4WD Problem. OH NO!

[vliou]

Hello,

So it has been snowing here in Ontario (again), and I was playing around with my AUTO.

I have the scariest problem. Put it into AUTO, and FLOOR IT on snow/ice. And I mean, FLOOR IT from a dead stop. My wheels spin frantically, but I hear a grinding sound, like something isn't catching on. Once my wheels stop spinning, i hear a loud THUD.

I think the rear wheels spin mad and the fronts don't "catch on" for some reason. It does this when I lock it in 4wd HI as well...

now my 4wd seems to work fine, I went to a parking lot and turned my wheel left. I stared at the wheel as I put it into AUTO, and it does turn (and spin) as I accelerate. Of course I can't floor it in a parking lot though...

Any ideas?

[vliou]

I've worked out this much...Oil pressure separates the multi-plate clutch....so there's not enough pressure to lock the front diff....but then where does that grinding sound come from?...

The clutch engages the driveshaft?

Doesn't make sense under 2/98 distribution that the gears would grind though...so I must not be understanding something as far as the clutch engaging the driveshaft...

[Issac]

I am not the expert on this stuff, but I have had my CV joints off and replaced today. When i did it I got to see the whole system up front. The cv joints go into the hub, with a threaded cap that goes over the CV drive axle. This cap has threads and it drives the wheel. The cap has like 8 or so 13mm bolts. I noticed my threads on my CV axle were rounded. There could be a tiny chance that the threads are stripped from you dumping it from a dead stop. Man don't you want your truck to last?Also you might grab your front drive shaft and check for play.

It is not hard to do all this, but there are a lot of bolts and a sequence. If you want to check this, I can tell you more.But the thud and stuff, sounds like internals.

I would first go thru all the fluids. The transfer case has some leaking issues in a bulletin I read, as did the differentials. and mine was a little low.The front differential should be checked. Might as well change it. Easy to do. Get some Royal Purple 80-90 limited slip if you have that like I do.

So what I am saying is check the basics out, fluids, axle threads, and wheel bearings. All of this you can do with no special tools and little cost.

[vliou]

Hmm, to me, I think the problem lies between the driveshaft and the multi-plate clutch...I don't really think it's the CV shaft...why do you suspect so?

Thanks! (I had my driveshaft, front, replaced already)

[Issac]

It could be...I didn't say I knew where it was. I did say check fluids and levels. If you look at the color and crap in them, it might tell something.

If you shake the drive shaft, check bolts, it takes 5 seconds, but it might tell something.

If you look at the CV joint the the little external clip, you might find something. Maybe it didn't seat in the grove. Easy to miss. You have nothing to lose and it might help. That was my idea. But I don't know and I don't think I said I did.

[vliou]

Hello there,

I apologize. I think I came across the wrong way (was posting at work, so didn't have much time for a detailed post). I definitely appreciate the help.

I have the car in the shop tomorrow, so probably will ask for some time to check various things out. It's -20'C here right now...and I'm not going out without 2 jackets, 2 layers of pants, boots and sweatshirt.

Sooo...

Thanks again!

[Issac]

no problem Vliou. But you can do this stuff yourself and it is rewarding in the end. But i did read about the temp. there and can see why you didn't.

[vliou]

[Issac]

yah I freeze *** and even have heated parts when working at 30 degrees. And have to thaw my hands. propane!

[bmlawless]

One of the best investments I ever made!

[Buzzman]

Hmm, to me, I think the problem lies between the driveshaft and the multi-plate clutch...

Hmm, reading your first post, I think the problem may be between your left and right ears. Like someone else said, don't you want your truck to last? Holy crap, why would you floor it from a dead stop while in 4WD? Hard to be sympathetic.

[KoukiS14]

Is that really bad? I floor it from a dead stop in 4wd / auto, and I haven't had any problems... but then again, I've got a VG

[Buzzman]

Is that really bad? I floor it from a dead stop in 4wd / auto, and I haven't had any problems... but then again, I've got a VG

I guess it comes with age, but I'm past the stage where I do crazy stuff with my rides just to see what they will do or what will happen. I've broken too many things doing that in the past, and it always ends up costing money. This doesn't mean I drive like an old woman. Quite the opposite. I still push my cars pretty hard, but I'm not stupid enough to try and break them. Hope that makes sense.

[vliou]

Ah yes. The reason why I bolted it.

Well, listen closely. But first off, if any of you even looked at my car, none of you would even imagine it's close to 7 years old. It has 79000km on it, and that's how little I drive it because I want it to last.

Now, the story. Pimp teenager with a Audi A4 convertible with Quattro. Pulls down the window and I see 3 beautiful and (skinny) girls. He wants to show off. He is making fun of Japanese cars, financial status, etc.

I am so sick and tired of these stupid half a*& teenagers thinking they are "all that". So yes, I put it into Auto, and did my thing. In the end, we tied. Probably because he had traction control and I had 4 wheel snows on.

Anybody who says they would not have done the same is clearly lying or really needs to grow some balls.

After I won, I did call the police. Hypocrit I know, but from what I know from my good old friends, he was later charged with speeding in a separate incident.

I won both battles, and found out something new about my car. Simple as that...

[Buzzman]

It always helps to know the whole story. thanks.My own short story: I blew 2 transmissions in 2 different vehicles, doing stupid stuff like that. I was a little younger then.The first time was at 2 in the morning after a few beers with my friends. I decided it would be a good time to see how much rubber I could put down from a standing start. Put my car in neutral, reved her up, and dropped it in drive when the light turned green. Didn't even move. Just a really loud clunk, and that was it.The second one was in my minivan (yeah, I know). Had it full (seven people), and decided to try and beat an old clunker from a light. Put it in low (it was an auto), and thought it would be a good idea to get more revs by moving through the gears myself. Bad idea. Lost the overdrive first, and then 2 days later, the whole thing gave out. $2,000 later, and a really pissed off wife, taught me a lesson.The last risky thing I did, which I managed to come through untouched, was last year when I decided at 4 in the morning that it would be a good idea to see how fast my Sentra SE-R could go. I was alone on a straight stretch of freeway, so I let it go. It got up to 190Kms/hr without breaking a sweat. It was still climbing when I chickened out and backed off. It would have gone over 200 I'm sure. You'll have to do the conversion into MPH's (I think it's close to 120mph), but it was plenty fast for me. I love that car.

[fueler]

Put my car in neutral, reved her up, and dropped it in drive when the light turned green.

hahaha i used to do that in an automatic honda civic in my high school days! I did it tons of times.... from standstills.... going 40 mph and breakin the wheels loose.... I even once accidentally put the car in "Park" while travelling 60 mph. It made the craziest shuddering action youve ever seen - And guess what - i was doing this around the year 99, 2000 Now in 2008 that old honda is still driving around in LA on the original transmission!!!

[Buzzman]

hahaha i used to do that in an automatic honda civic in my high school days! I did it tons of times.... from standstills.... going 40 mph and breakin the wheels loose....

I should tell you that both vehicles that blew the transmissions were Chrysler products. Not much surprise there. I also had a '96 Ford Windstar that was about to lose it's transmission. I traded that in on my Pathfinder. I was crossing my fingers and saying a little prayer, hoping that it would hold together for 15 more minutes when they test drove it at the dealership. Whew, it made it. I was so happy to unload that piece of crap. I would have given it to them for nothing. It'll be a long time before I drive North American again.