Daft question I suppose. Does a warning light come up? I'd like to know when my investment in a 4x4 finally pays off. :yes:

Daft question I suppose. Does a warning light come up? I'd like to know when my investment in a 4x4 finally pays off. :yes:

No warning light until you start loosing traction on all 4, then the esp etc cuts in & the light flashes, I have heard the front wheels slipping on a steep very uneven gravel gradient where we were on 3 wheels some of the time but still no lights coming on

I find the most rewarding thing is just leave the car on tickover & effortlessly pull away & up small slopes as others spin their wheels

Edited 25 November, 201015 yr by Stuart_J

On mine, the traction light came on when any of the wheels suffered from slip above a certain threshold - must measure the resistance.

When drifting the car on gravel, no warning light.

If you want to test that your haldex is working, when the car is next on a post-ramp (all wheels off the ground & free), put the car into gear and all the wheels should start turning

How do you tell 4 wheel drive has engaged?

You're the only one on the road pointing forwards?

On mine, the traction light came on when any of the wheels suffered from slip above a certain threshold - must measure the resistance.

When drifting the car on gravel, no warning light.

If you want to test that your haldex is working, when the car is next on a post-ramp (all wheels off the ground & free), put the car into gear and all the wheels should start turning

Thinking about it that makes more sense than my original post done in a hurry, I think the lights are related to the esp cutting in so I guess when one wheel slips markedly more than its opposite number the esp cuts in I think applying the brake to the spinning wheel pushing the drive to the wheel on the other side of the diff although.

I dare say someone will be along with the definative answer

Post 5 here I think explains it all http://briskoda.net/forums/topic/180775-4x4-function/

To test you could try something like this

The yellow warning is connected to the traction control part of the ESP (ABS + traction control), it doesn't actually tell you anything about what Haldex is upto.

The connection between Haldex and the traction-control part of ESP is to do with ensuring that the don't work against each other.

The two system use opposite approaches to regain control of the vehicle - one brakes it, one applies power. If the two where ever to go out-of-sync, the results would be rather bad

Its my understanding the traction control system mainly/entirely (?) uses the front brakes, and the Haldex operates on the two rear wheels - imagine a scenario where Traction control brakes the front left, and Haldex applies power to the rear right - doughnut time :S

Post 5 here I think explains it all http://briskoda.net/...5-4x4-function/

That threads full of phooey - Haldex cannot transfer 100% of power to the rear - only between 20% - 45%

Theorectically the traction control system could cut all power to the front wheels, meaning you've only got power to the rear - but would only be 45% of total powering being produced.

The front gearbox is entirely mechanical, and drives the prop continiously. I assume the gearing to prop is before the front diff, which leaves it operate in the normal manner.

You can tell its kicked in when you can get the back end out in the snow

On a more serious note, i wasn't sure it had made that much difference in last years snow, but then i noticed that i never had to clear the drive, never got stuck. Then wor lasses mother turns up in the mini, had to push it half way along the street and on to the drive then the same when she was going home.