Hi everyone, hope you're all safe with this weather we've (well not all) been having. Right before anyone starts, I did not buy my car cos it is a 4 x 4:flag:I got it for the size and the fact that it suits my husbands disabilities. I have only had it 2 weeks and have never used the four wheel drive. However I have to go out tomorrow in it and was wondering what you all think about using the 4wd if the roads are wet/icy etc. I asked someone who said 'don't bother using it(the 4wd)', then asked someone who knows alot about cars and they said 'of course use it in those conditions':cnfs: They also said 'make sure the interior light is on' and yes I fell for it:D So what do you think? cheers
Yes!...I think you fell for it too:D 4X4's are exciting beasts to drive in the snow...I had instruction and it was brilliant to feel so in control. Safer for other drivers in their smaller runabouts too:gnthb:
Hiya Pal, yes I'm a nit aren't I It's the 'instruction' part that I'm worried about The car is nearly 5 years old and only 2.2 (although a sport turbo supposedly, I say supposedly cos I wouldn't know if it was or not!) so it's not that big. In fact apart from the shape and the actual height I don't find it any different to drive to my old Citreon Xantia. Well Ok it has got a nice little bit of grunt about it:D It's just that I am a nervous driver in the snow so anything that would make me feel safer is a good thing to me:thmb: Tyres are good so I think I should feel a lot better out there shouldn't I? Right then, I'll brave it tomorrow & see how I get on. Fingers crossed. cheers
Definitely use it!!! Two things, forgive me if I'm teaching you to suck eggs! Firstly assuming It has two gear leavers and not electronic then only engage and disengage four wheel drive when stationary, same probably applies to electronic transfer. As a general tip for icy roads: Use the gear box to slow you NOT the brakes, try to only break very gently or not at all, Assuming very bad conditions then when going down hill use a low gear and keep your foot off the gas allowing the engine breaking to control the speed.
:cnfs:Eggs Pro, what are they? Listen, I am never to old to learn and this 4wd stuff is all totally new to me. It doesn't have 2 gear levers - I was asked this yesterday by the person that knows about this stuff & I answered 'no, it's got 6'. I'll let you read that last bit again:hehe: After the hysterical laughter had stopped and I confirmed I wasn't driving a JCB or something, I explained that there was just a 'dial' with '2wd', 'auto' and 'lock on it. So far I have only used 2wd. I had a quick look in the the manual (which I do try and understand but the operative word here is 'try') and I think it means if it's in 'auto' it can change from 4 to 2wd if it thinks that the best - clever things aren't they So If you want it to stay in 4wd to put the dial on 'lock'. The thing that started me wondering about all this is because on one of the dash displays if the temperature outside is below 0o, it flashes the temperature. So I thought there must be a reason for it cos I'm quite capable of telling on my own that it's blooming cold outside:D Well I'll let you know how I get on and thanks Pro, I'll follow your advice about using the gears to slow etc. Thanks again mates, hope you get a giggle out of this post but will be well impressed with me tomorrow:yho: cheers
What vehicle is it ? I am not sure about the 'auto' and 'lock', I have a 4x4 also, and it can be changed from 2 to 4 wheel drive whilst driving (changing upto 40mph is safe to do), but as PRO says, most 4x4's do not have this capability. When driving in 4 wheel drive (even in the wet) you will have the vehicle feeling a lot more sure footed, so if you are not certain, use it in 4 wheel drive, that is why it is there :thumb: One thing to watch out for (and the reason I wondered about the 'lock' function), does it have a 'diff lock', if it does, you do not want to be driving on the road with the diff lock on, as this will tear your tyres to shreds, as ALL wheels turn at the same rate (this is true 4x4 territory), what will usually happen if you do not have diff lock on is for example, if you are in ice, you can end up with one wheel spiining wldly and the other not turning, when diff lock is on, this eliminates this as what I said above, ALL wheels turn at the same rate. If you need any further advice, just ask :thumb: Everything I have car wise is 4wd, my work van on the other hand isn't :D .
Thanks Webmaster:thumb: I didn't get to use it today, didn't need it. What you were saying about a 'diff' lock ...:cnfs: Is that something to do with the 'differential'? go on, say it...you're well impressed aren't you Sounds good but I can't remember what it does:lollol: Now for a 'Sandra' question - why would driving on the road with the lock on ruin the tryres? So really, you think I should leave it in 'auto' for the 4wd bit? Someone has told o/h that it uses alot more diesel when in 4wd too so he doesn't want me to use it for that reason but then says I'm 'too worried' about the slush etc Can't win. Anyway I'm going to use it soon I'm sure cos even today I said to husband that a couple of years ago I would not even have gone out in this weather. It's a Nissan X-Trail (are you still talking to me:o or have you now:snz, which is not really an off-roader as they even admit in the manual, but as I said it was for the ease of which my hubby can get in & out and the comfort inside that we got it for. So anything you can tell me would be a great help. you are a nice lot on here :luv:. cheers
It will probably be a more basic 4wd setup then, as you have already said, 2wd auto 4wd (means that it will detect when 4wd is actually needed) and 4wd locked on, meaning it is permanently 4wd. For the reasons of safety (everyones really, not just yours as most 4x4 haters think), have it in 4wd if you do not feel comfortable, because what do you value more, a little bit of money, or yours and other road users safety ? I always instruct the other half that if she doesn't feel comfortable, to engage 4wd, it will cost more, but they do handle better.
Sandra, Dont worry about the diflock, as farr as I know it mainly just the landrover defender, series landrover and merc g wagon and plant and agricultural vehicles that have it. Most just have a second gear leaver with high and low bow, or the same with electronic switching a look in the users manual should confirm if you have a diff lock. The diflock physically locks the axles to make both wheels revolve at the same speed, normally on a landrover, tractor, wheeled digger etc you only engage it to try and get you unstuck in for example deep mud then disengage once your moving freely.
Hi borrowers, Hope it's not too late for me to chip in!? Four wheel drive is there simply to get you out of a sticky situation. You do not need to put the vehicle into 4WD simply because it's a bit slushy out there; you put it into 4WD when you're stuck and need an extra bit of kick to get free. The real skill of driving in poor conditions is not to get stuck in the first place - not to go out there thinking, 'well if I get stuck I always have ways of getting out!' For instance; if you hit an ice patch then 4WD is only going to work if two wheels are on firm ground. If you end up with all wheels on ice then you're pretty well stuck. Do not use it uneccassarily - it will increase fuel consumption as well as wear on the tyres, engine, clutch, gearbox, drive shaft et al. Use it if you get stuck, then put it back into 2WD.
