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Maintenance & Repair Winter Driving - are you prepared?
149 messages, Last post on Aug 19, 2009 at 8:38 AM
You are in the Maintenance & Repair Forum. Your Host is mr_shiftright
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The snow and ice is here! Roads are slick. Snow plows are making snow banks at the end of your driveway faster than you can clear it out. What are you doing to (or putting in) your car to prepare?
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I just put my snow tires on the car a few days ago. Most important thing for winter driving. Even all-wheel drive vehicles benefit tremendously from them. The reason why you see so many SUV's in the ditch is because 4 wheel drive doesn't help you turn or stop, it only gets you going faster before you crash 
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We had our first signifcant snow overnight. I find that I have to get a whole different mindset for winter driving. My mental goal is not to have either the ABS or the ASR kick in during the whole winter. When the roads are bad, I allow myself more time to get places so I remove the temptation to step on it. Of course, this is on top of having the car fully prepared for the winter. Fluids changed and up to snuff, proper emergency gear stowed in the trunk, tires in good shape and properly inflated. It works for me. |
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1) Filled up the gas tank and checked fluids. 2) Sleeping bag in the trunk with some food. 3) Extra gloves and fur hat in the back seat. 4) Little pre-season practice in the local parks parking lot so that i could practice braking in the snow. 5) Antifreeze replaced next week.
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For the last few years I've made it through with RWD and all-seasons. Just got to try out AWD and all-seasons. Found an empty parking lot with some now, and gave the AWD a workout. Gotta say it's great. The key is to drive within the limits of your vehicle and the conditions. So whether you drive a Civic or SUV, you stay out of the snow banks. Remember it's just as easy to crash a Civic as it is a SUV. Preparations: Put a shovel, towels, electric ice scraper, jumper cables, salt, hat and spare gloves in the trunk. |
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I don't usually do a whole lot to prerpare. I carry my tow strap year round and make sure there are some warm gloves in the truck. I always keep good tires on the truck, so that is never an issue. I will comment on the people that say 4 wheel drive does not help turn or stop. If you have front wheel drive, you will not gain much with 4X4 when turning, but you would gain over rear wheel drive. It is better to be pulled through the corner than pushed. As for stopping, or atleast holding your speed, 4X4 will definately help, especially with stick shift. You can manage the braking by adjusting the engine speed. Much better than the sudden braking. If you start to slip, you can add a tad of fuel to get the tires turning which gives better traction and control. Of course if you think you can drive faster than the conditions warrant because you have 4 wheel drive, then you are crazy. I have only pulled one 4X4 out of the ditch, but several 2 wheel drives. I don't think there are more 4X4s in the ditch than 2s unless the conditions cause everyone with 2s to stay home.
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| Jumper cables are ok if you have someone around that is willing to give you a jump. I have found that a portable jumper power pack is the better answer. Every two months you take it into the house and plug it in to recharge it. I had a completely dead battery (not a noise or a light while turning the key) and the portable jumper started my car right up. Only about $30.00 and comes with a 3 or 4 year warranty for mine if I remember correctly. | |
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1. Make sure I carry my cell phone 2. Make sure my wife carries her cell phone That's pretty much it. I live in the south, so there's not much to prepare for. |
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It can be tough. I put on a sweater as I leave my house, and sometimes I pack an umbrella too.
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My wife managed to get up our unplowed driveway yesterday with no problem with her Silverado 4x4 yesterday. I tried following her in my AWD X-Type and made it only about 20' because the front bumper was just "snowplowing". So I backed up, walked up the driveway and got the snowblower going. About an hour later I could finally go inside and eat. So needless to say I'm considering getting an SUV. I'll just wait until gas hits $3/gal again, and go buy a nice used one. A Grand Cherokee Limited with Quadra-Drive might do. 
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