Which is Better – Electronic or Mechanical Throttle Controls? Ford Taurus Throttle Investigation Underway

When the L.A. Slimes inspired panic and distrust of Toyota’s electronic throttle control system back in 2009, many people said that Toyota should stop using all these electronics and just stick with a good old fashioned mechanical throttle. Toyota was being “too fancy” using electronics to control the throttle, and as a result the media (none of whom have ever turned a wrench or written a piece of software) found fault with Toyota’s “overly complicated” system.

NHTSA investigating 1.9 million Ford Taurus models for cruise control throttle cable problems

Of course, the problem with this particular bit of logic is that cables can break too. Just ask Ford about 1.9 million of their Taurus models being investigated by NHTSA. From wot.motortrend.com:

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration will investigate the possibility that a loose or broken cruise control cable on the 2001-2006 Ford Taurus will end up with the cars taking their drivers for a wild ride…At least 14 complaints have been filed with NHTSA alleging that the Taurus’ throttle became stuck open.

The culprit, most complaints allege, is that the Taurus’ cruise control cable can become detached, which results in a stuck throttle (2001-2006 Taurus models used an older throttle and cruise control setup, which was not purely electronic but partially mechanical).

As it turns out, good old fashioned cables can break. At least with a computerized system, the computer can be programmed to tell us if and when there’s a problem. We never have to cross our fingers and hope the cable is OK.

Computer controlled throttles have numerous benefits, in fact:

• better fuel economy and emissions, especially at start-up
• easier implementation of traction and stability control systems
• easier integration into hybrid systems
• less chance that a $2 throttle cable could break and put the whole vehicle in danger

That last point was particularly aggravating during the runaway Toyota media fiasco in 2009. Rather than presenting the fact that, even IF Toyota had a problem with their system, it was arguably better than a cable, the media focused on unfounded (and completely unproven) allegations that Toyota’s electronics had a problem.

Here’s to hoping that Ford gets a taste of the irrational throttle control nightmare that Toyota had to endure. Perhaps someone can email those two geniuses at the L.A. Times (Ken Bensinger and Ralph Vartabedian) and let them know that the Ford Taurus is trying to kill its’ owners.

Related Stories:

• The story that started one of the largest media fiascoes of the last decade – LA Times Stokes Unintended Acceleration Fears
• Studies showing that the initial story was flat out wrong – NHTSA and NASA both Exonerate Toyota’s Throttle System