Eudreamality

I'm gonna relocate to Pittsburgh soon, I have never been in a city with lots of snow, the place I live does not offer garage parking how would you dig your car out of snow quickly in the morning if you need to go to work? if you can't open the door, what would you do?....... maybe this question is too early, but it kinda bugs me a lot since they don't provide garage parking.....

Edward'TLS

Get yourself an aftermarket alarm system that can let you operate the power moonroof from your alarm remote.

In the case that you can't open any door, use your remote to open up the moonroof, drop inside your car and drive away. But you still have to clear out the snow in front of your TL if it gets pile up too high.

ashdec87

this is kinda early and I take it you've never lived in a place with snow...

Best thing is a 'car shovel'. Makes it easy to reach around the tires to clear them out. If you know its going to snow a lot on a given day, maybe sprinkle some salt around the car before the snow starts.

Pete2010

You'd buy a shovel, and shovel out your car... If it's so much snow that it takes you a while, it will for everyone else. You just have to wake up earlier to shovel/clean your car out.

jnc2000

Watch the weather forcast... if it's snowing when you go to bed, plan to wake up at least an hour early. Give yourself 15-30 min to dig out as you'll undoubtedly get buried by the plow trucks and other drivers.. then if your driving to downtown I79, I279, I376 will be a mess.

We don't get "lots" of snow.. just a couple of major events each year. Its the ice + hills you want to watch with. Either way I do recommend snow tires. You never know when they can come in handy.

Asynchro

OP asks, "How to dig your car out of snow quickly."

Answer: I think you should be thinking in terms of "as quickly as possible" rather than "quickly". No joke--I'm serious. It could take you a few minutes or a few hours.

Reason: Snow comes in consistencies ranging from powder (feathery light and easy to move) to wet snow (think backbreaking shoveling of wet cement) and everything in between. The snowfall amounts could range from insignificant to several feet. Depending on elapsed time and weather, you could encounter icy layers due to freezing rain or thaw/re-freeze cycles.

Warning: Look out for the city snow plows because they will give you a watery or frozen, salty, sandy bath no matter how close you are to their path. Look out for moving cars because they may be going too fast and because your street may be narrowed by sidewalk snow banks, causing people to park farther from the curb.

Tips: Get a collapsible/telescoping shovel (to better fit in the small trunk), ideally with a metal business end. The plastic ones are okay in most conditions except icy snow. Keep some cat litter or coarse sand in the trunk. Try to spread the sand as far under the tires as you can and make a track. DO NOT floor the gas pedal if the tires slip; this will only dig you deeper into a rut. Instead of sand, try a floor mat. Hopefully the tire will grab the floor mat to aid traction. Easy on the gas or you will dig a deeper rut and fling the mat or sand into your neighbor, who will not be pleased if he's standing nearby.

You may need to repeat these procedures, moving forward and backward a few inches/feet at a time, stopping each time and getting out to clear more snow until you're free. Be patient and DO NOT rock the car by slamming the transmission into drive and reverse before the wheels come to a complete stop each time, or else you may have to visit Acura for a new transmission later.

Final tips: After you do get your car dug out, you must drive conservatively on still-slippery roads--especially on the hilly roads of Pittsburgh--or else you might find yourself digging your car out again from the side of the road--or worse, exchanging papers with the driver of the car you just hit.

Maintain more than the normal following distance between you and the car in front; i.e., > 2 second rule.

Be aware of the phenomenon of "black ice", in which water freezes on the road and appears wet but is actually ice. It can occur on bridges or overpasses usually because they freeze faster than on surface roads.

Final, final tip: Don't know about Pittsburgh, but if you're in Boston after a snowstorm it is unwise to park in a spot seemingly unoccupied except for an object (TV set, chair, etc.). Otherwise, you might return to find your car damaged by someone who cleared and claimed "his" spot and took retribution.

Whew, sorry for the long reply. I'm sure I left something out. Just wanted to keep a snow newbie from getting into trouble and hitting MY car!

MAC-n-back-of-da-AC

Wake up early, no other way around it.....unfortunately

Asynchro

Oh yeah, I did forget something.

I have a 2010 TL Tech with stock Michelin "all-season" tires. I found these tires to be most unsettling and sometimes downright dangerous the first few months of winter driving around Boston; and I drive conservatively in bad weather and have 25+ years of experience driving in snow.

I got Bridgestone Blizzak WS70 snow tires from tirerack.com in January. I'm so happy I did, as the difference was like night and day during the weekly snowstorms the next 2 months. Makes up for the occasional regrets beforehand that I did not get SH-AWD.

Ant$

I live on a street with a pretty steep incline. The OEM tires fitted with the 19 inch rims (not the summer HPT) were horrible. despite having AWD, the car wasn't getting any traction at all.

I bought Pirelli Winter 240 Sottozero from tirerack. Turned off the VSA. it was all good. ALL GOOD. The TL turned into a Hummer...LOL

Slinks

wipe the top layer, loose snow off with your hands. then pour hot water on the rest of your car to melt the snow thats touching the surface.

Edward'TLS

A good set of snow tires is a must for winter driving, even with AWD traction.

In fact, on snow covered roads, my FWD TL with snow tires can virtually run rings around my wife's Quattro A6 with all-season tires.

jnc2000

never pour hot water on a cold car...

VQPower37

x2 ... this is a very bad idea

Slinks

the post was a joke but thanks for the response as i actually didnt know this

Asynchro

Maybe I was just unlucky in extreme cold temperatures, but I once cracked the windshield on my '00 TL with the defroster temp (with A/C off) and fan both on max about 10 minutes after clearing the snow and driving on the highway. The air was toasty hot. Snap! Instant, 6-inch long straight crack low, right where the defroster blows. No other cars were around to kick up rocks.

Needless to say, I never turned the defroster heat to max after that...

Jason717

I have the same stock Michelin's on my TL AWD and have driven in absolute horrible road conditions and never felt the tires slip once. I don't get why all of these people complain about the stock tires...

Asynchro

Mine is FWD, not SH-AWD like yours, so for what it's worth, here's a real-life example:

I'm stopped at a red light on a slight incline up-hill, waiting to turn left. There's about 5 inches of unplowed snow on the road that's been churned up by traffic. Light turns green, I gently apply a light-moderate throttle and the front tires spin all the way through the turn. The steering feels like when hydroplaning. It also feels like I could get stuck in the middle of the intersection if I fail to keep moving. I was absolutely babying the gas. And braking was no better.

After changing to real snow tires, under similar (and worse) conditions it feels much more like the car is better planted to the ground, much less of a hydroplaning feel, much improved, more confident steering and braking feel.

Before the snow tires, I dreaded going even 30 mph on the rutted, partially plowed highways during a snowstorm. That was when I regretted not getting SH-AWD. After getting snow tires, the regret subsided greatly.

vinnier6

iTrader: (1)

your full of crap....the oem michelins are horrible in snow, and rain for that matter...they hydroplane very early....and even though the awd handles the snow well, the tires are for sh it...

jnc2000

Jason717, I wholeheartedly challenge you next winter in a closed closed course setup in Summit Mall parking lot to test and see just how good those OEM tires are. Then I'll let you drive my TL and you'll see the light. Maybe you don't drive far - but I don't know how you can live up north in the snow belt and claim that the OEM tires do any bit of justice.

Jason717

JNC - I drive an hour to work each way right into the heart of the snow belt and never had an issue! You guys need to learn to drive!

jnc2000

I'm quite capable of my driving abilities as I drive from Buffalo, to Harrisburg to sothern WV to Indy and back often... - it's the OEM tires that fail this car.

The TireRack ratings seem to indicate the same thing...

http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires.jsp?tireMake=Michelin&tireModel=Pilot+HX+MXM 4&partnum=445VR8MXM4HXV3&vehicleSearch=true&fromCo mpare1=yes&autoMake=Acura&autoYear=2010&autoModel= TL%20SH-AWD&autoModClar=with%20Technology%20Package


Are the tires adequate - maybe - but it's not a risk I'm willing to wager given the roads I travel, and the unknown conditions I might encounter during the my winter travels.

My challenge still stands though. I'll grab 100 or so orange cones and we can go to the old abandoned mall, have fun and see who's car handles the nice white stuff better

kenny powers

after winter did any of you guys check out your engine bays, mine has a ton of dried road salt residue an what not in it....just wondering if anyone else had this issue and wondering whats the best way to clean it up? thanks

jnc2000

grab some degreaser and low pressure from water... be careful not to soak anything electrical. Once your done take a blower, shopvac or something similar and remove any excess water.

Eudreamality

thanks for all the reply. is it a good idea to put on a car cover before snows piles up on the car?

vinnier6

iTrader: (1)

if you dont mind your cars paint getting all scratched up....otherwise, i would say no to the car cover...

Jason717

What does a closed course set up have to do with driving on everyday snow covered roads?! I simply have my own opinion that I'm entitled to, and don't have an issue with the stock tires. Like it or don't like it! I think they are a perfect all season tire.

Asynchro

I admit the stock Michelins do seem fine in the snow if one needs to drive one mile at 1 MPH, like Mr. Magoo or Ma & Pa Kettle.

Just joking. Everyone's entitled to his/her own opinion. No need for a flame war.

NwTSXmt

OEMs on the wifes TL have NEVER hydroplaned in the rain and performed without incident this past winter (NE)...So who is really full of IT..