Is this a 4WD issue?

[lariat]

I don't use 4WD all that often, but noticed that when in 4H this morning and in Drive or Reverse, with the wheels turned in either direction, it barely wants to move, starts jerking when accelerating slowly, or idling from a stop or low speeds (1-3 mph) and feels about ready to stall out. It's very noticeable but the jerky thing can be pretty eventful when you aren't expecting it, like pulling into a tight parking spot, or when in reverse with the wheels turns.

However, once the wheels are straight, it seems to be fine.

Is this normal in 4WD mode?

22 Lariat, low miles.

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[k1w1t1m]

If you are on a high grip surface then yes this is normal. If you are talking a slippery surface then you have a problem.

 

[RangerBill]

I don't use 4WD all that often, but noticed that when in 4H this morning and in Drive or Reverse, with the wheels turned in either direction, it barely wants to move, starts jerking when accelerating slowly, or idling from a stop or low speeds (1-3 mph) and feels about ready to stall out. It's very noticeable but the jerky thing can be pretty eventful when you aren't expecting it, like pulling into a tight parking spot, or when in reverse with the wheels turns.

However, once the wheels are straight, it seems to be fine.

Is this normal in 4WD mode?

22 Lariat, low miles.

Yes, it is normal. You should only be in 4 wheel drive when driving on slippery surfaces. What you are experiencing is the driveline binding because the wheels can't slip on a dry surface.

 

[NerkyMohawk]

Avoid turning on non slick surfaces while in 4H. A little binding every once and a while shouldn't cause a lot of damage. Excessive binding can cause catastrophic failure.

When I'm driving on patchy snowy roads I use 4Hi, but whenever I take a turn I switch back to 2wd just in case it isn't making contact with the snowy patches.

 

[WOADKIL]

Very normal for 4W on hard pavement while turning, why you don't use 4W unless on dirt/gravel/sand/snow...

 

[lariat]

Ok, good to know!

Offroad, I've used 4WD pretty hard and it's done fine, but didn't know that it's not recommended to avoid 4WD on pavement. It was wet out so I thought it would be good to drive in 4WD, but not everything was wet this morning.

 

[Dgc333]

FYI, the 4WD system in our Rangers does not have a center differential that allows the front wheels and rear wheels to turn at different speeds which they need to do when turning. So when turning on a high traction surface the front and rear wheels are fighting each other and bind up until the traction up front or in the rear is exceeded and the tire skids, this happens over and over as long as you are turning. Even on low traction surfaces this happens but the tire skids with very low amount of binding and is not noticed and does not over stress the drive train. If you have a locker on the rear axle and engage it on high traction surfaces and turn you will get the binding on the rear axle.

A true AWD system has a center differential that allows the front and rear axles to turn at different speeds just like the axle differentials let the tires turn at different speeds. Many/most front wheel drive based SUVs that are advertised as AWD do not have a center differential, they are actually 4WD in that power is either routed to the front wheels or split evenly between the front and rear. The reason you do not get the binding with these vehicles is the power train controller is monitoring the wheel sensors and will disconnect the rear axle when it senses a speed difference between the front and rear. Some of these vehicles will have a locker in the rear axle that is controller by the computer to provide more traction when needed.

 

[dozxab]

Ok, good to know!

Offroad, I've used 4WD pretty hard and it's done fine, but didn't know that it's not recommended to avoid 4WD on pavement. It was wet out so I thought it would be good to drive in 4WD, but not everything was wet this morning.

AWD you can on pavement, 4WD is a better system for low traction situations and not recommended for wet or dry pavement. Snow covered is fine.

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