Phil’s Points and Plugs
Toyota Recall Update
You may or may not own one of the many Toyota's that are being recalled, but I thought you may want a quick overview of what's happening. About 2 weeks ago, Toyota dealerships around the country received their first boxes of small metal inserts that will be used to retrofit up to 2.3 million cars. The inserts, about the size of a dime, take approximately 30 minutes to install and hopefully fix the problem of sticking gas pedals.
Here's a link to the video on Toyota's website - click here
The process is pretty straightforward, the mechanic will first determine which pedal type the car has. There were two manufacturers, one requires the metal insert and the other gets a modification to the pedal length and a computer update. The mechanic will then disconnect the wiring from the pedal and remove it from the car. He measures the distance between the spring and the bottom of the pedal housing to determine the thickness of the inserts needed. The inserts are placed and the tension is checked by hand to verify there is the correct amount of tension in the pedal. If it feels right, it is placed back in the vehicle. The next step is to connect a handheld computer to the car and check for the proper version of software running in the car. This is then updated to the newest version as needed (this process is known as "Flashing"). The pedal is double checked for tension after installation and the voltage is checked from the pedal while it is at idle position and again at full throttle position. The pedal actually has no mechanical connection to the car, the accelerator is done through electronics called "Drive by Wire".
Here's a list of the affected cars:
- 2009-2010 RAV4
- 2009-2010 Corolla
- 2009-2010 Matrix
- 2005-2010 Avalon
- 2007-2010 Camry
- 2010 Highlander
- 2008-2010 Sequoia
- 2007-2010 Tundra
- 2009-2010 Pontiac Vibe
The Pontiac Vibe is included in the list as it is built on the Toyota Matrix foundation. If you own any of these vehicles, you should be getting a letter in the mail regarding the recall or you can search the database to see if your car is affected by the recall. You may also call Toyota direct at 1-800-331-4331.
Phil