4 and4 WD

[Victor]

Hi everyone. I have recently acquired a Grand Vitara SL-7 Automatic, originally issued in the US. My problem is the selector 2-4 wheel traction. It is not a Commutation type seen on many manuals in the net but just Pushbuttons. The top shows [2 4WD]. Clever! No light showing. Is there a light? As I press it I hear a CLUNK, press it again...another CLUNK and then nothing. How am I to know what traction I am on? What I do notice is a certain drag if I am manouvering tight, like parking etc. I am afraid I could be driving 4WD unaware or else damaging something. Never had a 4WD before but terrain here demands it. Car goes fine otherwise. Thanks for all replies.

[timwilks13]

The clunk and drag sounds like your 4wd is working, but you're right you shouldn't be in 4wd on hard surfaces (or at least thats the case with the older models, not sure about SL-7 but going to assume its the same). Sounds like its just an electric issue, check none of your fuses are blown, or non of the wires from the gearbox are corroded and snapped. Should be a 4WD light comes on on the dash when you're in 4.

[Anton]

That "drag" on hard surfaces could be the 4wd system working against itself. It's commonly called "transmission windup" because the wheels all move different distances in a turn, and so on high grip surfaces, the rear wheels travel a different distance to the front wheels and that adds tension to the driveshafts and transfer box (like winding up a clock) that can break things.



If you have noticeably more drag in 4wd mode than 2wd, then I would suspect 4wd is working. But please don't engage it unless you're offroad (mud, gravel etc) and really need it because of low traction.

It is possible 4wd is not working, and that engaging 4wd is causing something in the transmission to bind up (causing "drag"). I would suggest finding a field and testing it - but just in case you get stuck (even with working 4wd you can get nasty surprises, and if 4wd is not working... Very nasty surprises...) take a friend with a working 4wd with you to pull you out. And good quality recovery gear (strops, ropes etc).

If the friend has big, chunky offroad tyres, all the better.

[Victor]

Thank to Timwilks13 and Anton. I will have to check fuses. 4WD light nhas never been on. I have not needed 4WD so far and do not intend to unless I really need it. The terrain I go to is fairly flat, may have to face snow in the winter. Probably, to save time and bother I'd better take it to the local dealer for a check up.