Contour Enthusiasts Group Archives Forums General Troubleshooting Problem in the rain?

I just got back from driving, and I noticed a few things different in driving in the rain...and if it matters i drive the 98 4 cylinder 16valve model (the lookup on my VIN # says GL/sport/LX....so is mine a GL or LX?? lol)

It was mildly raining and everything, and whenever i would be at a stop sign or intersection, and i would get a green light, i would press on the gas (duh)...but i would notice a rumbling or so in the back...as though it were a peel-out...but the thing is that i didn't hit the gas hard...i didn't even pass ~2500 rpms through my travel through an intersection...anyone else ever experience this?

Also, i noticed that the rain cooled off the engine heat SIGNIFICANTLY...but accelerating was a b*tch...it took longer to pass through an intersection (once i got going it was the same...just the initial take off was different)...anyone else experience this?

Sorry if this is a reposted problem or whatever...but when i noticed these things the first thing on my mind was to post here. heh

Thanks in advance

My wife's focus is also a 16V Zetec,
and it doesn't take much to spin the tires,
especially in the rain.

This is all you are probably doing.
Just a little tire spin on acceleration.

When it is cold AND damp, the Zetec tends to take longer to accelerate also.
Probably has more to do with the humidity, than the air temperature.

does vtech have that problem? when i last drove my mom's car in the rain i didn't pay much attention...i couldn't accelerate anyways to find out cuz she was in the car (that was back when i only had my permit). the car is in the shop now so i can't try it

another reason why it take longer to pass is that when you run the A/C setting it takes from the engine...the only setting that its not running is PANEL or OFF.

are you talking about a duratech ?

yeah, everything was on off

no...not duretech (i think)...my mom has a 2000 civic ex and those have the vtech...but i haven't been able to test drive taht in the rain...

I have a 2k duratech atx... After 25k miles on the firehawk tires the rubber no longer grips in the rain from a stop. It had PLENTY of TREADLIFE LEFT though. Guess the rubber hardenend or something. It was okay when I was up to cruising speed. But as soon as I hit a stop sign, it would just slip and it sounded horrible. It bang, rumbled, and screeched. Barely any gas was applied. Solved the problem with a new set of tires.

my tires are relatively new i think ...