SANFORD, Fla. — Toyota owners afraid to drive their cars may not have to wait long for a fix. Repair parts are already arriving at local dealers and mechanics are being trained how to fix them this week.
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They could start fixing cars at David Maus Toyota in Sanford this weekend. The solution to the big potential problem is a tiny, metal shim to raise the gas pedal.
Toyota is expected to come Thursday to train David Maus Toyota employees on how to fix the potentially faulty gas pedals in eight different Toyota models, some going back to 2005.
"We're going to be working on the vehicles 24 hours a day so we can get the customers' cars done as fast as possible," David Maus told Eyewitness News.
Maus said, once his staff of about 40 techs is trained, they'll be fitting steel shims, which are about less than a quarter the size of Toyota keys, into the gas pedals of the recalled cars. Toyota has told him the fix could take less than 15 minutes for each car.
Maus says they'll notify all customers and would prefer doing it through appointments. But, if customers drop in, they won't be turned away.
"I don't think they're gonna rush in here Saturday in a panic because they're driving the cars. They'll probably come in when it's convenient for them also," Maus said.
Maus has sold thousands of the recalled models in Central Florida, but says the shipments of the steel reinforcements will come in waves until all the cars are repaired.
"We're ready. We're just waiting for the training from Toyota. As soon as we can get that, we're ready to go," he said.
Toyota is saying the millions of recalled cars can be repaired in a month once the repairs get started, but some consumer groups are questioning whether it could be done that quickly.
Previous Stories: January 27, 2010: List Of Toyota Vehicles Recalled January 27, 2010: 8 Complaints About Toyota Pedals In Orlando Area
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