It's an 04 model, I have got it back in 2wd after 10 mins of trying, I only went a very short distance and very slowly in 4wd on Tarmac so should be ok there.
The car hasn't got a body lift either.
No, driving just a metre in 4 wheel drive on tarmac will greatly cause Wind up unless all 4 tyres are exactly the same size, and you are driving in a straight line.
Next time if you have trouble, then just to prove wind up, do the same thing again, then handbrake firmly on, then chalk a line on a front tyre, at 6:00 o'clock position, then jack up that wheel only, and you will see it rotate a fair few degrees.
now try to rotate the wheel back to the original position...:doh
You should then find out the problem of shifting back to 2wheel drive has been sorted.
Then you will understand the power of windup. This effect can shred tyres as the tyres try to slip to release some of this torque, the drive train, drive shafts, CV joints, prop shaft UJ's, both axles, the transfer box, will all face this wind up torque, it's a bit like setting off trying to do wheel spins on every trip and mile of your journey, if you care for your car, then you wouldn't do it. You will also use excessive fuel to overcome the extra wasted energy in trying to rip your tyres to shreds. The reason for the windup on these vehicles, is there is no centre diff between the front and the rear axles:doh. That with the Limited Slip Diff make these vehicles so good off road:thumb2:thumb2
The worse the mis match in tyre circumferences, the quicker the wind up will happen, a few feet can do it:doh
On a 50 mile journey on dry tarmac, you could shred all tyres, or take thousands of miles of normal wear off them.
I hope this re-assures you that what you have done would happen, and has happened to all of us at some time, even on snow packed roads in 4 wheel drive, then you drive on a cleared section, which has dried out will cause the same effect.
What I do, bearing in mind, mine has seen 18 winters in my ownership, is slip the gear into 2 wheel drive high, from 4 wheel drive high, and back, as the road surface changes at normal road speeds, even 50+ mph.. You don't need the clutch, the auto hubs don't disengage, unless you roll back at a junction, or reverse... then you could hear clicking as the hubs are partially disengaged:doh
Yours I think has fixed front hubs, so you can select 4wheel drive on the move at any speed as required, but ONLY on poor surfaces etc.
WARNING...
NEVER engage or disengage 4 wheel drive LOW whilst in motion, YOU MUST BE STATIONARY, hand brake on preferred.
This can be a problem, if you are trying to get a load moving on a steep hill on a dry road and you need the extra low gears of the low box, but to be fair, it is not normally a big issue, unless you are say reversing 2.8 tonnes up a steep drive.:doh
Hope it helps,
best regards,
Rustic
