Can't stop in snow

Cheaper than Toyota switches.

 

I've had several brands of vehicles over the past 30 years and while abs is a pain, without it you had better learn to stop in slippery conditions. It modulates the brakes far faster than pumping them yourself and gives some measure of steering control which you wouldn't have without it.

It's obviously the stock tires, they suck in snow or anything else remotely slippery.

Weight in the bed will help somewhat but put snow tires on for winter, not all season crap. And studded tires if you are in snow/ice conditions. Lots of areas are required to have chains and I have had those as well.

Dropping down a gear will help with engine braking and the auto's can be shifted into Neutral which will help in stopping even more. Standards have a clutch, use it.

First thing to do when you get the first winter storm is find an empty parking lot and do some emergency stops, slide around a bit and get used to how the vehicle handles before you need to on a public road.

my .02

 

I'll post my experience. We got stuck in the parking lot of Mt. High ski resort (Wrightwood, CA) last Sunday for almost 5 hours, because both roads leading to the mountain were blocked with accidents. It started out as a bluebird morning, so a great deal of people came up without 4x4's or chains. Then a storm blew in that brought about 3 to 5 inches of snow in the afternoon, and iced up the roads (I won't complain too much, because that was probably the first and last time I'll ever get to cut fresh tracks at Mt. High). A lot of people were fender bending and ditching by the time we were ready to leave, so we sat for a long time waiting for them to clear up.

By the time we finally started making our way down, I noticed the (icy roads) symbol on the mirror temp gauge, and a buzzing brake pedal. I'd never driven anything newer than a '70 VW Beetle before I bought this truck, so it took me awhile to figure out what the hell it was. "That's the ABS," it finally dawned on me.

So I put in 4H and kept it in first or second gear the whole way down, keeping a safe buffer distance in the long caravan, and braking only when I needed to on the ice. I felt the telltale buzz a few times, but because I was motorbraking and braking lightly, I never felt out of control. I've only driven older cars where there are no traction aids, so I've learned not to rely on them at all. That means going slowly and carefully, and not driving above conditions or your abilities.

Now, the weirdest part was that for the rest of the drive, the ABS buzz would still happen occasionally. It was still cold on the flat desert (Pearblossom) highway, cold enough for the (icy roads) indicator to remain on. But even when I got home to the valley (about 55 degrees at 11 PM) and the indicator was gone, I still felt the buzz about every third brake pedal push. This is on perfectly normal, level, dry asphalt. I thought that I had messed something up, but the next morning the truck was back to normal.

So, my question is, does the ECU recognize the temperatures to display the icy roads indicator, and then kick the ABS in by default? Like I said, it buzzed several times when I was well away from icy or wet roads, where traction was not an issue. The next day, it was back to normal, like it had "reset". It hasn't buzzed since then. This is on OEM Offroad tires (BFG RT).

 

I wouldn't suggest that. Ceramic brake pads suck as it is and by downgrading in a sense you may be compromising safety.

Nice Weathertechs I am getting mine today!

I don't have a dremel, I left it with a guy and I have never went back to get it no worries though my soldering iron is my new plastic working tool.

True story

 

Thanks they are awesome, and a little more dirty now.

That's how I got my dremel. I reminded him it was at my place for a few years after he brought it over. He forgot it every time he came over. lol If he ever really makes a real attempt to get it back I'll give it up.

 

Where I live we have had over 11' of snowfall since November2012. Insurance wont cover your vehicle here if you dont have a proper snow rater tire. I have studded Winterforce's on my truck and have never had a problem stopping. I have been in a similar perdicament to the OP when going downhill truck was exelerating with full brake and no ABS kicking in, the road was slicker then a skating rink with 1" of clear ice and a drizzle of snow overtop . that was before putting good winter tires on.

 

ABS didn't kick in when you were sliding ?

 

Replace those shitty tires with some duratracs they are great in the snow.

 

I know I'm from Cali and have no right to be commenting but if your tires lock up you might as well be driving a sled....... That's why you brake softly and use engine breaking as much as possible in the snow/wet so you don't lock up braking harder makes it worse in those situations

 

No.

ABS doesn't care what the outside air temperature is.

 

Braking soflty works great right up until the ABS kicks in

 

Nope. I couldnt have even walked on the surface without falling.

Also driving in shadows along beside a river going in a straight line! i noticed before the truck did that i was starting to spin. slight bank in the road and it was so icy the back end broke loose at about 50kph and took the front with it. TC never noticed.

 

I have read through this entire string and the stories are so discordant that it makes no sense at all. None.

Mind that I live in the southeastern US and rarely have snow or ice to suffer with. However I have driven up north in winter (Lived in Conn for a year) also in Europe many times ( Germany ). So I am not ignorant on driving in the snow.

IMO personal opinion as it is the only way this makes any sense at all is the driver variation. I know the ones with issues are going to rage about my opinion, but it is the only thing that makes any common sense at all. I sincerely doubt that there is that much variation between the ABS controllers on the same model trucks. The ABS System tests itself every startup and Will throw a code if it fails Any Part of the test. This places the ABS System in off mode and you will just have regular brakes even with a complete ABS Failure.

 

Did you drive a 2nd Gen in these snow conditions ?

 

False
edit: landphils method is what I used, hence this is false

Fact

Fact





I have done his method on my 2012 TRD Sport 4x4. You can throw the switch at any speed and return it at any speed and it will reset instantly. It takes 10 minutes to wire and install a switch and can attest first hand the truck stops better in slick conditions with the ABS off. I live on Long Island NY and we have already had a few snow days.

 

Your false is false. Disabling the wheel sensor with a switch will not enable VSC/ABS back by just flipping the switch back on. The truck has to be turned off then back on again to reset and even after that sometimes the ABS/VSC lights remain on for a few minutes before turning back off.

 

That's why that way of doing it sucks

 

I am speaking about landphils method, should have specified

 

That's what I'll be switching to as it can be a hassle to park, switch on a restart but both methods work. Landphil's is just easier.

 

Nothing to do with ABS. Your rear brakes are not working.