FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

About Your Warranty:

Will adding the Decelerator to my vehicle void my warranty?

No. The Magnuson-Moss Warranty - Federal Trade Commission Improvement Act of 1975 protects consumers from such fraudulent activity by new car dealers. Under this Act, aftermarket equipment that improves performance does not void a vehicle manufacturer's original warranty, unless the warranty clearly states the addition of aftermarket equipment automatically voids your vehicle's warranty or if it can be proven that the aftermarket device is the direct cause of the failure.
The easiest way to check this is to look in your owner's manual under, "what is not covered". Under Magnusson-Moss Act a dealer must prove, not just vocalize, that aftermarket equipment caused the need for repairs before they can deny warranty coverage. If they cannot prove such a claim or offer an explanation, it is your legal right to demand compliance with the warranty. The Federal Trade Commission administers the Magnusson-Moss Act and monitors compliance with warranty law. For more information call your vehicle manufacturer or go directly to the Federal Trade Commission's website to find out more about this law.

About Stuck Accelerators:

Shouldn't I be able to pull the gas pedal back up?

At over 100mph in freeway traffic, you could get lucky and pry the pedal up with your foot, while you maneuver around cars and trucks, but this problem could also be sudden acceleration caused by faulty electronics. Because the throttle is electronic (vehicles 2004 and newer) and is entirely computer-controlled, it won't matter where the gas pedal is when the unit malfunctions.

What about putting the car into neutral?

If you could focus on not putting the car into reverse and if the vehicle's safeguards would let you...you'd still be traveling at a very high rate of speed. In newer cars there is an interlock to prevent shifting from drive to neutral under acceleration..

Can't I just apply the brakes?

At full throttle, no vacuum is available for power boost and in some cases, pumping the brakes will cause them to fail.

What if I turned the car off?

These newer vehicles are equipped with a computer-controlled push-button which needs to be pressed for at least 3-seconds. Doing this would cause the driver to lose power-steering and power-brakes.

Could electronics be what's causing runaway cars?

Some auto owners manuals warn that cellphone use in the car could trigger air bags.
Some owners of 2007 Nissan Altima and Infiniti G35 sedans found that when their cellphones and "intelligent" key fobs were touching, phone calls could alter the key's electronic code and keep the car from starting. The key couldn't be reprogrammed afterward. Nissan recommended that owners keep car keys and cellphones at least an inch apart to avoid disabling them and did a service campaign to replace the fobs.
One of the complaints to NHTSA about the electric steering on 2009-10 Corollas under investigation reported that when the driver's BlackBerry was going to ring or get an e-mail, the "steering wheel seems to shake or try to steer on its own."
The owners manual for the 2005 Toyota Camry warns that a two-way radio in the vehicle could affect electronic systems, including the electronic throttle control, anti-lock brakes, air bags or vehicle skid control.

About Sudden Unintentional Acceleration (SUA) :

What is Sudden Unintentional Acceleration (SUA) ?

Sudden acceleration is one of the most deadly automotive defects in history. It occurs when a car's electronics cause the throttle to go wide open, making it impossible for the driver to return the car to idle if it remains in gear. It also severely limits the ability of the brakes to bring the vehicle under control -- leaving the unsuspecting driver at the mercy of a runaway car. Thousands of people, including drivers, passengers, and innocent bystanders, have been killed or seriously injured in sudden acceleration accidents.

What causes sudden acceleration?

Sudden acceleration is caused by a malfunction in the electronics that control a vehicle's powertrain. Since the introduction of electronics into throttle control mechanisms, cases of sudden acceleration have risen dramatically. Advancements in technology have made cars safer, but vehicle electronics increase in complexity every year. As a result, the possibility of malfunction remains, and sudden acceleration is still a real threat. Because sudden acceleration is caused by an electronic defect, it leaves no visible traces in its path. Innocent people have even been deemed criminally responsible as a result; unfortunately, automakers have seized upon that fact to blame the drivers. Car companies often claim that sudden acceleration is the result of driver error, but there is no evidence to support this claim.

When does sudden acceleration occur?

A sudden acceleration may occur at any time during the drive cycle. Prior to 1995, the majority of occurrences happened when the vehicle was at a standstill and shifted from park to drive. Since then, because of design changes in vehicle electronics, most occurrences happen while the vehicle is under way. Any number of driver inputs can give rise to sudden accelerations, such as shifting gears, applying the brakes, disengaging the cruise control, etc. These conditions can cause a disturbance in the electrical current and trigger a dangerous malfunction.

What kinds of cars are susceptible to sudden acceleration?

Most cars on the road today are susceptible to sudden acceleration. Sudden acceleration incidents emerged around the time electronic speed control was introduced (2000), and persist to this day. The phenomenon has been reported in virtually all makes and models of vehicles, from the late 1970s to current model year vehicles. Sudden acceleration is often reported in brand new vehicles, and most commonly occurs within two years of a car's manufacture. NHTSA has also been receiving reports (83 so far) of Sudden Unintended Steering (SUS)from owners of 2009-2010 Toyota Corollas.

About The Decelerator, Smart Brakes and Smart Throttle

How does The Decelerator work?

The Decelerator is a Brake Override System (BOS) that, in the event of stuck accelerator or sudden unintended acceleration, will instantly return a vehicle's out-of-control engine RPMs to idle speed. The Decelerator is easily and safely plugged into the vehicle's throttle control harness to intercept the electronic throttle signal.

What are Smart Brakes/Throttle?

Smart Brake or Smart Throttle is usually an electronic device or software application which allows a vehicle's brake system to override the throttle input. If a vehicle's throttle is activated, either through a stuck condition or normally depressed gas pedal; if the brake is applied, it will deactivate the throttle condition.

Why should I install The Decelerator?

Though vehicles of the future will always take advantage of the latest technologies, seeking to become ever more efficient, there is always the risk of removing the control (the driver) from the equation. Drive-By-Wire (electronic throttle) or Steer-By-Wire (electronic steering) and Brake-By-Wire (electronic braking) is probably where cars of the future are headed, but they shouldn't get there without a safety override or fail-safe firmly in place. The fail-safe should allow total disconnect from the computer's directive.

Toyota, Lexus, Pontiac Recall List

Toyota's recall for sticky gas pedals (2.3 million U.S. vehicles):

2009-10 Corolla
2009-10 Matrix
2005-10 Avalon
2007-10 Camry
2010 Highlander
2007-10 Tundra
2008-10 Sequoia
2009-10 RAV4

Toyota's recall for gas-pedal entrapment under floor mats (5.3 million U.S. vehicles):

2007-2010 Camry
2005-2010 Avalon
2004-2009 Prius
2005-2010 Tacoma
2007-2010 Tundra
2008-2010 Highlander
2009-2010 Corolla
2009-2010 Venza
2009-2010 Matrix
2007-2010 Lexus ES350
2006-2010 Lexus IS250/IS350
2009-2010 Pontiac Vibe
(built by a joint venture between Toyota and General Motors Co.)

The following modelsare affected by both recalls (1.7 million vehicles):

2005-10 Avalon 2007-10 Camry 2007-10 Tundra

Toyota's recall for hybrids for brake malfunction (147,500 U.S. vehicles):

2010 Prius 2010 Lexus HS250h

Toyota's recall for a power-steering hose that may lead to poor braking (7,300 U.S. vehicles):

2010 Camry

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