Death prompts VW owners to speak out...

[stickshift3000]

Rapid deceleration wouldn't happen if the injectors failed and stopped injecting fuel - the car would coast, albeit with a degree of engine braking (on the freeway, in 6th or 7th gear, there's not much engine braking happening if you lift off the accelerator pedal)

On a high compression diesel with greater engine breaking than a petrol engine, it would be enough to potentially get you in trouble with a car travelling a safe distance behind.

Most people (on this forum) that have experienced this with diesel engine shutdowns are usually thankful there wasn't someone following closely, let alone a truck that's harder to stop...

[mythik]

Permit me to play devils advocate here but I've witnessed on no less than 2 occasions this 'SUDDEN POWER LOSS' and it was caused by the idiot driver 'two pedal' driving. When pressing on the brake pedal the car won't allow you to accelerate for safety reasons.

Equally, in the event of a faulty brake sensor, I could envisage this might cause an issue too...

I've just simulated it in my MY13 Golf R. Sudden power loss... by touching the break pedal while attempting to accelerate. Causes the vehicle to slow down....

[dylan8]

Permit me to play devils advocate here but I've witnessed on no less than 2 occasions this 'SUDDEN POWER LOSS' and it was caused by the idiot driver 'two pedal' driving. When pressing on the brake pedal the car won't allow you to accelerate for safety reasons.

Equally, in the event of a faulty brake sensor, I could envisage this might cause an issue too...

I've just simulated it in my MY13 Golf R. Sudden power loss... by touching the break pedal while attempting to accelerate. Causes the vehicle to slow down....

was thinking the same thing.
sure there is not something else at play here also...?
amount of people lately driving autos with two feet is ridiculous.

[richmurphy]

On a high compression diesel with greater engine breaking than a petrol engine, it would be enough to potentially get you in trouble with a car travelling a safe distance behind.

Most people (on this forum) that have experienced this with diesel engine shutdowns are usually thankful there wasn't someone following closely, let alone a truck that's harder to stop...

Sorry but that's rubbish. I was traveling 2 seconds behind a Lotus Elise at 110kph when the driver absolutely anchored his brakes to avoid a kangaroo. I managed to stop easily. It's clearly not a safe distance if you cannot stop in time and there is no way that VW would've slowed quicker than the Lotus. Okay the lack of brake lights might be a factor and we're taking the truck drivers word for that as there seems to be no hard evidence to support his claims. IMO brake lights or not, he's at fault but luckily for him it's the coroner making the call and not me.

[stickshift3000]

Sorry but that's rubbish. I was traveling 2 seconds behind a Lotus Elise at 110kph when the driver absolutely anchored his brakes to avoid a kangaroo. I managed to stop easily. It's clearly not a safe distance if you cannot stop in time and there is no way that VW would've slowed quicker than the Lotus. Okay the lack of brake lights might be a factor and we're taking the truck drivers word for that as there seems to be no hard evidence to support his claims. IMO brake lights or not, he's at fault but luckily for him it's the coroner making the call and not me.

Well yeah, I can avoid most accidents also.

But you're assuming the truck driver was watching the car in front.

[Transporter]

It seems to me that we're having the same conversation in 2 threads in the forum. I will not merge the 2 threads, since the issue is serious to some individuals, so please continue the conversation in this thread DSG woes in The Age