Expert advice

Toyota Motor Corp. and other experts offer the following advice if a vehicle’s accelerator pedal sticks:

Consumer Reports

First, brake hard. Then put the car in neutral. When you come to a stop, turn off the engine. The engine may keep revving loudly while you try to stop, but don’t turn it off if you can avoid it. Turning off the engine means you lose power-assisted steering and brakes, and if you turn the key too far, you could lock the steering wheel.

The magazine has a video demonstration on its Web site: http://tinyurl.com/yegvesp

TOYOTA

Don’t pump the brakes. Press firmly and steadily. Pumping the brake pedal will deplete the vacuum assist, which boosts the braking force using power from the engine. If that’s depleted, you’ll need to put much stronger pressure on the brake pedal, and it still might not be enough force to stop safely.

If all else fails, turn off the engine: If you can’t put the vehicle in neutral, then turn the engine off. This will not cause loss of steering or braking control, but the power assist to these systems will be lost.

Vehicles equipped with a conventional key-ignition: Turn the ignition key to the accessory (ACC) position, but don’t remove the key because that will lock the steering wheel.

Vehicles with a button ignition: Push and hold the start-stop button for at least three seconds to turn off the engine.

Associated Press