I was driving home from hockey [late] last night and decided to see what the FJ would do in various situations; the side streets were glare ice and there was no one else on the road.
I found that, using the full time four wheel drive (AWD - Manual Trans), it was pretty easy to break the back end out but the VSC would generally correct things (all but the most extreme anyway). In 4H, it was much harder to break the back end out - which was good in that there was no VSC. 4H was, in all, probably the more stable of the two approaches.
Two questions to the group:
Does anyone know how the full time four wheel drive works - it seemed that the bias was toward putting power to the back wheels.
Has anyone else tried some of this out in icy conditions and, if so, did they find the same thing; I didn't really spend a lot of time doing this so I wouldn't consider my testing comprehensive.
Although winter here is slow coming (14C yesterday!), I played a fair bit last March when I got the FJ (MT).
The torque bias is to the rear with the center dif unlocked. The Torsen center dif takes time to adjust to slipping tires. I found this also on an Audi Quatro I had about 10 years ago. The Torsen dif will adjust the torque delivery over a reasonable range: 70/30 to 30/70 for example, depending on slip. It will never feel like a locked dif though.
Although the VSC is off when the center dif is locked, I like driving in this mode much better when the roads are really slippery. I feel the FJ tracks better and is more predictable in handling. This was also true on every lockable 4wd vehicle we have had (MPV, Tercel, Explorer, Pathfinder, Audi).
Do you mean H-L (High Locked)? 4H is AWD and VSC is enabled. I believe the torque split is 60/40- and it definitly works. In extremely slippery conditions Locking the center turned my FJ into a waxed flying saucer at traveling speeds (25-30mph) requiring constant manuvers to stay somewhat on the road. Dropping it back into 4H and having the VSC back was a relief. I will experiment some more when the weather comes. I have not experienced any weather like that since I got my snow tires.
To get everyone on the same page the position of the transfer case shifter is shown with comments for the AT and MT versions of the FJ Cruiser:
4x4 AT - Part Time4WD H2 Front Diff disengaged (ADD - off) vehicle is in 2WD H4 Front Diff engaged (ADD - on) N Neutral L4 Front Diff is engaged (ADD - on)
4x4 MT - Full Time 4WD H Torsen Ltd Slip Center Diff (40% Front/60% Rear) HL Center Diff Locked N Neutral LL Center Diff Locked
Note that the Transfer Case for the AT always drives both the front and rear drive shafts, but when shifted in H2 (2WD) the automatic disconnecting differential (ADD) is disengaged so that no power is provided to the front axles.
Edit - I could not make the table work so I reorganized the information
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Last edited by Kansas Law Dog : 11-28-2006 at 07:18 AM.
with the manual it is full time 4wd at a 60rear 40front split. Not the same as AWD due to the center diff. when you lock it you then get the 50/50. ...except for the hit in Mpg. i really like my full time 4WD.
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To get everyone on the same page the position of the transfer case shifter is shown with comments for the AT and MT versions of the FJ Cruiser:
4x4 AT 4x4 MT Comments
Part-Time 4WD H2H AT Front Diff disengaged (ADD - off), MT - Torsen Ltd Slip Center Diff H4HL AT Front Diff engaged (ADD - on), MT - Center Diff Locked NN Neutral L4LL AT Front Diff is engaged (ADD - on), MT - Center Diff Locked
Note that the Transfer Case for the AT always drives both the front and rear drive shafts, but when shifted in H2 (2WD) the automatic disconnecting differential (ADD) is disengaged so that no power is provided to the front axles.
The MT is H, HL, N, LL
edit change 4H to H, now I see the MT next to the AT designation in KLD's post, I have nothing to add here
Isn't the label of the shifter of the MT just marked H (for Torsen 4WD)? I have the AT, but the literature I've seen from Toyota refers to just "H", not 4H.
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“Kansas Law Dog” for admiration of “Tombstone”, the movie, and the legend of Wyatt Earp
Isn't the label of the shifter of the MT just marked H (for Torsen 4WD)? I have the AT, but the literature I've seen from Toyota refers to just "H", not 4H.
Yes- I just confirmed its just H, dont know why I thought it was 4H. Thanks.
So what was the original poster trying to say? The car felt more stable in "H" with VSC or "HL" with center diff. locked? When are we supposed to use "HL"? It seems weird since it doesn't have VSC nor does it have ATRAC in this position.
Linear Mode
