cruise control problem

[fcatwo]

I've never had my cruise fail to dis-engage but I have had the opportunity to stop a pickup/5th wheel trailer combination when the trailer brakes failed. I can assure you that motor-vehicle brakes are not up to safely stopping more forward force than they are designed for. I also know someone who had his cruise fail to dis-engage when he was entering an interstate off ramp and he said the only thing that prevented an accident was that there was no one around for him to run into. He had plenty of room to get it under control before going home to change clothes.

I did blow the brains of the cruise on a stick-shift pickup by pushing in the clutch without first disengaging cruise but all it cost me was a trip to the dealer for a warranty replacement.

 

[GoFaster]

I'm thinking a lot of people have not thought about how to deal with abnormal or emergency situations and never think about how to, for example, disengage power from the wheels, whether it's because of a stuck accelerator or failed brake pedal cutoff switch for cruise control ...

On a manual, all you need to do is jab the clutch pedal. On an automatic, all you need to do is bump the shift lever one position forward (to "neutral"). No more power to the wheels in either case. In both cases, at least for most cars, the electronics CANNOT be blamed because both situations are through completely mechanical/hydraulic mechanisms. What happens to the engine in these cases after you've done something like that is irrelevant.

How many people have thought about how to stop, or at least slow down, their vehicle without using the service brakes (brake pedal) at all? (Hint, downshifting plus judicious use of the hand brake ...)

The explanation of tensed-up legs makes sense for why it resulted in a broken femur and back injuries.

 

[mrchaotica]

HOLY CRAP that is one heckuva hit. There is some deformation to the passenger side (look at picture number 5)...

The thing that impressed me was the buckling in the roof in picture number 8 (the last one).

 

[SBAtdijetta]

The thing that impressed me was the buckling in the roof in picture number 8 (the last one).

I was thinking it was possibly due to rolling (if they did), but that makes more sense, if they did not.

 

[09tdi-nomore]

no we did not flip the buckling was most likely caused by the angle that we hit

 

[TDI 4 RD]

First off -- I'm very sorry for your passenger's injuries and for the loss of your car. I hope she gets better soon, and you get a good insurance settlement.

The first thought that popped into my head was that, perhaps, you were unfamiliar with the working of the VW cruise control stalk? Is there any chance you may have tried to shut the cruise control off by flipping the stalk up? I know that switching between our two cars, I sometimes get confused about how to set and turn off the cruise control. (Flipping the stalk up would explain the sudden acceleration, although not if you did, in fact, tap the brakes.) This is pretty scary, regardless.

Does anyone know whether the computers in our cars have a "black box" function, that could explain what was happening with the engine, brakes, etc. immediately before the accident? Is there any way to tell now whether the cruise control was misfunctioning? Perhaps a VAG-COM scan would still work? (provided you're car still has power).

 

[09tdi-nomore]

First off -- I'm very sorry for your passenger's injuries and for the loss of your car. I hope she gets better soon, and you get a good insurance settlement.

The first thought that popped into my head was that, perhaps, you were unfamiliar with the working of the VW cruise control stalk? Is there any chance you may have tried to shut the cruise control off by flipping the stalk up? I know that switching between our two cars, I sometimes get confused about how to set and turn off the cruise control. (Flipping the stalk up would explain the sudden acceleration, although not if you did, in fact, tap the brakes.) This is pretty scary, regardless.

Does anyone know whether the computers in our cars have a "black box" function, that could explain what was happening with the engine, brakes, etc. immediately before the accident? Is there any way to tell now whether the cruise control was misfunctioning? Perhaps a VAG-COM scan would still work? (provided you're car still has power).

i didnt try to turn it off at the stalk i just tried the brakes i know how to turn it off at the stalk but not familar enough to react quick enough in that situation

i actually wondered about the black box thing also i just hope that it isnt in the front of the car cause by the looks of it it would be f-ed up

 

[velociT]

Does anyone know whether the computers in our cars have a "black box" function, that could explain what was happening with the engine, brakes, etc. immediately before the accident? Is there any way to tell now whether the cruise control was misfunctioning?

Yes, there is a black box in your car. You can get the info pulled and used for legal proceedings. It records everything from throttle position, brakes, cruise, if you were wearing your seatbelt, etc.