Omega Owners Forum

Omega Help Area => Omega General Help => Topic started by: GPar on 19 December 2009, 23:06:14

Title: Snowflake button
Post by: GPar on 19 December 2009, 23:06:14
Could someone please tell me exactly what the 'snowflake' button next to my Auto gear lever does? My handbook says 'aid to slow starting'  :-?

Geoff
Title: Re: Snowflake button
Post by: Entwood on 19 December 2009, 23:09:46
It sets the car to pull away in a higher gear .. so instead of pulling away in 1st .. it pulls away in 3rd (I think)  .. this greatly reduces the risk of wheel spin in slippery conditions... ie "snow & ice" ... :)

In a manual car you just choose 2nd .. this is the auto way .. :)

As soon as you get above a set speeed it disengages.. :)

Page 136

http://homepage.ntlworld.com/andrew.reynolds983/Manuals/Omega2002Manual.pdf

HTH

Title: Re: Snowflake button
Post by: waspy on 19 December 2009, 23:09:51
It selects a higher gear (like selecting second in a manual) :y
Title: Re: Snowflake button
Post by: VXL V6 on 19 December 2009, 23:10:00
Pulls away on third gear to stop the wheels spinning in poor traction conditions.

EDIT: Must type quicker
Title: Re: Snowflake button
Post by: waspy on 19 December 2009, 23:10:52
Must type faster ;D ;D ;D ;D
Title: Re: Snowflake button
Post by: waspy on 19 December 2009, 23:12:21
Quote
Pulls away on third gear to stop the wheels spinning in poor traction conditions.

EDIT: Must type quicker

Is it really third Andy :o Thought it was second :-/ :-?
Title: Re: Snowflake button
Post by: Entwood on 19 December 2009, 23:13:51
Quote
Quote
Pulls away on third gear to stop the wheels spinning in poor traction conditions.

EDIT: Must type quicker

Is it really third Andy :o Thought it was second :-/ :-?


http://homepage.ntlworld.com/andrew.reynolds983/Manuals/Omega2002Manual.pdf

Page 136 column 3 line 5....   ::) ::) ::) ::) ::) ::) ::)
Title: Re: Snowflake button
Post by: Andy H on 19 December 2009, 23:16:20
Quote
Could someone please tell me exactly what the 'snowflake' button next to my Auto gear lever does?

Pressed mine last night and woke up this morning to an inch of snow  :D :D :D
Title: Re: Snowflake button
Post by: waspy on 19 December 2009, 23:19:49
Added to memory bank ;)
Title: Re: Snowflake button
Post by: waspy on 19 December 2009, 23:20:25
Quote
Quote
Could someone please tell me exactly what the 'snowflake' button next to my Auto gear lever does?

Pressed mine last night and woke up this morning to an inch of snow  :D :D :D


 ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D Good one :y
Title: Re: Snowflake button
Post by: Entwood on 19 December 2009, 23:25:13
Nice one Andy ...  :y :y

 ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D
Title: Re: Snowflake button
Post by: GPar on 19 December 2009, 23:27:59
Blimey you lot are quick! Many thanks. I've actually just found it in my owners manual on page 116, not sure why it is on a different page. Had the car for three and a half years but never pressed this button! My road is still snow covered so will be trying it for the first time tomorrow to visit new grandson. Many thanks again.

Geoff

p.s. ah, just seen that the manual shown was for a 2002 facelift, mine's a 1999 minifacelift hence page difference I assume.
Title: Re: Snowflake button
Post by: VXL V6 on 19 December 2009, 23:29:42
My Vectra Auto had the same facility, was fine until I forgot to turn it off when pulling onto a main gritted road with foot flat to the floor trying to get the thing going with oncoming traffic!  ::)

Moral of the story is to turn it off as soon as your moving!
Title: Re: Snowflake button
Post by: Entwood on 19 December 2009, 23:32:46
Quote
Blimey you lot are quick! Many thanks. I've actually just found it in my owners manual on page 116, not sure why it is on a different page. Had the car for three and a half years but never pressed this button! My road is still snow covered so will be trying it for the first time tomorrow to visit new grandson. Many thanks again.

Geoff


The link I posted is to the 2002 version .. if you have the original for your car it will certainly be different !!

AFAIK the only "on-line" manual is this 2002 one .. it is useful for those folks that don't have one at all .. :)
Title: Re: Snowflake button
Post by: GPar on 19 December 2009, 23:39:18
Thanks Entwood. Did edit my previous post as you will see. Spotted the year difference. Is my 'original' manual worth more than the car then? ;D

Geoff
Title: Re: Snowflake button
Post by: I_want_an_Omega on 20 December 2009, 11:45:21
Its also worth noting that if its used for a long period that the gearbox oil will heat up significantly. The gearbox ECU will then deliberately disengage this mode of operation.

IIRC this feature only came in from MY '96.
Title: Re: Snowflake button
Post by: waspy on 20 December 2009, 12:29:21
Quote
Its also worth noting that if its used for a long period that the gearbox oil will heat up significantly. The gearbox ECU will then deliberately disengage this mode of operation.

IIRC this feature only came in from MY '96.

My 94 Carlton had it. I wonder why the two year (ish) gap :-/ :-?
Title: Re: Snowflake button
Post by: Andy B on 20 December 2009, 15:40:59
Quote
Quote
Its also worth noting that if its used for a long period that the gearbox oil will heat up significantly. The gearbox ECU will then deliberately disengage this mode of operation.

 IIRC this feature only came in from MY '96.

My 94 Carlton had it. I wonder why the two year (ish) gap :-/ :-?

I think possibly Robert means this bit .......
but there were 3 or 4 variants on the gearbox ECU anyway