"Cathy F." <clfr@adelphiadot.net> wrote in message
news:H-adnWfWdcLLcFrYnZ2dnUVZ_tqnnZ2d@giganews.com...
>
> "Tomes" <askme@here.net> wrote in message
> news:sYRxh.21211$w91.15533@newsread1.news.pas.eart hlink.net...
>> "Cathy F." <clfr@adelphiadot.net> wrote in message
>> news:INednWXjCbWhWFrYnZ2dnUVZ_ruknZ2d@giganews.com ...
>>> "Bud H" <budh@SPAMREMOVEwmis.net> wrote in message
>>> news:MaGdnRzXNrB1XFrYnZ2dnUVZ_oipnZ2d@t-one.net...
>>>>I bought a new 2006 Matrix XR 2WD last May with VSC, ABS, and traction
>>>>control that now has about 10,000 miles on the tires. With the zero
>>>>degree temperatures in northern Indiana, I ventured out earlier this
>>>>afternoon and I was slipping all over the place in the packed snow - the
>>>>traction control (spinning tires) symbol was coming on frequently -- I
>>>>had to concentrate on stepping VERY gently on the accelerator to avoid
>>>>the tire spin.
>>>
>>> Also, if you're driving an automatic, try starting up from full stops in
>>> 2nd gear.
>>>
>>
>> How does this help? I am under the understanding that putting it into
>> 2nd only limits it from going to 3rd, not force it to start in 2nd. I do
>> not believe that it bypasses first gear by doing this, and thus it makes
>> no difference in starting out.
>
> Don't ask me for the science/physics behind it; I can't. I just know that
> instead of trying to start up from the dead stop in D/3rd at a very
> slippery intersection, that it works considerably better if I shift down
> to 2nd. (Whereas when I drove a standard, instead of staring in 1st, I'd
> shift up to second so there wasn't quite so much torque. Sounds like the
> two practices are at odds w/each other, but... worked/s.)
>
> Cathy
>
>
>>
>> I also would guess that the tires are to blame, agreeing with Cathy's
>> reasoning on that below. I usually can't wait to get a set of Michelins
>> (usually the X-Radial at BJ's) on as soon as I can. That all season tire
>> is pretty darn good in the snow.
>> Tomes
>>
>>
>>>> In my Highlander SUV with tires that have been on that vehicle for over
>>>> 50,000 miles, I had no trouble at all.
>>>>
>>>> It was hard to tell if this problem was due to the Matrix. or if it was
>>>> because the tires that came with the car are bad in the snow.
>>>>
>>>> Anybody else had this issue with a new Matrix in the snow? Is it the
>>>> car? Or the stock tires that came with it?
>>>
>>> Considering that I *hate* the tires that come on Corollas (they are
>>> horrible in snow & not all that great re: holding curves on dry roads,
>>> either), & considering that the Matrix is basically a Corolla in
>>> different clothing, and therefore assuming that the tires that come on
>>> the Matrix are the same that Corollas are shipped with, I'm guessing
>>> it's... the tires. I always switch to tires rated for better snow
>>> traction as soon as I can after the purchase of each new Corolla.
>>>
>>> Cathy
>>>
>>>
>>>>
>>>> Bud H

It depends on the car. In some, '2' will start in '1' and never shift
beyond '2'. In others, '2' puts you in '2' and keeps you there. Our Fords
were like that. In those cases, using '2' reduced torque at the wheels and
helped to prevent wheelspin on takeoff.

I think Toyotas work this way but I'm not sure. Check your owner's manual
for certain guidance.

Cathy, the tires that came with a Sienna weren't much better :-(



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Posted via a free Usenet account from http://www.teranews.com

Tomes wrote:

> I had a 71 Gremlin that started in 2nd if you put it into 2nd, so yeah, it
> can happen. I just thought that that was an aberration and just have not
> noticed it in any car I have driven since. I used to use that feature on
> that Gremlin a lot, but in a different way.

My father had a '94 Pontiac Grand Prix that had a "second gear start" switch
for such situations, although he told me it didn't work worth a crap.

"High Tech Misfit" <me@privacy.net> wrote in message
news:1wkt9cd8k3tf$.dlg@hightech.misfit...
> Tomes wrote:
>
>> I had a 71 Gremlin that started in 2nd if you put it into 2nd, so yeah,
>> it
>> can happen. I just thought that that was an aberration and just have not
>> noticed it in any car I have driven since. I used to use that feature on
>> that Gremlin a lot, but in a different way.
>
> My father had a '94 Pontiac Grand Prix that had a "second gear start"
> switch
> for such situations, although he told me it didn't work worth a crap.

I tried the snow feature today in my RWD V8 car and it made for a lot less
spinning when starting out, works as advertised ;-)
--

Ray O
(correct punctuation to reply)

"Tomes" <askme@here.net> wrote in message
news:Wnvyh.25610$X72.22807@newsread3.news.pas.eart hlink.net...
> "Ray O" <rokigawaATtristarassociatesDOTcom> wrote in message
> news:cdda4$45c953c2$47c2b532$29505@msgid.meganewss ervers.com...
>> "High Tech Misfit" <me@privacy.net> wrote in message
>> news:1wkt9cd8k3tf$.dlg@hightech.misfit...
>>> Tomes wrote:
>>>
>>>> I had a 71 Gremlin that started in 2nd if you put it into 2nd, so yeah,
>>>> it
>>>> can happen. I just thought that that was an aberration and just have
>>>> not
>>>> noticed it in any car I have driven since. I used to use that feature
>>>> on
>>>> that Gremlin a lot, but in a different way.
>>>
>>> My father had a '94 Pontiac Grand Prix that had a "second gear start"
>>> switch
>>> for such situations, although he told me it didn't work worth a crap.
>>
>> I tried the snow feature today in my RWD V8 car and it made for a lot
>> less spinning when starting out, works as advertised ;-)
>
> We gotta get some more fresh snow so I can go out and play with the Sienna
> 2nd gear test (and moreso in the Jeep [grin].
> Tomes

I actually enjoy driving in the snow as long as all of the other idiots stay
off the roads.

When we first got our Sequoia, I took it out to an empty parking lot to see
how it would do in 2WD, and there is no excitement. Floor it, and it just
goes, it has traction control but I've never seen it activated. Floor it
and turn the steering wheel, and the stability control beeps and it goes in
circles. The 4WD comes in handy when driving off road, but it is kind of
overkill on the road.
--

Ray O
(correct punctuation to reply)

"Tomes" <askme@here.net> wrote in message
news:Wnvyh.25610$X72.22807@newsread3.news.pas.eart hlink.net...
> "Ray O" <rokigawaATtristarassociatesDOTcom> wrote in message
> news:cdda4$45c953c2$47c2b532$29505@msgid.meganewss ervers.com...
>> "High Tech Misfit" <me@privacy.net> wrote in message
>> news:1wkt9cd8k3tf$.dlg@hightech.misfit...
>>> Tomes wrote:
>>>
>>>> I had a 71 Gremlin that started in 2nd if you put it into 2nd, so yeah,
>>>> it
>>>> can happen. I just thought that that was an aberration and just have
>>>> not
>>>> noticed it in any car I have driven since. I used to use that feature
>>>> on
>>>> that Gremlin a lot, but in a different way.
>>>
>>> My father had a '94 Pontiac Grand Prix that had a "second gear start"
>>> switch
>>> for such situations, although he told me it didn't work worth a crap.
>>
>> I tried the snow feature today in my RWD V8 car and it made for a lot
>> less spinning when starting out, works as advertised ;-)
>
> We gotta get some more fresh snow so I can go out and play with the Sienna
> 2nd gear test (and moreso in the Jeep [grin].
> Tomes

What are you using for tires on your Sienna now? And are you happy with
them? It's time to replace mine again.



--
Posted via a free Usenet account from http://www.teranews.com