Interesting snow related problem & accident avoidance system - 2016 Equus Signature

[SCVDon]

Interesting snow related problem & accident avoidance system - 2016 Equus Signature

Returning from PA yesterday traveling on slush covered highways. An amber warning LED appeared on the dash informing me that the accident avoidance system was now off. The cruise control also dropped out at the same time. The wife dug out the manual and read off the chapter on the system and we decided the radar sensor up under the grille was the problem since many of the cars coming at us had their fronts covered with built up slush. We pulled over and sure enough the sensor had about 3/8" - 1/2" of slush covering the sensor. I brushed it off and all was well for about 100 miles and the idiot light came on again and it required one more cleaning. Sensor on the Equus is down low, under the main bumper and main grill and so gets lots of slush thrown at it. It's no big deal to clean off, but does kill adaptive cruise function, really all cruise control since there's no standard set speed only function. Plus in the worst case a real accident happens and the car can't go through the programmed function of adapting for the soon to happen "big bang".

 

[EdP]

Re: Interesting snow related problem & accident avoidance system - 2016 Equus Signatu

Returning from PA yesterday traveling on slush covered highways. An amber warning LED appeared on the dash informing me that the accident avoidance system was now off. The cruise control also dropped out at the same time.

Yes, this happens in snow and even very heavy rain. The light on the dash may be annoying but under the conditions that cause the warning, you should have slowed down a bit and not use cruise anyway. I'm surprised you've not seen in by now. Pops up a few time s a year depending on the weather where you drive.

 

[rroyce46]

Re: Interesting snow related problem & accident avoidance system - 2016 Equus Signatu

Not trying to start a bun fight here but
running on Cruise Control even in the rain left alone snow is a no-no.
I live in Calgary & up here you would have to be suicidal to run
with Cruise in the winter.
that said it's your car & do what you want with it.
Actually the car is even telling you that with the light coming on.

 

[lt2211]

Re: Interesting snow related problem & accident avoidance system - 2016 Equus Signatu

.. since there's no standard set speed only function....

I am not familiar with the Equus however with my 2018 G80, one can obtain normal (not enhanced) cruise control, by depressing and holding, for 3 seconds or so, the button on the steering wheel used to set the distance between vehicles. This causes the system to revert to standard cruise. As has been mentioned, experts say not to use any type of cruise in snow/rain/ice. That having been said, I tend to use the enhanced cruise in snow, until the car turns it off.

 

[Rey]

Re: Interesting snow related problem & accident avoidance system - 2016 Equus Signatu

Cruise control clogging/obscuring is a problem common to just about any contemporary car. The sensors are located in the bumper cover by necessity. They must have an unobscured "vision" ahead. Snowy slush or very heavy rain can temporarily obscure the sensors. It is not unique to Hyundai.

 

[lt2211]

Re: Interesting snow related problem & accident avoidance system - 2016 Equus Signatu

Cruise control clogging/obscuring is a problem common to just about any contemporary car. The sensors are located in the bumper cover by necessity. They must have an unobscured "vision" ahead. Snowy slush or very heavy rain can temporarily obscure the sensors. It is not unique to Hyundai.

Genesis radar antenna, for the enhanced cruise, is located on the grill, with an external plexi glass cover. The cover tends to collect snow and ice. In 3 Illinois winters, I never had a problem with the system in my 2015 Acura TLX, SH-AWD, Advanced. I had problems with the 2018 G80, driving it home from the dealer on the day of purchase. It is not necessary to have the plexi glass cover mounted externally, on the grill. That just invites problems. A smaller unit, mounted behind the grill, works much better in winter snow conditions. It is not in a position to collect snow, and residual heat from the engine compartment, keeps it from icing over.

 

[SCVDon]

Re: Interesting snow related problem & accident avoidance system - 2016 Equus Signatu

rroyce46, no offense taken. I grew up in Buffalo, NY and learned at an early age how to drive in winter. Some near 55 years later I normally don't use cruise in the winter myself. If snow was in the original forecast for that week we would have taken the wife's H-Trac Genesis vs. the Equus.

However, on this day where 4" of snow fell overnight, but the temperature warmed up to lower 40's and the road was covered in rapidly melting slush. The road we traveled goes through a US national forest (Route 209) along the Delaware River with speed limits that are at reduced speeds (30 or 40 mph) and so the road speeds were well below "safe" cruising speeds. Few cars are on this road in winter and commercial trucks are banned. All the other roads were dry due to the normal traffic flow clearing the roads and it was only on this secondary road that we ran into the slush. Much safer than attempting to drive through New Jersey on I-78 and I-287, in any case, since speed limits are meaningless there in the best of driving conditions. Lack of driver driving skills not withstanding any foul weather effects upon cars equipped bald tires always raises my A-Fib heart rate when we take that route home.

In my case, the Equus' no-season OEM tires, which completely suck, were replaced with four new Pirelli snow tires of the type that we've used for years on our other Hyundai cars. Traction was greatly enhanced.