2008 - question re 4x4
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2008 - question re 4x4
About a month ago I took delivery of my new 2008 Escape XLT. I am very pleased with the fuel economy, much better than my 2004 SportTrac was. Love the ride too, up sizing the tire/wheel was a good move.
My question is with the automatic 4x4 how do you know when it is engaged? I read through the owners manual and there is no comment. Any thoughts?
Thanks.
My question is with the automatic 4x4 how do you know when it is engaged? I read through the owners manual and there is no comment. Any thoughts?
Thanks.
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I checked with the dealer on this same issue, the information they gave me was the same as the owners manuel and information I got off the web.
The system is fully automatic, sensors check the traction of all 4 wheels several times per second and route the power as needed and is suppose to work seamlessly.
SO.... being a guy, I drove onto some loose gravel and put the peddel to the metal.
I got about 2" of front wheel spin, then the tracks left in the gravel showed that the rear wheels had kicked in. JUST LIKE MAGIC.
The system is fully automatic, sensors check the traction of all 4 wheels several times per second and route the power as needed and is suppose to work seamlessly.
SO.... being a guy, I drove onto some loose gravel and put the peddel to the metal.
I got about 2" of front wheel spin, then the tracks left in the gravel showed that the rear wheels had kicked in. JUST LIKE MAGIC.
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Thanks for the updates. I looked at a field earlier today where there was a mess of mud from earthmovers and thought "being a guy I should try this 4x4 out". Then reality hit me and I am going to wait until snow n ice comes. So goes the life of a Oxford White Escape!
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Originally Posted by First Response
Thanks for the updates. I looked at a field earlier today where there was a mess of mud from earthmovers and thought "being a guy I should try this 4x4 out". Then reality hit me and I am going to wait until snow n ice comes. So goes the life of a Oxford White Escape!
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From: London , On
when the snow and ice hits, find an open area where you can play around with it, it is fully automatic and hard to detect. Although when the rear power kicks in you will notice the rear end slide out more than usual which is a sign that the rears are powered up. Sometimes in slow turning situations on slippery stuff you will get a brief moment of understeer as the front wheels slip then the power will transfer to ther rear and you will feel the rear end swing around with some oversteer , quite often happenning with your foot off the gas pedal. I notice this sometimes when making a slow speed 90 degree turn and sometimes on highway exit ramps It can catch you by surprise sometimes, but it is still a pretty stable platform. Experimenting when you get a chance can help you understand the dynamics of the vehicle.
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From: London , On
Originally Posted by First Response
Thanks for the feedback, I'll find a big parking lot of ice when it comes and go play.
Straightline traction in the snow is very good. But don't go overboard and drive into a snow bank though as it will still get stuck in deep snow as it doesn't have locking diffs, so power goes to the one wheel with the least amount of traction on each axle (f&r) if you get it perched in deep snow. I got my escape stuck in a big snow drift last year and it was tough getting out. When it comes to slick ice conditions just be aware of the understeer and oversteer tendancies of the vehicle as it switches between 2wd and 4wd. These vehicles are very stable in most conditions that you sometimes forget that you can still get into trouble in very slick condtions. good luck, enjoy.