Has anyone heard of a benz unnecessarily reving its engines up??

[benz400]

Has anyone ever heard of a mercedes benz (400E) Reving up its engines unessesarily. I was involved in a car wreck that seemed to involve just that. It happened all so fast I'm still trying to figure it out. There are a number of possiblilities as to mistakes that could have been made on my part.

I may have actuvated the cruise control - making the car accelerate without knowing I was doing so.
{but the cruise control is supposed to shut off after I press the brakes, which I did a number of times, The engine kept reving up even after running into a tree. The tires burnt out, the engine pretty much blew (or fuel ran out)}

I havent been able to inspect the car after the accident, but there Is a possibility of the gas pedal malfunctioning - it may have been slack (somehow unlikely) possibly the floor-mat coming up in its was or something. But again, the floor-mat was really thin and shouldnt cause the car to accelerate that fast.

` Thirdly there could have been error on my part. I was distacted just for a second - I had just stopped to make a turn and the accident happened right when I got going again. I may have panicked and pressed the gas instead of brakes when I realized I was going off the road. But still I repeat - the car never stopped reving up.



I really do appreciate your time and suggestions as to how it may have happened.
Thanks.

 

[JamieD]

I've seen peugeot turbo diesels rev up and red line with no one in the car - the turbo bearings can wear allowing oil to creep in to the engine... not quite sure of the specifics but the engine slowly turns over faster and faster without pressingthe accelorator...

is the 400e turbocharged?

 

[Steve-O]

Their was something in "The Sun" today with someone with a Auto BMW 318 (I think) and the Accelerator Jammed and accelerated him to 140mph for 60 miles untill he crashed...

Personally I think that story in The Sun was a load of crap as A - Can a 318 (1.8 litre) BMW Even hit 140mph??? B - Why the Hell did he keep going for 60 Miles?? Why not just knock it into Neutral and use the Brakes??????????

 

[mlc]

I read the BMW article but in the daily mail where he only achieved 130! He claimed that he couldnt get the auto out of drive and didnt dare turn the engine off because he would lose braking.

It did seem like a very strange story, i for one would have risked the no brakes option to stop on a motorway, seems a better option than hoping to get through the traffic at 130mph.

The article suggested that both the police and bmw were blaming the standard of maintence on the car.

 

[turnipsock]

what a numpty, the brakes will work for a bit without the engine running, there is a reservoir you know!

even when that is exhasted, the brakes still work...you just have to press the brake pedal a lot harder.

The car would slow quickly from 130mph without an engine running or using the the brakes, especialy a BMW brick.

Where do you get 60 miles of road that you drive at that speed without getting stuck behind somebody?

I feel a lot safer on the roads now.

 

[television]

Yes there is enough air to bring the car to a stop from 100 mph, why don't people knock it out of gear. you have a parking brake it all helps, don't get it.


Malcolm

 

[Steve-O]

Strange, Sun said 140mph Which is not true as the 1998 318 Autos top speed is 125mph

http://www.thesun.co.uk/article/0,,2-2006110627,,00.html


Anyway, does the throttle on the 400E use a throttle cable or is it like electronicly done??... Just my Dad was saying that on his Bike he went through a flooded feild and then the next day opened up through the gears, let go of the throttle and it just stuck on full throttle as the cable had jammed.

 

[turnipsock]

Benz400, from what you say, the accelerator has jammed open. There are a lot of springs around the injection to stop this happening.

Did the accelerator ever feel stiff prior to the accident?

There are a number of linkages, anyone of these could have jammed or the cable could have been in a poor state and jammed.

The BMW newspaper story says that the Police and BMW blame poor maintenance...they may have a point.

 

[Parrot of Doom]

The BMW story sounds dodgy to me. A 318 doing 135mph? Dream on. I bet he invented a story and its escalated out of control.

There shouldn't in theory be a car with an engine that is more powerful than the braking system.

 

[davidsl500]

The BMW driver was on the news last night. He said he got up to 110-115mph and drove most of the way on the hard shoulder. He was a good 6'2", 20 stone, bleached hair and wore a track suit - hmmm - enough weight to switch off and stand on the brakes - even if there was no brake assistance left surely? What a plonker...

 

[television]

To think he was a lorry driver, and thought he would lose his steering, what steering do you need on the hard shoulder. Anyone here ever tried using a mobile phone at 125 mph. And to think we have to drive our cars along side these idiots.

Malcolm

 

[Parrot of Doom]

http://www.thesun.co.uk/article/0,,2-2006120809,00.html

Well, looks like an idiot may have been exposed as a liar.

 

[television]

Thank you Parrot for putting that up,, many of us did not believe it, just not possible.

Malcolm

 

[davidsl500]

actually, the next time that i am exceeding the speed limit, not that i do at all you understand, and a police car creeps up behind me then the thing to do is accelerate like mad and use my mobile to dial 999 and advise that my throttle is stuck open... - i wonder if that is what really happened?

 

[television]

actually, the next time that i am exceeding the speed limit, not that i do at all you understand, and a police car creeps up behind me then the thing to do is accelerate like mad and use my mobile to dial 999 and advise that my throttle is stuck open... - i wonder if that is what really happened?

Test your roll bar first, he ended upside down.

Malcolm

 

[davidsl500]

well obviously you have got to apply the brakes a little and get them smoking whilst accelerating so it looks pukka - he just overdid it a bit

Surely he got off without a speeding ticket AND got a new car?!!

 

[Parrot of Doom]

His insurance will likely pay out, but he won't be able to drive his new/repaired car as he'll be either banned for a good long while, or behind bars hopefully.

Theres a good long read about it here, and just about everybody sussed him out immediately:

http://www.pistonheads.co.uk/gassing/topic.asp?t=251018&f=23&h=0&p=1