I was watching, as most of us were, the devestating flooding around Toowoomba and the Lockyer valley. I had a thought what happens when you are half underwater and your windows are power and you have auto locking and all your power is underwater and shorted out? It would seem to me that the only option would be to wait until the vehicle was almost full of water before you could, against the pressure open the door? By that time the worst could happen. Just one reason why I dont like power windows.
Happywanderer said
12:30 PM Jan 11, 2011
The reason I don't like power windows either. I've always had this sense of feeling locked in if something happened like that and will only have wind down windows.
I've wondered if as as soon as they can see they are heading into a situation like that to immediately open all windows so when they are under they will have a way out. The car is going to fill with water whether the windows are up or down, isn't it?
petengail said
12:39 PM Jan 11, 2011
Whether the vehicle will fill with water or not would depend on a number of factors. ie windows up/down and how well the doors seal etc. But when I picked up my Rodeo Diesel 4x4, I was quite suprised that it had electric windows. I would have much preferred manual wind. I also intend to have the central locking disconnected as its in an awful position and gets bumped and activitated all the time. Why they had to put it on the arm rest is beyond me.
bill12 said
01:17 PM Jan 11, 2011
If you have ever been to really remote areas , across rough roads ,the first thing to go is the elec windows, then other electrinics, such as remote locking.The KISS PRINCIPLE, ( keep it simple , stupid), works a treat in these situations. I have seen numbers of high tech vehicle, and other gadgets fail when the going gets tough. Thats why I have an old , low tech .hilux, and will probably keep it.
DeBe said
01:58 PM Jan 11, 2011
Lost count of how many electric window mechanisms & auto lock mechanisms ive replaced for customers. Mainly Ford & Holden.
jimricho said
05:42 PM Jan 11, 2011
When I first purchased a 4WD in the late 90s I did a 4WD course and can recall being taught to open a window/window before entering water crossing.
Having the presence of mind to do this in a sudden unplanned panic situation would be a challenge for all of us.
petengail said
06:20 PM Jan 11, 2011
I couldnt agree more Jim, I just think its so potentially dangerous to have something like a window or door that can lock on you because it shorts out with water contact.
Gerty Dancer said
08:30 PM Jan 11, 2011
Had a flat battery in the Prado today () needed to push it out of the garage in order to jump-start it, but couldnt move the gear stick out of park... discovered that it cannot be moved without power!!! Not good!!!
justcruisin01 said
09:16 PM Jan 11, 2011
Have seen many with central locking just lock them selves when parked in the workshop while the boys were at lunch. The earlier models had to have the key turned on to operate the windows, hated it when you had turned off the customers car & half out with the window still down, back in with the key.
I like to have window down when in towns, seems to give me a better feel for what is going on around me & always down when 4wd,ing. Manufactures palm it off as this is what people want, I dont recall asking for it & dont have it.
jimricho said
06:54 AM Jan 12, 2011
I have friends who own a Disco (02 model I think) who locked their keys inside the car at a service station ("service" station, methinks an oxymoron, but that's another story). They left the key in the ignition shut the door and the car locked itself.
The RACV guy took quite some time to get in. He said that it was a known issue with Discos.
My 03 Pajero has electric windows. As my model is the basic "bottom of the range" job I doubt that manual windows are available for the Paj.
justcruisin01 said
07:27 PM Jan 12, 2011
With the keys of modern cars being so complex it,s not just a case of having a spare key cut, some cost $100,s All these mod-cons , including cruise [out of ]control are just another addition to lazyness. The less some have to do& think about the less alert they are.
Pam said
10:46 AM Jan 13, 2011
Gerty Dancer wrote:
Had a flat battery in the Prado today () needed to push it out of the garage in order to jump-start it, but couldnt move the gear stick out of park... discovered that it cannot be moved without power!!! Not good!!!
hi Gerty, Our captiva has a thing near the gear lever that you turn with a screwdriver to 'unlock' the gears for towing. Maybe your Prado does too
deverall11 said
05:22 PM Dec 27, 2013
Pam wrote:
Gerty Dancer wrote:
Had a flat battery in the Prado today () needed to push it out of the garage in order to jump-start it, but couldnt move the gear stick out of park... discovered that it cannot be moved without power!!! Not good!!!
hi Gerty, Our captiva has a thing near the gear lever that you turn with a screwdriver to 'unlock' the gears for towing. Maybe your Prado does too
Prados, presumably like all Toyotas have a gearshift release in the shape of a button to the left of 'P'
Vic41 said
06:24 PM Dec 27, 2013
petengail wrote:
I was watching, as most of us were, the devestating flooding around Toowoomba and the Lockyer valley. I had a thought what happens when you are half underwater and your windows are power and you have auto locking and all your power is underwater and shorted out? It would seem to me that the only option would be to wait until the vehicle was almost full of water before you could, against the pressure open the door? By that time the worst could happen. Just one reason why I dont like power windows.
I've often had the same thoughts and what happens if your in an accident and the doors jams and car catches fire, if the battery is ripped out by the accident. Would much prefer handle winders on the windows....
hako said
06:49 PM Dec 27, 2013
It's quite possible that the power windows would still work for some time. Flood water has a high electrical resistance and 12 volts will not short across it but it will 'leak' across it probably enough to cook the electronics most of which are high up in the passenger compartment or at least above knee level. By the time the water was that high you'd be able to open the doors.
The earlier models had to have the key turned on to operate the windows, hated it when you had turned off the customers car & half out with the window still down, back in with the key.
I like to have window down when in towns, seems to give me a better feel for what is going on around me & always down when 4wd,ing.
Manufactures palm it off as this is what people want, I dont recall asking for it & dont have it.
All these mod-cons , including cruise [out of ]control are just another addition to lazyness. The less some have to do& think about the less alert they are.
Our captiva has a thing near the gear lever that you turn with a screwdriver to 'unlock' the gears for towing.
Maybe your Prado does too
Prados, presumably like all Toyotas have a gearshift release in the shape of a button to the left of 'P'
I've often had the same thoughts and what happens if your in an accident and the doors jams and car catches fire, if the battery is ripped out by the accident. Would much prefer handle winders on the windows....