emergency engine shut off

[soldmystang]

Originally Posted by rh71

yes, this is also for the after. Another thing is with all the electronics, you don't know if neutral will even work. A cop driving his family around in a Toyota/Lexus was unable to think on his feet and his whole family died... lots of things to worry about while in the moment.

not to make light of this situation, but cops really don't always get the driver training they should.

[JCL]

Originally Posted by Penguin

Interesting. I think truck did have some looser regulations that passenger vehicles, e.g., my 1992 Ford Explorer doesn't have air bags, but I believe passenger vehicles (cars) had to have them in 1992.

Anyone know if the locking steering wheel was a legal requirement, or just an industry standard to reduce insurance premiums?

Federal Safety Standard in the US, likely cloned by other jurisdictions. Came in around 1970 as I recall (not sure of the exact date). It applies to light trucks the same as to cars. It is a safety standard, designed for theft protection; the thinking was that stolen vehicles were often crashed and involved in accidents with other vehicles. Later on the automatic transmission interlock (put it in park to remove the key) was added to the same standard.

This may not be true on all vehicles, but all of my vehicles had an ignition off position before you got to the lock position. The lock relates to being able to remove the key, not turning the vehicle off. There has always been a risk that turning off the key, a driver would go an additional click and lock the steering wheel, but they are designed as two separate indents in my experience.

[cmyX6go]

Originally Posted by soldmystang

pretty sure you can pull the key out with the truck running. but i have CA

I tried it the other day for some reason which escapes me at the moment. I couldn't take out the key without shutting the engine.

[FunfDreisig]

Originally Posted by JCL

...
This may not be true on all vehicles, but all of my vehicles had an ignition off position before you got to the lock position. The lock relates to being able to remove the key, not turning the vehicle off. There has always been a risk that turning off the key, a driver would go an additional click and lock the steering wheel, but they are designed as two separate indents in my experience.

That is how our ranch truck works. You have to push a little button to turn the key to the 'lock' position and remove the key. I was told this was to keep passengers (e.g. kids) from turning off the ignition and pulling out the keys which would have locked the steering wheel.

Funf Dreisig

[02fireman]

I had a 328 loaner the other day and got it to turn off at 45mph by pressing the button and started it back up after. I didn't feel any real loss of power nor did the steering lock. I was just curious.

[soldmystang]

Originally Posted by cmyX5go

I tried it the other day for some reason which escapes me at the moment. I couldn't take out the key without shutting the engine.

ok i was wrong. it doesn't work while vehicle is in gear.

[KWP1911]

I often wonder why people don't just slam on the brakes when they have stuck accelerators. Yes, I know you're panicking, but the first thing you do in normal situations to slow the car down is step on the brakes.

Back in the old days, they said to first press the accelerator down to the floor a couple of times to try to loosen up the throttle cable if it got stuck. Nowadays, with all the electronics, I don't know if that applies.

My first instinct would be to slam on the brakes and try to kill the engine with the switch. If that doesn't work, try to put the thing in neutral.

[texasdoc]

There are at least two things that would save you. First, turning off the engine by holding down the start button, but of course some people might not know you have to hold down the button. I have never needed to or tried to turn off my engine while going 60 mph and I doubt most people would think to hold down the button.

The sure-fire way to stop is just hold down the brake pedal. Don't slow down with the brakes, then let the car speed back up, then slow down again, etc. That will overheat the brakes and then you're really screwed! Hold the brake pedal down and pull over.

I believe the law enforcement officer in Ca. who crashed the Lexus caught the brakes on fire from riding them without actually stopping.