Cruise Control & Adverse Weather Conditions

[Benzowner]

I recently received an e mail from an ausie friend who heard of an accident. The driver was ok, but his car did not fare so well. Anyways, the car was being driven on a wet road with cruise control, when suddenly the car leapt forward, threw itself off line and colided with a wall. The police duly arrived and when the driver explained the circumstances to the officer, the officer immediately asked if he was driving with cruise control on, to which he replied yes. That was the cause of the accident explained the officer. The car had apparantly started aquaplaining taking the load off the engine which made the wheels spin quicker. Thats the bit I don't quite understand, but I will accept it. When contact was made with the road again, the car was effectively catapulted forward, with the driver loosing control. Apparantly, one of the Japanese car makers have fitted a switch to the cruise control which deactivates it when the windscreen wipers are turned on. I drive with cruise control on in all conditions, apart from snow and ie of course, but is this possible to happen?

 

[A210AMG]

Hello,


My dad once told me not to use cruise in the wet as he read something similar. I don't use it in the wet but I guess if your going to aquaplan it will happen anyway?

 

[crockers]

I hate cruise control ........ roads too crowded, uses more fuel - much prefer to drive "in control" but use speedtronic all the time...:bannana:

 

[television]

Distronic

 

[PaulE230]

I hate cruise control ........ roads too crowded, uses more fuel - much prefer to drive "in control" but use speedtronic all the time...:bannana:

I agree about the crowded roads but how does cruise control use more fuel ?

I pressumed that if the cruise control was set on the motorway that it would use less fuel

 

[television]

I agree about the crowded roads but how does cruise control use more fuel ?

I pressumed that if the cruise control was set on the motorway that it would use less fuel

If going up a long climb,in cruise the box can kick down to maintain the speed, where as without you can coax it up without

 

[PaulE230]

If going up a long climb,in cruise the box can kick down to maintain the speed, where as without you can coax it up without

Never new that.

Well I live and learn !

 

[glojo]

What an interesting thread. As a thick lay person I would have thought that as soon as the wheels spun it would think it was going quicker and attempt to slow down? Could it possibly be this that causes the vehicle to loose control? (Question not statement)

Until I hear to the contrary I will pass this info on to the boss. i.e. Don't use cruise control in the wet.

Thanks for posting it.

Regards
John

 

[MBManInKen]

This should not be a problem on a modern car with ESP. The ESP control will take absolute precedence in terms of taking control.

This story is also inaccurate in other respects. Some useful info by clicking this link.

 

[Dryce]

I recently received an e mail from an ausie friend who heard of an accident.

This email has been doing the rounds in various forms (and with different locations) for years.

There is a bit of truth to it in that some US states recommend that you don't use cruise control in bad weather.

Modern systems such as those in MBs since the mid/late nineties tie in with ESP. If ESP detects a skid apart from doing it's individual wheel braking chicanery to control it it will also cut the cruise control.

 

[fuzzer]

i use cruise all the time. Best thing ever!

 

[glojo]

What an interesting thread. As a thick lay person I would have thought that as soon as the wheels spun it would think it was going quicker and attempt to slow down? Could it possibly be this that causes the vehicle to loose control? (Question not statement)

Looks like Lay Person's logic rules okay
Looks like I won't tell the boss.

If the driven wheels skid because they lose grip, the spinning wheels will cause the speedo to show a higher reading which will force the cruise control to release the throttle faster than most drivers. Regardless of whether the car itself slows down or speeds up, the cruise control will always reduce the throttle no matter what until the driven wheels slow down back to the pre-set speed.

but on a long run then cruise control is a nice aid but should not be as economical as a good driver with at least average observation and inticipation. If you lack these attributes then cruise control might be more economical.

Regards
John

 

[television]

An interesting subject.

We have had talks on gearbox memories, well if you have been driving hard and then go into cruise, the cruise will respond quickly in keeping that car to the same speed.

If you have been driving in a leasurly manner and go into cruise it will respond in a much more gentle way in keeping the car at the set speed

 

[ROBB]

I use CC when in can.
Some months ago whilst driving to work in the wet, the rear (i think) wheels did indeed start aquaplaning and the cruise control kicked itself off.
I didn't know anything about it until i saw the speedo reducing - and that is the only way it could have happened.

I like finding out the car does stuff i didn't know about
rob

 

[crockers]

An interesting subject.

We have had talks on gearbox memories, well if you have been driving hard and then go into cruise, the cruise will respond quickly in keeping that car to the same speed.

If you have been driving in a leasurly manner and go into cruise it will respond in a much more gentle way in keeping the car at the set speed

Doesn't this depend on which gearbox one has?

 

[television]

Doesn't this depend on which gearbox one has?

Yes all 722 boxes onwards, so thats from around 96 on

 

[crockers]

I didn't realise mine adapted to the way I drove...just thought I had C and S settings and 7 speeds to go through.....with S being standard and C comfort (i.e. not taking off in 1st and changing up sooner)..

 

[marcos]

Cruise control will deactivate as soon as any slippage is detected by the ESP system, its done this since at least 2002 on all MB's.

 

[Benzowner]

I must admit, when I first read this, I did wonder whether MB cruise is a tad more sophisticated than the general populus. I know one of the systems works off the prop shaft to deternmine constant speed when set, not sure how MB cruise works. There is also a lot more electronics in cruise than there was a few years ago, ESP on most cars is a fairly recent addition for example. One for the memory box though.

 

[television]

ESP was introduced in 1996 followed by BAS in 1996 so people have to be careful when reading a general thread as to what does what on there care and the capabilities in adverse conditions