Docs: Toyota Surges Related to Electronics (as early as 2005)

[Omaha Steve]

Source: CBS

snip: Congress already has thousands of pages of Toyota documents to sift through, but CBS News obtained one internal document that could be devastating to Toyota's claims that electronics aren't at issue.

CBS News has learned that as early as 2005 Toyota engineers were redesigning software in response to complaints of cars surging unexpectedly, reports CBS News Correspondent Sharyl Attkisson.

That could be crucial because publicly Toyota has insisted for six years - through eight federal investigations - that electronics are not to blame when its cars surge, sometimes out of control.

snip: The internal document obtained by CBS News appears to contradict Toyota's claims. Dating back five years, it tracks Toyota's "monthly progress" in addressing "Surging back and forth sensation at constant throttle" in 2006 Lexus hybrids like the RX400h model. Toyota engineer Masahiro Ikeda notes surging "between 39-44 miles per hour" and "at 70 mph." The "fix"? Redesigning software for the car's Electronic Control Unit or ECU. "Software planned for first week in August," the internal document says.

Read more: http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2010/02/22/cbsnews_investigates/main6232884.shtml?tag=mncol;lst;2

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Mods: This is not the same electronics story posted earlier today in LBN. This is a document uncovered story.

[HysteryDiagnosis]

1. What Toyota doesn't have... what Caterpillar doesn't have, nor

Nissan, Chevrolet, Ford, Deere, Case, Volvo, Mac, Peterbilt, Saturn, Massey Ferguson or any other... is a USB port on their ECMs. Minus this handy little addition... PEOPLE MUST carry their units in to the dealer OR have a tech make an expensive service call to "see what's up" with that.

With a USB port and a handy button to send a file to a memory stick... a person could EMAIL their car's software and hardware status to the good hands people.

Another point is that IF there were a software fix to be made... the dealer could email the file to the owner, he/she could put it on the memstick... and it could be downloaded to the vehicle with the push of a button. Simple yes, will you see it?? NEVER.

[TheMadMonk]

3. USB or similar to DL "black box" information = good idea.

Firmware updates = Bloody nightmare.

The number of ways such a "feature" could be used and abused is enormous.

[HysteryDiagnosis]

8. Oh yeah.... terrible idea...here are a few terrible ideas.

[4lbs]

5. Right, that's a good idea... not.

Just wait until someone phishes and hacks and sends out emails of firmware updates laden with trojan horses and viruses for customers to update their cars with.

You think there were a high number of crashes already? Just wait until that happens.

The trojan horses and viruses would then shut down cars as they are running, and you'd lose total control of the vehicle, while it's going 60 mph on the freeway.


Good idea!

There's a reason these electronics can only be updated at a physical authorized service center.

[HysteryDiagnosis]

7. The updates I do will only be taken if they are legitimate. You have

little appreciation for what encryption and access levels can do... or prevent.

[4lbs]

10. Considering the number of people that annually infect their computers by clicking on emails they

think are legitimate, encryption and access levels aren't likely to help.

I should know. Half my residential calls are from customers that have somehow infected their computers.

Cell phones are now being infected as well, from apps people download.

Don't think it won't be rampant on car computers if you allow people to update them via a firmware update sent in email. How many people actually check to see that email came from where it said it came?

"Well, gee, it looked like an authentic email from General Motors. My car accepted the firmware update and everything!"

Phishing and identity theft are prevalent because they work.

[HysteryDiagnosis]

11. I see then.... it cannot work. Fair enough. THEN they should make

it possible for GM and all the rest to login to the vehicle via a rj45 jack. Most people have a rj45 jack in their homes... hell, Cat, Deere and Volvo can download vehicle data wirelessly... yes anywhere in the world, it only takes a little effort to extend this service to the onstar system or the system du jour.

[dipsydoodle]

9. If that was a likely event

then surely Ford would've done it to cover software problems on the Fusion. :shrug:

[ingac70]

2. assholes....

Churning out shit while paying off car magazines to give them automatic top ranking. I hope this drives them straight out of business.

[NavyMom]

6. They should change their name to Kamikaze Motors...nt

[Bozita]

4. They lie. They hire former regulators to lobby their old pals. They spout the GOP line. They kill.

Yup, Toyota really loves the good ol' USA and its freedom-loving, patriotic, right-to-work GOPers.

So, ... how do you like the floor mats? They've re-engineered them.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x4278932