emergency engine shut off

[rh71]

because of the recent Toyota recall with stuck accelerators, I'm wondering about our engine-shutoff procedure. Lexus has push-button starts and people are saying it will not shutoff the engine. Some are saying if you hold the button down it will. Does anyone know what the case is for the E70? It does not mention it in the manual. And will doing this cut off the power steering / brakes?

[AzNMpower32]

I don't think anyone should try this..........but theoretically yes if you hold the button for a few seconds, all power will be shut down.

As with any car when you shut down everything, you lose power steering. There maybe enough reserve boost left in the brakes for one or two applications, but otherwise you will be on manual brakes which mean you'll have to use a LOT of force and obviously increase stopping distances.

[kimg9582]

another potential solution is simply shift the gear into 'neutral' and then brake. No?

[Penguin]

Originally Posted by kimg9582

another potential solution is simply shift the gear into 'neutral' and then brake. No?

Yeah, with the engine having a rev limiter that should work. I wonder what happens if you do not have comfort access and remove the "key" from the socket?

This has been a problem for all cars since they went to column locks in the 1970's. Before then, you could switch off the ignition, but once they went to the column locks, you cannot shut off the engine without locking the steering wheel.

[BigBlueX5]

Originally Posted by Penguin

Yeah, with the engine having a rev limiter that should work. I wonder what happens if you do not have comfort access and remove the "key" from the socket?

This has been a problem for all cars since they went to column locks in the 1970's. Before then, you could switch off the ignition, but once they went to the column locks, you cannot shut off the engine without locking the steering wheel.

Once you start the car with the key fob clicked in, I didn't think you could remove it until you turned the car off.

[soldmystang]

Originally Posted by BigBlueX5

Once you start the car with the key fob clicked in, I didn't think you could remove it until you turned the car off.

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

[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 Penguin

...

This has been a problem for all cars since they went to column locks in the 1970's. Before then, you could switch off the ignition, but once they went to the column locks, you cannot shut off the engine without locking the steering wheel.

Hnmm...
In my late 80s PathFinder you can switch off the engine WITHOUT locking the steering wheel. But you can not get the keys out of the ignition switch without locking the steering wheel.

FWIW I just proved this by switching off the engine while it was rolling down the driveway and made a 90 degree left hand turn with the engine not running but the keys still in the ignition. Score one for the ranch truck

Funf Dreisig

p.s. the loss of power steering made it a lot more difficult but I could make a 90 degree turn with some effort. Of course the ranch truck has a real steering wheel roughly 1/3 larger than the cool leather covered game controller in the E70

[Penguin]

Originally Posted by FunfDreisig

Hnmm...
In my late 80s PathFinder you can switch off the engine WITHOUT locking the steering wheel. But you can not get the keys out of the ignition switch without locking the steering wheel.

Funf Dreisig

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?

[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.