Push-button transmissions exist, but they are uncommon.
Posted on 12/16/2009 8:06:23 AM PST by myknowledge
The frantic triple-0 call from a Melbourne motorist whose cruise control jammed has been released.
Chase Weir can be heard screaming "Oh my God, Oh my God, I'm gonna die!" as he veered onto the wrong side of the road near the end of his hair-raising 30-minute ordeal through Melbourne's east.
Earlier, he can be heard becoming panicked as he attempts to slow the 2002 Ford Explorer.
The cruise control originally became stuck on 100km/h on the Eastern Freeway in Kew, with Mr Weir's attempts to brake having little effect.
"It slows down to about 80 and then the car just accelerates ... the brake pedal gets really hard to push," the 22-year-old says to the emergency operator.
The operator then asks him to turn off the engine.
"No, the key won't actually move," Mr Weir replies.
"I tried ringing Ford and they said the key wouldn't move."
He tried to switch the 4WD into neutral but he is heard saying on the tape "the button won't push in."
Triple-0 operator Sgt Marnie Goldsmith continually tries to keep the driver calm.
"Listen — we're on the freeway, there's no need to panic, Chase," Sgt Goldsmith says.
"I'm doing my best," Mr Weir replies.
A police escort had been attempting to clear a path for the out-of-control car as it hurtled down the Eastlink roadway.
But in the southeast suburb of Frankston banked-up cars near Monash University forced Weir into oncoming traffic.
"I just went onto the wrong side of the road!" he yells.
"I need you with all your strength to go on the brake, as well as the handbrake," Sgt Goldsmith orders as Mr Weir screams in the background.
A police officer on the scene can then be heard saying that he has finally stopped, half an hour and over 40km from where he first encountered difficulties.
Mr Weir has since been treated for shock and was today reunited with Sgt Goldsmith, who has been praised for her handling of the bizarre and frightening situation.
The driver may have had 1 tube too many of the frosty amber fluid.
“Since when does ANY vehicle need to have a button pressed to achieve “Neutral”?”
Welcome To ObamaWorld!
Driver
Returning
On
Foot
No, you turn the key backwards and the engine stops. You keep turning it MORE and the lock will engage.
This story is so much BS.
But it is feel good lib tard nonsense so the gullible public eats it up.
I recommend having some logical skepticism.
This nancy pants was hysterical. More likely that he was useless and was unable to turn the key or put the shifter in neutral than to have cruise module electrical, brake disconnect electrical, brakes mechanical, parking brakes mechanical, key interlock jam, and transmission linkage jam all simultaneously.
Push-button transmissions exist, but they are uncommon.
The driver may have had 1 tube too many of the frosty amber fluid.
Your story about your grandmother is PRICELESS. LOL!
A lot of on the floor automatics have a button on the handle of the shifter you need to push in before the shifter will move.
new fangled cars with too many electronics.
now i know why they are called “exploders”
WHY, in Heaven’s name, would he veer in the wrong side of the road??? What’s the matter with him, can’t he steer? What a goof.
he tried to no avail...
A real "OnStar For Blondes" moment. Call it "BlondeStar"
BRAKE??? What the hell... you put the transmission into NEUTRAL!!!! the engine may reve up and die, but the car will then be able to be stopped nicely.
I can’t believe this person was fighting cruise control for 30 minutes and that someone on the phone is telling them to brake... JUST PUT THE CAR IN NEUTRAL!!!! Once you do that, you’ll be free to stop the car without issue.
I can see panic for a few moments, but 30 minutes and you didn’t think of this??
he tried that, too--but again, to no avail...
Why not? How would the transmission be damaged?
I once had to kill the ignition in a car with a stuck accelerator pedal. I then applied the brakes and coasted to a stop. I did not put the vehicle in neutral because I wanted the mechanical drag from the transmission to assist in slowing it down.
I was able to “unstick” the throttle cable right there on the side of the road and continue on my way without no further mishaps. The car had about 210,000 miles on it when the “stuck throttle” incident occurred. When my son-in-law totalled the car into a deer a few years later it had almost 400,000 miles on it. The transmission had never shown any sign of having been damaged in any way.
Oh nevermind, he claims the car wouldn’t shift to neutral.. which I have a hard time believing but ok.
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