Help! C3 Snow Mode

[dickwhittington]

I recently purchased a C3, 2 years old, 8000 on the clock,automatic.

For no apparent reason,it suddenly bleeps 3 times,changes down to 2nd. gear and goes into 'snow mode'.

The initial reaction of the dealer is that they cannot find any fault with the vehicle although I'm obviously not accepting that.

Anybody else come across this fault?

[hertsnminds]

Snow mode is a function of the sensodrive gearbox and depends upon a few sensors. I think a couple of the conditions required are:

 

Outside temp less than 3 deg C

One or more wheels slipping (might be the ABS sensors that handle this)

 

If your car is entering snow mode when none of these things are happening then there is either a problem with a sensor giving a wrong reading or the computer working out if the car should be in snow mode or not (sensodrive software/hardware).

 

Has your dealer checked all of the above?

 

Ian

Black 55 VTR+

[dickwhittington]

Going in for check next week,will let you know

[dickwhittington]

Car now been to dealers & all seems fine now.........told it was just a blip in the software......watch this space!!!!

[hertsnminds]

I think SNOW MODE is one of the most dangerous features of the sensodrive box especially as it tends to cut in just as you are pulling out of a junction or onto a roundabout. I almost got caught out once as the car spent 5 seconds changing modes and after that always left much more time when performing these manouvres in my Pluriel.

 

Ian

Black 55 VTR+

[Guest CE05LDB]

My brothers last C3 1.4i SX Automatic had these problem over 18months and it ended up having to have a new gear box which if the car en't under warranty it can cost up to £2,000 for a new gearbox. If its Sensodrive thats a different thing all together.