03 AWD question?
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From: Northern Utah
03 AWD question?
I recently installed Bridgestone Blizzak DM-Z3 snow tires on an 03 Explorer with 4.6 V8 AWD. When under moderate to hard acceleration the vehicle feels like it is "pulsating" or quite jerky. If I put it in 4wheelHigh it accelerates just fine. The vehicle did not do this in AWD before installing the studless winter tires, which have a very soft tread.
Is this something I need to live with until the tires wear down a bit or is there any way to adjust the AWD sensitivity level? Is there a way to eliminate the AWD completely and still have the ability to use 4WheelHigh? Any and all comments are welcome. Thanks
Is this something I need to live with until the tires wear down a bit or is there any way to adjust the AWD sensitivity level? Is there a way to eliminate the AWD completely and still have the ability to use 4WheelHigh? Any and all comments are welcome. Thanks
Last edited by utahtom; Dec 3, 2007 at 08:08 PM.
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From: Northern Utah
Good question. It has three selections: 4X4Auto, 4X4High or 4X4Low. There is no 2X4 setting. Therefore, I should have posed my original question as "4X4Auto" instead of "AWD". As I mentioned in Post #1, the vehicle operated just fine until I installed the studless snowtires which have a very soft tread. Thanks
Tuned
Joined: Feb 2007
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From: SW Florida
Originally Posted by utahtom
Is this something I need to live with until the tires wear down a bit or is there any way to adjust the AWD sensitivity level? Is there a way to eliminate the AWD completely and still have the ability to use 4WheelHigh? Any and all comments are welcome. Thanks
Elder User
Joined: Jan 2004
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I have the exact same vehicle, I don't think pulling the fuse is going to solve the problem. Just because it's surging/pulsating does not mean it the 4x is engaged, it simply could be the way the tires are biting the surface. If you have an extra set of rims/tires and these new ones are your "winter" tires I would try and swap the other set back on and see if the problem goes away. If it does, then I would head back to the tire shop and explain to them that the tires you purchased are not working on your vehicle, no new tire should have an adverse affect on driving. If the dealer won't cooperate w/you then I'm sure the manufacturer will if you are persistent enough.
Good luck
Good luck
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From: Northern Utah
Thanks for the comments... I do believe it is the tires in combination with the 4X4Auto. At the same time, they aren't really returnable due to the purchase method unless they were defective. And no, they aren't warm. I have found this particular tire to be the best winter tire available for lighter vehicles, especially in icy conditions. Additionally, the tire is constructed with about 50% of the outer tread is the soft compound with the remaining 50% standard material (including the carcass). Thus, as the tire wears down it becomes "less soft".
FWIW It only happens when I'm driving
not when my 16 year old daughter is behind the wheel as she is easier on the accelerator. Therefore, I can live with the occassional pulsating effect given that we live in a very snowy, mountainous area and my daughter is the primary driver of the vehicle. If there was a way to somehow adjust sensitivity or eliminate the 4X4Auto completely (still allowing 4X4High) would either way be the best to address the issue? Thanks again for the comments and more are certainly welcome
FWIW It only happens when I'm driving
not when my 16 year old daughter is behind the wheel as she is easier on the accelerator. Therefore, I can live with the occassional pulsating effect given that we live in a very snowy, mountainous area and my daughter is the primary driver of the vehicle. If there was a way to somehow adjust sensitivity or eliminate the 4X4Auto completely (still allowing 4X4High) would either way be the best to address the issue? Thanks again for the comments and more are certainly welcome
Last edited by utahtom; Dec 4, 2007 at 08:05 PM.
Lead Driver
Joined: May 2003
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From: Lyndonville, Vermont
I have an 05 mountaneer that I have the same tires to go on. I can't believe it has anything to do with the tires..We'll see I have to change em this week they are brand new...Are your tires the same diameter as the one's you took off.?
Dick
Dick
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From: Northern Utah
Originally Posted by 99f350sd
Are your tires the same diameter as the one's you took off.?
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Hey did they change something here. I have '02 AWD 4.6 V8 Mountaineer, I love driving this in the rain and when we go to the snow. I have no option for Hi or Low 4x4. Was something changed from 02 to the 03 and up?