(T) Strange Behaviour in Snow

This is true. [V]

<h5>Click here for pictures of my Uno
Click here for pictures of my Brava

I've noticed quite a few people praising how good their Stilo has been in the snow. I have to say I dread a downpour of the white stuff. I've never felt comfortable driving mine in the snow, and it came to a head last night when I couldn't ge it back on to the driveway. I ended up parking it opposite and gritting the entrance to the drive. I left it a few hours then went out to try again, only to find the car was stuck in it's new parking space and wouldn't budge.
Went for a paper this morning and hey presto, got stuck outside the shop. Haven't tried switching off the ASR though, does it make much diff?

Bring on the "you need driving lesson" jibes! :I

now: 1.2 Stilo Active in Black
v soon: new shape 1.4 Punto Sporting in Broom (with Imola door handles and wing mirrors. Doh!!!)

Mine has been superb in the snow, are you sure your electronic systems are all working correctly?

FIAT Stilo Sport. Pretty Much Bog Standard Really. Rear Roof Spoiler,
Sill Protectors, Aluminium Foot Pedals, Eibach 30mm Drop Springs.

Eh? Oh, you mean my brain? Yeah, think it's workin ok :D

now: 1.2 Stilo Active in Black
v soon: new shape 1.4 Punto Sporting in Broom (with Imola door handles and wing mirrors. Doh!!!)

I think this whole issue is down to the tread pattern of the tyres. Some tread patterns are better than others in snow.

Paul

Stilo Abarth 3dr, Broom Yellow (Nov '03)

Granted there seems to be a hell of a range of tyres used!

2003 3 Door Stilo 1.2 Active, Sassy Grey, 5 disc CD Changer, plastic wheel trims - and 41.7mpg average so far. Love it, Oh yes!

ASR works on an open diffirential basis. The open differential always applies the same torque to both wheels, and the maximum amount of torque is limited to the greatest amount that will not make the wheels slip. It doesn't take much torque to make a tire slip on ice. And when the wheel with good traction is only getting the very small amount of torque that can be applied to the wheel with less traction, your car is going to struggle to get going.

What you really need is a limited split diffirential which applies diffirent torque to each wheel to maximise traction. This is what's on the Porches (posatraction) and I'm pretty sure the new Focus RS has this but unfortunately it hasn't filtered its way down to every day cars yet but I'm sure it will one day! [^]

Did you try and start in second gear? probably too hard as your up hill though. Sometimes a little push from a passer by is enough to get you on the move.

Tyres are a big big factor too. I've got 17s on my other car with wide tyres and got stranded a few weeks ago and had to walk home [:(!]

cmc



1.6 Dynmamic 5 door.

Even my 1.2 has massive 195 profile tyres, fairly massive for a low spec model, this makes all the difference in icy/poor conditions. Skinnier the tyre the better!

2003 3 Door Stilo 1.2 Active, Sassy Grey, 5 disc CD Changer, plastic wheel trims - and 41.7mpg average so far. Love it, Oh yes!

Points taken re tyre types and sizes, but I'm convinced that there is something wrong somewhere. It wasn't just the fact that I got stuck. If the wheels are spinning you should be able to sit there all day spinning 'em. This wasn't happening. It was like the car had a mind of it's own and didn't like it, so was shutting down the engine. This was with the ASR off (although I did try putting it on).
It's going in for it's first service soon, so I'll tell them about it(along with the rest).
Another thing: I hate ABS! And have done since 1986. You should be able to switch it off. It increases stopping distances in snow far too much for my liking. Grr...

try winter tyres ... i use mine still and they see to be FAR FAR more effective than normal ones at snow ... they seem to be a BIG factor in snow driving for me. essential one.

FIAT STILO 1.6 3dR Tiziano Red
Sub=Pioneer TS WX20LPA
AUTOMOBILE SK

Click here for a very good article on tyres (and contact patches).

_________________________
2003 Stilo 1.6 Dynamic 3dr, Orion Grey, 17" Alloys, Dual Zone Climate Control, Aluminum Sills, Clarion DXZ928R, Kenwood DualMags, Clarion SRX1784, de-badged.
I accept no responsibility for the content of my posts, nor any decisions you make based on them.[^]

And if you are stuck or getting stuck you must switch ASR OFF. It lowers revs when there is no friction.
Enventually it will cause engine to stall! ASR wont work if rev are lower than 1000rpm.

&gt;The problem seems to be the wheels spin for a while then the engine
&gt;just refuses to rev, and eventually stalls.
This is caused by ASR so you should switch it OFF in that case.

I just love ASR, ABS and ESP! Those are so helpfull here in Finland!
:D Its like driving in summer...

I thought ASR stood for Anti-Slip Regulation, not Annoying Stifler of Revs! [8D]

Glad my 1.2 didn't have it!

2003 3 Door Stilo 1.2 Active, Sassy Grey, 5 disc CD Changer, plastic wheel trims - and 41.7mpg average so far. Love it, Oh yes!

I thought ASR stood for Anti-Slip Regulation, not Annoying Stifler of Revs!

LOL :D

1.6 Dynmamic 5 door.

Lead: Excellent link, thank you.
Mikz: ASR was off, or at least it was supposed to be off. I'm starting to think that that is the problem, pushing the button doesn't switch it off! (even if the light did go off).