Is just me or is 4WD basically useless?

[TonyT]

A minor slope going up a friends farm driveway with several inches of slush and me with not quite enough speed on from the country road. Rear wheels just spun and shifted me sideways. Front wheels did nothing. I saw that once before in six inches of snow and ruts but as it was flat I was able to get myself out. And yes I shifted it into 4WD as soon as I made the corner and it had stopped blinking before I started up the small slope. Indeed maybe the problem was that I slowed down waiting for the 4WD light to turn on. When I should've just accelerated like I normally would've.

Seems to me without some kind of transfer case/different locking, limited slip or traction control four wheel drive is relatively useless. Or am I mistaken?

 

[djthumper]

Did you try 4 low? Do you even know if your 4WD is even working? There are several of us that use ours off-road.

 

[jonbo2002]

I've had to use mine miltiple times this year and the 4WD works great from driving on snow covered roads to the 2 track nothern Michigan roads I use to get to my property. you might have a problem with yours are you hearing both parts engauge? and have you serviced the transfercase every 50000?

 

[htseat2000]

i have never had a problem with my 4wd either. we had a foot of snow last sunday and i would play in 2wd till i got stuck, put it in 4wd high and walk it out of any place. 1st winter i have had 4wd and i love it.

 

[BO TIE SS]

Rear wheels just spun and shifted me sideways. Front wheels did nothing.

Your front wheels should have been doing some pulling. Leads me to believe that something isn't working properly.
Even my AWD TBSS hasn't done what you're describing.

 

[Playsinsnow]

http://gmtnation.com/f79/4wd-not-working-step-inside-107/

This saved me a lot of money. I could/would do 30-45 sideways up a half mile 4lane road if it was late and snowing with 4hi before I replaced my disconnect assembly. All about the tires and throttle. My ltx m/s' are superb for an all season. Never really notice the G80. Know it works just not something I rely on.

 

[Sparky]

Another vote for something possibly not working right (suspecting the disconnect on the passenger side). I've used my 4x4 to pull myself through some nasty winter gunk uphill that the rear would just kick around otherwise.

How many miles on yours? Have you ever had that disconnect apart or serviced? They aren't designed too well and seem to need a rebuild every so often. If that malfunctions the power won't reach the front wheels.

Also, have you had the fluid changes on the transfer case done at the proper 50K intervals?

 

[Jkust]

If the front wheel(s) weren't spinning, they can't have been engaged if you weren't moving. If you don't have a locking diff (or even an lsd as in the SS and the 9-7), you'd have a two wheel wonder at least..of course both rears can spin with an open diff on a slippery surface.

 

[BoldAdventure]

No way, 4WD is totally useless. I barely ever use the stupid thing. I might even rip it out and throw it away. It's so stupid.

 

[CdnGMan]

No way, 4WD is totally useless. I barely ever use the stupid thing. I might even rip it out and throw it away. It's so stupid.

There... I fixed it for you...

 

[TonyT]

Did you try 4 low? Do you even know if your 4WD is even working? There are several of us that use ours off-road.

No, I didn't try 4 Low. It never occurred to me to try that. As I didn't think it would make any difference.

The motors whir, or at least did last summer, and the lights change as per the linked thread. But I didn't actually do any of the physical tests.

I've had it less than a year. The previous owner, who had it three years, told me the dealer did all the fluids. Yeah, right. So I had them all done including the transmission, front and rear diffs, transfer case and the coolant. Gotta do the brake fluid some time.

How many miles on yours? Have you ever had that disconnect apart or serviced? They aren't designed too well and seem to need a rebuild every so often. If that malfunctions the power won't reach the front wheels.

Also, have you had the fluid changes on the transfer case done at the proper 50K intervals?

185K kms. Newish owner so the disconnect has probably never been apart or serviced.

When in 4WD I have had the jerking mentioned in another thread I read a few months back while doing tight parking lot type turns. So I assumed it was working.

Stupid question. When the linked thread states left side do they mean the drivers side or psgr side? That is do you mean left while facing forward or backwards?

If the front wheel(s) weren't spinning, they can't have been engaged if you weren't moving. If you don't have a locking diff (or even an lsd as in the SS and the 9-7), you'd have a two wheel wonder at least..of course both rears can spin with an open diff on a slippery surface.

I have no idea if I have a locking diff or not. What do you mean by open diff?

- - - Updated - - -

So is there some kind of locking differential or transfer case or some such? Should the front wheels have been spinning at least a little?

 

[jonbo2002]

I have no idea if I have a locking diff or not. What do you mean by open diff?

- - - Updated - - -

So is there some kind of locking differential or transfer case or some such? Should the front wheels have been spinning at least a little?

your rear would be locking if it has the G80 code in your list on the glove box door

 

[Regulator]

Yup, 4 wheel drive sucks on these.

Seriously though, check your glove box for the code G80 on the white build sticker. If you have that code you have a limited slip rear diff, which is a good thing. Go through the diagnostics that the link above tells you to do, that should help pin point where the issue is. I am inclined to guess that it is your front disconnect, but it would simply be a guess at this point. Good Luck

 

[The_Roadie]

So is there some kind of locking differential or transfer case or some such? Should the front wheels have been spinning at least a little?

In 4HI and 4LO, the transfer case is very well locked up front to rear. But the way torque works is like a fluid. If you have a hole in your garden hose, all the torque will leak out the hole and not much useful water is left for your watering nozzle. Same in tires. One spinning tire will take all the torque and leave none for you to move forward. If you have a dead transfer case with slipping clutches, or a bad splined disconnect on the passenger side of the oil pan, no torque will ever arrive at the front wheels, and it will leak out before it ever gets to the tires.

The lack of flashing lights on the mode control switch just means the two actuators have successfully actuated, not that the mechanical bits behind them are physically doing their jobs.

 

[gmcman]

I don't think you will go up the driveway in slush an better in 4LO than in 4HI, just slower. 4WD works very well on these platforms.

What do your tires look like? Meaning the tread, how much left? What kind of tires are you running? 4WD won't do much if your tires are worn, snow needs to be in the tread for traction.

My bet is on the tires.

 

[fishsticks]

Stupid question. When the linked thread states left side do they mean the drivers side or psgr side? That is do you mean left while facing forward or backwards?

Left means driver. We lift the driver's side wheel as it is directly connected to the front differential (no splined disconnect) so rotating it and observing will tell us if other parts of the system are working or not.

If it binds in the front when you turn on dry pavement pavement, your 4WD is probably working.

 

[keepontruckin]

If it binds in the front when you turn on dry pavement pavement, your 4WD is probably working.

keyword being probably...Mine would bind up on dry pavement while in 4WD but the disconnect was still shot and my bearings were blown to bits.

It's definitely worth pulling it apart and rebuilding it, as long as you can get it out of the oil pan without breaking the inner housing.

just my $.02

 

[gmcman]

OK, I read that the front wasn't doing anything as in not pulling, not that it wasn't turning under power. My bad.

 

[Jimmyz]

I only bought the 4x4 Envoy over the 2wd because I can put the transfer case in neutral and flat tow it behind my Motorhome. Can't flat tow a 2wd truck without adding an aftermarket transmission pump for $1200.

Other then that we really never use the 4wd.

 

[IslandRunner]

I totally agree, 4X4 is worthless on these thing. I drive by wet grass and stuck. Should have bought a Jeep Liberty.....Or not!



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