I love traction control

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

 

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).

 

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

 

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

 

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.

 

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.

 

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

 

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

 

....couldn't get conventional chains on an S series with tight tire/fender
clearances...

http://www.spikes-spiders.com/

 

http://www.spike-spider.com/

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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.

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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.

 

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.