More problems with a Ford in the snow

[MintJulep]

I had a rented Ford fiesta last week in Germany. Ok , but not great winter tires.

Managed to drive 60 or so km through the Alps in a snow storm without problem.

As we approached our destination the last grade hadn't been plowed or packed down.

The traction control decided that it wasn't happy. It just kept cutting engine power. I downshifted to get more revs, but the system kept cutting power. Eventually with the gas pedal to the floor the stupid thing would give me 1000 rpm in first gear, then drop to idle and repeat the cycle. Not enough oomph to climb the grade and the car just wouldn't go any farther.

If I could have turned traction control off I'm sure the tires had enough grip to keep going if I could of kept them spinning, but I couldn't find anything that looked like a defeat switch.

So I wound up parking on the side of the road and walking the last 500meters

 

[zdas04]

Traction control is an amazing thing, but when designers try to save a few bucks by not allowing the operator to turn it off it is a vicious master.

Worse than no button is a dicky-button. I noticed in the last Explorer I rented that the button that turned it off didn't actually do anything except make me think that I had done something. When I discovered that it was still "controlling" the process I turned around and went back to the highway and never rented an Explorer again.

David

 

[Skogsgurra]

I had no more than some 40 m to walk from gate to door. So, I was relatively lucky.

My 4WD works as expected again. I did nothing - it just works again.

This Kuga has a few more quirks. I have told about the night in the Pyrenées when it decided to turn on lights, move chair, open windows and set clock six hours later.

This time, three days ago, it decided that front windows, both sides, needed to open about 25%. Enough to let snow in. I didn't appreciate that joke. What will the insurance company say if it happens again in a public place?



Gunnar Englund

http://www.gke.org

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Half full - Half empty? I don't mind. It's what in it that counts.

 

[KENAT]

Gunnar, you sure the incident in the Pyrenees was the Car, I might think it would be Mulder & Scully territory.;-)

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[Skogsgurra]

That's exactly what the neighbours told us. Les archives X, they said.

Gunnar Englund

http://www.gke.org

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Half full - Half empty? I don't mind. It's what in it that counts.

 

[VEBill]

A Ford Fiesta in Germany - that's just cruel.