Do I have a problem with my AWD?
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New User
Joined: Mar 2002
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Do I have a problem with my AWD?
I just bought a 1997 Explorer "Limited" 5.0 AWD about a month ago. It snowed last night so I decided to do the guy thing and go play in the snow with my "new" toy.
I found a nice drift where I could test out the AWD feature and found my back-end fish tailing around more than I thought should happen on a vehicle w/AWD.
Shouldn't the front tires start spinning when/if the rears start to break lose? I spun the rears up my driveway pretty good and there was no evidence (from the tracks in the snow) of the front tires ever spinning.
How do I check to make sure it's working? I guess I could take it in and lift the whole truck off the ground and spin the tires to see if the fronts move, but I was wondering if it could be something as simple as a fluid check.
I have other questions/problems with the truck, but I'll keep those for another post . . . I'm tired of typing . . .
I found a nice drift where I could test out the AWD feature and found my back-end fish tailing around more than I thought should happen on a vehicle w/AWD.
Shouldn't the front tires start spinning when/if the rears start to break lose? I spun the rears up my driveway pretty good and there was no evidence (from the tracks in the snow) of the front tires ever spinning.
How do I check to make sure it's working? I guess I could take it in and lift the whole truck off the ground and spin the tires to see if the fronts move, but I was wondering if it could be something as simple as a fluid check.
I have other questions/problems with the truck, but I'll keep those for another post . . . I'm tired of typing . . .
Elder User
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 580
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From: Kelseyville, CA
Do I have a problem with my AWD?
Four jackstands to lift it up, and light throttle to see if both ends spin. I did that on my '97 Control Trac equipped Explorer and found that by the time my rear tires made about 1/6 of a revolution, the fronts would clunk in and start turning. Your AWD should be at least as sensative and probably smoother in the transition since I read that the AWD puts 35% of the torque to the front wheels. Are you sure yours has AWD? Did you check to be sure you have a front differential and driveshaft? Hopefully, you didn't get ripped off.
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New User
Joined: Mar 2002
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Do I have a problem with my AWD?
Thanks for the help. . .
Yes I have the AWD option (drive shafts, etc) and its written on both sides of the truck. It even has the familiar "howl" that 4-wheel drives make when they're engaged. It just didn't seem to be working like I expected it to.
I'll try your suggestion and also stick my finger in the transfer case fill hole to make sure it's topped off with ATF.
Thanks,
Kevin
Yes I have the AWD option (drive shafts, etc) and its written on both sides of the truck. It even has the familiar "howl" that 4-wheel drives make when they're engaged. It just didn't seem to be working like I expected it to.
I'll try your suggestion and also stick my finger in the transfer case fill hole to make sure it's topped off with ATF.
Thanks,
Kevin
