Armada 4WD system

5525 Views 3 Replies 4 Participants Last post by mess, Jan 11, 2005

changezi

Discussion Starter · Jan 8, 2005

Armada is my first 4x4 vehicle and I was planning to visit Sierrra during this Snow Storm ( weather permitting). Just wondering as to what 4WD mode is suitble for Snow. I understand from reading the maual that for hi torque and low speed we need to engage 4Lo but wont 4 auto work ok in Snow? What about 4 Hi in low speeds on snow? How do you see in 4 auto whether vehicle is engaging all four wheels or just two? Any advice is apprecaited. thanks.

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Armadaof1

· #2 · Jan 11, 2005

For the most part, just put it in Auto and leave it. I wouldn't switch out into 4H unless you are off of paved road and seriously in the snow. Or, you are in an area that requires chains.

Slush and muck on the highway don't normally qualify in my book.

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RKS

· #3 · Jan 11, 2005

Armadaof1 said:
For the most part, just put it in Auto and leave it. I wouldn't switch out into 4H unless you are off of paved road and seriously in the snow. Or, you are in an area that requires chains.

Slush and muck on the highway don't normally qualify in my book.

I left it in Auto after 1' of snow and it worked perfectly. I believe you will see "Slip" indicated on the dash when other wheels besides the rear are engaged.

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mess

· #4 · Jan 11, 2005

Leave it in AUTO for 99.999% of all needs. 4 lo only needed in rock crawling/tight trails. Gas mileage in 4 lo is probably in the single digits. 4 hi only needed for higher speed off roading....ie open trails, gravel, sand. Auto for anything on pavement. The computer switches drive wheels as needed with in milli- seconds. Best gas mileage for 4 wheel drive in Auto. Also, when the "slip" is occurring, it is actually the VDC kicking in, thus applying brakes to the "slipping" wheels and computerly guiding you to safety. I've tried experimenting in many conditions and really like the VDC. It is sometimes overbearing...but when it is slick....needed. I went one Colorado snow storm with it off just to see.....it's like you're a kid again, sliding the rear end out, etc.... BUT..when you're oversteering with this big of a vehicle it sometimes becomes too late for correction because of the sheer mass of this beast. My old RX-7 was fun, this can get dangerous. With the VDC on it usually allows for a little rear end slide, then holds that glide until forward momentum kicks in. Much better than my wifes Audi which doesn't even allow for any fun. LOL

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