WEIRD SNOW DRIVING QUIRK- Rear End Slides Out when STOPPED.

[mtbjay]

CHALLENGE QUESTION: REAR END SLIP AT STOP

-'09 INFINITI G37x

Our new '09 Infiniti G37x AWD sedan is a fine car. Not without defects though....

First my wife, then I, experienced that the rear-end would slowly slip-out to the side when we were stopped in the snow, engine running, car in DRIVE. When I experienced this (during a freak Portland snow storm), I was stopped on a crowned road surface in freezing temps (our heavy wet snow turns to ice at night). I had to VERY FIRMLY press the brake pedal to stop the car from pivoting around the front tires. I was curious as to how far this would go and stopped goofing around when the rear wheels were shifted several feet off-center (and towards a drainage ditch). Placing the transmission in NEUTRAL instantly stops the car from sliding.

Now my theory (without standing outside the vehicle) is that the engine is overcoming the rear wheel brakes if the pedal is not firmly pressed, causing them to churn slowly forward. The front wheels must be remaining locked causing the rear end to try and pivot around them. I think I had the car in SNOW MODE as it was so icy. [Snow Mode = 50/50 torque split (front-to-rear) upon take-off up 30mph or so] I think I took it out of SNOW MODE and found the same result, though I am not positive of that as it's been almost a year.

Anyone heard of this? Solutions? I was thinking that if the brake system was to favor the front brakes upon actuation, the rear wheels could slip causing the sliding. Race cars have adjustable front-to-rear brake bias controllers I think (at least on Gran Turismo 3 they do ). Could the G37 have an adjustable brake bias control? With Winter quickly approaching the Pacific Northwest, I'd like to get this quirk resolved. Dealer says bring it in when it's happening - not much help as we get snow 1-2x year and it's best to get the hell off the roads ASAP during a Portland snowstorm. Drivers are inexperienced and our Department of Transportation is under-prepared/under-funded for much help so we a flurry of crashes and fender benders (just Google Portland Ice Storm and you'll see exactly what I mean!).

A $40K car shouldn't do this! What's the deal?!

[joe603]

I've verify that it was in Snow mode. This is the first I've heard of it.

[SVTCOBRA]

First I've heard of it too.
Do you remember what the RPM was??

[zozoka1212]

hm never heard.

The brakes are holding equal on front and rear. Only way I can see this happening is if you had maybe winter boots on and you hit the gas a little with the brake. More of the gas that the brake since the brake overrides the acceleration in our cars.

BTW the snow mode is AWD till 12mph than it becomes RWD.

Also would look at the tires too. But I can pretty much floor the car on ice and it would start going straight. I unfortunettly deleted some of my videos wher it shows how quick the rear wheel stops spinning and the front kicks in.

[kmckis1029]

all the few times ive been on icy roads in ga in my old g35x, i would floor the accell (when no one was around) just to see what would happen. My old G35x would break lose in the rear for a second at the most and the front wheels kick in... it amazingly never swayed left or right... my old G35x felt like a tank with my M+S rated tires.