Problems with unintended acceleration and buffeting
- Thread starter Cyric
- Start date
mitdr774
also a dinner prick
I suspect that there may be a "flaw" in the programing. Several times in some stop and go traffic the throttle of my car snapped open and closed without my foot even touching the accelerator pedal. Seeing as how my car is a manual transmission and the clutch was released, it was a non issue other than concerning me about the possibility of it happening again.
This is why I hate electronic control on cars.
This is why I hate electronic control on cars.
jim_de_hunter
New member
This may have been mentioned in the first 120 posts but I quit following the thread as soon as I saw the flaming start.
I bought new a 1994 Toyota Truck with EFI and a manual transmission and air conditioning. I learned that when it was idling or near idle and the a/c compression kicked on, the idle would drop and nearly stall the truck until the EFI kicked in and revved the engine. I learned the "click" of the air compressor and learned to compensate for the immediate revving of the engine caused by the EFI. A couple of times in stop and go traffic, it got dicey when the a/c compressor kicked in as I was giving it gas and releasing the clutch. The truck wanted to launch into the vehicle in front of me. I suppose that you could call it unintended acceleration but the truck didn't know that I initiation forward movement. I just thought that it was my job to be smarter than my truck.
I bought new a 1994 Toyota Truck with EFI and a manual transmission and air conditioning. I learned that when it was idling or near idle and the a/c compression kicked on, the idle would drop and nearly stall the truck until the EFI kicked in and revved the engine. I learned the "click" of the air compressor and learned to compensate for the immediate revving of the engine caused by the EFI. A couple of times in stop and go traffic, it got dicey when the a/c compressor kicked in as I was giving it gas and releasing the clutch. The truck wanted to launch into the vehicle in front of me. I suppose that you could call it unintended acceleration but the truck didn't know that I initiation forward movement. I just thought that it was my job to be smarter than my truck.
This is my first drive by wire car!! I find the buffer that's built into the system annoying and a little bit dangerous as well. This car does not respond imediately to drivers input weather accelerating or decelerating there is a definite lag time, it acts like a sticky throttle!! When this car is driven gently the problem is not apparent. I describe it to my signifigant other as feeling disconnected from the car. For the record I'm not a fan of this drive by wire system and will not purchase another.
rdss
Junior Member
You will not buy another drive by wire or another Sonic because of it drive by wire? Pretty much every car on the road is drive by wire now and I have driven quite a few and haven't had any problems with any with any of them to cause concern. I also only had about 500 miles in the Sonic before I deployed and will soon have more time to test it, but I noticed no ill effects and my Ex driving the car now has mentioned nothing bad about it either in the 300 miles she driven it. Tuning will help the feel as most of the time the tuner changes the throttle tables for a more natural feel and better response.
SSpeckerwood
New member
I'm at 12600 miles exactly and have never experienced anything like this.
I've taken time to get to know my sonic. Its a great ride.
I've taken time to get to know my sonic. Its a great ride.
I wanted to say thanks to "Sonic" for changing the thread title. I stopped checking in shortly after the flame war started, because I'm aware of the fact that a.) I have no proof of what's happening aside from my history with the dealership, and b.) chevy still hasn't called.
I'm still having issues with lurching, and the engine behaving as if it's under heavy load. At this point I just brake earlier than normal and accelerate cautiously.
As far as the fiction novel comments go, if you knew me, and the long list of crap I've been though, it wouldn't be that unbelievable.
As far as I can tell, I just have notoriously bad luck.
For example:
I moved to Australia to be with my ex-wife in 2009. We were divorced, and I returned to the US in January of last year.
I bought a cheap truck off of craigslist to get myself to job interviews and such. It was a 1981 C10. Ran well, passed inspection, and that was all I cared about. About a month into to driving it regularly, on my way home from work, it spun a bearing and threw a piston clean through the intake. This was in late September.
My father decided to get a new truck, and give me his 2001 jeep cherokee so I wouldn't lose my new job. The truck was reasonable maintained, and had no major issues when it was given to me.
In January I went for an oil change, and one of the techs ran over in a panic. He showed me what they'd drained. It was a milkshake, typical with a cracked block. I was disheartened, and didn't have the free cash to make repairs. I discussed the options with my family, and came to the conclusion that I should just buy a new car. Clearly my luck with used cars had run out.
I had to take time off work to go to the dealership and get everything sorted, the jeep was good for one last ride, or so I thought. I topped up the coolant, and had a friend drive with me to the dealership in case I broke down. I was 2 exits away from the dealership when the rear differential let go.I mean let go.
I was driving south, the next thing I know I'm facing north. Rear diff completely grenaded.
So I bought the Sonic.
Now, I'm a guy who has never paid more than 3k for a vehicle. My first car, the el camino, had a few issues when I bought it, but they were easily sorted. I drove it for years, with no problems. I paid 1900 for it.
So here I am, making what to me, is a HUGE investment. I'm taking on a 400 a month car payment for the sole purpose of keeping my job.
No one else here would be angry when they start having problems with their investment less than 2k miles in?
Frankly, I don't give a damn if anyone believes me. I did what I thought was the right thing, and standing up for myself as a consumer and customer. I came here to see if anyone else was having a similar issue, and to share my story.
I'm still having issues with lurching, and the engine behaving as if it's under heavy load. At this point I just brake earlier than normal and accelerate cautiously.
As far as the fiction novel comments go, if you knew me, and the long list of crap I've been though, it wouldn't be that unbelievable.
As far as I can tell, I just have notoriously bad luck.
For example:
I moved to Australia to be with my ex-wife in 2009. We were divorced, and I returned to the US in January of last year.
I bought a cheap truck off of craigslist to get myself to job interviews and such. It was a 1981 C10. Ran well, passed inspection, and that was all I cared about. About a month into to driving it regularly, on my way home from work, it spun a bearing and threw a piston clean through the intake. This was in late September.
My father decided to get a new truck, and give me his 2001 jeep cherokee so I wouldn't lose my new job. The truck was reasonable maintained, and had no major issues when it was given to me.
In January I went for an oil change, and one of the techs ran over in a panic. He showed me what they'd drained. It was a milkshake, typical with a cracked block. I was disheartened, and didn't have the free cash to make repairs. I discussed the options with my family, and came to the conclusion that I should just buy a new car. Clearly my luck with used cars had run out.
I had to take time off work to go to the dealership and get everything sorted, the jeep was good for one last ride, or so I thought. I topped up the coolant, and had a friend drive with me to the dealership in case I broke down. I was 2 exits away from the dealership when the rear differential let go.I mean let go.
I was driving south, the next thing I know I'm facing north. Rear diff completely grenaded.
So I bought the Sonic.
Now, I'm a guy who has never paid more than 3k for a vehicle. My first car, the el camino, had a few issues when I bought it, but they were easily sorted. I drove it for years, with no problems. I paid 1900 for it.
So here I am, making what to me, is a HUGE investment. I'm taking on a 400 a month car payment for the sole purpose of keeping my job.
No one else here would be angry when they start having problems with their investment less than 2k miles in?
Frankly, I don't give a damn if anyone believes me. I did what I thought was the right thing, and standing up for myself as a consumer and customer. I came here to see if anyone else was having a similar issue, and to share my story.
SSpeckerwood
New member
You really put the saying "if not for bad luck I'd have no luck at all" to use.
You may want to look into a bicycle. Lol.
Keep us updated with your Sonics problems. Even though no has had it happen hear doesn't mean that its not happening to you.
Have you thought about naming your car Christine? It seems suiting.
P.s. thanks for giving all the credit to sonic. Lol
You may want to look into a bicycle. Lol.
Keep us updated with your Sonics problems. Even though no has had it happen hear doesn't mean that its not happening to you.
Have you thought about naming your car Christine? It seems suiting.
P.s. thanks for giving all the credit to sonic. Lol
jim_de_hunter
New member
Whoops....
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SSpeckerwood
New member
Its all good. Incendiary sent that pm to several people, so we all agreed he should be banned.
I never looked at this thread so it wasn't something i was monitoring. My appologies go to you for not taking care of the idiot earlier. Abuse of the forum and members will not be tollerated.
I never looked at this thread so it wasn't something i was monitoring. My appologies go to you for not taking care of the idiot earlier. Abuse of the forum and members will not be tollerated.
CoHPhasor
Active member
That's EXACTLY why I warn members away from posting their personalized license plates on here.... though it's UNLIKELY someone is ever going to get mad enough to "come find you", it happens.
Aldakoopa
New member
Then it will be stolen, have flat tires, or the chain will come off and somehow lacerate his leg to where he needs stitches.
I've had bad luck like that not that long ago. lol
Cyric: I know it's hard when everything goes wrong. I hope you find a light at the end of the tunnel, and the best of luck in finding out what's wrong with your Sonic. I love my car, and although your problem is an isolated incident AFAIK, I would be afraid to drive mine as well if it had that problem. I also love Chevrolet, and I don't want the same unintended acceleration to muck up their image.
Good luck, and stay safe; Hopefully it doesn't cause you to get into an accident in the mean-time.
J T
New member
SSpeckerwood
New member
It's no coincidence. He's been warned.
Zeno of Citium
Banned
Somebody's got to monitor the moderators
Oh snap son, I got banned!
Oh snap son, I got banned!
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