Engine surge when braking

[joatmon]

I remember seeing some people having problems with engine speed racing when stopping, or at a stop light. There were some complaints filed in the NHTSA database about the problem in these cars, and I didn't pay much attention to them until the problem happened to me yesterday. I was coming up on a red light, and as I was braking, almost at a complete stop, the engine speed raced to over 4000 RPMs. Since I have a manual tranny and had the clutch pedal in, at least it didn't accelerate me into the car in front of me (like some of the NHTSA complaints did) My first thought was something like oh crap, what has gone wrong with my car?So anyway, it turns out that I was being lazy, and my right foot was pressing on both the brake and the accelerator pedal at the same time, and the car was doing exactly what I told it to do. I don't think of it as a design problem with the car, probably wouldn't have happened if I was being more alert and also if my feet were smaller. In my own defense I can also blame it in part on a new pair of shoes, which were wider up by the toes than the pair I was used to Has anyone else here ever done this?

[Jahntassa]

Not exactly like that, but i've either slammed on the brake when trying to speed up quickly, or..well, yeah, probably exactly like that. But it wasn't stopping at an intersection, it was while moving.The scariest thing was when my clutch was still destroying itself, and the thing almost redlined while it was on cruise control.

[kostby]

See: CBS 60 Minutes re: Audi - Unintended Acceleration, circa November 1986."Learn how to destroy the reputation of a respected automobile in far less that 60 minutes!"Link to full story of the 60-minutes doctored Audi 5000 -->http://autos.canada.com/nation...8E814

[ToolGuy]

Quote, originally posted by kostby »See: CBS 60 Minutes re: Audi - Unintended Acceleration, circa November 1986."Learn how to destroy the reputation of a respected automobile in far less that 60 minutes!"Link to full story of the 60-minutes doctored Audi 5000 -->http://autos.canada.com/nation...8E814Dear god do not go there! Keep that in the closet where it belongs!

[ragingfish]

Wow, I never realized Audi developed what is now a standard with the brake-shift interlock...But back OT, I have found myself, on occasion, inadvertently hitting the accelerator and the brake at the same time...It does seem, to me, the pedals are too close together...

[Mase]

Don't think of it as a bad thing that the pedals are too close. Think of it as "conveniently positioned to utilize the heel-to-toe technique" .I've accidentally revved the engine while coming to a stop once or twice. But only when wearing by big steel-toed work boots. One time I pressed the clutch in to slow down, but when I stepped on the brake I inadvertantly pinned my steel toe'd clutch foot under the pedal. I panicked because I didn't feel the pedal on my boot and I thought the brakes were stuck and I wasn't slowing!

[kostby]

With my size 12's it's easy to hit both gas and accelerator in almost ANY car...[EDIT: Oops, hit send too quickly!]SO, I usually use the 'manual transmission' technique of RIGHT FOOT BRAKING.

[micheles_bad_vibe]

1

[ragingfish]

Quote, originally posted by micheles_bad_vibe »do people use cruise control often? and is it better for the car? It's purely a convenience feature.It isn't necessarily "better" for the car, might improve your mileage because your speeds are more consistent...I use mine relatively often...

[futseal04]

Quote, originally posted by micheles_bad_vibe »do people use cruise control often? and is it better for the car? I use mine all the time.....keeps me from going to fast and attracting the attention of the wrong type of people. As for better/worse....well.....it helps you get better gas mileage, but that is about it.

[ColonelPanic]

Quote, originally posted by futseal04 »I use mine all the time.....Me too... If I'm out on a flat, reasonably straight road with a 55 MPH speed limit or more, you betcha that cruise is going to be on. Just kicking back and leaving the cruise set at the speed limit, not in a hurry to get anywhere bumps the MPG's up one or two for me at least...

[micheles_bad_vibe]

1

[ColonelPanic]

If you use the cruise and take it easy on the car, it makes so much of a difference!

[rAERRK]

Quote, originally posted by joatmon »So anyway, it turns out that I was being lazy, and my right foot was pressing on both the brake and the accelerator pedal at the same time, and the car was doing exactly what I told it to do. I don't think of it as a design problem with the car, probably wouldn't have happened if I was being more alert and also if my feet were smaller. In my own defense I can also blame it in part on a new pair of shoes, which were wider up by the toes than the pair I was used to Has anyone else here ever done this?Quote, originally posted by Jahntassa »Not exactly like that, but i've either slammed on the brake when trying to speed up quickly, or..well, yeah, probably exactly like that. But it wasn't stopping at an intersection, it was while moving.These are the kinda things that suck about having big feet and driving manual. I havent done anything like that though

[tecton]

its cause the pedals on this car is small and your hitting the gas and the break at the same time

[joatmon]

Quote, originally posted by kostby »SO, I usually use the 'manual transmission' technique of RIGHT FOOT BRAKING.You mean people use their right foot for accelerator and left foot for brake? I never do that, automatic or manual, just can't imagine doing that. I'll have to try it sometime, but it just sounds weird. When I'm in an automatic, the left foot does nothing (except in old cars where the high beam switch was a left foot activated button, and an old Opel I drove once that had a left foot activated windshield wiper thing)I never thought about it before, I've seen people cruising down the highway with their brake lights on all the time, I guess they were left foot brakers.

[Jahntassa]

Oy...it's extremely dangerous to be a 'Left foot braker'. They'd fail you in a heartbeat if you did that on your driving test.. My Grandmother would drive like that, and would drive me nuts.. I'm pretty sure she wore through brake pads like you wouldn't believe.. And honestly? I don't know how people do it! I tried it once or twice, and couldn't stop without mashing both pedals at once!

[DaddyVibeMI]

Same down here, my wife is left foot braker! I don't know how she do it! I try once and just can't do it. I have no idea why to use left foot for brake. I guess that we are just different.

[kostby]

Now a Vibe "SUV" will probably be accused of 'unintended acceleration' after this unfortunate accident!Quote »Woman critical after wreckShe was struck in lot outside Kroger at Liberty Fair MallA white Pontiac Vibe is shown resting against other vehicles on Tuesday in the Kroger parking lot at Liberty Fair Mall. A Martinsville woman was struck by the Vibe before it hit the other cars. (Contributed photo)Wednesday, February 6, 2008By DEBBIE HALL AND AMANDA BUCK - Bulletin Staff WritersA Martinsville woman was hospitalized in critical condition Tuesday night after she was hit by an SUV in the parking lot of a Martinsville grocery store....The Joneses were walking toward Kroger from a parking space near the front of the lot when they saw Via leaving the store, Jones said.Via, who was pushing a cart, threw her hand up, Jones said. According to the release, Via was signaling to the driver of the SUV to continue backing up.At first, the SUV “was backing out real slow and easy,” Jones said.Then, “all of a sudden, (it allegedly) started flying in reverse. It hit her cart, then it hit her ... I never heard such a ‘thump,’” Jones said.The SUV continued traveling in reverse and allegedly “rolled over her ... I heard one ‘thump’ and then another ‘thump’” as the SUV’s front and back wheels rolled over Via where she lay on the pavement in front of the grocery store, Jones said.Still moving in reverse, the SUV went down another row of cars, where it allegedly ran over one car and ended up on top of another, Jones said.When the SUV stopped on top of a Pontiac Sunfire, “I heard ‘varoom, varoom’” as the engine revved, she said....According to the news release, the SUV allegedly “ran over Via and continued on at a high rate of speed and coming to a stop after striking a red 2005 Chevy Silverado pickup, a plum 1995 Pontiac Sunfire and a black 2005 Pontiac G6.”...The accident was captured on video surveillance, Rogers said. Lt. Mark Gilbert is leading the city’s investigation.Link to full article --> http://www.martinsvillebulleti...12522

[Sublimewind]

HOLY CRAP...!! I've never had a problem, but we need to keep close eyes on this.. I wonder if there will be a follow up story..

[VforVIBE]

Quote, originally posted by kostby »With my size 12's it's easy to hit both gas and accelerator in almost ANY car...And this is why I drive bare foot. Quote, originally posted by Jahntassa »Oy...it's extremely dangerous to be a 'Left foot braker'. They'd fail you in a heartbeat if you did that on your driving test.. And then they'd give you a ticketQuote »Carnell B. Waller, 66, of 213 Massey St., Martinsville, was charged with reckless driving on private property in connection with the incident, the news release saidI wonder how fast you have to be going to run over a vehicle. Not to mention, why was the Vibe not put into neutral, or the emergency break not applied? The driver is 100% responsible.

[Mavrik]

Quote, originally posted by kostby »Now a Vibe "SUV" will probably be accused of 'unintended acceleration' after this unfortunate accident!Link to full article --> http://www.martinsvillebulleti...12522Bet you $10 that the driver hit the gas instead of the brakes when backing up.

[NibCrom]

Quote, originally posted by Mavrik »Bet you $10 that the driver hit the gas instead of the brakes when backing up.I bet that is what happened also. It's not the first time I've heard of an older person getting into an accident because they hit the gas instead of the brake.

[vibebob]

I drive barefoot because it allows me to feel the pedals and I know which one I'm on. it is also much more comfortablebtw, it isn't illegal to drive barefoot in most states

[Sublimewind]

Quote, originally posted by vibebob »I drive barefoot because it allows me to feel the pedals and I know which one I'm on. it is also much more comfortablebtw, it isn't illegal to drive barefoot in most statesI'd love to drive bare... BUT, it's 20 degrees out right now.... darn southerners and your "heat".....

[ToolGuy]

(removed)!!!! 99.9% of this is driver error!

[zionzr2]

Quote, originally posted by ToolGuy »(removed)!!!! 99.9% of this is driver error! The other .1% is the fact they are calling a Vibe an SUV.The VIBE is NOT an SUV. Wagon maybe, but not a SUV.

[NewNeptune]

Quote, originally posted by kostby »With my size 12's it's easy to hit both gas and accelerator in almost ANY car...You should try driving with size 18 4E shoes. I would love to have the "problem" of size 12s.

[lfh]

I have an automatic 2005 Vibe and have just experienced this problem again as I entered my garage this AM. In the 3+ years that I have owned the car I have experienced this problem 4 times, twice on the road as I braked for a Stop sign and twice as I applied the brake while coming to a stop inside my garage. In all cases I immediately put the car in Park to avoid going forward. I am a right footed braker and I too had been thinking that the problem was with my foot overlapping both the brake and gas pedal when applying the brake since I wear a wide shoe/sneaker. But now I am beginning to wonder if the problem lies elsewhere. Since the last incident about 7 months ago, I have been very careful in applying the brake but still I experienced the problem again this AM. I wonder how many others are experiencing this intermittent problem thinking that it is their "big foot" causing the problem. I also wonder if the problem is confined to 2005 or earlier Vibe models.

[joatmon]

Some automatic tranny Vibe owners have mentioend some RPM increase when braking, but in general it has been modest, hasn't seemed to be a real issue. Do you know if your 05 Vibe has a cable or electronic throttle? When the RPMs surge on braking, how high do the RPMs get?

[lfh]

I believe that my Vibe has a cable throttle. Since the RPM surge on braking has only occurred 4 times in 3+ years & comes on so suddenly, I haven't really focused on how high the RPMs were. I was more concerned about bringing the vehicle to a safe and complete stop.In 2 weeks I'll be taking my VIBE in for its annual state inspection, and I'll ask my mechanic to check out the car thoroughly for any obvious throttle system problems.