Yellow Warning Light While Accelerating (Please Help)

[adk749]

My apologies in advance if this has already been covered, but I am in a bit of a panic and in no frame of mind to do a comprehensive search. I just got my snows on, and for the second time I am getting a yellow warning light up on my dash when accelerating. It first flashed up after going around a soft right turn. I was not going hard on the accelerator nor going around the turn very hard. It would then flash up on the dash when I went full throttle, and at that point the the car would go to about 50% power. When I would let off the accelerator the light would go out. Step on it again, hard on the accelerator, and the light flashes back on and 50% power. Does this have anything to do with the snow tires not being able to handle the power of the car? Any and all feedback is greatly appreciated! By the way, it is a very nice night in NJ tonight - 50 degrees and clear (if that matters).

[bluecarbon]

loss of traction

[oneintheory]

I hope to god this is a troll thread. Either way, I'll answer you.
Traction Control.
Go read the manual.

[adk749]

Originally Posted by oneintheory

I hope to god this is a troll thread. Either way, I'll answer you.
Traction Control.
Go read the manual.

No, not a troll thread. My question is why on Earth would it happen with brand new tires? Do snows have that little traction?! I was barely stepping on the gas when the light first came on. I do not drive like a maniac. And why the 50% loss of power? Honest questions, sorry.

[subscience]

You've never had traction control kick in once ever? I'm pretty sure it's all explained clearly in the manual.

[JohnL135I]

[x5mad]

???????????

Are you serious! I have seen some silly questions and this one is up there.

I will give benefit of the doubt however

- new tyres need to be run in carefully as they have a coating on them making them more slippery in the first few hundered miles.
- full throttle with >300bhp = loss of traction = worse with new tryes
- loss of power = traction control intervening

[adk749]

Okay, maybe it is just me. I am driving my car around a curve at a very normal rate of speed and I get a yellow warning light on my car. This is not normal. I then accelerate only to find that the light comes on again, and again, and my car basically shuts down each time I step on the gas - again not normal. Is it my snow tires that are causing this or an issue with my car? Thanks for anyone willing to listen!

[adk749]

Originally Posted by x5mad

???????????

Are you serious! I have seen some silly questions and this one is up there.

I will give benefit of the doubt however

- new tyres need to be run in carefully as they have a coating on them making them more slippery in the first few hundered miles.
- full throttle with >300bhp = loss of traction = worse with new tryes
- loss of power = traction control intervening

Keep in mind that this happened going around a curve at a very normal rate of speed. Also, the new tires when I got the car never had this kind of problem, ever. I realize that they are summer tires and are completely different than what I have now. But, that being said what I experienced did not seem normal. Then again, I never had a car with snow tires on it.

[GtiGyver]

The answer is simple.
Your car produces 300lb/ft of torque from 1400rpm upwards, it is very easy to push the car beyond the traction threshold.
The car itself in its default mode has a VERY aggressive traction control system.
The yellow light simply is telling you that you are pushing the car too hard for the level of traction available with those tires.
It should also be noted that winter tires do not have great traction on dry, nor do they handle corners well.

That light will be blinking far more often once snow and ice hit the roads. This is normal and in no way damages the car.

Consider it more of a notification light rather than a warning.

Also this is one of my biggest pet peeves, but "rate of speed" is meaningless. Its speed, acceleration or position, but rate of speed is nothing.
Speed is already a (directionless) rate of change (of position).

[Smokey]

Check the air pressure to make sure you have enough air in your tires.

[Robert]

Originally Posted by adk749

Keep in mind that this happened going around a curve at a very normal rate of speed. Also, the new tires when I got the car never had this kind of problem, ever. I realize that they are summer tires and are completely different than what I have now. But, that being said what I experienced did not seem normal. Then again, I never had a car with snow tires on it.

The engine power is overwhelming the traction of the snow tires. That symbol means traction control has taken over and cutting engine power. You can hit DTC once to disable part of the traction control system. Hold it down for 5s will completely disable it. May lord have mercy.

[135ARG]

not a problem. snow tire probably contribute to it. loss of power is part of the program.
if it wasn't for that light showing up you would probably be going sideways into a curve... so thank god its popping up

[Lester]

Hopefully you put the same snow tires on all 4 wheels. Never mix non RFT's with RFT's. Like they said, all the warning light is telling you is that in order to keep the car in a straight line, the computer is doing things with brakes and/or cutting fuel to the engine. When you drive in snow/slippery conditions press the Traction Control button to allow for some wheel slippage. Based on whgat you are experiencing, I would not turn DSC/DTC off.

What brand/model snow tires did you put on?

[EINS]

Originally Posted by adk749

Keep in mind that this happened going around a curve at a very normal rate of speed. Also, the new tires when I got the car never had this kind of problem, ever. I realize that they are summer tires and are completely different than what I have now. But, that being said what I experienced did not seem normal. Then again, I never had a car with snow tires on it.

My 1 does the same thing when I am running my snow tires. I believe the combination of the snow tire flexible tread and siping causes the traction control to think a wheel is slipping. -Jeff

[imported_mega]

snow tires, that's why, they wont grip like the stock tires

I put some star spec's on my car, and I have not seen that light sense then, I used to see it once a day

[adk749]

Originally Posted by Lester

Hopefully you put the same snow tires on all 4 wheels. Never mix non RFT's with RFT's. Like they said, all the warning light is telling you is that in order to keep the car in a straight line, the computer is doing things with brakes and/or cutting fuel to the engine. When you drive in snow/slippery conditions press the Traction Control button to allow for some wheel slippage. Based on whgat you are experiencing, I would not turn DSC/DTC off.

What brand/model snow tires did you put on?

I put on Blizzak LM-60 XL's, per Gill's recommendation. Thanks everyone for the thoughtful explanations, I now feel better. I will not be disabling any of the traction control systems on the car, have no fear. Gtigyver, thanks for the refresher lesson about the difference between speed and velocity :-).

[GtiGyver]

Originally Posted by adk749

Gtigyver, thanks for the refresher lesson about the difference between speed and velocity :-).

No problem. Its always a pleasure being an ass.

[SlickShift]

Wow. Just wow.

[Xyloft]

dry traction for snow tires is less than your ultra high performance summers. you got used to driving "casually" in a high traction sports car and nwo that you have average tires they slip more.

the snow tires are a much softer rubber. tires also take a few hundred miles to "breakin" if you will, so the traction may get better.

also double check you tire pressures and make sure they are accurate.

[adk749]

Thanks again to everyone who responded considerately. First time in a car I had to put snows on - a brand new experience for me. My apologies if I posted something that seemed incredibly stupid to everyone else, hope you got a good laugh out of it at the very least.

[JB135i]

Originally Posted by adk749

My apologies if I posted something that seemed incredibly stupid to everyone else, hope you got a good laugh out of it at the very least.

I know I did. But glad you didn't take the ribbing too seriously at the same time.