PT Cruisers, winter driving, and traction control

[Quadrajet]

What exactly does the traction control option do? Is this basically the same as a locking differential? If I understand correctly, it's only available on vehicles with four wheel disc brakes.

Does traction control help with driving in snow conditions? How well do PT Cruisers in general handle lousy winter weather? I currently drive a 4x4 and I know nothing will compare to that for this purpose, but given that I live in a lake effect snow area I have to seriously weigh whether or not to part with 4 wheel drive.

[MichaelDay]

The traction control on the PT senses when one wheel is spinning and pulses the brake to that wheel. It is certain not as effective a system as a limited slip differential. It does help somewhat on sand or gravel or wet pavement. It is tied into the anti-lock brake system and monitors the opposite characteristic (the anti-lock brake system determines when a wheel has stopped turning and pulses the brake on that wheel).

Since I have never driven my PT in snow, I will defer to others that have.

[Quadrajet]

That sounds a lot like a trick ATV guys use with 4x4 quads. A lot of time you can get stuck in odd ways and wind up with one front tire off the ground spinning while the other stays lodged in mud and not moving. Usually, if you tap the hand brake while giving it some gas the other wheel will catch and start to move.

[quicksilverdon]

MichaelDay covered it. I have it - and both ABS and Trac only came on twice in 73,000 miles - in 2 bad snowstorms on the same steep hill - trac going up the hill, ABS on the downslope. One more thing - the newer PTs have ABS and/or Traction control separate and without 4-wheel discs.
The PT does well in snow - I think because it's heavy and frontdrive. If you have lotsa snow, don't go low profile tires.

[Jimbo]

I had a 4x4 before I got the Cruiser and I was surprised
how well it goes in snow.

[DREAM2]

I had a heavily modified Jeep Wrangler before I got my PT. I too was concerned about how it would do in the snow. I was also concerned about all the torque that the GT has, starting from a standstill.
My PT has only seen one winter so far, and it wasn't a bad one (Chicago area). I thought it did pretty well, better than I expected. If you have the autostick, you can start in second gear from a dead stop and that helps in the snow a bit. Less tire spin.
I haven't missed my Wrangler yet, but if there is 2 feet of snow on the ground next year I probably will.
It's hard to part with the idea that you can handle any terrain with your vehicle. Whether you need it or not, it's nice to know you can. My wife still has her Grand Cherokee just in case.

[Quadrajet]

Thanks for the input guys. It's especially helpful to hear from former 4x4 owners on the subject. I had a feeling they'd handle okay, don't think I'll be plowing with one though!

[DREAM2]

You'll only be plowing with one if you lower it!

[VellianPT]

when my brother had my PT is ended up in 2 snowbanks during heavy snows in rochester ny, he says it handles horeribly in the snow in my one experience with it in the snow it was fine.

[fritz_t_coyote]

quote:Originally posted by VellianPT

when my brother had my PT is ended up in 2 snowbanks during heavy snows in rochester ny, he says it handles horeribly in the snow in my one experience with it in the snow it was fine.

My PT is good in snow now... with Continental Extreme Contacts in place of the factory Badyears, which have lousy grip in snow.

Traction control is OK, not as good as a real limited slip differential. It has done the job OK in some nasty weather... including Rochester snowstorms.

Ending up in snowbanks may indicate problem with the nut behind the wheel.
I used to be pretty good at getting my old chevy 4X4 pickup stuck in snowbanks. But I drive more carefully now.