators, but they may be sold in Upsidedown Land #2 . Some big problems happen in Fords here when they strike an object that knocks the Fuel pump sensor off it's normal position and the engine dies . No power steering and loss of throttle can make people panic badly . It's a poor design fraught with hyper sensitivity and causes more than it's fair share of accidents . |
SurferJoe46 (51) | ||
| 840280 | 2009-12-18 20:44:00 | Vacuum boosted brakes are nice for gays and old ladies. But whats the problem with having to push the pedal down harder to stop like un boosted brakes of yesteryear and purely mechanical brakes like on Model A and E93A. I have vacuum booster its about 1 foot dia 18" long for brakes on my camper. It used to have a petrol six in it I have put a diesel six in it so the only vacuum for huge booster is from little vacuum pump on alternator. Effectively going down a big hill like Mangamukas there is no vacuum left and COF brake test machine the vacuum has gone burger at idle through leaks in the door opener and booster. I have spoken to the experts about it and they say just man up and push harder on the pedal |
prefect (6291) | ||
| 840281 | 2009-12-18 21:49:00 | No truth in claim, unless igniton switch modded, or severly damaged prior to event. just wants to be in news, or paid to stick the knife into Ford, possibly by GM HOLDEN. |
angry (15305) | ||
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