FWD snow question.

[OverVolt]

Is it easier to get started in 1st gear, 2nd gear, or just keep it in normal drive when struggling for grip in the snow in FWD? (Say, up a hill)

Thoughts? I have an auto but I'm comfortable just going 30 on side roads in 2nd gear for example, I do understand how cars work. I think someone with a manual would know which gear gets you the best grip from a stop in FWD though. First gear would be more direct to the road but 2nd gear would be less torque so less chance for wheel slippage.

The drive home was rather brutal

Passed a couple people with apparently less grip than me though . I got all the way home and I was like aww... totally forget about D1 and D2. Wonder if that would've made it less dicey on those side street hills.

 

[thedarkwolf]

Most automatics won't actually start in 2nd. When you put the stick in 2nd it just tells the trans not to go past 2nd and still starts in 1st. With a manual it depends on the car and the situation.

 

[OverVolt]

Most automatics won't actually start in 2nd. When you put the stick in 2nd it just tells the trans not to go past 2nd and still starts in 1st. With a manual it depends on the car and the situation.

Oh there doesn't seem to be much point in that then. Everyone always told me D1 or D2 was better in snow... now I have doubts.

 

[NutBucket]

D1 is potentially useful if your car starts in 2nd gear. I know it used to be somewhat common.

 

[eldorado99]

Oh there doesn't seem to be much point in that then. Everyone always told me D1 or D2 was better in snow... now I have doubts.

Som autos have "2nd gear start" but wolfy is right most just limit the top gear the tranny will go to.

 

[fstime]

Some cars will lock the car in 2nd gear when in D2, but like others said, most will probably just limit you to 2nd.

I don't think it really maters if your tranny doesn't lock into 2nd. Off the line slippage can be somewhat eliminated using soft throttle control.

Going up a hill in 2nd could be catastrophic. Less torque means you might not have enough power to get up the hill. It is sometimes better to spin yours tires a bit and power your way up as best you can rather than start rolling backwards.

With proper snow tires, this conversation becomes almost irrelevant.

 

[LTC8K6]

Is it easier to get started in 1st gear, 2nd gear, or just keep it in normal drive when struggling for grip in the snow in FWD? (Say, up a hill)

Thoughts? I have an auto but I'm comfortable just going 30 on side roads in 2nd gear for example, I do understand how cars work. I think someone with a manual would know which gear gets you the best grip from a stop in FWD though. First gear would be more direct to the road but 2nd gear would be less torque so less chance for wheel slippage.

The drive home was rather brutal

Passed a couple people with apparently less grip than me though . I got all the way home and I was like aww... totally forget about D1 and D2. Wonder if that would've made it less dicey on those side street hills.

What car? Typically your owner's manual would tell you if 2nd gear is beneficial in snow to get moving.

For example, from a Ford Ranger owner's manual auto trans:

2 (Second)
Use 2 (Second) to start-up on
slippery roads or to provide
additional engine braking on
downgrades. Transmission operates
only in Second gear.

 

[DaTT]

Just make sure you turn Traction Control OFF, otherwise you'll never be able to spin your tires to get forward momentum.

 

[SparkyJJO]

Just make sure you turn Traction Control OFF, otherwise you'll never be able to spin your tires to get forward momentum.

Spinning your tires isn't really the best way to get moving

 

[The Boston Dangler]

Just make sure you turn Traction Control OFF, otherwise you'll never be able to spin your tires to get forward momentum.

even when it's off, it's not really off

 

[destrekor]

hmm... I've always just, you know, drove.

If I was driving my parents' SUV, and roads weren't well, I sometimes turned on 4WD. When I drive my car (FWD), I just put it in Drive (or Reverse) and push on the Go peddle.

I do ever so strongly desire to have that new 6-speed Subaru WRX. It looks sexy and, because of its pedigree, it must drive even sexier. Depending on control options, if the non-STI variant has selectable settings for traction control for example, I will probably be both interested in, and always aware of, what settings to do when. I want that level of control and awesomeness.

 

[MagnusTheBrewer]

No matter what your driving in bad snow /ice conditions, it's foolish to drive over 30 on city streets. Waiting for a second when the light turns green is a good plan when there's traffic.

 

[destrekor]

No matter what your driving in bad snow /ice conditions, it's foolish to drive over 30 on city streets. Waiting for a second when the light turns green is a good plan when there's traffic.

It does work in most everyone's favor though, when it's real bad, the going at the start is slow and steady - enough that most any late-stoppers who are sliding through should be well visible and either they passed already or you could stop in time.

But in general, yes - even daylight dry conditions... going the absolutely second it goes green (unless you have perfect vision of surrounding area - sometimes possible, but I digress ) is rarely a good plan.

I gun it after waiting a moment.

 

[biostud]

Do you use winter or all year tires?

 

[Red Squirrel]

I have auto, so I've never did anything different in the snow. Though, I find when starting (say, from a light or stop sign) you need to slowly accelerate and if you feel the tire about to spin let go the gas and reapply. Basically you are giving it short pulses. If you spin let go immediately but reapply immediately. I don't know if that makes sense. It just comes natural to me as I'm used to it. I've always driven with summer/all season tires even in winter. Though I got my first set of winters this year. It's one of those things where I just never bothered but knew I probably should do, so finally got some this year.

 

[Raizinman]

Traction Control prevents wheel spin. How much traction do you have if you just sat there spinning your tires? Traction control uses the anti-lock braking system to prevent your wheels from spinning when you accelerate. Because once the wheels start to spin, you lose all traction and lose directional control of the vehicle. You've probably experienced this phenomenon, often referred to as fishtailing.

What happens when you are spinning your wheels at 30 or 40 MPH and then a wheel hits concrete? Do you think you might break something like an axel or transaxle? Yep, you sure will. What happens if you forget to turn your traction control back on and you get into an accident. Either the police or forensics notice you had your traction control off. How much blame from opposing side or your insurance company will you get? Quite a bit.

So when should you turn off traction control? The only reason would be if you're already stuck in a pile of snow. Sometimes the only way out of a big snowdrift is to "blast out." That means hitting the gas and letting the wheel spin until it digs down and grabs onto something. You can't really do that with traction control on. Again, you risk damage to your vehicle if it hits concrete and your wheel is spinning too fast.

 

[z1ggy]

I wouldn't know... I have AWD

Although I'm probably buying a gencoupe pretty soon. Byebye AWD hello RWD.

 

[iamwiz82]

It completely depends on the car. If you have a manual option for your car you may have the ability to start off in 2nd. Both mine and my fiancee's have this ability. Hers is a 4wd Grand Cherokee and when you put it in snow mode it starts from 2nd by design, along with a couple of other changes to transmission and throttle mapping, and traction control changes.

 

[DaTT]

Spinning your tires isn't really the best way to get moving

If you have ever driven in the snow, you know what I mean......I obviously don't mean tromp on it. There is always going to be some spin and TC will make it more difficult to get moving.

 

[DaTT]

even when it's off, it's not really off

Mine is...

 

[bruceb]

On my Grand Prix (1999) I find it better to start off in gear 2 .. also to turn Traction Control Off when you are trying to get unstuck, then once you are out put it back to normal and return to D gear. I do not know if the GM automatics start in 2nd or if they just will not upshift past second.

 

[LTC8K6]

It completely depends on the car. If you have a manual option for your car you may have the ability to start off in 2nd. Both mine and my fiancee's have this ability. Hers is a 4wd Grand Cherokee and when you put it in snow mode it starts from 2nd by design, along with a couple of other changes to transmission and throttle mapping, and traction control changes.

I love that throttle re-map in the Jeeps. It gives such fine throttle control when it's slippery.

 

[iamwiz82]

I love that throttle re-map in the Jeeps. It gives such fine throttle control when it's slippery.

Having put a fair amount of seat time in hers I really want one now, 3.0 turbo diesel for me, though. :wub:

 

[Kaido]

I wouldn't know... I have AWD

Although I'm probably buying a gencoupe pretty soon. Byebye AWD hello RWD.

Just wait for the 2015 AWD version!

http://www.autoblog.com/2013/11/26/2015-hyundai-genesis-review-first-drive/

 

[mmntech]

I know Hondas allow second gear start, so I use it a lot in the snow. My Civic doesn't have much problem in the snow provided it's not too deep. I don't even have snows on it.

If you can't lock it in D2, you really just have to be very light on the gas. Good throttle control is a big part of what separates skilled drivers from bad ones.

FWD cars tend to be okay getting going in snow since all the weight is over the drive axle. Understeer is the bigger danger you gotta watch out for.