My Car Goes By Itself.

[Tilly2]

I have a Vauxhall Zafira Estate. It's now one year old.

I have noticed that when trying to drive really slowly in the icy side streets it seems to go by itself. If I take my foot off the clutch and the accelerator, it just keeps going. It scares me to death. It stops if I put the break on but I don't feel in control of the speed. I suspect it's something to do with the automatic choke. Am I activating it in some way?

(I know, I know, this is a really dumb lady's question. All the blokes will be going 'Oh, for goodness sake......................' I can't ask my husband about it because he doesn't drive and won't have a clue.)

[RATTER15]

No I dont think she is aquaplaning, I think the engine is just revving a little high.Tilly wait until the revs drop a little before moving off in cold weather.

[Toureman]

Aquaplaning is to do with water not ice or snow!

Aquaplaning happens at high speed when driving on a rain soaked road where the tyres of the vehicle are lifted off the road so you have very little control of the steering and braking.

[Mick-Talbot]

Automatics do creep forward but Tilly seems to have a manual. SO I would go along with ,methyl.

Answerbanks bestest driver must be having an off day

[society]

And who is that, Mick? :)

[237SJ]

Years ago when I had my first car it did that and the guys at work said it was because the engine was running too fast. They used to twiddle a little knob under the bonnet and slowed it down. Not sure if that still applies.

[Mick-Talbot]

20:06

Is all I am saying.......

[society]

You do make me smile. Got it! :)

[Zacs-Master]

Jeez, all you have to do is dip the clutch and brake slightly.

[TWR]

For the persons that do not know about Aquaplaning, check it.

[shoota]

Don't use the handbrake.
At least not until you've practiced it and the conditions are dry and good.
Bad advice TWR.

[Mick-Talbot]

I know all about it, I have done it on the M62

[shoota]

Aquaplaning occurs at high speed and is irrelevant, we are talking about a first gear crawl here.
The question was anwered well by Methyl and has now become confused.

[Zacs-Master]

It's nothing to do with aqua planing TWR.

[TWR]

Just for the Inteligent amonst us.1. to ride an aquaplane
2. (of a vehicular tire or vehicle) to ride on a film of water on a wet surface with a resulting decrease in braking and steering effectiveness
(noun) Is that good enough.

[shoota]

Again: aquaplaning occurs when a film of water is sufficiently compressed to overcome the adhesion of the tyre to the road surface which occurs at high speed or in deepish WATER (thats why its called AQUAplaning)
It has no relevance to this question and bears no connection whatsoever to sliding on ice.

[yogi-bear]

Sorry tilly,......... just keep seeing this thread appear in latest posts....." My car goes by itself "

Have you tried calling in an Exorcist? :) x

[woofgang]

My car does this too. Apparently most new cars do. There was a bloke on telly last year iirc saying that it was good for muddy conditions, he was teaching someone to go up a slippery slope but I can't remember the program or the bloke.