I'm going to be using my runner in snow for first time, TIPS?
- Thread starter orangeblast22
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Wai
New member
I also want to point out that the 4WD system is rear bias, so when you hit the gas in middle of turn, and road surface is slick, BE GENTLE! Or your car will fishtail.
If it's slow enough, it can be corrected thru countersteering. It's actually kinda fun. But be very careful when you are going at speed.
If it's slow enough, it can be corrected thru countersteering. It's actually kinda fun. But be very careful when you are going at speed.
Wai said:I also want to point out that the 4WD system is rear bias, so when you hit the gas in middle of turn, and road surface is slick, BE GENTLE! Or your car will fishtail.
If it's slow enough, it can be corrected thru countersteering. It's actually kinda fun. But be very careful when you are going at speed.
This does not make sense to me. Vehicle Stability Control should take over before this occurs. Plus if you have the center differential locked, you now have a 50-50 split between front and rear.
007Runner said:
I agree w/007,pretty impossible if get the back to kick out. As soon as I start to slide vsc kicks in and straightens me out .
Never heard of the back end kicking out on a 4R. Kind of the other way around , most of us want that to happen when playing and it don't happen because of VSC kicking in. Lock the center diff. and it shuts that off , then you can spin,slide,do donuts ect....but you are locked in 4wd.
These things are so good with traction in winter it amazes me sometimes.
I also agree about the snow composition making different driving condition as stated above. Heavy , wet compacted snow can be a bitch sometimes to drive in, and easy to get stuck in off road.
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Correct. But the system still allows for a decent amount of yaw rate before intervening. Especailly with the center dif locked. Even though VSC does work and help with situations like these, it can't defy the laws of physics so driving safe is still required in slick conditions.007Runner said:
Wai
New member
007Runner said:
Sorry I should have made it a little bit more clear.
I never lock my center diff.... I live in a metro area with all paved roads and the roads are plowed quite quickly. But lot of times the road surfaces are still very slick. And when that's the case, without the center diff locked, the back end WILL kick out.
VSC does kick in, but there's only so much it can do. It still can't defy physics....
I don't think the center diff should be locked when driving on paved roads, correct?
OUTRNNR said:
I lock my center diff. a lot when driving on paved , but only like in a snow storm , deep snow ect if I want to play around. For normal driving in a snow , icey , snow packed roads I keep it unlocked when I'm actually trying to go someplace not just out messing around
My VCS does NOT kick in with diff. locked. Only thing working is the anti-lock brakes and the Atrac.
I don't know what you all think , but this thing is a beast in the snow ! It just motors through everything. I love this truck !
OH , and by the way we are supposed to get a few inches overnite and a few more inches tomorrow during the day. ABOUT friggin time !!! It's Jan 14th and we had 1 snow here on Dec. 1st ( 12-13") unreal this is Wisconsin for Gods sake !!!! So I guess you know what I'll be doing
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Both camps are right...but it is under different conditions that VSC can work.
OUTRNNR and 007Runner is correct that the 4r VSC system will NOT let you get into a throttle induced oversteer condition where the rear steps out.
However, as Wai noted, you can get the rear end out of shape in a trail braking, or decelerating turn condition if done aggressively enough. In low grip, the VSC can only apply so much brake and anti-lock as the wheels have grip. Short of the VSC having steering intervention (which some other new models now have), this condition is uncatchable. Physics will take over at this point and spin the truck.
OUTRNNR and 007Runner is correct that the 4r VSC system will NOT let you get into a throttle induced oversteer condition where the rear steps out.
However, as Wai noted, you can get the rear end out of shape in a trail braking, or decelerating turn condition if done aggressively enough. In low grip, the VSC can only apply so much brake and anti-lock as the wheels have grip. Short of the VSC having steering intervention (which some other new models now have), this condition is uncatchable. Physics will take over at this point and spin the truck.
Wai
New member
Sorry I can't totally agree with this....TeCKis300 said:
I can duplicate the oversteering scenario at will (with center diff unlock) during acceleration when the pavement has about 1/2" to 1" of snow/ice mixture. When it happens, the "slippery" icon would blink, and there's a beeping sound indicating that the VSC is intervening the motion. BUT....
.....VSC is still a remedial device that is activated when the slippage (oversteering) has already begun. It would stop it from slipping MORE, but it doesn't mean that it would not allow it to happen at all. That's my take on it.
When driving my friend's MDX, which is a front bias AWD system, it would understeer upon acceleration through a turn, which is the polar opposite from how our car would behave. That's why I figured I would point that out to the original poster (or whoever is following this thread), hoping that it would not catch him off guard.
If we get some snow in the next few weeks, I would be more than happy to take some short clips to show how I can induce the oversteer.
Wai said:Sorry I can't totally agree with this....
I can duplicate the oversteering scenario at will (with center diff unlock) during acceleration when the pavement has about 1/2" to 1" of snow/ice mixture. When it happens, the "slippery" icon would blink, and there's a beeping sound indicating that the VSC is intervening the motion. BUT....
.....VSC is still a remedial device that is activated when the slippage (oversteering) has already begun. It would stop it from slipping MORE, but it doesn't mean that it would not allow it to happen at all. That's my take on it.
When driving my friend's MDX, which is a front bias AWD system, it would understeer upon acceleration through a turn, which is the polar opposite from how our car would behave. That's why I figured I would point that out to the original poster (or whoever is following this thread), hoping that it would not catch him off guard.
If we get some snow in the next few weeks, I would be more than happy to take some short clips to show how I can induce the oversteer.
Not doubting you at all , just getting confused a little. What exactly is oversteer and how do you induce it at will ? We are getting a snow storm right now and I will try to do it tomorrow so I can relate better and understand better.
How should I go about it ?
Wai
New member
Falls said:
It can be induced most easily when you are rolling at a very slow speed (like 5-10mph), turn the steering wheel, then press the gas semi-hard. With the center diff unlock and VSC on, the tail will kick out but as soon as it does that, the icon will blink, you will hear the beep and the engine will bog down. The bog is from the computer cutting the throttle.
When the VSC is engaged, the tail won't go very far, but still far enough that some couter steering is still needed.
Just make sure that the surrounding is clear when you do that. Keep me updated if you could get the car to move like how I described.
I never said that it would absolutely NOT let you oversteer. I said that the system allows a decent about of yaw rate (oversteer) before intervening. And it does, especially at low speeds (<10 mph). It affords even more donut spinning freedom with the center dif locked, although it is never completely off.TeCKis300 said:
WAI, I played very little today and got it to kick out but no much before it straightened me out , but the oversteer can be induced , so I see what your saying.
Outrunner, locking the center diff. turns the VSC off I thought ??? With the center diff. I can go hog wild with the donuts and sliding around corners and really pounding the truck it never kicks on. The only thing I hear are the anti-locks when slamming on the brakes and the Atrac when I floor it.
Outrunner, locking the center diff. turns the VSC off I thought ??? With the center diff. I can go hog wild with the donuts and sliding around corners and really pounding the truck it never kicks on. The only thing I hear are the anti-locks when slamming on the brakes and the Atrac when I floor it.
I've had it kick in before when doing moderate sliding. Like I said way up at the top, all bets are off if you're foot is to the floor, the brake servos aren't going to try and fight all that torque, and that's for both VSC and ATRAC. At least that's what I've noticed...Falls said:
