Passat in the snow

[Spike001]

You're going to think I'm a bit green, but I have not had a car with ABS or traction control before my 57 plate Passat 2.0 TDi.

So driving home in the snow tonight was a bit of an experience. The skiddy road light in the speedo dial came on a lot to tell me the front wheels were slipping, but a big surprise for me was when the ABS operated, which felt like the brake pedal was fighting back - wouldn't go down, vibrated a lot and made a noise like driving over tin trays (is that normal?).

Then when I got home and tried to get on the drive, which slopes up at a shallowish angle, I just could not get up there; although I was trying to get more revs, the engine would not pick up and the wheels, after an initial slip an' slide did not want to pull up the slope. In the end I switched off the ESP next to the gear lever and spun the wheels in the snow, but I got up there (slight smell of burnt rubber and some very nicely polished icy tracks on the brick paviours). Again, is that normal?

These were the odd bits, but the good bit was on the motorway where the Passat just kept going calmly, while all around me others were having epics - sliding across the carriageway, they couldn't start from rest and one or two had less than gentle nudges against bumpers of cars in front.

I am sorry to read some of the posts from people having bad experiences with VW and the Passat, but I am very pleased with mine, I have even stopped stalling it (which was a worry when I first got it).

[ionic]

Yes mate, that sounds normal.

ABS releases then applies the brake very quickly, hence the vibration.

Regarding the ESP, as mentioned in other threads, it's not a magic gismo that allows you to hoof it in the snow & it'll pull you out. On many occasions it makes it worse as it cuts the power at an inconvenient time. This coupled to wider tyres makes many modern cars glide over the snow, becomming stuck where an older car on skinny tyres would easily pull out.

I find it best to crawl forward while being very gentle with the throttle, & not above 1500rpm, as once the turbo gets a sniff of air the wheels spin instantly & all traction is lost, then the esp kicks in & the car slides back.

I am also very pleased with my Passat, people understandably post their problems more than if things are fine with the car & it is ticking along normally.

I also agree that at higher speeds the esp comes into its own, the car feels very stable, though it's no substitute for careful driving, driving too fast for the conitions will still end in disaster!

[henley_regatta]

...
So driving home in the snow tonight was a bit of an experience. The skiddy road light in the speedo dial came on a lot to tell me the front wheels were slipping, but a big surprise for me was when the ABS operated, which felt like the brake pedal was fighting back - wouldn't go down, vibrated a lot and made a noise like driving over tin trays (is that normal?).
...

Actually I shouldn't reply because I've not had either ABS or ESP kick in on my Passat yet, but I've definitely had ABS kick in on other cars, and it's exactly as you describe: you'd swear blind something had just gone badly wrong with the car.

If I may lower the tone a little, ABS is like I've heard women describe..you know... thingy. If you only think it's happened, it's not happened. If it's happening, you'll know it's happening....

[the difference being: most people don't want another ABS incident]

[Quatrelle]

If I may lower the tone a little, ABS is like I've heard women describe..you know... thingy. If you only think it's happened, it's not happened. If it's happening, you'll know it's happening....

Without dashing outside to look at the driver's handbook, I think VW recommend switching ESP off when struggling for traction.

[james_tiger_woo]

When ABS is kicking in - what you're supposed to do is try to keep in a straight line as best you can and press the pedal down as hard as you can...

I couldn't get up my drive this morning - the clutch burning smell was, well, interesting...

[Spike001]

Thanks gents, nice to know that it is the normal experience, but it scared the whit out of me when it first happened.

James, I suspect you are right about the smell being the clutch, I can't imagine the tyres getting hot enough to singe in the snow.

Staying firmly at home today, no trains to take me up to the smoke and the roads are getting deeper and deeper; I reckon we have got about 4 inches of snow here in (not so) sunny Sussex.

On holiday last week in the Alps I was collected from where I had got stuck in a 4 Motion B5 Passat taxi,; I have to say I was impressed with the drive although the driver was a bit nuts...

[ledburyloafer]

When ABS is kicking in - what you're supposed to do is try to keep in a straight line as best you can and press the pedal down as hard as you can...

I couldn't get up my drive this morning - the clutch burning smell was, well, interesting...

ABS under normal conditions actually allows you "to steer" whilst braking, in the old days before it was standard, you used "avoidance braking", lock the brakes, turn the wheel, and let go of the brakes, the car would then go in the direction the wheels were pointing.
But the one thing to remeber is that even with all the gadgets, you can't get round the laws of physics, and once you lose traction with the road, you are just along for the ride til the car stops

[martin1810]

On slick ice or snow the esp doesn't work because it keeps trying to stop the wheels from spinning so you don't move. You are supposed to turn it off when this happens. The wheels can now spin freely which MAY allow you to make progress. The abs on these cars is very good indeed but it can only help stop the wheels locking up. If all the wheels loose grip you don't need abs you need to pray.

[james_tiger_woo]

Good call on the laws of physics there - I know you can steer when ABS is kicking in, but I was told that you should try to keep in a straight line as far as you can.

[ledburyloafer]

Good call on the laws of physics there - I know you can steer when ABS is kicking in, but I was told that you should try to keep in a straight line as far as you can.

interesting, not heard that myself any particular reason. I remeber when it was first sold in tv adverts, think it was Ford, and it was all about the car "driving" round a tractor pulling out of a field, for the Scorpio, I think? showing my age here!