Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
I looked at a car with one of the fancy ignition buttons and the question of what to do if the accelerator stuck came to mind.
Because I HAVE been in a car when the accelerator stuck. And it IS disconcerting and it does require some presence of mind to deal with it properly. If you do shift into neutral (and I'm pretty sure you can do this on any car on the road) the engine screams. And if you turn off the ignition you lose power steering and power brakes.
A thinking driver can get out of such a situation.
If confronted with "destroyed engine" or "death" I choose destroyed engine anytime. Typically, the rev-limiter on a modern engine will keep the engine from actually destroying itself, fuel will cut out at high RPM's and keep it the RPM's within acceptable parameters...push to neutral, pull over, apply brakes, turn off engine once stopped...If the car wouldn't shift into neutral, I don't know what was wrong, or if Kia has some type of issue with their shifter logic.
I've heard of a few of these before, and my thought back then (can't remember which manufacturer) was that the logic of the pushbutton would change. It doesn't say in the article, but I can't imagine she ignored the pushbutton but instead pressed it and assumed it too was not responding. Probably not the case but quite possibly the button was pressed several times in quick succession and never was held down. I think the button could respond to certain repeated pressings like that by turning off, as that isn't likely to be inadvertent input.
That said, shouldn't the responders on the 911 call (the operator and/or the cops) also be up on the button operation by now? If one of their suggestions would have been to turn the key off, then it should at this point be common knowledge that on some of the pushbuttons you have to hold it down for several seconds to force it to turn off while you're moving. Pushbuttons have been getting more common for the last several years or so.
If confronted with "destroyed engine" or "death" I choose destroyed engine anytime. Typically, the rev-limiter on a modern engine will keep the engine from actually destroying itself, fuel will cut out at high RPM's and keep it the RPM's within acceptable parameters...push to neutral, pull over, apply brakes, turn off engine once stopped...If the car wouldn't shift into neutral, I don't know what was wrong, or if Kia has some type of issue with their shifter logic.
This is true, "Usually" with an automatic if the engine red-lines to the point of damage it will stall(or the transmission dis-engages), this has been the case for many years, when she attempted to shift into neutral she may not have been pushing the little button or moving the shift lever in the direction to release it.
If confronted by a runaway you grab the shifter and shift to anything in the direction of PARK.
This car is also equipped with a safeguard that cuts engine power if the brake pedal is used in conjuction with the throttle. I believe the Sorento also has a throttle cable versus DBW. The lack of brake lights is strange too.
total bs. Another lawsuit in the making. She has enough brains and calmness to make 2 phone calls but not enough brains to shift to neutral? BS.. Mark my words, she will attempt a lawsuit to Kia. No brake lights, no neutral.. and the car stops itself.. BS.. I hope that Kia has a black box to prove she is lying
Please register to post and access all features of our very popular forum. It is free and quick. Over $68,000 in prizes has already been given out to active posters on our forum. Additional giveaways are planned.
Detailed information about all U.S. cities, counties, and zip codes on our site: City-data.com.
Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
.
