Share a winter tip

[Scott_F]

Coming up to a halt sign in very slippery conditions it can help to slip an automatic gearbox car into neutral especially if the car is still in its fast warm up idle mode. Makes it easier for the front brakes not to fight against the transmission pushing the car forward.

I've always thought that selecting neutral in an automatic gearbox whilst the car is moving is a no-no.

 

[grober]

I've always thought that selecting neutral in an automatic gearbox whilst the car is moving is a no-no.

When slowing down in slippery conditions maybe to get the advantage of engine braking but in my experience just before drawing to a complete halt in an automatic its a good thing. Its not advisable to to "change down" in an automatic to increase engine braking in very slippery conditions either, since selecting a lower gear without the ability to "declutch" can cause the rear wheels to lock up and put the car into a spin!

 

[st13phil]

I've always thought that selecting neutral in an automatic gearbox whilst the car is moving is a no-no.

Not a problem at low speeds and in the circumstances grober describes.

I drove my W204 (on summer tyres) all through the bad snow conditions two years ago and there were times where it was impossible to stop unless I put the transmision into neutral. I became quite adept at knocking it out of drive at just the right moment to come to a smooth stop

Also, if you do become stuck somewhere, you can normally induce a rocking back and forth motion by careful timing of the alternating selection of drive and reverse under very light throttle until you build up enough momentum to keep moving in the desired direction.

 

[trapperjohn]

Yup did it all last winter and the winter and the winter before. Just slipping the car into "N" at no more than a snails pace just before you come to a halt. Nothing untoward happened to my gearbox or running gear. And I stopped when I wanted to without the shove of the auto box fighting against the brakes on the car.

 

[Mercy1]

Surely, there is no problem slipping it into neutral while moving - it's shifting it back into Drive while on move that will do damage..??

 

[o2drive]

Just take the same luke warm 2L bottle of water and pour it on the outside of the windows and you wont need to do any scraping of ice at all.

add a couple of drops of washing up liquid cleans screen and won't re freeze

 

[Silver CL55]

My keyless go allows me to take the keys back in the house after starting the car.
I assume it would konk out if anybody nicked it?

C.

Don't forget your insurance company won't pay out if you leave your keys in the car with the engine running, whilst you are in the house waiting for it to warm up / defrost.

 

[WillDeBeest]

Mine beeps angrily at me if I move off downhill while still in N. (I often have to queue down a steep hill on my way home, so I knock it out of D when I can feel it straining against the parking brake.)

Never tried engaging N before stopping, though. I'm still new to daily auto driving, and I've found coming to a precise halt at, say, a ticket barrier requires a subtly different technique from a manual. A slippery surface would only accentuate that.

 

[V12]

My keyless go allows me to take the keys back in the house after starting the car.
I assume it would konk out if anybody nicked it?

C.

Give it a go. I once rode my dad's Harley to the dealership for its first service and when I got there I realised I had left the keys in his garage. Typically I had already turned the bike off! I wish the keyless go on his Hartley would have cut out once the keys were out of range but I fear it only authorises the key when you demand the ignition to do something.

 

[219]

Surely, there is no problem slipping it into neutral while moving - it's shifting it back into Drive while on move that will do damage..??

That isn't a problem either .

You can bump start your automatic by getting up to 30 or so in neutral , then dropping it into gear : it's in the manual .

 

[V12]

I thought you had to tow it up to 30 in D to get the fluid pumping?

 

[BQF]

Five genuine ones.

1. Always carry a folding shovel in the boot.
2. If it snows massively and you get stuck in a RWD car, perhaps an E270 CDi, don't spin the wheels, otherwise you just create black ice
3. If you've ignored No2, let the tyres down to 5psi - the extra contact patch should get you out of the ice
4. always keep a compressor in the boot to re-inflate your tyres
5. Buy something other than a 2005 E270 CDi

 

[mct_cars]

Buy a Ford. Heated windscreen. By the time you've scraped the sides, got back in, a quick flick of the wipers and off you go.

 

[alhucoll]

• Keep the car in the garage overnight until you need it
• Get a set of snow tyres fitted
• By chance, when away at work in sunnier climates, it will snow
• By chance, when away at work in sunnier climates, it will be icy
• Get through to spring with no issue
• Wonder why you went to the trouble and expence of the winter rubber
• 

Hope it works out that way, but then again it would be an experience..............empty snow filled car park :bannana:

 

[Charles Morgan]

If you have an older car with a tendency to steam up, water has got in as seals have aged. If you have a dehumidifier leave one running in the car for a day - it's amazing how much water will be extracted and it should help speed up clearance of any condensation when the car is warming up.

 

[Moonie]

My keyless go allows me to take the keys back in the house after starting the car.
I assume it would konk out if anybody nicked it?

C.

It wont konk out until they turn the engine off/run out of petrol/crash

 

[Moonie]

Give it a go. I once rode my dad's Harley to the dealership for its first service and when I got there I realised I had left the keys in his garage. Typically I had already turned the bike off! I wish the keyless go on his Hartley would have cut out once the keys were out of range but I fear it only authorises the key when you demand the ignition to do something.

My previous car used to beep and display "Key not in vehicle!" on the dash if you set off without the key.

 

[developer]

Buy a Ford. Heated windscreen. By the time you've scraped the sides, got back in, a quick flick of the wipers and off you go.

As my wife reminds me when I'm waxing lyrical about the stuff on my car.

 

[ccp]

So what do we all think an insurance company's view would be if the car is running (to defrost) but all doors are locked? Entry would have to be forced in some way, or using the emergency key which would be in my pocket.

 

[Charles Morgan]

What does the policy say?