UK engineers find Toyota’s unintended acceleration problems stem from EMI

By Matt Brogan | March 25th, 2010

Although Toyota has repeatedly said its unintended acceleration problems were not the fault of electronic gremlins, three UK engineers have found proof the issue does in fact stem from electromagnetic interference (EMI).

The British engineers say the faults may not have been detected by Toyota’s own testing procedures, but have found through their own research that not all of Toyota’s on-board electronics are properly protected from EMI.

“Thirty years’ empirical evidence overwhelmingly points to (sudden acceleration) being caused by electronic system faults undetectable by inspection or testing,” said UK-based engineering consultant, Mr Keith Armstrong.

Mr Armstrong and his two colleagues, Antony Anderson and Brian Kirk, will travel to the United States today where they will report their findings to National Highway Traffic Safety Administrations (NHTSA) officials.

In the United States, Toyota issued the following statement in response to the findings:

“Toyota engineers have comprehensively tested our ETCS under both normal and abnormal conditions including electromagnetic interference, and we have never found a single case of unintended acceleration due to a defect in the system.”

CarAdvice will keep you posted on any developments as they come to hand.

gman

My My My Toyota’s reputation of quality and safety is well and truley in the gutter now. Not only have they not fixed the problem but are being stubbern about it. Lets just hope for toyota’s sake that the findings are wrong, other wise it will mean that internal standards are low and there engineers are incompetent.

Lazybones

I’d hold fire just for a second mate. Usually when something like this is uncovered it has implications for every manufacturer. Sure the focus is on Toyota at the moment. But we have to wait and see if they start poking around other brands for the same problem.

gman

Very true My comments are more about the image toyota has created for its self based on safety and relibality.If this was any one else it probably wouldent matter. This is one of the problems when you base your whole marketing image on one point.

Publicity machine

Gman, your comments dont make sense. First you are saying that Toyotas reputation is in the gutter, and then you say lets hope for Toyatas sake the 3 engineers findings are incorrect. Did you ever stop and think that maybe the findings are incorrect. Gee three engineers place 100 microwaves in a car, and are able to acheive some sort of electromagnetic interference. Hardly normal conditions.

I’m a smoker and I find when i put the petrol bowser in my window, instead of the fuel tank, my car tends to run quite differently too. Sort of has undesired consequences.

JJ

well

then you gonna tell us what the difference is?

the condition of science might be abit hard for you to understand, but i can assure you, it\’s not some freaking things you just make up randomly in your mind!
gman

They make perfect sense if you have bothered to follow the whole story from day one.
Three years ago it was floor mats, then it was pedals now an indepandant mob belives it is somthing else. News flash rocket scientist There has been many complaints about effected models scince retification of the dramas.Toyota needs to be right because jobs and peoples lives are on the line if there wrong and stubbern about it.

Golfschwein

Years ago, when the Audi Unintended Acceleration matter was thrown out of US courts, it was demonstrated that the cars’ braking systems could not be overridden by engine power alone, however powerful. Brakes win every time, unless they’re unserviceable, of course.

Whilst I admit to having a wee chuckle about Totota’s woes of late, if the EMI is real and my own recollections true, could it still not be the case that these unfortunate drivers are pressing harder and harder on their cars’ accelerator pedals in their attempt to stop them?

Answers from knowledgeable types only, please…
davie

I suggest that the bast way of sorting this issue out is to drive a prius around EMI central – Artarmon, NSW, for a day and see if anything happens.

I used to live in Artarmon,smack bang between 3 huge TV transmission towers used by Ch9, the ABC and commercial radio. The towers signals are powerful enough to cover the whole of Sydney.

There was so much EMI around that my cars remote unlock key would not work unless I put the key underneath the wheel well. I saw numberous other people who had the same problem with remotes and their cars.
rentakeyboard

when Toyota decides to stop hiding the truth AGAIN this will add to the financial expense.

There are already customers in the US reporting the fix doesnt work.

Stanby for the recall of the recall
Fred

Found this at toyotaownersclub

Telstra Tower car park in Canberra

” On 1/7/2009, I took a short visit to the tower, it turned out to be a very long visit: I could not open the car, had to use the key to open it but could not start the car, only getting “Key not detected” message.”

And ” I could not lock my BMW another day (same car park) using the remote control “

Hsan

You obviously didn’t read the signs in a number of locations around the Telstra Tower car park.

Fernando

If is is true, Toyotas here in Australia could be affected as well?
2minds

How many models of massed produced cars use drive by wire? Is this a Toyota only problem or is there potential flaws in the general technology?

Frenchie

I think you will find most of the cars manufactured around the world(including Australia) use drive by wire. Maybe there is something wrong with Toyotas progaramming? At least it is not steer by wire!

Andrew M

But if they were steer by wire that would explain the poor handling traits.

Yes you are right, there are many vehicles around with drive by wire now.
You only have to ask why no other manufacturers are reporting big issues with that, surely its not coincidence only toyota vehicles are of concern

http://- mikdad

why toyota combany were not able to find the accelaration problem before they market the vehicles? i think it is an offence. so ,who should be punished? engineers or management team?
Lukaas

Considering that MOST electronic parts are from suppliers, as most of them have patents on board/wiring technology. OTHER manufacturers are potentially on the same boat.

I for one KNOW that Toyota do not make much electronic parts in-house. As I said above, if the elecronic parts are “faulty”, its not just Toyota who is affected.

Toyota do not have many moulding tools for LED diodes nor the plastic mother board etc last time I checked.

And Toyota Engineers checking EMIs? lol. Again, the suppliers are the primary “checkers”, they submit documents of test results. In some instances, for “study” purposes, an engineer can perform the check him/her self. But again its not standard practice.

Evaluation departments are also limited in terms of electronic evaluations. But if this problem is caused by “cost cutting” idea from a Toyota engineer to the supplier, in which both parties agreed, then Toyota is liable as much as the supplier… I’d hate to be that person.
Nguyen Ngoc Bich

If any EMI can affect to a vehicle to create a SUA, it can affect to other vehicles with same model when enter the EMI or at least SUA will occur again when the vehicle repeat it’s previous trip. In practical, SUA were occurred randomly with Toyota vehicles and so rarely.
Robin Graves

Blame the CIA! They are trying to probe Toyota drivers to see if they have any brainwaves via satellite and its interfering with the throttle!