(Home) Automatic gearbox / icy roads

Hope you have all had a good Christmas. I have never had an auto box before and was a little unsure yesterday when I hit a patch of black ice and the back end started sliding around, whether or not I could put the auto box into either of the manual (1 or 2) or turn off the overdrive while on the move. Would I do any damage if i did so?

- (#7349) Jim Paul, 28 Dec 03 05:41

Depending on what speed you were doing, I wouldn't have thought so. I often change from drive to low and back when driving through yards and back alleys with no problems. I suppose if you were driving at speed, however, you could risk blowing the engine up!
Your story reminds me of when I was on my travels on a country road last winter. I turned left at a junction and my Liteace carried straight on! Very unnerving!

- (#7349) Al Bickley, 28 Dec 03 07:59

Selecting the lower gears simply stops the box from changing up at the right speed. ie you could rev like hell and the gear wouldn't change up. However this isn't going to help when on black ice. You have enough to worry about when sliding. Leave the box in auto and let it sort out the gears while you ease off the gas and gently try and steer out of trouble.

- (#7349) Ian Dunse, 29 Dec 03 03:22