I love traction control

Discussion in 'General Motoring' started by Oppie, Jan 22, 2005.

  1. Oppie

    Oppie Guest

    We're having a heck of a blizard today in Metro New York. Had to make a few
    erands before the snow got too high and was driving in aobut 4" of powder
    snow. The 'low traction' light was on for a good portion of the trip and it
    was certainly no speed demon as the system cut the throttle to keep
    traction. Even made it up a pretty steep hill slow and steady.
    My son, with his silverado 2500, was having more handling issues than I was.

    I did see something new on my '01 lw300, The hvac blower stopped working on
    high for about 5 minutes after a start. Lower speeds were all working. Got
    to look into that one. Don't know if it was something loose in the right
    side passenger compartment fuse panel. Noticed this right after a passenger
    gettin in. Might have kicked something? The AC must have been out too since
    the windows fogged up terribly.

    City is doing a good job of keeping the streets clear but we now have about
    6" on the ground with a predicted accumulation of up to two feet. I'm in for
    the night now...

    Oppie
     
    Oppie, Jan 22, 2005
    #1
  2. I thought the AC cuts off (turns off) when outside temps drop to very cold?
    I had mine shut off going over the Grapevine (a piece of Interstate 5 north
    of Los Angeles) in the winter once - had the same probs with the fogging
    windows (of course I wasn't smart enough to slow down).
     
    Jonnie Santos, Jan 22, 2005
    #2
  3. Oppie

    Napalm Heart Guest

    About a foot in my driveway (about 200 yards). I got it plowed out
    about an hour ago. I'm betting it will be filled back in when I get
    home from work in the morning.

    Ken
     
    Napalm Heart, Jan 23, 2005
    #3

  4. Don't have traction control(don't know if it would have worked on the
    unplowed hills we have), but have spider-spikes. My SL2 rammed
    throught even plowed up snow like it wasn't there. Traveling even
    felt better in deeper snow.

    I love em, and I didn't even get my hands dirty putting them on.

    later,

    tom @ www.FindMeShelter.com
     
    newsgroups01REMOVEME, Jan 23, 2005
    #4
  5. Oppie

    Blah Blah Guest


    At WOT the ac kicks off and when the engine is about to stall it kicks
    off. Theory: Since the computer reduces engine rpm's when the traction
    control comes on it may also turn the ac compressor off.
     
    Blah Blah, Jan 23, 2005
    #5
  6. Oppie

    Blah Blah Guest

    This was real easy to figure out looking at the schematics of your car.
    On high your powers sent through a relay and on any other setting its
    sent through your resistor pack. If your relay is cutting out that would
    be your problem. Check your left instrument panel fuse block for this
    relay.
     
    Blah Blah, Jan 23, 2005
    #6
  7. Oppie

    Oppie Guest


    Neve heard of 'spider spikes'. What are they?

    I thought about getting studded snow tires but I spend most of my driving on
    the highway. For the few times I would need them, the noise wasn't worth it.

    Oppie
     
    Oppie, Jan 23, 2005
    #7
  8. Oppie

    Oppie Guest

    Thanks, I thought I remembered seeing a relay in the service manual that
    only worked on blower High. Was out on the road a few times today and the
    blower was working properly on all speeds. Will see if the problem comes
    back and trace it out then.

    City did a great job of clearing the roads. We had about 14"(hard to say
    with all the wind drifts). Hardest part was getting out of the driveway
    after being plowed in.
    Oppie
     
    Oppie, Jan 23, 2005
    #8
  9. Jonnie Santos, Jan 23, 2005
    #9
  10. Oppie

    Bill Davis Guest

    Bill Davis, Jan 23, 2005
    #10
  11. Are you sure your fresh air intake wasn't clogged with snow or you didn't
    have the RECIRC button on? That'll make 'er fog up and possibly overheat the
    fan.

    The A/C seems to work in any temperature. When I get in the car with wet
    clothes and the windows fog, just turning on the A/C with the heat clears
    them right up - just like the MAX DEFROST setting clears the windshield..
    --
    Dana C. Rohleder
    Port Kent, NY

    "I want to appreciate those of you who wear our nation's uniform for your
    sacrifice." G. W. Bush - Jacksonville, Fla., Jan. 14, 2005
     
    Dana Rohleder, Jan 23, 2005
    #11
  12. Oppie

    C. E. White Guest

    A/C doesn't work when outside temperature is below 40
    degrees or so. The refrigerant is so cold that it never
    vaporizes and therefore the A/C can't work. For this reason,
    the A/C compressor is disabled. I have a Ford (in addition
    to my Saturn). Driving along the other day in cold
    temperatures, the A/C compressor finally kicked in after
    about 30 minutes of driving. I think the under hood
    temperature finally got warm enough to allow the compressor
    to run.

    If you are having problems with fogging windows, be sure you
    are not using the recirculate mode. Bringing in cool outside
    air and heating it should still drop the humidity enough to
    help keep the windows clear.

    Ed
     
    C. E. White, Jan 24, 2005
    #12
  13. Oppie

    Oppie Guest

    Interesting product though not as inexpensive as chains. I doubt that chains
    would fit the L series either...
    Will put this on the wish list for things to buy after all the taxes get
    paid.
    Regards,
    Oppie
     
    Oppie, Jan 24, 2005
    #13
  14. Oppie

    Oppie Guest

    Don't know what's going on but the AC doesn't seem to do squat to
    de-humidify in cold weather. I usually wind up keeping a window open a crack
    to keep the air flowing. This is the first vehicle I've had that uses R134a
    refrigerant so wasn't sure if this is peculiar to this type. Other vehicles
    with R12 would clear the humidity almost instantly. One of these days, I
    have to get a gauge set and check the pressures. Too low a pressure and the
    system shuts down to prevent evaporator freeze-up.
    Fogged windows is practically the only complaint that I've had with the
    lw300.
    Oppie
     
    Oppie, Jan 24, 2005
    #14
  15. Something must be amiss because mine rarely fogs and if it does, clears up
    almost instantly when I kick in the A/C - even in sub-zero weather, contrary
    to other poster's claims that it doesn't work under 40 degrees. Possibly
    there is enough heat/moisture exchange just in the interior coil alone to
    drop the dewpoint enough to clear the windows.
     
    Dana Rohleder, Jan 24, 2005
    #15
  16. Oppie

    C. E. White Guest

    Well at sub-zero temperatures, there is no way the A/C is
    going to kick in. It is clearing the window becasue heating
    the outside air is lowering the humidity. In the summer, you
    need the A/C to lower the humidty since you are bringing in
    warm moist air. Without the A/C you'd never be able to lower
    the humidity in the summer without baking yourself. in the
    winter, when the weather is really cold, just heating the
    outside air with the heater core is enough to lower the
    humidity. According to the shop manual for my Saturn Vue,
    the compressor is disabled in the intake air temerpature
    drops below 36 degrees F and is not enabled again until the
    temperature goes above 40 degrees F. I believe all cars are
    similar. There is very little difference between R12 and
    R134a as far as low temperature operation is concerned.

    For the curious, here is the Compressor Clutch Control
    Parameters for a Saturn Vue (4 cylinder):

    Compressor Control Logic

    The A/C compressor and engine cooling fan will be controlled
    by PCM/ECM/BCM control logic under the following conditions:

    Coolant Temperature

    Disabled if engine coolant temperature exceeds 117°C (242°F)
    ..
    Enabled when coolant temperature is 114°C (237°F) .

    Low Intake Air Temperature

    Disabled if intake air temperature goes below 2°C (36°F)
    Enabled when intake air temperature is above 4°C (40°F) .

    A/C System Pressure

    High

    Disabled if A/C system pressure exceeds 2945 kPa (427 psi) .
    Enabled when A/C system pressure is 2069 kPa (300 psi) .

    Low

    Disabled if A/C system pressure goes below 210 kPa (31 psi)
    ..
    Enabled when A/C system pressure is 259 kPa (38 psi) .

    Engine Speed

    High

    Disabled if engine speed exceeds 6250 rpm .
    Enabled if engine speed goes below 4750 rpm .

    Low

    Disabled if engine speed goes below 350 rpm .
    Enabled if engine speed exceeds 600 rpm .

    Throttle Position

    Disabled if throttle position exceeds 95% .
    Enabled when throttle position goes below 89% for 15 seconds
    ..

    Battery Voltage

    High

    Disabled if battery voltage exceeds 18 volts .
    Enabled when battery voltage is less than 17 volts .

    Low

    Disabled if battery voltage goes below 10.5 volts .
    Enabled when battery voltage exceeds 11 volts .

    Evaporator Low Ambient Protection (ELAP)

    The refrigerant temperature at the temperature sensor in the
    TXV controls cycling of the compressor clutch to prevent
    freezing of the evaporator core. The compressor is disabled
    when the temperature goes below 3°C (37°F) and vehicle speed
    is greater than 8 km/h (5 mph) . The compressor Is enabled
    when the temperature exceeds 4°C (40°F) . The minimum time
    off is 4 seconds .

    Compressor Engagement During Engine Crank

    The compressor clutch is engaged during engine cranking to
    cycle oil through the A/C system. The clutch is engaged when
    the engine speed is above 100 rpm .


    Regards,

    Ed White
     
    C. E. White, Jan 24, 2005
    #16
  17. Good thing about these things, they go on easy, and really bite into
    the snow. I was climbing snow packed/icey roades 4x4 were having a
    hard time on. Now remember they should come off when you don't need
    them, since on dry payment they feel like driving on rail road ties.


    later,

    tom @ www.FindMeShelter.com
     
    newsgroups01REMOVEME, Jan 24, 2005
    #17
  18. Check ebay. Since saturns couldn't use chains and cables are just a
    pain, saturn sold/gave-away these items with the saturns. So 'saturn'
    spider spikes already have the hardward specific to the sl sized
    tires. Since the spider spikes lasted longer than some sl models,
    there are people trying to get rid of them.

    hth,

    later,

    tom @ www.CarFleaMarket.com
     
    newsgroups01REMOVEME, Jan 24, 2005
    #18
  19. But you are always heating outside air when the heater is on unless you have
    recirc on - correct? I never run recirc, just the normal heater. But if the
    interior fogs, with the heat on, all I do is turn on the A/C button without
    changing any heater settings and the windows clear very quickly. Keep in
    mind, this isn't a Vue, so the system may be set up differently. I don't
    know if the HVAC unit is Opel (Europe) or not. Possibly the air circulating
    over the evaporator coil alone when you activate the switch takes out the
    humidity, but I don't know why it would if the A/C wasn't operating.
     
    Dana Rohleder, Jan 24, 2005
    #19
  20. Oppie

    Oppie Guest

    Thanks Dana for the input.
    The windows fog in cold weather only when the outside humidity is near 100%
    and near freezing. I think that I'll monitor the compressor clutch line to
    see if/when it cuts out. It is running at idle.
     
    Oppie, Jan 25, 2005
    #20
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