the automatic car that loves to dance on ice

love_lifer

re original post- karma perhaps?

Petree

one more thing - there is no need to switch off the winter mode when moving, as you won't be needing 1st anyway. Keep it on all the journey, the worst that could happen is you are at a nice, dry, clean junction and pull away in 2nd which does....nothing really aside from not make you quite as speedy.

littlewren

Sorry to bump an old thread, but I was reading through this to try and get some advice for my DD who has an automatic Citroen C3 and found the ice a real problem last year. She found it difficult to even crawl out of her work's car park, as the car was sliding all the time.

She too has a snowflake near the heating controls, but it is her air conditioning apparently. I say 'apparently' because when she got the car second hand a few years ago it needed the air conditioning sorted out and she was told it would cost quite a bit, so she's never had it done.

She took the car into Citroen's garage and they confirmed that it was the air conditioning button, yet it is definitely a snowflake. Why would Citroen use a snowflake for air conditioning?

The Citroen garage told her that her only option was to get winter tyres.

Does anyone else have a snowflake button for their air conditioning? :undecided

gilbert_and_sullivan

littlewren wrote: »

Sorry to bump an old thread, but I was reading through this to try and get some advice for my DD who has an automatic Citroen C3 and found the ice a real problem last year. She found it difficult to even crawl out of her work's car park, as the car was sliding all the time.


The Citroen garage told her that her only option was to get winter tyres.

Unless your daughters car is the incredibly rare 1.6 SX auto which has a proper torque converter auto box and is a revelation in smoothness in comparison, it is more than likely equipped with a 'Sensodrive' box (though may be labelled EGS or something like that now seeing as initials apprently sound better in the brochure), which though it changes gear automatically is not really an auto box in the traditional sense.

These automated manul boxes are simply a manual box that automatically engages the clutch for you as you press the throttle pedal and change gear for you electrically, to save clutch wear the engagement has to be reasonably quick, hence pull away quickly leading to wheelspin.

There is no cure for this type of thing, that and manoeuvering control will always be a weakness in this type of box.

The Citroen garage are quite right, the only thing you can do is to fit tyres capable of gripping on ice and snow.

Many threads here and elsewhere about the merits of all season and winter tyres, some swear by them others ridicule them.

Gloomendoom

littlewren wrote: »

Sorry to bump an old thread, but I was reading through this to try and get some advice for my DD who has an automatic Citroen C3 and found the ice a real problem last year. She found it difficult to even crawl out of her work's car park, as the car was sliding all the time.

She too has a snowflake near the heating controls, but it is her air conditioning apparently. I say 'apparently' because when she got the car second hand a few years ago it needed the air conditioning sorted out and she was told it would cost quite a bit, so she's never had it done.

She took the car into Citroen's garage and they confirmed that it was the air conditioning button, yet it is definitely a snowflake. Why would Citroen use a snowflake for air conditioning?

The Citroen garage told her that her only option was to get winter tyres.

Does anyone else have a snowflake button for their air conditioning? :undecided

It's not that uncommon. I've seen it on several cars I have driven but usually in close proximity to the rest of the heating controls. Likewise the snowflake buttons for the gearbox are usually close to the gear selector.

BTW there was some suspect advice earlier in the thread. No conventional auto I have ever driven has started in 2nd if the selector is put in '2'. As somebody said, it will just start in 1st and move up to 2nd where it will stay until you hit the rev limit... then they they usually change up a gear.

Like any car, an auto will need a very delicate touch on the pedals when driving in slippery conditions. Winter tyres will help.

movilogo

The Citroen garage told her that her only option was to get winter tyres.

and the reason for not listening to that advice is....?

welda

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

I have the SLK, useless last year, used the other motor, priced winter tyres.................OUCH, could pay off a third world dept :eek:

scooby75

I drive an automatic too and find the best way is to move off slowly - even if it is a snail's pace, and gradually pick up speed when safe. Brake gently in plenty of time and avoid sharp turning - there is no point in speeding up to a point where you need to stop and then slam the brakes on, regardless of what some speeding idiot behind you thinks you should be doing.

cardinalbiggles

alcot33uk wrote: »

Just be grateful you dont have a CVT box!!!

Why? I never had problems with my CVT in the snow. To be honest it sounds to me like the OP needs to learn to drive in winter conditions to be honest. If your pulling away wheel spinning all the time its not the auto that's at fault its you!

anotherbaldrick

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

A neighbour up the hill from us had a "S" class saloon, when we were all snowed up last year several of us clearing snow watched with interest as she came down our hill sideways. We did not have any sightings of her returning hime for quite some while.