Snow buildup in the wheel wells

[jayeh]

Anyone else find this car absolutely awful for snow buildup in the wheel wells? My car has the 15" wheels and there is almost no room to kick the snow off between the wheel well and the tire.

I've taken to parking with the wheel turned to full lock and use a windshield scraper to get the snow off the car. I had two full shovel fulls of snow from my little car! It was a 24" shovel too! The other day I had to use a crow bar to pry the frozen back off my car!

It's the only car I've ever seen that routinely builds up snow around the tire that forms to the tire itself and almost goes down to the ground! Sometimes I swear it builds up to the point where it slows down the car!

Anyone figure out a solution other than scraping it off every time I park?

[jambo101]

I have the same problem with my 08 Yaris sedan, i dont understand why the snow gets so thoroughly jammed up in those wheel wells,poor design?
I do about what you do with the scraper.

[Idahotom]

I ignore it, as it doesn't really hurt anything near as I can tell.

[Killchain]

I don't live in Montana anymore, but I used to carry a toilet plunger stick to get the snow out. This works for big rig,wheel wells too.

[jayeh]

I ignore it, as it doesn't really hurt anything near as I can tell.

The hardened show is so tough I had to use a 3' crow bar to break it off!

I don't live in Montana anymore, but I used to carry a toilet plunger stick to get the snow out. This works for big rig,wheel wells too.

I miss Montana, and New Mexico. :cry: I want to go back.

[fnkngrv]

You just need to stay on top of the situation. With today's car especially and how much the wheels/tires fill the wells you will see build up as an issue. I see it all the time with my friend's ford fusion, another friend's cobalt, and another buddy's eclipse. About the only vehicles I don't see it on is full size trucks. Even some SUVs I have seen this season have build up issues occurring. A lot of it I am gathering is also from the chemicals that they use on the roads.

[Killchain]

I miss Montana, and New Mexico. :cry: I want to go back.

:thumbsup:

[roxy1]

its been the same with every single small car I have ever owned. nothing unique to the yaris.

[jayeh]

You just need to stay on top of the situation. With today's car especially and how much the wheels/tires fill the wells you will see build up as an issue. I see it all the time with my friend's ford fusion, another friend's cobalt, and another buddy's eclipse. About the only vehicles I don't see it on is full size trucks. Even some SUVs I have seen this season have build up issues occurring. A lot of it I am gathering is also from the chemicals that they use on the roads.

Every other car I've owned I could just kick it off. This one the clearance is so small I can't get near it. Sometimes when I get home I have to pry it off, move the car a foot, pry it out the other way, move up a foot and pry again.

its been the same with every single small car I have ever owned. nothing unique to the yaris.

I've never seen anything this bad. I've got friends with fit, accents, whatever. The buildup even goes all the way around.

Anyone try the teflon snow repellant spray?

[Exiwolfman]

52495

here is mine being lowered dont help ....lol one just have to keep on top of it remove when possible.

[roxy1]

Every other car I've owned I could just kick it off. This one the clearance is so small I can't get near it. Sometimes when I get home I have to pry it off, move the car a foot, pry it out the other way, move up a foot and pry again.



I've never seen anything this bad. I've got friends with fit, accents, whatever. The buildup even goes all the way around.

Anyone try the teflon snow repellant spray?

in the last 7 years I have owned:
2005 Toyota Corolla, Toyota Yaris (2007, 2014)
2009 Corolla, 2012 Hyundai Accent
2012 Hyundai Veloster
2012 Fiat 500

they have all become equally embedded with snow/ice. small cars have little space in the wheel well. as others have said, it needs to be taken care of after each drive when driving in enough snow that it collects. if this isn't done it will harden and become tough to manage.

[nookandcrannycar]

I don't live in Montana anymore, but I used to carry a toilet plunger stick to get the snow out. This works for big rig,wheel wells too.

:laugh: LOL. I have a friend who also no longer lives in Montana. He lived in Great Falls for many years. Your post reminds me of the myriad of things he told me he kept in his pick up to help with inclement Winter weather in Montana and the aftermath of same.

[nookandcrannycar]

in the last 7 years I have owned:
2005 Toyota Corolla, Toyota Yaris (2007, 2014)
2009 Corolla, 2012 Hyundai Accent
2012 Hyundai Veloster
2012 Fiat 500

they have all become equally embedded with snow/ice. small cars have little space in the wheel well. as others have said, it needs to be taken care of after each drive when driving in enough snow that it collects. if this isn't done it will harden and become tough to manage.

Does your Yaris get better MPG than the Fiat? About the same? Fiat better?

[nookandcrannycar]

I miss Montana, and New Mexico. :cry: I want to go back.

Me too. I wish Ruidoso was closer to Houston. I'm used to Alpine skiing being no more than 200 miles away :cry:. Re the opposite end of New Mexico, I think that if someone told me I had to live the rest of my life in one town (but could have whatever I needed that I couldn't find locally sent to me, and could take day trips), that Red River, New Mexico (on the Enchanted Circle) would be pretty hard to beat. The physical beauty and the bounty of recreational activities alone, without considering other benefits, might be just about enough of a draw.

[roxy1]

Does your Yaris get better MPG than the Fiat? About the same? Fiat better?

they are VERY close in the same commutes. the fiat (manual) was rated 30/38. I average 43.1 in the yaris and averaged 43.8 in the fiat. not enough difference to matter. however, the veloster and accent (both 6 speed manuals with the same direct injected engine) rated 27/37 and 28/37, respectively, required quite a lot more effort to even get 40 mpg's on the same commutes. driving the same as I drove the 500 and yaris, they would get right around 38 mpg's.

[nookandcrannycar]

they are VERY close in the same commutes. the fiat (manual) was rated 30/38. I average 43.1 in the yaris and averaged 43.8 in the fiat. not enough difference to matter. however, the veloster and accent (both 6 speed manuals with the same direct injected engine) rated 27/37 and 28/37, respectively, required quite a lot more effort to even get 40 mpg's on the same commutes. driving the same as I drove the 500 and yaris, they would get right around 38 mpg's.

:thumbsup: Thanks. Member SailDesign sold his Yaris and bought the Fiat. Someone (moi? :biggrin: Can't remember) asked him the same question and his experience = pretty much the same as yours. I wanted to know if multiple people = similar results. I'm thinking way down the line (after I have retired my Yaris as a DD and have purchased a new car...probably a Prius C Two) when my Yaris is at the point where yaris9876 is now will I....A. Pay someone to do what yaris9876 is doing...B. Try to do it myself as a 'learning project'....C. Look for a 2011 5-speed manual 3 door Yaris with low miles...or.... now I'm thinking if I decide on letter C, what do I do if I can't find a 2011 (or other 'Gen 2' year) low mileage 5-speed 3-door? A New 5-speed manual Fiat 500 might be an alternative (Northside Fiat is now physically between the two Toyota dealerships I have patronized...all three now along I-45), but I don't know if I can get over how much their being involved with Chrysler p***** me off.

[roxy1]

:thumbsup: Thanks. Member SailDesign sold his Yaris and bought the Fiat. Someone (moi? :biggrin: Can't remember) asked him the same question and his experience = pretty much the same as yours. I wanted to know if multiple people = similar results. I'm thinking way down the line (after I have retired my Yaris as a DD and have purchased a new car...probably a Prius C Two) when my Yaris is at the point where yaris9876 is now will I....A. Pay someone to do what yaris9876 is doing...B. Try to do it myself as a 'learning project'....C. Look for a 2011 5-speed manual 3 door Yaris with low miles...or.... now I'm thinking if I decide on letter C, what do I do if I can't find a 2011 (or other year) low mileage 5-speed 3-door? A New 5-speed manual Fiat 500 might be an alternative (Northside Fiat is now physically between the two Toyota dealerships I have patronized...all three now along I-45), but I don't know if I can get over how much their being involved with Chrysler p***** me off.

a lot of clutch issues going on with the 500 manuals. oh, and the service experienced by most of us has been abysmal, since most fiat studios actually use the CJDR dealership for service. im still not sure if fiat branded cars will survive here. they somehow managed to introduce a new, larger 5 door model (the 500L) and will actually sell less cars this year than last year (even though there were more dealers in place along with the new model). that is a problem.

[nookandcrannycar]

a lot of clutch issues going on with the 500 manuals. oh, and the service experienced by most of us has been abysmal, since most fiat studios actually use the CJDR dealership for service. im still not sure if fiat branded cars will survive here. they somehow managed to introduce a new, larger 5 door model (the 500L) and will actually sell less cars this year than last year (even though there were more dealers in place along with the new model). that is a problem.

Good to know. Northside Fiat opened in the 'Woodlands Waterway' area.....a strange place to put a car dealership. The area has Class A office buildings, restaurants, mid rise condos, apartments, retail, a Marriott, etc. Lots of foot traffic, but not necessarily people thinking about buying a car. They tried several different things to 'get attention', but then made the decision to build a 'studio' (:laugh:) across I-45 from where the new Exxon Mobil campus (new North American HQ and likely eventual World HQ) is being built. The new World HQ of SWE (Southwestern Energy) will front on that side of I-45, near the edge of the Exxon Mobil campus. The Grand Parkway (which will be the longest beltway around any city in the world) will cross I-45 in this area, and the Hardy Toll Road also ends about 1 mile away. Lots of CAR traffic...with plenty stopped at stoplights...at least twice a day :smile:. This seems like a logical place for a relocation. Time will tell. Per your info above, I checked the service part of their website. They had a service department at the original studio location, and that service department has moved to the new location. I like the size and the interior of both the base MINI and the Fiat 500, but from what I understand the MINI is an 'also ran' re MPG :thumbdown:.

[SailDesign]

a lot of clutch issues going on with the 500 manuals. oh, and the service experienced by most of us has been abysmal, since most fiat studios actually use the CJDR dealership for service. im still not sure if fiat branded cars will survive here. they somehow managed to introduce a new, larger 5 door model (the 500L) and will actually sell less cars this year than last year (even though there were more dealers in place along with the new model). that is a problem.

Yup! Fiat service goes from awful to perfect, depending on the studio/dealer and their closeness to a Chrysler dealer. The ones with a dedicated service dept are apparently MUCH better than the ones attached to a CJD place. Like mine.
Only had the oil changed once so farm, so no real experience of the service, but there is a guy n the Fiat forums who is paid by Fiat to help dissatisfied customers. He is VERY patient, and gets things done. Dealer being a pain? He'll call them and set them straight.

[nookandcrannycar]

Yup! Fiat service goes from awful to perfect, depending on the studio/dealer and their closeness to a Chrysler dealer. The ones with a dedicated service dept are apparently MUCH better than the ones attached to a CJD place. Like mine.
Only had the oil changed once so farm, so no real experience of the service, but there is a guy n the Fiat forums who is paid by Fiat to help dissatisfied customers. He is VERY patient, and gets things done. Dealer being a pain? He'll call them and set them straight.

:thumbsup:

[DebbyM46227]

We had 6" of snow yesterday and the temp this morning was ZERO. I was afraid to turn the wheels at all. I have thoughts of the ice chunks in the wheel well tearing my tires off the rims!! I care barely fit my big toe into the opening. Hopefully due to the sun being out today, I can stick a pole in there to get the snow out. Next Tuesday we are having 17 below zero temps so I need to get it out before then. I HATE WINTER!

[fnkngrv]

You shouldn't ever have to worry about the snow build up causing damage to your tires. My biggest concern used to be damaging the plastic liners, but I fixed that by removing them. I haven't had them for 3 seasons now and have not experienced any rust or other detrimental issues.

At least with having plastic bumper covers front and rear it is pretty easy to bang off and remove build up once you figure out the method. Just don't try knocking on the upper wheel wells on the front cause you can easily put puckers in the body panel at the accent line...speaking from experience!

[jpmck03]

We had 6" of snow yesterday and the temp this morning was ZERO. ... I care barely fit my big toe into the opening. ...

If it's 0° out you should probably stop using your toes to measure things and put your boots back on! :laugh:

[WeeYari]

I just leave it in there. Just like a bad tooth, it always falls out eventually.

[JustPassinThru]

I just leave it in there. Just like a bad tooth, it always falls out eventually.

What - your big toe?

:eyebulge:

[nookandcrannycar]

Yup! Fiat service goes from awful to perfect, depending on the studio/dealer and their closeness to a Chrysler dealer. The ones with a dedicated service dept are apparently MUCH better than the ones attached to a CJD place. Like mine.
Only had the oil changed once so farm, so no real experience of the service, but there is a guy n the Fiat forums who is paid by Fiat to help dissatisfied customers. He is VERY patient, and gets things done. Dealer being a pain? He'll call them and set them straight.

http://www.autoblog.com/2014/01/01/fiat-buys-chrysler-4-point-35-billion-no-ipo/

Announced the day after the last of our posts 13 through 20 (about Fiat in the U.S.) on this thread.

[jpmck03]

What - your big toe?

:eyebulge:

:laugh:

[roxy1]

http://www.autoblog.com/2014/01/01/fiat-buys-chrysler-4-point-35-billion-no-ipo/

Announced the day after the last of our posts 13 through 20 (about Fiat in the U.S.) on this thread.

that was pretty much the way most of us expected it to go.