Awd ?!?!?!?!?

0

05FX35

Member
So I bought my FX about 6 weeks ago, havent had to use the AWD since it hasn't snowed yet...Well it snowed last night and I was excited to try it out...To my surprise it is not kicking it at all...When the AWD should be kicking it the car makes a clicking and ticking sound coming from the front of the vehicle...Wondering if anyone else has experienced this or if this is a common issue with the 05 FX...I came to the FX from a A6, so I am used to all time all wheel drive versus the rear wheel to AWD the FX has...

I made an appointment at the Infiniti Dealer here to take a look since I still have a factory warranty, just hate going in there with no idea of what is wrong...Feel like they screw you more if you have no clue whats going on with the car...Any advice is welcome!

Thanks!
 
I dont have AWD.....but I dont think the FX is full time AWD. Maybe someone else can chime in here.
 
It not full time, but it is supposes to kick in when the ECU? senses the need for AWD...My issue is I dont think the AWD is kicking in at all...Even from a stand still the car feels like it is in RWD, from my understanding the FX AWD version should start with AWD until 20 or so MPH
 
FX AWD starts in AWD then goes to RWD, not exactly sure at what speed. Are you sure what you are hearing is not the ABS trying to keep the car straight? how do you know the AWD "should be kicking in" is the slip light coming on on the dash?
 
The Slip light is flashing when I feel like the awd should be keeping me on the road...Also the "clicking and ticking" (hard to explain sound) is happening at the same time...this happened once on a small incline, and also on a couple turns...
 
slip means that your car knows the wheels aren't gripping and is probably sending power to the front wheels to try and compensate. the sounds you are hearing are probably the ABS system trying to keep the car under control. Whenever i beat on my FX in the snow, the dash lights up like a xmas tree, and it makes all kinds of horrible sounds. pretty sure its all normal.
 
If I understood the technology correctly, the AWD FX is composed of magnetic clutches that engage with the computer senses loss of traction. The FX is not full time AWD, its automatic AWD. The slower you're going, or if you're starting for a stand still, you'll notice the clutches engaging more as the wheels search for traction. It does make a clicking noise - thats the clutch engaging. You can hit the "SNOW" button which locks the transfer case at a 50/50 power distribution. This is only good for speeds up until the 20mph range.

I believe what you're hearing is the car doing what it is designed to do: transfer power to the wheels that are slipping.
 
I wasn't even beating on it...more conservative driving, trying to keep it on the road...Coming from an A6 I was a little spoiled in the snow...
 
Lords47 said:
If I understood the technology correctly, the AWD FX is composed of magnetic clutches that engage with the computer senses loss of traction. The FX is not full time AWD, its automatic AWD. The slower you're going, or if you're starting for a stand still, you'll notice the clutches engaging more as the wheels search for traction. It does make a clicking noise - thats the clutch engaging. You can hit the "SNOW" button which locks the transfer case at a 50/50 power distribution. This is only good for speeds up until the 20mph range.

I believe what you're hearing is the car doing what it is designed to do: transfer power to the wheels that are slipping.
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wouldn't you want power to the wheels that AREN'T slipping?

and i'm pretty sure that the SNOW button just starts you in 2nd gear instead of 1st. No matter what the conditions on the road, you start in 50-50 AWD from a dead stop.
 
Woops, yes typo on my behalf. AREN'T slipping.

As far as the snow button, that was how the dealership explained the mechanics of it to me. It very well could start in second (haven't tried). Yes, you start AWD from a dead stop, but I believe transmission gear and acceleration determine when the cycle stops, so that was the benefit of locking the transfer case at 50/50.
 
I thought the Snow button switched up the tranny to only allow it to get to around 3,000 RPM, giving more torque and less HP...

I have had a few AWD vehicles and this just doesn't seem like it is driving in AWD...Quick Question, Should the AWD light come on when the FX is in AWD?

My old man has a M35x and his car was solid this morning, so issues at all...Isn't it the same AWD drive system in the M35 as the FX35?
 
I think we've all learned that dealers aren't all that intelligent.

I would trust the information on this board more than the dealer, and from what i've read that is the case. SNOW button = no 1st gear.
 
:iS: vs ORG = This same thread is on the org and there have been 0 responses vs
11 responses here.And 54 veiws here vs 9 there................:tup:
 
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I thought I would try both, this site is WAY better for responses...might be my last stop over at the org...
 
Snow button... from what I recall it does two things:

1. Reduces throttle sensitivity. This means that if you slam on the gas pedal, it will purposely open the throttle (butterfly valve in the throttle body) much slower than if you were not in snow mode, resulting in a more controlled acceleration from stop.

2. Raises the AWD-RWD transfer speed. Like many others here, I don't know the EXACT speed at which the ECU tells the TCU to make a RWD powertrain. Again, from what I remember, this number is 19mph. In snow mode, you will maintain the AWD start for higher speeds than if the button was not depressed. The transmission will still be RWD biased and will revert to a RWD, just a little later on.

The '03 models did not have a snow button, but rather an AWD Lock button, which did the same thing except did not have the throttle sensitivity adjust that the snow mode has.

05FX35 said:
I thought I would try both, this site is WAY better for responses...might be my last stop over at the org...
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And welcome to your new FX home.
 
ATTESA E-TS traction system

Infiniti's advanced Vehicle Dynamic Control (VDC) system with Traction Control System (TCS) is standard on all FX models. VDC adjusts brake pressure and engine torque automatically in understeer, oversteer or slippery road surface situations, helping the driver keep the intended path.

The ATTESA E-TS™ (Advanced Total Traction Engineering System for All Electronic Torque Split) all-wheel drive system utilized on FX45 and FX35 AWD uses an advanced torque split control strategy that automatically transfers optimum torque to the wheels according to road and driving conditions. The system provides outstanding handling due to optimum torque distribution for front and rear (50:50 up to 0:100). ATTESA E-TS™ also provides high starting traction performance and smooth, stable acceleration, especially in snow-covered or off-road situations with a 50:50 torque split at standing start.
And welcome to :iS: all things FX
 
hey, the best way to really test it out is in some real slippery stuff next opportunity you have, take it out & thrash it in a parking lot or open area... nail the throttle through curves & hard accelerate in tight radius... it will become very apparent weather the awd is working or not... if your motoring through in the general direction your steering with just some minor corrective actions for slippage then your awd is fine, if your fishtailing & spinning out your awd is not delivering power to the front... when the fx awd is working right the fx feels like a jet ski, just point & floor it, with minor corrective actions she goes where you want her to go...

if your driving & "just trying to keep it on the road" any slippage will be nerve wracking & the fx doing what it's supposed to do will engage the vdc & the awd to correct for slippage which is may be what your hearing while already in a nerve wracking situation making you think there's something wrong... you should take her out & beat on her to really learn what she can do, then you'll have more confidence & it won't be as nerve wracking when in the slippery stuff...
 
Well I would like to think I know how to drive in snow and slippery conditions, seeing as I have lived in Minnesota my whole life, probably could have used better terms in my previous post...I have driven AWD, 4X4 trucks, FWD cars as well as RWD, and from what I can tell this is driving in RWD fashion...my main concern at this point is the fcking dealership promoted it as AWD when in reality it is RWD...
 
oops, really didn't mean to insinuate that you didn't know how to drive in the snow:embarrassed:

so are you saying that your fx may be a rwd model? there was another guy who bought a red one & was told it was awd & turned out it wasn't... he sold it to buy another...

if your fx is an awd & it feels as bad as your saying then there is probably something wrong with it... these things feel good in the snow, nothing like a rwd that's for sure...
 
05FX35 said:
my main concern at this point is the fcking dealership promoted it as AWD when in reality it is RWD...
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Whoa calm down there buddy :winky:

First off, do you have experience with AWD cars or 4WD cars?

Secondly, are you riding on 20" Goodyear RSA tires?
 
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