Thanx, Shawn. I'll give that a shot. But it would seem common sense would lead one to believe that you'd want TC in the snow. Go figger.
Still kind of un-nerving when only one wheel is chattering.
The "Sonic in the snow" MASTER thread
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Thanx, Shawn. I'll give that a shot. But it would seem common sense would lead one to believe that you'd want TC in the snow. Go figger.
Still kind of un-nerving when only one wheel is chattering.
Palmaris
New member
Thanx, Shawn. I'll give that a shot. But it would seem common sense would lead one to believe that you'd want TC in the snow. Go figger.
its true, I basically press and hold the button for 6 seconds every time I get in the car. Its much better. That and the brakes are touchy so it takes a gentle touch to be able to use them without locking them up in the snow.
ChicksHateMe
Member
I have had the traction control mess with me. Especially on a pot-hole filled road.
I read a few old threads about creating a circuit to automatically press the button, but didn't see anyone say they had a variation of it working. If it is, can you point me to it?
I was thinking about doing it. I'd try to do it with a simple Op-Amp circuit.
Two resistors (10K and 2K) to create a 10V reference on one of the Op-Amps inputs.
A resistor and capacitor on the other input designed so the capacitor would reach 10V after around 13 seconds.
When car turns on, the op-amp circuit would get powered up. With the capacitor at 0v and the other input set to 10v, the relay would turn on and short the switch, as if you were pressing it yourself.
After about 13 seconds the capacitor on the other input would charge above the 10 volt reference, switching the relay off, and from then on you could just use the switch as normal.
I haven't done it, and it's all theory, but I think this would be like pressing the switch when you start it up. Be pretty easy to do with 7 or 8 cheap parts.
741 Op Amp
2K Resistor
10 Resistor
12V Relay
Approx 47uf cap to keep 12v feeding circuit fairly stable, protecting from noise.
circuit board
Timing circiut.
22uf Cap
330K Resistor
When you turn on car, and this circuit gets 12v, it should turn the relay on, and act like you are pressing that button for 13 seconds, give or take.
I don't drive much, and it's been years since I've been an electronic engineer, but I may try this and see if it could be that simple.
Once it warms up, I might toss the circuit together. Just need to find the best place to jump the switch and get access to 12v. Probably only need to jump one of the buttons wires too because the other one is either ground or 12v, so may be easier to put the circuit in the engine compartment, or under dash. Just need to find the wire....
I read a few old threads about creating a circuit to automatically press the button, but didn't see anyone say they had a variation of it working. If it is, can you point me to it?
I was thinking about doing it. I'd try to do it with a simple Op-Amp circuit.
Two resistors (10K and 2K) to create a 10V reference on one of the Op-Amps inputs.
A resistor and capacitor on the other input designed so the capacitor would reach 10V after around 13 seconds.
When car turns on, the op-amp circuit would get powered up. With the capacitor at 0v and the other input set to 10v, the relay would turn on and short the switch, as if you were pressing it yourself.
After about 13 seconds the capacitor on the other input would charge above the 10 volt reference, switching the relay off, and from then on you could just use the switch as normal.
I haven't done it, and it's all theory, but I think this would be like pressing the switch when you start it up. Be pretty easy to do with 7 or 8 cheap parts.
741 Op Amp
2K Resistor
10 Resistor
12V Relay
Approx 47uf cap to keep 12v feeding circuit fairly stable, protecting from noise.
circuit board
Timing circiut.
22uf Cap
330K Resistor
When you turn on car, and this circuit gets 12v, it should turn the relay on, and act like you are pressing that button for 13 seconds, give or take.
I don't drive much, and it's been years since I've been an electronic engineer, but I may try this and see if it could be that simple.
Once it warms up, I might toss the circuit together. Just need to find the best place to jump the switch and get access to 12v. Probably only need to jump one of the buttons wires too because the other one is either ground or 12v, so may be easier to put the circuit in the engine compartment, or under dash. Just need to find the wire....
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The Champ
New member
I've lived in snow country all my life and have owned many cars with traction control.
Very rarely do I turn it off, as it was designed to aid the car under most slippery conditions.
The few times I have turned it off were extreme conditions where it was necessary to get the tires spinning to get out of an extremely slippery condition. This only happens once or twice per winter for me.
Now if you're wanting to slide the car around, most definitely turn off the traction control...
Very rarely do I turn it off, as it was designed to aid the car under most slippery conditions.
The few times I have turned it off were extreme conditions where it was necessary to get the tires spinning to get out of an extremely slippery condition. This only happens once or twice per winter for me.
Now if you're wanting to slide the car around, most definitely turn off the traction control...
ChicksHateMe
Member
I wonder what tires they had on when they designed, tested and tuned these braking system controls. Hankooks or real tires? I'd bet they make some difference...
ChicksHateMe
Member
Sounds like something is REALLY wrong there. Does traction control being off really help that?
SS1982
New member
No snow all year and the night before I go to pick up my 13' LT 1.4 6 speed manual my daughter decides she wants to do the "snow dance" and of course we got about 3inchs over night. Handled great with stock tires but I did turn off the bad driver buttons and I was born and raised in MI. The last storm we had around 6" ish thanks to that d**n snow dance but I've had the car a bit longer now . Took a left turn way fast hit the clutch pulled the ebrake dumped it in 2nd and slide sideways for about a half block until I James 3rd and straightened out. Theses little cars are soon much fun! :banana:
Took a left turn way fast hit the clutch pulled the ebrake dumped it in 2nd and slide sideways for about a half block until I James 3rd and straightened out. Theses little cars are soon much fun! :banana:
The Champ
New member
I drove from Madison, WI back home to MN yesterday in my first real test of "the Sonic in the snow". Missed the forecast of the snow for Saturday night/Sunday - otherwise we probably would have taken the AWD Pontiac Torrent.
Only issue was ground clearance on the side streets that were unplowed. I made it through ok, but I'm used to having more ground clearance in either my company car (2011 Impala) or our other daily driver (the Pontiac Torrent).
Had to chuckle at times on the drive home. Just south of Baraboo, WI on a 2 lane section, I had to slow down to 30 MPH for a 4WD SUV. Got a feeling that that driver was not used to snow... Luckily it only took a few miles for me to get by.
I had replaced the OE tires with a set of Goodyear Ultra Grip Ice winter tires in December. Those things really grip! First time I've ever had winter tires. I put 1,000 miles a week on my Impala that has a good all season tire - so I'm used to driving in all kinds of snow. But with the lower ground clearance and lightweight car - I figured I splurge on the winter tires. Glad I did.
Only issue was ground clearance on the side streets that were unplowed. I made it through ok, but I'm used to having more ground clearance in either my company car (2011 Impala) or our other daily driver (the Pontiac Torrent).
Had to chuckle at times on the drive home. Just south of Baraboo, WI on a 2 lane section, I had to slow down to 30 MPH for a 4WD SUV. Got a feeling that that driver was not used to snow... Luckily it only took a few miles for me to get by.
I had replaced the OE tires with a set of Goodyear Ultra Grip Ice winter tires in December. Those things really grip! First time I've ever had winter tires. I put 1,000 miles a week on my Impala that has a good all season tire - so I'm used to driving in all kinds of snow. But with the lower ground clearance and lightweight car - I figured I splurge on the winter tires. Glad I did.
Blue Moon Sonic
New member
How'd you enjoy the snow in Madison? Kinda surprised that the roads are still not fully cleared yet.
mitdr774
also a dinner prick
Keep in mind I did shovel twice yesterday.
Both grills were clear when I left work and some had fallen off by the time I took this picture, but I did a bit of plowing through the subdivision.
Only had one delay of progress due to ruts at an intersection and having to stop first. That being said, this is the last winter for this set of snow tires.
Both grills were clear when I left work and some had fallen off by the time I took this picture, but I did a bit of plowing through the subdivision.
Only had one delay of progress due to ruts at an intersection and having to stop first. That being said, this is the last winter for this set of snow tires.
Blue Moon Sonic
New member
This happened yesterday afternoon from last night on my way back home. Not fun getting down an inclined driveway while it's snowing and drifting.
The Champ
New member
My daughter lives in a newer home development on the SW side of Madison - almost in Verona. I left town just before 1:00 PM and they hadn't touched any of the roads there. Once I got out to Cross Country Road and then on to Cty M the roads had been plowed. I took 18 North up through Baraboo and then on to I90 until I was 10 miles from home.
Madison doesn't get near the snow that I normally get where I live in MN. I've had to bust through 42" tall snow drifts in my driveway with my Husqvarna AWD tractor with a 42" wide blower before.
Madison is a nice town. We get down there several times a year.
The Champ
New member
A few years back, when the Metrodome went down during a December blizzard - I blew my driveway out SEVEN times on Saturday. Went to my neighbors Christmas party that night and believe it or not when I drove home I couldn't get into my driveway because I had 36" snow drifts in my driveway...
ChicksHateMe
Member
Northern Mass - Here's today - 2015-02-02. The damn wind was awful. It was like it was following me around, filling in what I just shoveled. Face could only take about 15 minutes at a time during the afternoon because of the windchill and small, hard ice particles blowing around. It was about 3 foot or more on the drifts. About the same height as the storm I had last week, but this stuff was heavier.
Thursday might make it a 3-peat with over another foot possible. I cursed myself though. Just before the 1-2 punch I said how great this winter was. Agrhhh.....
I still have the Hankooks, and they are TERRIBLE if there's anything on the road, so I won't be going anywhere for a while...
I won $400.00 in a SB pool, so I think that will become my new tires. Still haven't decided which ones though....
Thursday might make it a 3-peat with over another foot possible. I cursed myself though. Just before the 1-2 punch I said how great this winter was. Agrhhh.....
I still have the Hankooks, and they are TERRIBLE if there's anything on the road, so I won't be going anywhere for a while...
I won $400.00 in a SB pool, so I think that will become my new tires. Still haven't decided which ones though....
Blue Moon Sonic
New member
I just wish Madison would get more snow at times. Kind of hard to go snowmobiling when there is hardly any snow and your forced to drive 4 hours into Vilas county.
Really doesn't surprise me that they wouldn't have cleared the roads in the verona/madison area except the major highways that people usually travel on. If your in the area, I'm down for buying a few drinks.
ChicksHateMe
Member
Does this count as driving in the snow?
I remember we had that on a lake around where I grew up. Lake had open access and anyone could go out there. Even taught my H.S. GF to drive a stick on the ice. Eventually some drunk drove on the ice late in the season and fell through, so they gated the lake and stopped the fun.
Good Memories though...