View Full Version : WHEN DO I USE 4x4 OPTION.
Hi there. Just joined the club and I am after some information regarding the use of 4x4 option. i.e. when can I use it. I have asked one or two people with similar vehicles to mine, but it appears that they don't know either. I have therefore asked the experts i.e. your good selves. The vehicle I have is a Terrano Salomon 2.7 TDI SWB. It is a 1998 model. I live in Lancashire and if it is possible I would like to speak to someone about it. I don't know whether it is allowed for telephone numbers to be given or not. If it is a land line would be appreciated due to the cost.
Many thanks for your anticipated help. WADEY.
zippy656
29-11-2010, 12:48
any time when your NOT on hard ground, theres got to be a little give other wise youll get "windup" so a search.. loads on here..
if you got snow and ice on the road use it... if the srearing fells " tight" the drop out of 4WD.. as that the "windup" your feeling...
zippy656
29-11-2010, 12:49
sorry to have taken 4 mins to answer.... the other fast man on the keys it out with a nurse :naughty:naughty:naughty:naughty:naughty
MudLifeCrisis
29-11-2010, 13:05
the other fast man on the keys it out with a nurse :naughty:naughty:naughty:naughty:naughty
Now that is a wind up ;O)
Hi. Many thanks for your quick reply. I thought that might be the case. Regards WADEY.
zippy656
29-11-2010, 13:07
i have no reason not to belive him...
cauase I have asked for pics!
And don't forget when you go back into 2WD T o reverse a few feet to unlock the front. :thumb2
if your switching from 2wd to 4wd alot is there a need to unlock the hubs?
zippy656
29-11-2010, 13:14
Hi. Many thanks for your quick reply. I thought that might be the case. Regards WADEY.
our aim in under 2 mins.. better than any 999 service there respnse time is 8mins
if your switching from 2wd to 4wd alot is there a need to unlock the hubs?
I always do just to be on the safe side, last year I had to replace the ring's coat me a sodding mint. :doh
Terranosaurus
29-11-2010, 13:20
if your switching from 2wd to 4wd alot is there a need to unlock the hubs?
No, in fact theres no NEED to bother at all except it may save you a tiny bit of fuel. You'll back up and unlock the hubs soon enough in the normal course of driving. Bt when out laning etc it really isn't necessary to unlock after every lane, just do it at the end of the day.
zippy656
29-11-2010, 13:20
if your switching from 2wd to 4wd alot is there a need to unlock the hubs?
nope. Ive not had any trouble on salisbury plan, swopping form 2 to 4 and back...
but sods law states it will bust when you NEED it the most!!
MudLifeCrisis
29-11-2010, 13:24
Don't do mine all the time as normally have a Defender up my ar$e at the end of a greenlane.
Above post does not refer to football or man love ;O)
also depends on wether you have auto or manual hubs...
When on the ice and snow, I engage 4x4 High, then slip it back to 2 high as and when the surface is only wet, then back into 4 high when on the slippy stuff, no need to reverse back to disengage. Keep them locked ready for next time.
When I first got the Mav, I used country lanes in 4x4 then when I got onto the busy main road, I used to reverse 6 feet to disengage the front hubs, the driver behind was not impressed.... :eek: :eek: :eek: :eek:
I have been doing this for 14 winters now, and never had a problem.
Terranosaurus
29-11-2010, 13:56
also depends on wether you have auto or manual hubs...
Not at all - the later T2 MkIVs didn't have freewheling hubs at all, no harm is done drivig with the front diff turning in 2wd. Infact it is good practice to do just that every now and again if you don't use 4wd regularly so as to keep everything free and stir the oil around etc.
I thought so.
when the 4x4 light goes out does that mean the auto hubs have turned off?
zippy656
29-11-2010, 14:17
nope, means the lever is back in 2wd...
Muckypup
29-11-2010, 14:25
Question - "when should I use 4x4"
Answer - before you need it!
Reading the terrain in front of you is the most important and first off-roading skill you should use. If it looks like you may need 4x4 select it, dont wait to see if you need it!
I was a boy Scout and I stand by their motto... BE PREPARED! ;)
Just make sure 2wd is selected if driving on dry tarmac, anything else such as slush, ice, snow, mud, grass, gravel you are fine keeping it in 4x4 High.
Only use 4x4 low if you require extra torque (recovering or climbing v steep slopes) being in low box can actually get you stuck sometimes in snow! Too much torque or power = wheel slip in snow
ENJOY!!! :clap
nope, means the lever is back in 2wd...
But it doesn't turn off as soon as you put it in 2wd. You drive forward/reverse a few meters it goes off.
zippy656
29-11-2010, 14:30
mine turns off as soon as i move the lever and more forwards again.
But it doesn't turn off as soon as you put it in 2wd. You drive forward/reverse a few meters it goes off.
Nor does mone. I checked it the other night in anticipation of the snow to come. I have always engaged 4WD at a standstill in nuetral and disengaged it driving slowly (15/20mph) in a straight line.
The light usually goes out 10 or 15 seconds later, so it can't be just a switch on the lever surely?
Alan
Ya light will only go on when 4WD H / L is selected & will go off when back in 2WD. (instant)
As Simon has said i've never bothered going back an forth to deselect the auot hubs & i've had no problems in 18 months...
To disengage the Auto hubs having been in 4 wheel drive, select 2 wheel drive and then you drive the vehicle in the opposite direction for 2 metres to what you were going before.
Well I have managed to make a prototype for my front prop shaft, that detects if the prop shaft is still turning, when in 2 wheel drive, so I know that the hubs are still engaged.
Only taken 15 years to get round to this, I'll let you know if it works.:eek:
If I am on the look out for manual hubs, then you will know it didn't....:doh
The sensor was the most expensive part as it needs to work with crud, salt and water.
dropdedfred
04-12-2010, 23:40
no one ever told me to reverse it after... just go from snow 4 wheel then onto clear rd change into 2 always going forward.... hope this hasnt cost me
no damage will be done, if the hubs stay locked in 2 wd the drive shafts just rotate, might use a little more fuel and in the case of my t2 its a bit noisier and a bit rougher. regards bri
lacroupade
05-12-2010, 00:13
Nor does mone. I checked it the other night in anticipation of the snow to come. I have always engaged 4WD at a standstill in nuetral and disengaged it driving slowly (15/20mph) in a straight line.
The light usually goes out 10 or 15 seconds later, so it can't be just a switch on the lever surely?
Alan
It isn't.....as long as the light is ON then 4WD is still engaged, regardless of where the bleedin lever is!
Tomorrow is the test.I am near Wexford in Ireland.(Not sure if it was a good move yet)And we have been well and truly snowed in for a week.I did venture out on Monday and the old T2 behaved perfectly.It's all the numties in front wheel drive cars that are the real problem.
The roads are like skating rinks and here I am putering along in second or third 4wd when down the slope comes a Golf full on sideways.Talk about brown laning!Anyway managed to get out of his way by some miracle.Hope he could lip read.
Tomorrow we are off to town to get "supplies".You know the usual.
Coffee,flour ,beans and ammuniton for the Winchester !Should be an interesting trip as the roads are still pretty slippery.:eek:
Tomorrow is the test.I am near Wexford in Ireland.(Not sure if it was a good move yet)And we have been well and truly snowed in for a week.I did venture out on Monday and the old T2 behaved perfectly.It's all the numties in front wheel drive cars that are the real problem.
The roads are like skating rinks and here I am putering along in second or third 4wd when down the slope comes a Golf full on sideways.Talk about brown laning!Anyway managed to get out of his way by some miracle.Hope he could lip read.
Tomorrow we are off to town to get "supplies".You know the usual.
Coffee,flour ,beans and ammuniton for the Winchester !Should be an interesting trip as the roads are still pretty slippery.:eek:
Numties on Irish roads! Never!:lol
Thomas-the-Terrano2
05-12-2010, 09:46
after a week of being in 4wd, in both high and low, and low was needed when first vehicle
thru foot plus of snow field sorry road, such was resistance!
i work on idea that if main roads are slushy and will need 4 wd again soon on next side
road then keep in 4wd and try to help widen tracks thru slush by getting alteast one side
of car into slush then if any wind up little bit of slip will keep it at bay.
so when finally got to point didnt need at all and speed picked up was in 4 hi but car
felt little bit sluggish, it wa working harder, wasnt steering so didnt feel wind up that way,
flicked it in to 2wd on roll and was best described like when you realise handbrake was
on a notch or two. car then took off in 2wd as wasn't ever so slightly fighting itself.
front hubs remained locked so all front end was spinning upto transfer box, like fixed
hub cars and i reckon went in to 4wd easier when got to side roads again as box
didnt have to engage with front prop then 'excite' the auto hubs!
austingypsy
05-12-2010, 10:18
Going to work last thursday I had 2 miles of packed snow to get through T2 behaved great in 4wd H - got onto the main road which was salted, so clear tarmac. realised after 10 miles that I had forgotten to engage 2wd!! What damage would have been done?:(
lacroupade
05-12-2010, 17:23
Going to work last thursday I had 2 miles of packed snow to get through T2 behaved great in 4wd H - got onto the main road which was salted, so clear tarmac. realised after 10 miles that I had forgotten to engage 2wd!! What damage would have been done?:(
Put it this way...snap rings are NOT part of the drive train and I have never seen anyone on this site report an exploded front diff.......so work it out for yourself.
You only really feel transmission windup when executing tight turns and even then, just like on the straight, its the tyres that absorb most of the excess energy.
So I wouldn't worry - even in the dry a bit of extra tyre wear is the most likely problem.
Well we made the journey there and back without incident.Our minor road was a bit of a nightmare as no grit whatsoever.Problem is the snow has been compacted on the road and has frozen into slippo deluxe overnight.There is hardly any traffic so the surface is still intact.The gritted roads have a high middle hump and banks of snow on the sides so if you loose concentration there is a good chance of either ending up in a ditch or on the roof.
I will never complain about UK roads again after this lot.This is truly butt clenching stuff.Anyway we bought enough provisions to last a month as the news is that there will be no rain just sub zero temperatures with everything remaining frozen.Oh happy days.:(
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