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Posted

Was thumbing through the handbook the other day and noticed that somewhere in there it states that in the event of snow and ice to Turn OFF the traction contol :unsure: :blink:

 

Now can see a number of issues with that... ;)

 

-Some models only switch off below a set speed...and thus will become active over a certain speed...

 

-I would have thought TC would get confused on ice with wheels spinning, however I would have thought having it on would help more than hinder...

 

-We of course have not yet had no snow and ice to worry about but no doubt will soon... :lol:

 

So what are your thoughts

 

Obviously drive safely and carefully...any thoughts? :)

Posted

I thought that was the point to traction control?? seems mad that you should turn off the aid that stops the wheels spinning?

 

and Rich is right, with the predicted cold snap next week be careful. You will never find me pulling the handbrake and doing J turns on an old carpark :)

Posted

The reason you turn it off is so that you can control the amount of power to the wheels. I had to do this yesterday (snow and ice in Scotland). The car was on a slight hill (facing up) stopped at traffic lights. Went to move off and just got wheel spin and traction light going mad. Turned off traction control slipped the clutch and apart from a bit of sliding no problems moving off.

 

When it is too slippery the traction control just stops everything working and you have no idea how much power is being laid down. Turn it off and you gain control when you need it (under 30MPH) once you are moving faster than 30MPH then it becomes safer for the traction control to handle the brakes and throttle.

 

Have to say even with the traction control it would still have possible to send the car sliding off the road in the snow and ice we had yesterday so don't rely too much on the electronics, nothing beats sensible driving for the road conditions.

 

Ian

Black 55 VTR+

Posted

Well thats what i thought but I am sure it says in Snow and Ice you should turn it off...

 

I have only once seen the TC light go mental and that was when I was trying to pull up a mud covered slope after a night of heavy rain whilst camping. Turning it off offered no help, however driving up the slope in reverse in a wavy line did as I could get the wheels to "dig in more" however this is not much help whilst on your daily commute in the cold and ice!

Posted

Well thats what i thought but I am sure it says in Snow and Ice you should turn it off...

 

I have only once seen the TC light go mental and that was when I was trying to pull up a mud covered slope after a night of heavy rain whilst camping. Turning it off offered no help, however driving up the slope in reverse in a wavy line did as I could get the wheels to "dig in more" however this is not much help whilst on your daily commute in the cold and ice!

 

haha yeah i think you might get a few funny looks driving down the M1 in reverse!

Posted
one of lifes great mysteries, how comes reversing can get you up a slippery hill when forwards jut wont do it. I remember many years ago me and my dad where going to the RAC rally at Chatsworth House (that is some years ago!!) and we had "borrowed" a not yet released Vauxhall Omega 2.5 V6. and that wouldnt go up a muddy slope forwards but was more than happy to go up backwards...im sure there is a good reason but I cant think of it...
Posted

Reverse is controlled by a electric motor, therefore heeps more tourqe...

yea but electric motor is on rear wheels and also fires spikes out of rear tyres for more grip.

Posted

Is it? :huh: ;)

 

As far as I understood it it is just a gear box, the reason you get the wine is because there is no syncromesh on reverse gears, hence why you get the judder if the engine is anything above idle when you select it and it makes the whine.

 

My mate had a Mini with a close ratio non syncro box in his Mini and the whine was so loud you couldnt speak inside the car you had to shout. :D

Posted

The whine is cause by the gears being straight cut rather than helical like the forward gears not the synchro which just stops the grinding.

 

Most race boxes use straight cut gears which is why they make the whining sound.

Posted

OK, no need to belittle me. I am not an idiot. The reason i said that was because my mums car broke down on the motorway, and everything shut-off, and my dad managed to steer it off onto the hard shoulder and just managed to stop before a bridge, the recovery man put the car in Reverse, With the engine OFF (becuase it would not start) and reversed it down the hard shoulder to get the car onto the truck.

Now unles my mums car has miraculously become the first car in the world to be driven with the engine off.......OR, reverse is controlled by an electric motor.....

 

By judging the way in which you replied, you know that the C4 is different

 

It would have been much easier to come back with knowledge which would stop me making the same mistake again, like the other people who have posted.

Posted
Regarding traction control in the snow, I think the handbook only says to turn it off if you are stuck in snow/ice, and want to get out of a hole! The rest of normal driving it should be on. :)
Posted
the recovery bloke will have reversed the car cranking it over of the starter motor. sorry m8. thought you were joking and just took it a bit further. should have known as there was no smiley. sorry again.
Posted

Another reason why reversing works is the car balance, acceleration throws the weight backwards, lightening the pressure exerted by the front wheels.

 

In reverse, this rearwards force, combined with the engine weight pushes the drive wheels downwards giving more 'bite' and grip.

Posted

The whine is cause by the gears being straight cut rather than helical like the forward gears not the synchro which just stops the grinding.

 

Most race boxes use straight cut gears which is why they make the whining sound.

 

Wozza you are right...

 

I woke up this morning and realised what I had said. :o

 

I think my mind was working overdrive lastnight, the GF was looking at engagement rings and inside my head I'm still working out the finances as she quite liked the "really expensive one". That and Jade Goodies eviction from Big Brother I had to have an early night. :)

Posted

No worries mate :lol:

 

Just asked my dad and he confirmed what you said, i obviously mis-heard him! :) :lol:

 

 

Now i am off to draw a naked lady!.......This time i wish i was joking!!!!! :o

Posted
When weather like this(see pic) EPS ok when moving over 30 kmh. But when trying to get up a hill at low speed better turn it off. By the way EGS gearbox ok on the slippery snow.post-1727-1169315157.jpg
Posted

I trust we'll be getting a preview of the finished result.... :)

If you are into the kinda people who pose for life drawing classes, every wondered why they are not popular?!?

Turns out we made it out of clay...

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