Cruise control can cause fires
In US Fords that is...
Following on from the issues raised by the Belgian authorities' recent ban on cruise control, reported last week on PistonHeads (link below), it emerges that the technology could be responsible for starting under-bonnet fires.
At least, if you own a Ford SUV or pickup truck, that is. It turns out that Ford has issued a recall on some 792,000 vehicles in the US that may have a faulty cruise control switch.
This device can sometimes overheat and start a fire under the bonnet. As a result, Ford is recalling all 2000 F-120 pickups, Expedition and Navigator SUVs, and 2001 F-Series Super Crew pickups with cruise control fitted.
Apparently, the risk is so imminent that Ford's recall notice urges owners to visit their Ford dealer within the next week to have the switch disconnected. They need to come back again once Ford has developed and issued 792,000 replacement switches.
In the meantime, expect a rise in accidents on US highways as owners grapple with the unaccustomed need to stay awake on long-haul drives...
What kind of irresponsible reporting is this? The technology is NOT responsible for starting fires, a faulty switch is. This is just the kind of sensationalist statement that can get repeated out of context and used against the 'technology'.
"In the meantime, expect a rise in accidents on US highways as owners grapple with the unaccustomed need to stay awake on long-haul drives..."
Why the anti-American driver bias on this board? I know that was supposed to be funny but still?
napiston said:
"it emerges that the technology could be responsible for starting under-bonnet fires."
What kind of irresponsible reporting is this? The technology is NOT responsible for starting fires, a faulty switch is. This is just the kind of sensationalist statement that can get repeated out of context and used against the 'technology'.
The switch is part of teh technology is it not? If they didn't have cruise control they'd not have the switch, therefore no need to catch fire
napiston said:
"In the meantime, expect a rise in accidents on US highways as owners grapple with the unaccustomed need to stay awake on long-haul drives..."
Why the anti-American driver bias on this board? I know that was supposed to be funny but still?
Because it annoys you all so much.....
agent006 said:
The switch is part of teh technology is it not? If they didn't have cruise control they'd not have the switch, therefore no need to catch fire
Please. A least try defending the statement intelligently. An electrical switch is from 'teh' technology known as 'electronics'. If there were truly a problem with 'cruise control technology' then it would effect all vehicles that use it, not just some Fords that have a defective switch.
agent006 said:
Because it annoys you all so much.....
Two wrong assumptions in seven words! 1) Just because I currently live in the US doesn't mean I was born here. 2) Who said it annoyed me? I am just trying to understand where the bias comes from, without making assumptions.
(edited becuase evidently I have trouble counting those higher numbers)
>> Edited by NAPiston on Tuesday 1st February 22:29
napiston said:Isn’t this a complement to the engineers who built the road that they could do such a good job of building a straight road?
"it emerges that the technology could be responsible for starting under-bonnet fires."
What kind of irresponsible reporting is this? The technology is NOT responsible for starting fires, a faulty switch is. This is just the kind of sensationalist statement that can get repeated out of context and used against the 'technology'.
"In the meantime, expect a rise in accidents on US highways as owners grapple with the unaccustomed need to stay awake on long-haul drives..."
Why the anti-American driver bias on this board? I know that was supposed to be funny but still?
As for the whole cruise control debate however, I’ll stick to a nice brick!
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