OMG Did the forward wheels transmission break?

[nick333]

Hello my friend, I'm new here.
Very nice, useful and interesting forum! Congratulations!!!
And thanks for accepting me as user too

I found this forum because I was googling while panicking!!!

I've got this Infiniti QX4 2002, 4WD, a few months ago. 150000 km.
I love her!

The thing is that yesterday it was freezing rain, everything was frozen here.
So, in order to drive more safely, I activated the 4H mode (not while in Neutral but at least I was still).

I noticed that the car has serious troubles turning. If I just go straight, it's okay.

But if I try to turn, especially while parking, it makes a noise like if I'm driving in the snow, like when you crush the snow with your wheels.
If I reverse park in a parking lot, while turning and going reverse, the car literally blocks, as if I'm trying to crush very high levels of snow.

But the street is completely clean!!!

I can definitely "feel" as if something is "braking" my car, preventing it from running (ahead or reverse).

OMG What happened???

[yeldogt]

You can activate the 4H at any time --- it's low that requires you to be stopped.

Are all you tires the same?

I only use 4wd on sand or snow ..

[nick333]

Hi thank you very much!

I don't know if my tires are all the same, I mean they look similar, but their actual condition might vary slightly....

Ah so if the surface of the road is not slippery, do you think it's a normal behaviour?

[atraudes]

The quick answer is you shouldn't activate 4H or 4L unless the wheels can spin freely. What's happening when you turn is the inside wheels are turning at a different speed than the outside ones, and the fronts are turning at a different speed than the rears. Since the drivetrain is in a locked mode, the noise you're hearing and resistance you're feeling is the drivetrain grinding and trying to relieve the uneven pressures.

If you're going to be driving in mixed conditions (e.g. on paved surfaces as a whole) just leave it in Auto. The drivetrain will not be locked and you can turn safely. It will give power to the front wheels as needed when it detects wheel slippage.

As long as everything still works you probably didn't destroy anything, but don't do it again

For more info on the topic, check out this thread.

[Buzzman]

The quick answer is you shouldn't activate 4H or 4L unless the wheels can spin freely.
As long as everything still works you probably didn't destroy anything, but don't do it again

Exactly. Run it in AWD mode only.
Never run it in 4wd on dry pavement. Only do that on snow or other slippery conditions.
If you do drive it like that on dry roads, keep going straight....lol.

[Pathfinder2002]

Yes that's normal sounds when driving in 4H in rain or simi dry surfaces. Honestly you shouldn't drive very fast in 4H either. I wouldn't exceed 50 miles while in 4H. As for AWD mode maybe on ok but I would keep in 2wd and drive slower.
4H or AWD might be a false sense of security in Ice/Rain. It's some times safer to just drive slower.

[nick333]

hey guys I have no words to thank you all!
I'm sorry it has been such a tiring and crazy days, even though I was very worried, I completely forgot to check out the forum here!
Now i found your answers, and I'm happy (and a little scared) to read your comments!

Thanks!!!!