Automatic Car In Snow

[lacmag3]

Shortly after leaving home I encounter a steep hill down to a main road. I drive an automatic car. How do I stop the car gaining speed without braking in the snow/ice? The gearbox doesn't offer numbered gears, just Drive.

[Prudie]

Presumably you're absolutely sure you don't have low/1 or 2 gear options? I have had lots of automatics and they all had low gears available. Only other advice I can offer is apply very gentle brake pressure all the way - a really light touch with nothing sudden.

[hc4361]

What make/model is the car? I find it hard to believe there is no low gears option

[tonyav]

Does your car have a CVT automatic transmission. lacmag3 ?.

[bhg481]

I've never come across an automatic car which doesn't have a means of selecting a lower gear for descending hills. Nowadays they usually have a means of selecting a higher gear for starting off in slippy conditions too.

[Peaspeculiars]

This is quite a useful link (scroll down for the automatic section) - I've just been looking at it for hints for my manual car. Good Luck and stay safe x
http://news.bbc.co.uk/local/surrey/hi/front_page/newsid_8424000/8424308.stm

[New Judge]

Which goes to show that a vehicle with such a gearbox is unfit for purpose.

[Amphilogiai]

Wow, that TWR is a Driver extraordinaire!

[Amphilogiai]

What make and model is the vehicle please?

[lacmag3]

Its a Mercedes C Class 2006

[THEMOTLEY1]

I'm 99% certain there will be a manual override on that, check your owners manual or speak to your Garage!

[Prudie]

I have an automatic Merc and although the main line of choices is P,N,R and D I can also slide the selector across to the left where there is another channel to select + or -. Select the minus and it will you put you in a lower gear than drive.

[lacmag3]

The setup is exactly as you describe it Prudie, but I assumed the sideways shift to a lower gear was temporary (as if you're temporarily dropping a gear prior to overtaking) and that it would return to a higher gear once the revs built up. However, I'll try it out tomorrow.
Thanks to other contributors too!

[THEMOTLEY1]

Moving shifter to left gives you manual control of the box, forward for Up, backward for Down like driving a manual car without a clutch, when you want Auto again move shifter back to the right.

[shoota]

Don't use the handbrake when driving on snow and ice - recipe for disaster.

[TWR]

Shoota, I said " pull the H/Brake up until it's just Binding.

[bhg481]

As Prudie says AND you can also select 2 or even 3 for setting off on a slippery surface.