4WD H and L system problem?

[Andy_GV_V6_2.5]

Hi,
Not first post, but first question of my own .

Just bought a Grand Vitara V6 2.5 2 weeks ago. We really love it already but I need to ask about a potential problem. The 4WD system all engages as it should using the small lever, but once in 4WD (lets stay with high range for now), the GV immediately starts pulling very strongly to the right on the steering wheel? It does the same in 4WD Low range. It also takes a little bit of reversing/forwards to get it to come back properly into 2H again. (Not much, just a bit). Our Terrano did this but then it never had this strong pulling going on and would happily drive in 4WD H mode on tarmac all day long and never felt any different to 2H apart from better grip/roadholding obviously.

Something is obviously very wrong here. I do know that even with the low mileage we do a year, (3 to 6 thousand max usually) that she will need a clutch sometime in the next 6-12 months would be my guess. Can't see a worn clutch causing this strange hard right pull though can you?

Also, while in 4WD H or L, she just feels kind of "graunchy" and there's no way she could possibly do 2H speeds smoothly etc. 2H works perfectly and is as smooth as silk. Any ideas? Front diff knackered etc maybe? Can I just use her in 2H for a long time to come lol and just ignore the front wheel drive part for now? A shame really though as I do a lot of shooting up my mates farm and with the ice and possible snow coming I will miss being able to use the full 4wd system as intended . Never had any 4WD problems with our crappy old Terrano lol. Hope it's not going to be expensive, but I'll bet it is

EDIT: I should say that there are 2 brand new tyres on the front so it's nothing to do with uneven wear etc. This pull right is WAY too strong for that! Also, I forgot to say that when it's in 4WD H/L and you drive her forward there is a lot of resistance and the second you take your foot off the throttle she just comes VERY quickly to a stop almost as if you were hard braking. It sure doesn't sound too good does it?

Regards,

Andy

[Darrell]

Have a shifty here. It,s probably fine..
http://forum.suzukiclubuk.co.uk/vi ... =12&t=3735

[ScottieJ]

Yes the problem is that you are not supposed to use 4wd on tarmac.

It should only be engaged on low traction surfaces like, gravel, mud, grass and snow etc.

There isn't a center differential in the transferbox so driving it in 4wd on tarmac will cause transmission wind up and potentially cause damage to the transmission.

[Andy_GV_V6_2.5]

Thanks for the quick replies guys. Strange though as all Landy's are permanent 4x4 and our Terrano handled tarmac in 4wd H as smoothly and better on wet roads than using 2H and still went along at whatever speed with no problems. I guess you're saying the GV Transfer box is different and not designed for this? If that's the case, it's a shame really to be honest as 4x4 in very wet tarmac conditions can be usefull too sometimes. So it won't pull hard right like that on the soft stuff then? When I say hard pull, I do mean very hard right. If you let go of the wheel, she would just turn almost full lock circles. Oh well, if that's how it is. I couldn't face telling the GF there was a problem with our new 4x4 already as she covers all the maintenence and I tax and insure it etc, (she doesn't drive) and after all the money thrown away on that Terrano with various welding etc, she'd bloody kill me LOL.

I will now go and read the link you posted. Thanks!!

Andy

[Darrell]

On the dirt/loose it should be fine. It just doesn't have a centre differential so can't/shouldn't be used on tarmac.

[ScottieJ]

Landrovers have a differential in their transferbox for road use, a Suzuki transferbox in high is the same as when you have the centre difflock engaged in a landrover.

It should be fine offroad and not pull, if it does it might be worth looking at the front driveshafts or maybe the freewheeling system isn't engaging properly? I would test it in a field or on a gravel track etc, could have just been because it was on road.

I've never found the need for 4wd in the wet tbh, they drive just fine in rwd as long as you aren't too throttle happy around corners.

I'm pretty sure terrano's don't have a centre diff either so you probably shouldn't have been driving that around in 4wd on road either

[Andy_GV_V6_2.5]

Thanks all. My first post asking a question and I get a great answer and looks like the correct one straight away!

I am both very relieved and I must admit slightly disappointed at the same time. Relieved that I have only tried it twice, at no more than 5-10 mph as she didn't want to do more really anyway. (hope previous 7 owners didn't screw anything up this way either lol).

Slightly disappointed as I didn't realise when I bought it that Suzuki only used "part time" 4WD Systems. I must admit I liked using the Nissan Terrano system which I guess you could call similar to a Landy, yet able to use 2H RWD as well.

Ah well, when I think about this beautiful silky smooth and powerful V6 engine that's so well balanced and the looks, ride and hopefully reliability, guess which I would rather have? Yep, I'll put up with "part time" 4WD any day of the week lol. I'm happier now I have to say. Thanks Guys!!

P.S. The clutch only ever slips right now if I really make that powerful V6 work it's magic by driving her really hard, otherwise just "behaving" myself with my usual change up at lowest revs possible, (Gotta love the torque of this engine) and 30mph round town and no more than 50-60mph everywhere else, she never slips that I've noticed. How long can I expect the clutch to keep going before a new one needs fitting with what I have described do you think? We are LOW mileage people as I said. Thanks again all.

Regards and many thanks!

Andy

[ScottieJ]

The Terrano has the same 4wd set up as the grand vitara from what I can find so you were very lucky that you didn't do any damage driving that around in 4wd on road

Personally I would change the clutch asap if there's signs of it slipping, not worth risking loosing it completely when you are miles from home.

[Andy_GV_V6_2.5]

The Terrano has the same 4wd set up as the grand vitara from what I can find so you were very lucky that you didn't do any damage driving that around in 4wd on road

Personally I would change the clutch asap if there's signs of it slipping, not worth risking loosing it completely when you are miles from home.

Lmao! I just looked it up too....oops LOL!! Ah well, it was sold off as spares or repairs for a measly £300 and the dude that bought it only wanted it for the engine (which was a good un) and a few other bits so as soon as he got it home it was going to be SORN anyway so he said. I'm no longer the registered keeper anyway so it's no longer my problem lol.

What I don't understand though? The Terrano in 4WD on tarmac no different than 2H so why this GV so SLOWWWWW and graunchy? Wouldn't want to drive it in 4WD H on tarmac like that anyway. Hmm, sure something is wrong though as the posted link said the guy bust his box by driving in 4WD at "Highway speeds" i.e. at least 70mph. There is no way this GV could do that even holding the wheels perfectly straight?

And what a problem it was! That thing cost us £600 in welding for the first MOT, (garage quoted wrong, should have been a grand they told us afterwards). Then both steps decided they no longer wanted to be part of the car and one day simply fell off And finally, not long before we sold it, the water pump started leaking and needed replacing and one of the front steering arm parts broke free from it's mounting on the front member area?? it was attached to because it was so rusted through there was nothing left to hold it We were told with parts and labour it would have cost HUNDREDS "if" they could find any good metal to weld the new arm back, which would then weaken the left side that was already showing signs of breaking away! What a bloody disaster that thing was and we only had it 1.5 years. Sorry to say this, but we will NEVER buy ANY Nissan again after that fiasco

The clutch will have to wait a while longer. We are never really far from home to be honest and I don't have the nerve to tell the GF about more costs just yet lol. I am 50 btw and I am NOT afraid of her lmao! I wear the trousers, I just feel sorry for her that I seem to have picked another car with something needs doing straight away. Knew we should never have sold our BMW 528i SE darn it! That thing never went wrong and was superb all round.

Sorry the post is a long one....oops lol

Regards,

Andy

[RickUK]

The beauty of the Vitara being only used in 2 WD for everyday is the tyres are much cheaper to replace rather than constant 4x4 systems,with say the landrover setup you have to change all 4 tyres together and that can get rather expensive especially when in theory say 2 are only part worn.

I also have a V6 Vitara but mine is the older model and also only 2 ltr but the same as you the engine is a beauty,pulls like a train,also a few boy racers have been left at the traffic lights if you really want to gun the Vitara off the lights when they turn green as they dont expect it to be so quick.Of course it does not take long for them to catch up and also the other down side of a really heavy right foot is you can watch the fuel guage evaporate very quickly.