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.)

[KJN]

My car does the same I presume that you mean it just about crawls forward on it's own, if you are talking about say 2mph 3mph that is acceptable. I think you will find most modern cars will do this as they seem to have a faster idling speed now.

[Tilly2]

I, wouldn't describe it as crawling. It feels faster than that when you actually feel out of control.

[Flyhalf]

If you're still in Drive or first gear, it will move forward at idle speed, except upslope.

[Old_Geezer]

Well you could be sliding.

But that aside, did you have it in neutral ? If not then possibly the choke is feeding a rich enough mixture to turn the wheels slowly.

[Tilly2]

It was in first gear, not neutral. Perhaps I'm being too cautious. It's just that I have a horrible 'S'bend to drive round before I get on to the main road and it is shockingly icy . I don't want to break in case I skid, I just want the car to travel at the speed my foot pressure tells it to. It seems to have a mind of it's own.

[Old_Geezer]

There you go then. Low speed was the option to stalling.

Even when you go slow you still need to use all 3 pedals in much the same way as you do at other times. Take it easy.

[tamborine]

If you press the clutch when accelerating you have disengaged the gears....v.dangerous.

[Tilly2]

Thank you all. I obviously need to get used to it going by itself. How long would it take to warm up methyl? Or is that like asking, how long is a piece of string?

[Tilly2]

Thank you, methyl. All your assumptions were correct by the way. I tend turn on the engine, turn on the heated rear window and mirror thingy, de-ice the windscreen, get in and drive away. That's the problem I suppose. I need to leave it a bit longer. I'll try that tomorrow.

Thanks to all of you for not treating me like a silly woman.

[TWR]

The car is Aquaplaning Tilly, there is Ice between your tyres & the road surface, If possible when braking, use your handbrake lightly to slow yourself down.

[Mick-Talbot]

Aquaplaning?

[Tilly2]

Now, you're confusing me!

[joko]

all automatics do this

[derekpara]

I thought you could only aquaplane at speeds over 60mph in the heavy rain or standing water.