the automatic car that loves to dance on ice

daveyjp

Pew Pew is correct. If you have a tiptronic box you may be able to select 2nd manually, but a tradiional auto will start in first and limit changes to the selected gear.

My auto X type hasn't been off the drive since Monday. Auto box isn't a problem, summer tyres and a the lump of engine well forward of the driver means it handles like a barge and is difficult to control once it starts sliding.

negg

Yes, if you have a 'snowflake' button (or a winter mode - known as 'W' on older mercs or 'C' on newer mercs) then use it. That will start the car in a higher gear and also change gear at lower revs. Your car will not be as economical which is why you shouldn't use it all the time.

Rear wheel drive can be a nightmare in this weather. If you can, try not to stop, creeping up to traffic lights whilst waiting for them to change if you can do so safely. If you have to stop, try not to stop on an incline, so if you are about to go over a hump back bridge, stop on the flat before the bridge if you cannot get to the top for other traffic. The rear will dance about quite a bit whilst driving and you should leave the traction control on all the time. The only time you should take the traction control off is if you actually get stuck - then it may assist. When the traction control kicks in, ease OFF the accelerator and this will put less power to the back wheels as the traction control switches itself on and off - less power can mean more grip. Also try not to accelerate around corners (with rear wheel drive), try to slow down before the corner and take a consistent speed around the whole corner, not accelerating until you are straight.

Remember with rear wheel drive, your wheels can only go backwards or forwards. With front wheel drive, you try different angles on the steering to get you free from being stuck giving you more options. That is the main reason why rear wheel drive is not so good in this weather. As well as the back end trying to overtake the front, that is!

Mips

I have an automatic and I press the Snowflake button on and keep it on - is it only for starting up then?

hothothot_3

negg wrote: »

Yes, if you have a 'snowflake' button (or a winter mode - known as 'W' on older mercs or 'C' on newer mercs) then use it. That will start the car in a higher gear and also change gear at lower revs. Your car will not be as economical which is why you shouldn't use it all the time.

Rear wheel drive can be a nightmare in this weather. If you can, try not to stop, creeping up to traffic lights whilst waiting for them to change if you can do so safely. If you have to stop, try not to stop on an incline, so if you are about to go over a hump back bridge, stop on the flat before the bridge if you cannot get to the top for other traffic. The rear will dance about quite a bit whilst driving and you should leave the traction control on all the time. The only time you should take the traction control off is if you actually get stuck - then it may assist. When the traction control kicks in, ease OFF the accelerator and this will put less power to the back wheels as the traction control switches itself on and off - less power can mean more grip. Also try not to accelerate around corners (with rear wheel drive), try to slow down before the corner and take a consistent speed around the whole corner, not accelerating until you are straight.

Remember with rear wheel drive, your wheels can only go backwards or forwards. With front wheel drive, you try different angles on the steering to get you free from being stuck giving you more options. That is the main reason why rear wheel drive is not so good in this weather. As well as the back end trying to overtake the front, that is!

The best post of the thread. And yep I had traction control on today and it made a fabulous difference,had no problems compared to before. thanks for yourhelpful knowledge I cant say the same for most others. :T

Pew_Pew_Pew_Lasers!

hothothot wrote: »

so basically, just use snow flake button?

Its quite simple. Open the glove box, get the manual, and read the section about the automatic gearbox. Then read any other sections in the book regarding inclement weather.

In all the cars I've driven, a snowflake button controls the air conditioning compressor, not the gearbox, but I haven't driven every car so am quite willing to accept that some manufacturers might use such a button for the gearbox. The button in Mercedes vehicles is often marked by W/S or W/E

But, not knowing your car, my recommendation is:

Drive carefully, leave up to 10 times as much distance as you normally would when braking.

Keep the gearbox in D. If your gearbox has a 'winter' setting, use it. If you have traction control, turn it off when on very thick ice and snow and you're doing less than 10mph or so. Turn it on when on a partially cleared or fully cleared road, and you're moving at speed.

Oh and bear in mind that in this weather, if you're making short trips, try not to make too much use of the rear screen heater, the fans, etc, because you'll get up one morning and find the battery flat. Use those functions to ensure your safety, not your comfort, unless you're driving long-distance.

Mips

My snowflake button makes it say WINTER on my dash (the bit where everything else lights up - I think its called the dash )

I don't have Air Conditioning I don't think.. it's a convertible.. do convertibles usually have AC?

gaz_jones

kaya wrote: »

i have a merc auto turbo diesel estate with a winter/summer button--when it snows i either walk or stay at home now as its impossible to drive, the traction control decides that as there is no traction it wont supply any power at all, completely useless bit of german junk which will be on flea bay shortly

Can you not turn TC off? I have the same problem on my BMW if I don't turn the TC off.

hothothot_3

thanks, well ,using a mish mash of everyones responses, I found the ideal way to drive and have had no problems. So big thanks to all. Heres what I do;

less than 15mph, traction control OFF and snowflake button ON - reading the manual the snowflake button keeps the car in a higher gear or some other technical thing - it basically prevents wheelspin, but it does use more fuel. it is excellent. If stuck in snow, traction control off and rock the car out by accellerating and changing quickly between R - N - D until your car is rocked out of the snow (worked for me).

once driving over 15 mph keep car in D as has been said, and traction control ON (this is essential and has stopped my car skidding)

obviously drive more carefully and slowly - but try not to come to a stop and then have to start again. judge far in advance the road.

snowflake button off once your on normal roads, keep it on if your in side streets with layer of snow and ice.

if pulling off from lights or a junction. Snowflake button on and traction on, feather the accelerator, pull away slowly and gear in D.

thats it - and no reason to just abandon car at home - I actually enjoy driving in these conditions

jackieb

kaya wrote: »

i have a merc auto turbo diesel estate with a winter/summer button--when it snows i either walk or stay at home now as its impossible to drive, the traction control decides that as there is no traction it wont supply any power at all, completely useless bit of german junk which will be on flea bay shortly

My sister has a 3 litre auto Deisel Merc. It's atrocious in the slightest of snow or ice. Never seen such a bad car in poor weather.

I have an automatic/multitronic and i'd say it's pretty good in this weather.

Petree

pitkin2020 wrote: »

maybe you should check your facts before giving people advice because you clearly are the one who does not know what you are talking about, and i take a quote from the AA site

If you have an automatic, then under normal driving conditions (motorways, etc) it's best to select 'Drive' and let the gearbox do the work throughout the full gear range. In slippery, snowy conditions you can make driving much safer by selecting '2', which limits the gear changes and also makes you less reliant on the brakes. Many modern autos have a 'Winter' mode which locks out first gear to reduce the risk of wheel spin. Check the handbook if you're not sure

now who is likely to take your advice over a proffessional motoring organisation???

Hi,

You haven't quite read the advice right, it's not worded too clearly tbf

When you select 2 it activates 'gears 1&2 only', selecting 1 is the only gear that will allow the car to only use the one gear (1st).

So selecting 2 does limit the gear changes, it only allows 1 and 2, it does also makes you less reliant on the brakes.

When you come off the accelerator the automatic gearbox changes its behaviour, (normally it would go into 3,4,5,6,7th, i.e. the highest gear it can manage, resulting in minimal engine breaking, which is what you want driving down the motorway on a sunny day doing 70mph wanting economy) instead it won't change up, meaning higher revs and more friction, making the car slow down without brakes. When you're speed is low enough, it will drop back into 1st ready for you to go.

Therefore having it in 3 does not mean it will only be in 3rd, try it out on a car with a gear display it will happily show you 1,2,3 as it goes. It does not only use the one gear, if you don't believe me put in in 3rd and come to a stop at the lights watch the rev counter,it will jump as it changes down and equally jump as it changes up (if you don't have a rev counter, open the window and turn off the radio, you will hear the changes like a manual)

Separate to this section is some advice about the winter button, this does the opposite of the 4,3,2 changes it doesn't lock out the gear above but a gear below, deactivating 1st. So press this and you do pull away in 2nd, have the stick in 2 and then you will only have access to 2nd gear, but in 3 you will have access to 2nd and 3rd and so on.

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Even on a car with flappy paddles, or a gear stick you flick the car will automatically change down for you to prevent the engine stalling.
Unless you're car stalls when you have it in 3,4,5 and are doing 1mph then it is not in that gear!

For safe winter driving in an automatic you have a couple of options,

activate winter mode if you have it, and you can generally keep the vehicle in D, should you feel like the car is running away from you, then drop it down a notch or two depending on how many gears you have.

If you have no winter mode then you will be pulling away in 1st, you have no choice, so try and keep your car rolling up to lights and not brake and stop all the time (back to school message - it takes more energy to begin movement than it does to keep it moving) so keep it moving.

Keep the revs low and the throttle constant to prevent jolting at the wheels which leads into skids and slipping.

If you get stuck and can safely 'faff' about without injuring yourself or anyone else then try two things after putting your wheels straight ahead.

1) rocking the car - this places stress on your gearbox but you will have this advice in your manual so its not dangerous as such - rock the car between D and R, keep the revs low but don't stop the car inbetween the switch, the idea is you build up a swinging motion until this force overcomes the obstacle preventing you from moving forward.

2) Build you're revs slightly and drop the car into D from N, it should pull a bit as it drops in freeing you, if this fails then drop into D and apply 1/2 throttle, the wheels will begin to spin but if they gain traction will propel you out of your stuck position.

If you feel unsafe doing these, then call the AA/RAC and wait.

Remember Mercs, BMW and lots of bigger cars are rear wheel drive, the front wheels which have a heavy engine, you, all the accessories weighing on them do nothing, the rear ones which have some carpet and those golf clubs you haven't taken out have no weight pushing them into the road making them grip, so either borrow some rugby players and sit them in the back or add some weight to the rear i suggest a nice bag or 2 of sand or salt (double handy) as thats 25-50kg more grip pushing down.

Hope this helps and drive safe