SO I live in an area that has very little snow, usually 2 days every 3 years, but for some reason (global warming?) it is already snowing and it's only November 28th! This morning driving to work (30 minutes in a rural area) I had to come up a steep hill that was pretty slick. I made the mistake of tapping the brake and lost momentum. The slip light went on, and I think the car went into "safe mode", as I continued to accelerate I got very low RPM and Revs out of the engine, the car did manage to climb the rest of the steep hill but for a minute there I was doubtful.

I don't have my FM with me so try to resist telling me to RTFM. The car seemed to deal with this whole situation pretty well, sort of stuttering acceleration to climb the hill with out spinning the wheels.

Does anyone have any quick insight into how this system works, what was happening, and why?

Any clarification would be greatly appreciated from those of you with more experience in these types of weather conditions?

 

It's the VDC system activating and limiting the power and/or applying the brakes to the wheels, to help keep them from slipping/spinning so you'll keep traction and not lose control. It's basically a traction control system and it's there to prevent owners from doing something crazy and losing control of the car. However, in situations like this (bad weather) it's nice to have because it gives you that added safety. The slip light will flash when the system senses a variance in speed between the wheels.

___________________
Justin

 

The throttle body on our cars are drive by wire, and the VDC system on our cars actually control the throttle position. With the VDC activated at open throttle the computer has the ability to close off the Throttle body to about 10% if it detects slip. Regardless of the amount of pedal depression the computer will limit it. If needed you can turn off the VDC and the car will deactivated all yaw control and traction control systems, but will leave ABS engaged for safety. Hope this helps a little....

 

With the automatic transmission, wheel spin can put you in "fail-safe" mode, which locks the transmission in 4th gear and turns on the AT Check light. This resets if yoiu turn off the ignition and restart the car. Good luck in the snow! (We get more than that, but we haven't had any yet this season).

 

Thanks for the responses, the first two responses sound like the proper explanation, I was in that mode not quite what Andy called "fail-safe". Thanks for all those responses, good to understand what was happening, it seemed to be a very benefiicial system, it sort of allowed me to continue to accelerate and stagger up the hill like a drunk man walkin, but in a straight line.

Thanks again, I love G35Driver