FTO AUSTRALIA

I had the unforunate experience of skidding in a multi-level carpark with wet floors while making a right turn at aprox 20-30km/hr and turning on the aircon at the same time

i guess the aircon belt was trying to get a grip and then the power steering become very light, slight action on e steering caused it to swerve violently, tried to brake but seemed like no feel then the abs kicked in...

luckily all happened in a split second and both man and machine are safe.

i had the aircon compressor changed last month cause it broke down and this has never happened at all...what do u guys think?

it was a very wet day today and i made my trip home in the downpour at a very slow and manageable speed...

I don't think the AC would have any effect on the power steering. I think it is more likely that the wheels broke traction in the wet, causing the momentary light steering you experienced.

If anything the AC would increase resistance. So if anything it would reduce the speed of the belt and therefore reduce the power steering ability. But I would have thought this would be very unlikely, and would mean you had a really loose belt.

... However, I could be completely wrong ... so don't listen to me

Either way I'm glad you and car are ok

Luca wrote:... However, I could be completely wrong ... so don't listen to me

haha...i like dat one...

anyway...it all happened in a flash...

turned rite...on the aircon at the same time...lost traction...

i think it may be the aircon pulley struggling to grip the belt...
done forgot that the same belt runs the powers steering too...
so lose belt means lose steering + wet floor = no traction? haha...

hmm...

When you turn your aircon on, it engages the clutch putting more stress on the belt so it would be tighter.

If your belt is tighter, the steering shouldnt be affected.

Carpark floors are usually painted and are slippery even when dry let alone when wet!

I think your problem is wet tryes on a painted surface

Michael

Also, if your p/s belt was slipping, it wouldn't be driving the "assistance" as much, so it should actually get heavier.

I think Luca is right - locked up, light steering, just so happened to have happened when you were turning the air con on.

hmm...okie...i guess it was a coincedence then...
luckily it was at low speed...i usually do my daily carpark sprints when i make my way out...cant image the damage to the stationery cars if it was any faster

Hehe ... those stop and think moments are great when the come off cheaply. They are an excellent reality check. I'm really glad you both came out unscathed.

As a funny aside...

Back in Jan 2000, a month after I got my car, I went tearing around a corner, not realising they had graded the road ready for resealing.

Soon as I hit the loose gravel the car understeered towards the curb. So I right locked it, thinking I could bring the back around, and maybe avoid the curbing. Sucessfully got it round, but then hit the front left mag, and busted the corresponding shock.

Back in 2000 a single Mitsi FTO front shock, cost more than Koni adjustables all way round. Hence my sport suspension

But it certainly has made me think ever since when I fang it into a corner.

I used to push my car as hard as hell, but ever since i got my Toyo tyres at the front, my back of the car has been pretty weird and sometimes completely different to what i had.

Now it's actually 30% undesteer 70% oversteer.... i'm still getting used and slowly learning how to push it hard again. Hope fully a new suspension setup will remove this issue.

So my comment is unless you have driven and done the same thing on that particular road or area, then don't go out and give 100%.