http://blogs.cars.com/kickingtires/2009/09/explaining-the-toyota-floormat
-recall.html

"So, what is it about these floormats that¹s causing the problem?
Basically, any automaker¹s floormats can slide forward if they¹re not
attached to a hook that keeps them in place. However, the Lexus and
Toyota models in question include a hook that can be detached from the
carpet, meaning there are two ways for the floormat to become dislodged.
According to Hanson, the design stems from the fact that floormats are
an option across the Toyota lineup, and someone buying a car without
them wouldn¹t want a fixed stem protruding from the carpet."

If you look at the picture on the web site, then go look at your own
floor mats, you'll see the issue.

I can see it now: Toyota lawyers will design the fix such that the
floor mats are hooked to the seat frame in some fashion--which fixes the
complaint that hooks stick up from the floor itself--along with an
electrical wire which will break if the physical connection fails and
the mat moves. When the wire breaks, it will either light up a "floor
mat" light on the dash, or--more likely, given Toyota's nanny-state
lawyers--prevent the car from starting. They'll just light up the light
and hook it all into the same security ignition key system that's
already in the cars today, the car won't start until the wire's fixed,
and Bob's your uncle.

Sure, it's easy enough to short out that system and make it work no
matter what. But the owner would have taken active steps to do that,
and Toyota is off the hook (pun intended).

Both our RAV4 and Highlander have the optional (hooked) floor mats as did
our 2005 Avalon. We, as a matter of course because of the snow/mud around
here, always throw after market mats on top. They have no hooks but
"lugs/spikes" on backing. Yes they sort of float and a time or two a month
need a 5 second repositioning. The Avalons (3 ) we had never had a problem
with the optional (hooked) floor mat moving.

Ron in Idaho

On Tue, 6 Oct 2009 11:14:15 -0700, "ron" <randus3 (AT) teranews (DOT) com> wrote:


Some of the REALLY stupid parts of this is the guy who died and killed
his family was supposedly a cop. Even I, not a cop, know if your
car's a runaway, shut it off. If that doesn't work, neutral only
blows up the motor.

Secondly, just because some dumbass used a hair dryer in a shower we
have warnings on hair driers. Now warnings on floor mats. Hell, you
can't even set a new nav route in a toyota these days if the car is
moving. It's smart enough to tell if there is no one or a kid in the
passenger seat, can't it tell if there is for the nav?

On Oct 6, 4:29*pm, Gary L. Burnore <gburn... (AT) databasix (DOT) com> wrote:
The whole problem is putting the mats on top of another. Look at the
thickness when stacked and the clearance to the gas pedal.If properly
installed with only one mat, there is no issue. However, no one reads
the information provided with the mats,( read ignores), and we then
have issues.

lexuspartsdept wrote:

Doesn't explain single mat incidents involving failure of retainer pins
or failure to secure the mat on the pins, which happens all the time at
commercial car washes.

Gary L. Burnore wrote:

There is a workaround for the navigation issue. I've done it and it
works fine. See: "http://www.navigationbypass.com/products/hybrid_nav.php".

Kind of a pain to have to do the secret sequence every time you start
the car, but it's very fast once you know how to do it.

They neglect to tell you that you need to disconnect power from the
navigation system (yank the fuse) for a minute so it will reset and
reboot from the new DVD.

On Tue, 13 Oct 2009 18:21:26 -0700, SMS <scharf.steven (AT) geemail (DOT) com>
wrote:

There's also a way to bypass the speed sensor for _only_ the sound
portion so you can change tunes and dial via bluetooth.

This is one of the most moronic things Toyota's ever done. The LEAST
they could do is turn off the block if someone's sitting in the
passenger seat or allow a "I'm old enough to decide on my own so stfu"
button.

Seems rather silly to cause someone to want to pick up their
phone/blackberry and dial rather than pick a number from a list on the
nav screen.

"Gary L. Burnore" <gburnore (AT) databasix (DOT) com> wrote

Thank goodness I bought the standard Prius model!! My handheld GPS works
just fine and doesnt cost an arm or leg to update either..

"Gary L. Burnore" <gburnore (AT) databasix (DOT) com> wrote

The easiest way to place a call from the 2010 equipped with the navigation
system is by voice command when a Bluetooth command phone is connected.

In article <4ada2143$1 (AT) newsgate (DOT) x-privat.org>, Al Falfa
(crop (AT) eastforty (DOT) fld) says...
Or add it to one of the 18 Speed Dial numbers.