Runaway Ford Explorer - No mechanical faults

[naddis01]

My questions is, and forgive me if I have missed it, once he (un)successfully came to a stop, how did he put it in Park and turn the car off?

[Full Noise]

Originally Posted by naddis01

My questions is, and forgive me if I have missed it, once he (un)successfully came to a stop, how did he put it in Park and turn the car off?

He didn’t put the car in park. He just ended up jumping on the picks until it stopped. One of the coppers put it in park and turned it off for him.

[mrbaxr6t]

things like this can happen - but that guys' a moron plainly - here is my story

I had a ZL f/lane with factory cruise and LPG with a backfire eliminator to save my o2 sensor from backfires yea - anyway long story short it backfired broke the backfire eliminator and sucked it into the throttle body jamming the butterfly

this kept the car in motion even though the cruise control disengaged when the brakes were stomped on, this is minutely related I know but no police were involved in some doofy highway hijinx or anything else for that matter, I got the car to stop by braking hard then going to neutral completing the stop and killing the ignition - it is scary yes but by taking some time to think while trundling down the highway I come up with a solution. Maybe his throttle jammed for some other reason unrelated to the cruise control like my f/lane?

But its just about a lock on a hoax some guy pulled to get his 15 minutes of fame.....

[djjase]

Hardly, Ford USA has been hiding issues about cruise control for years. Some guy over there proved by shorting out a fuse it would do exactly what this car did.

This has happen in the UK, the US and now one in Aust that we know of. Just because some guy can't drive like all the professional drivers in this forum doesn't make him a moron.

My XA 351 with no cruise control suffered a stuck pedal because the return spring failed - try stopping a worked 351 already going fast with the accelerator flat - all 4 ventures fully opened up - the only thing that saved us that day was turning the car off and sticking it in neutral.

A lot of these new cars with all their electronics is just asking for something to go wrong.

By the way if u did your research those incidents in the UK and USA Ford never found any faults with the car too - imagine what the cost would be if Ford had to recall all their cars from 1985 due to faulty cruise control - a lot more than just paying out the odd ones here and there.

For those who think this was a hoax I hope it never happens to you

[Full Noise]

Originally Posted by djjase

Hardly, Ford USA has been hiding issues about cruise control for years. Some guy over there proved by shorting out a fuse it would do exactly what this car did.

How can shorting out a fuse stop the brakes pulling the vehicle to a stop, or stop the gear selector from going into neutral or stop the ignition from being turned off?

Do you know this bloke?

Originally Posted by djjase

For those who think this was a hoax I hope it never happens to you

Oh please, somehow I don’t think that it will.

Originally Posted by djjase

Like I said he's not a professional driver like everyone thinks they are on here.

Some of us don’t just think they are, mate. Although that isn’t the topic here.

[djjase]

The point was about the car accelerating - been stuck which in return causes the brakes from pretty much been useless after been used.

Do you have one of these cars? I have driven cars that don't allow you to put it in netural while been driven

Have you been under the pressure and stressed out like this guy did?

Like I said he's not a professional driver like everyone thinks they are on here.

Wait to you go through it and see how you react, see if your car stops then you can make judgement

Why don't u go for a drive down the freeway, keep your foot on the accelerator and brake at the same time - i bet you won't stop too good

If you have a car with any decent power go and do a burn out with the brakes on. My XA use to push the car with the brakes on very hard and that was a 4 wheel disc 9" setup - the front wheels not moving but the car sliding - after enough pressure the brake system starts to fade and the pedal went to the floor

[djjase]

Originally Posted by Full Noise

How can shorting out a fuse stop the brakes pulling the vehicle to a stop, or stop the gear selector from going into neutral or stop the ignition from being turned off?

Hello most of today's cars are electronics - go and do a course - brakes, steering, gearboxes - all controlled by computers, fuses, wiring, chips

Originally Posted by Full Noise

Do you know this bloke?

- what does it matter - you don't know the bloke driving the car, you don't know Ford, you don't know unless u do some researching

[xdc351]

Originally Posted by djjase

The point was about the car accelerating - been stuck which in return causes the brakes from pretty much been useless after been used.

Do you have one of these cars? I have driven cars that don't allow you to put it in netural while been driven

Have you been under the pressure and stressed out like this guy did?

Like I said he's not a professional driver like everyone thinks they are on here.

Wait to you go through it and see how you react, see if your car stops then you can make judgement

Why don't u go for a drive down the freeway, keep your foot on the accelerator and brake at the same time - i bet you won't stop too good

If you have a car with any decent power go and do a burn out with the brakes on. My XA use to push the car with the brakes on very hard and that was a 4 wheel disc 9" setup - the front wheels not moving but the car sliding

Can you name one of those cars that wouldn't allow neutral selection while being driven? Particularly one built after 1976?

My old XF had its throttle sieze open at full throttle from a faulty throttle cable bracket... wasn't that hard to switch the car off.

Don't forget this guy had enough time to call two different people both of them told him to put it into neutral, turn the ignition off and hit the brakes. What your describing comparing a car doing a burnout with the throttle at 100% and a car cruising at 100kmh is so completely different I don't even know why your bother! Drive on the freeway at 100kmh, hold your throttle at exactly the right revs to maintain 100kmh... then with your left foot hit the brakes as hard as you can then tell me this isn't a hoax

P.s. if you can show me a factory 2002 Ford Explorer with electronically contolled brakes I'll hand you $100 right now.

[mrbaxr6t]

Originally Posted by djjase

Hardly, Ford USA has been hiding issues about cruise control for years. Some guy over there proved by shorting out a fuse it would do exactly what this car did.

This has happen in the UK, the US and now one in Aust that we know of. Just because some guy can't drive like all the professional drivers in this forum doesn't make him a moron.

My XA 351 with no cruise control suffered a stuck pedal because the return spring failed - try stopping a worked 351 already going fast with the accelerator flat - all 4 ventures fully opened up - the only thing that saved us that day was turning the car off and sticking it in neutral.

A lot of these new cars with all their electronics is just asking for something to go wrong.

By the way if u did your research those incidents in the UK and USA Ford never found any faults with the car too - imagine what the cost would be if Ford had to recall all their cars from 1985 due to faulty cruise control - a lot more than just paying out the odd ones here and there.

For those who think this was a hoax I hope it never happens to you

you had better hope that wasn't aimed at me I stopped the car through the use of common sense come on man car no stop so take away drive to rear axles LOGIC gives one the solution - being a professional driver has zero to do with it - if he is unable to stop a vehicle that is accelerating he shouldnt be driving

AND what you said about your XA - off conquers all off equals no spark equals no torque equals no go equals slow down? every ignition switch I have seen by design will not allow engine to work in off position even if the switch is ruined/faulty

[ZC001]

It was a stuck throttle and nothing to do with the cruise control at all.

[djjase]

Originally Posted by xdc351

Can you name one of those cars that wouldn't allow neutral selection while being driven? Particularly one built after 1976?

My old XF had its throttle sieze open at full throttle from a faulty throttle cable bracket... wasn't that hard to switch the car off.

Don't forget this guy had enough time to call two different people both of them told him to put it into neutral, turn the ignition off and hit the brakes. What your describing comparing a car doing a burnout with the throttle at 100% and a car cruising at 100kmh is so completely different I don't even know why your bother! Drive on the freeway at 100kmh, hold your throttle at exactly the right revs to maintain 100kmh... then with your left foot hit the brakes as hard as you can then tell me this isn't a hoax

P.s. if you can show me a Ford Explorer with electronically contolled brakes I'll hand you $100 right now.

What is ABS? I remember owning a EB with ABS, you slammed the brakes once and then the pedal went to the floor, lucky I knew to pump it to get the pressure back but most people who have driven a ABS car for the first time doesn't know the way they work

removed comment

Your test is a bit flawed - you would have to increase the revs and hold it at a set 2500 while pushing the brakes.

Yes I agree he had plenty of time and all the pros would know what to do but he was stressing out thinking he was going to die - so he panicked and couldnt do the thinks the pro would have done without even thinking twice

[Full Noise]

Originally Posted by djjase

Hello most of today's cars are electronics - go and do a course - brakes, steering, gearboxes - all controlled by computers, fuses, wiring, chips.

Oh stop it, you’re embarrassing yourself. :hihi:

Originally Posted by djjase

- what does it matter - you don't know the bloke driving the car, you don't know Ford, you don't know unless u do some researching

Originally Posted by djjase

- well thats good for you what do u drive so I can keep an eye out on the news.

I’m thinking about buying a Ford Explorer actually. I think that there’s one that will be going cheap down here soon. That way I will get more than 10 seconds on ACA when this 'problem' happens again. :

[djjase]

Originally Posted by mrbaxr6t

you had better hope that wasn't aimed at me I stopped the car through the use of common sense come on man car no stop so take away drive to rear axles LOGIC gives one the solution - being a professional driver has zero to do with it - if he is unable to stop a vehicle that is accelerating he shouldnt be driving

AND what you said about your XA - off conquers all off equals no spark equals no torque equals no go equals slow down? every ignition switch I have seen by design will not allow engine to work in off position even if the switch is ruined/faulty

Not having a go at anyone on here - don't take it personally.

U answered it right there - a lot of people shouldn't be driving as most people don't know how to drive.

I for one beleive that defensive driving should be made standard for anyone wanting to a get a license.

I have seen so many young and old think they know how to drive but can't handle a car in the wet, they dont know how to drive to the conditions. I had one guy go flying past me in the rain, hit a big puddle of water and went sideways into a pole - go figure

[Rangas GTP]

Hellooow Mr Weir, Is That Really You???????

[mrbaxr6t]

Originally Posted by djjase

What is ABS? I remember owning a EB with ABS, you slammed the brakes once and then the pedal went to the floor, lucky I knew to pump it to get the pressure back but most people who have driven a ABS car for the first time doesn't know the way they work

Your test is a bit flawed - you would have to increase the revs and hold it at a set 2500 while pushing the brakes.

Yes I agree he had plenty of time and all the pros would know what to do but he was stressing out thinking he was going to die - so he panicked and couldnt do the thinks the pro would have done without even thinking twice

er if the throttle is jammed on hit neutral and brake and yes xfs had power steering accross the range as standard and aircon but no abs and no cruise.

its simple if one applies logic to it brake and hit neutral (revs will remain spinning powersteer etc its JAMMED) and when car stops turn the key to off - the fact the car in question has electrical driver aids is irrelevant

and on the ABS you are embarrassing yourself there the pedal sinks and brakes applied as normal, if you mash pedal to floor the pedal sinks further and abs engages stopping vehicle when you get off brakes if you dont mash the anchor pedal again it will brake what is this pressure crap of which you speak? I took my AU out after I read your statement now and deliberately braked hard didnt stop then got off brakes and almost straight back on only not as hard - they worked normally :

[djjase]

Originally Posted by ZC001

It was a stuck throttle and nothing to do with the cruise control at all.

Thats right, the guy in the US did the test with the car in park, short a fuse and the car reved up as though the throttle had stuck.

Thus showing even in park Fords do this - actually he stated this to be an issue with all modern cars due to increasing amount of electronics that isn't designed for the tolerances an engine bay throws at them - heat, etc

I had a Daewo that use to do it - when it first started it use to rev very high - they use to call it electronic choke - remember when they use to get stuck open and never closed - only old school people prob would remember those days

[Gaz]

Originally Posted by djjase

What is ABS? I remember owning a EB with ABS, you slammed the brakes once and then the pedal went to the floor, lucky I knew to pump it to get the pressure back but most people who have driven a ABS car for the first time doesn't know the way they work

Do you know how ABS works?

The pedal drops yes, but still works. I've used ABS many times from people running stop signs etc no pumping required to pull the car up.

[djjase]

Originally Posted by mrbaxr6t

er if the throttle is jammed on hit neutral and brake and yes xfs had power steering accross the range as standard and aircon but no abs and no cruise

Actually Power Steering was option on most XF, standard in the Ghia and prob the Fairmonts, which were also the only models to have 4 wheel discs
as was Air Con

[Full Noise]

Originally Posted by tommyd

This is the first step in the truth being revealed - this fella was and is talking bull$hit.

Here’s my take on it

Metrosexual buys an Explorer, why?

Cruise control gets stuck on around the Burke Road exit on the Eastern Freeway. This is one of the longest uninterrupted stretches of freeway in Melbourne and without a doubt, the only place you could maintain 100 kph for 54 kilometres this close to the city without killing anyone at this time of day.

Panicking and ringing a Ford dealer to discuss the problem.

Failing to disengage ‘drive’ by pushing the shifter into neutral.

Failing to turn the ignition off by turning the key.

Ringing 000 and ‘panicking’ knowing full well there’s umpteen dozen live surveillance cameras capturing every ‘terrifying’ second.

Suddenly being able to stop the ‘runaway’ vehicle at the end of the freeway knowing that there would most likely be a camera crew there waiting for him, which there was. There was also a reporter from 3AW getting the audio as he was being assisted out of the vehicle by the paramedics. Funny that.

Then came the media appearances…
Nine news.
Seven news.
Ten news.
SBS news.
ABC news.
The 7:30 project.
Radio 3AW, again.
CNN, that’s right. This story even made CNN.
The BBC
A current affair, twice?

He certainly got his fifteen minutes of fame, didn’t he.

[mrbaxr6t]

Originally Posted by djjase

Lets see AU - EB umm do some research and you would find out some of the issues Ford had with ABS when they first came out. By AU a lot of the issues were resolved.

So I better go jump in the XF ute slam the brakes on and off - what does that prove? I have bigger brakes then u - come on wake up

you just dont give up do you - my father has an eb xr8 sprint you want me to go brake test that in the same way to see if it behaves the way I say or the way you say? because you say the word and I will go and do it just to show how silly your statement about having to "pump" pedal to bring pressure back - pumping pedal in abs vehicle confuses the abs system and works against it. Can you not see everybody attacking your credibility here :

[mrbaxr6t]

Originally Posted by djjase

Mate u have no idea how old I am - your prob some 60 yo bloke who thinks he knows it all, life treated you bad and u deserve to be a know it all

far out man what has someones' age have to do with anything?

And besides I for one (through my own experiences) believe things you are stating as fact to be wrong, so I am telling you with real world examples that you are wrong to try and educate you but you don't listen..

On the subject of an XF ute - I have one of those too with a freshly rebuilt 6 cylinder - does that make me awesome too?

[djjase]

Originally Posted by mrbaxr6t

you just dont give up do you - my father has an eb xr8 sprint you want me to go brake test that in the same way to see if it behaves the way I say or the way you say? because you say the word and I will go and do it just to show how silly your statement about having to "pump" pedal to bring pressure back - pumping pedal in abs vehicle confuses the abs system and works against it. Can you not see everybody attacking your credibility here :

I am quoting on a situation that happened to me in an EB with ABS and the only way to get brakes working was to pump the pedal.

I am no ABS brake specialist I am sure that there are lots who think they are on here.

That is the point - everyone attacks peoples credibility based on their own self pride of them knowing better and can't accept that someone else might have experienced something that they haven't

This is the same for this topic - everyone on here is a know it all and defines based on it never has happend to them then it can't happen to someone else.

[blueluvr]

Djjase, please tell me something here as you seem to have the answers no one else can figure out.

Just how does the ignition switch AND the gear lever (both mechanical devices mind you) get physically locked out in this great freeway mystery? oh, and I almost forgot, makes itself better again right after the "event"

I don't want to hear some "oh it happens because modern cars are full of electrics" but a solid explanation how it is even possible this can happen to BOTH a mechanically operated switch, AND a mechanically operated gear lever. I put it to you now, that it is NOT possible for this to occur.

No one is arguing that the cuise control may have failed to turn off, or that possibly the throttle stuck on, nobody is arguing that point and that isn't my question.

I think 99.9% of the population, including those who know nothing about cars, can see that this particular incident is nothing more than a guy who had a problem in his car and basically pooped his pants. Fine, nothing wrong with being a little scared now and again, but why BS about it after the event. All credibility he might have had was lost when we heard him screaming like a 6 year old girl on a roller coaster. Those screams showed he was NOT in control of his senses, and emotion was running the show.

What scares me is the thought of what would happen if he had a REAL emergency........

[djjase]

Originally Posted by blueluvr

Djjase, please tell me something here as you seem to have the answers no one else can figure out.

Just how does the ignition switch AND the gear lever (both mechanical devices mind you) get physically locked out in this great freeway mystery? oh, and I almost forgot, makes itself better again right after the "event"

I don't want to hear some "oh it happens because modern cars are full of electrics" but a solid explanation how it is even possible this can happen to BOTH a mechanically operated switch, AND a mechanically operated gear lever. I put it to you now, that it is NOT possible for this to occur.

No one is arguing that the cuise control failed to turn off, or that possibly the throttle stuck on, nobody is arguing that point and that isn't my question.

I think 99.9% of the population, including those who know nothing about cars, can see that this particular incident is nothing more than a guy who had a problem in his car and basically pooped his pants. Fine, nothing wrong with being a little scared now and again, but why BS about it after the event. All credibility he might have had was lost when we heard him screaming like a 6 year old girl on a roller coaster. Those screams showed he was NOT in control of his senses, and emotion was running the show.

What scares me is the thought of what would happen if he had a REAL emergency........

I have not once stated that turning off the keys or putting it in netural wasn't possible.

I said that I have driven a car - not a Ford Explorer - that didn't go into netural.

A lot of new cars, take those Toyota Prius Elec cars, they won't go from park to drive unless the brake pedal is pushed in, so maybe these don't allow you.

Like I said someone who has an Explorer can only answer that. My BA2 Turbo was a 6 speed manual and it always went into netural

I am not debating that they could have or might not have - I wasn't in that situation, nor anyone on this forum.

All I was stating that a guy in the US has proven that due to electrical issues those cars do throttle as though cruise control is stuck on.

My XA the key use to come out when you were driving, it wouldn't pass pink slip because of that.

All I was stating was facts from someone who has been looking into these types of issues that Ford has been having in the UK and the USA.

[SVD]

Originally Posted by djjase

I have not once stated that turning off the keys or putting it in netural wasn't possible.

I said that I have driven a car - not a Ford Explorer - that didn't go into netural.

A lot of new cars, take those Toyota Prius Elec cars, they won't go from park to drive unless the brake pedal is pushed in, so maybe these don't allow you.

Like I said someone who has an Explorer can only answer that. My BX2 Turbo was a 6 speed manual and it always went into netural

I am not debating that they could have or might not have - I wasn't in that situation, nor anyone on this forum.

All I was stating that a guy in the US has proven that due to electrical issues those cars do throttle as though cruise control is stuck on.

My XA the key use to come out when you were driving, it wouldn't pass pink slip because of that.

All I was stating was facts from someone who has been looking into these types of issues that Ford has been having in the UK and the USA.

thats an age issue... my pulsar does that, original key+20 years=aged... same as all things do, they age and if they aren't looked after/replaced when time comes they fail... most likely like the exploder... i have no doubt there was an issue with the exploder, but it was most likely caused by the owner/driver.

Im sure there's more to the story i.e something he did that he shouldn't have or vice versa that has caused these issues: could have been the aftermarket stereo or the alarm etc...

as to the underlined point if that was the case, im sure he could have slammed on the 'failed' brakes (that happened to magically work again later) and put it in park, or is he just that thick.

[JC]

The issue at hand here is about an Explorer. Not any other car, so even if a Prius does things differently, it has no relevance to an Explorer.

[djjase]

Originally Posted by SVD

thats an age issue... my pulsar does that, original key+20 years=aged... same as all things do, they age and if they aren't looked after/replaced when time comes they fail... most likely like the exploder... i have no doubt there was an issue with the exploder, but it was most likely caused by the owner/driver.

Im sure there's more to the story i.e something he did that he shouldn't have or vice versa that has caused these issues: could have been the aftermarket stereo or the alarm etc...

as to the underlined point if that was the case, im sure he could have slammed on the 'failed' brakes (that happened to magically work again later) and put it in park, or is he just that thick.

Exactly, surely there are probably a thousand other things that may or may not have happened - at the end of the day who are we to sit here and judge

Everyone's comments are based on what they think they would do - not until one faces the same situation should then one state so rational that this is a joke or that this guy is thick - I am sure professional car drivers make mistakes quite regularly - I worked for Fujitsu, one of the sponsors of the V8 Supercar series - I know after seeing these guys on practice days they make lots of mistakes - due to wanting to try something different, push the car this way or that way - they too can loose control of a car very easily

Eveyone seems to forget that we are human and that we all make mistakes - there is not one person on this forum who hasn't made a mistake, especially if its a life threatening situation

[JC]

Originally Posted by brodfloyd

The solution to the reporting of this is easy.
Someone on AFF has to own the same model car as this nitwit.

Get a mate with a good video camera and film the following things.
(In a safe environment)

A) car at 100kmph in cruise. Turn of the ignition and bring car to a halt. (kinda risky, steeringlock, brake booster wont work, but as i said do it somewhere safe)

B) car at 100kmph in cruise, knock it out of drive into neutral.

C) car at 100kmph in cruise, to simulate the cruise not disengaging, press on the brakes whilst also pressing the accelerator (as the braking force should be more powerful than the engine bring the car to a stop.

D) car at 100kmph in cruise, reach under the steering wheel and pull out fuzes until the car stops.

Then, edit it together nicely, make sure to point out that the Cruise, ignition, gear selector and brakes are all seperate unrelated systems in the car and it is impossible for them all to fail at the same time. highlight that the cops couldnt find anything wrong with the car. Upload it to youtube. use the combined resources of all AFF members post and link it everywhere making the thing go viral.

Send it to media outlets. boom, problem solvered.

After working through 3 pages of crap (that would be drivel, not dribble, but both fit) spawned by djjase, I had to go back to pg 3 to quote something useful!

Apart from the videoing, I did this in my recently traded 2004 Ford explorer (essentially the same as a 2002 Explorer, kind of like how a BA abd BA2 are similar, ie nearly the same). Cruise turns off when:
1. You put the gear selector in N (using the button on the side helps, but is not necessary as the detente in the shifter mechanism will allow a firm push to get it into N from D)
2. You drop 15km/h in speed (ie going up a steepish hill towing a 1.6 tonne boat - the hill on the Hume at Pheasant's Nest is enough to make this happen)
3. You turn the key to the Acc or Off position
4. You hit the brake
5. You hit the Cruise "Off" button

And one more:
6. Apparently at the end of a 54kmh "Chase" you pull the handbrake up while applying the foot brake with all the female energy you can muster.

For those wondering about fuses in the Explorer - they are not accessible from the drivers seated position. The fuses reside in the engine bay, with a further set above the accelerator with access under the dash (you have to lie on the floor to get to them).

I said at the time this happened that the "guy" was an idiot, and nothing I have heard, read or seen since has changed that. He wanted 15mins of fame and got it; I hope he loses his car, house and job for it and is jailed for being a public nuisance!

[blueluvr]

Originally Posted by djjase

Hardly, Ford USA has been hiding issues about cruise control for years. Some guy over there proved by shorting out a fuse it would do exactly what this car did.

This has happen in the UK, the US and now one in Aust that we know of. Just because some guy can't drive like all the professional drivers in this forum doesn't make him a moron.

For those who think this was a hoax I hope it never happens to you

Just to jog your memory, this was your first post in this thread, hope you don't mind I edited all the drivel, for the purpose of this thread ;)

Originally Posted by djjase

I have not once stated that turning off the keys or putting it in netural wasn't possible.

No, but you stated that "EXACTLY" the same thing has happened to a guy over in the US simply by shorting a fuse.
Our mate claimed he couldn't do either a key turn off, or a gear lever into neutral, because they were "locked out" Now for it to be the exact same situation as has happened twice now like you claimed, both of those cars would have had their ignitions and gear levers locked out too....no?

I asked you how it could possibly cause "exactly the same" situation that occured to our friend on the freeway. I already knew the answer....it can't.

BTW, I bet I can make my car do crazy stuff too if I start crossing wires over, and cross connecting fuses, but that in itself does not make it faulty.

And I bet if I undo that fuel hose over there and connect this coil wire to the open end of it, it will probably burn the car down!!!! OMG! how bad is that, they should recall every car ever made to ensure this can't happen again! ;)

[Full Noise]

Originally Posted by xdc351

Most importantly this "Chase Weir" is trying to cause major damage to the bule oval and i'll be damned if i sit back and let his lies go unchallenged.

Well said.

The media are falling for this BS hook, line and sinker.