Awd ?!?!?!?!?
- Thread starter 05FX35
- Start date
oops, really didn't mean to insinuate that you didn't know how to drive in the snow
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...
Well I will be having a GREAT conversation with the Sales guy if this turns out to be RWD...I am going to run the VIN again, but swear ti stated AWD in the AutoCheck or Carfacts I ran when I bought it...
Lets hope and pray that's not the case.
I thought Audi's Quattro system was, as you were stating earlier, a 4WD system? So do you have experience with AWD systems like the ATTESA E-TS?
No need, I can tell you if the VIN is for an AWD FX35 or RWD FX35...
Does it start out with:
JNRAS08W#5X ---> AWD
JNRAS08U#5X ---> RWD
Checking Now...thanks man!
gchristopher9
Member
........FTW!!Okay, answers that
can't really beat that as far as experience with this type of AWD goes. Also, I don't think you'd have a snow mode button if you didn't have AWD? Not sure. I know the '03 RWD guys didn't have an AWD lock button and snow button didn't exist, so you'd have blanks there for buttons.Little off-topic, but what are those other button blanks for? Are they ever used in any FX models? I think mine has AWD Lock and then 3 blanks that look like buttons but don't press. I'm trying to think of things to use them for, like maybe angel eyes on/off??? Map selector when I have UTEC? Carputer on/off? So many possibilities... sweet...
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M
MFX35R
Guest
I don't think the AWD FX is full time. It uses all four wheels for acceleration for traction and at some point only uses 2...then at rolling cruising it uses 1 to save gas.
Quattro is a full time AWD system. The original in fact. And certainly the 2nd best system on the market just behind Subaru's SYMM3 AWD.
I recently made a thread about my first snow experience in the FX in the general section. Bottom line was that my FX was controlled, stable and composed in the snow. There was no clicking, ticking or any other sound from the AWD system. The AWD should function seamlessly as it transfers power between all four wheels. You shouldn't be noticing anything from the drivers seat, except more grip of course. I also own an Audi and I have to admit that I was very surprised how well the FX AWD performed and found very little real world difference between the two.
The real benefit of the Infiniti AWD system is really more noticeable in dry conditions so to speak. The FX genuinely feels, drives, and displays all the characteristics of a true RWD car. I have been extremely impressed with the ATTESA E-TS system so far.
MTN's post here summarizes the Infiniti 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.
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I got to use my snow mode today for the first time this season, and like Frank said and MTN summarized, it seems to cut throttle be half or so, so there isn't as much power going to the wheels but still has the VDC active etc. It has always been controlled for me in slides and doughnuts as well (VDC off).
- Car
- 05 FX35 RWD
How?
Last I checked, RWD cars can get the rear completely loose. The beauty in an FX w/ RWD is that you can do this in every turn. You probably dont want to do this with a stock FX, but if it's completely hooked up with all the handling mods, there's no greater pleasure in driving. It's crazy how much control there is with the right setup, & I wouldnt trade up for that system in dry conditions. Takes all the fun out of it.
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Yes, we've already established this long ago. The FX's ATTESA E-TS AWD system is RWD biased, splits up to 50:50 front/rear and up to 0:100 front/rear. It starts off 50:50 and then at ~15 mph it converts to RWD (up to 0:100). In Snow Mode and AWD Lock modes, this is changed from ~15 mph to ~19-20 mph, along with reduced throttle sensitivity in snow mode.
When cruising, or above this 15-20mph, the system uses TWO wheels. At no point in time does the FX's AWD system commit 100% of its torque to one wheel.
VEHICLE DYNAMIC CONTROL (VDC) will apply the brake ever so slightly to a wheel it senses slipping in order to reduce the rotational torque on that wheel to prevent further spin. The AWD system itself has nothing to do with brakes, but the VDC works in conjunction with the AWD system to apply independant-wheel brakes based on traction information. There are sensors on all 4 wheels that measure the individual wheel's RPM, which can be compared to the other 3. I've seen all 4 of these sensors but I forget where exactly they were (been quite a while).
It was a compliment to the FX.
What I meant was is that the AWD handles perfectly fine in bad conditions. Where you really get the benefit of the ATTESA E-TS is in it's ability to send all 100% to the rear wheels. I agree that you can't actually swing the rear out like you can on a true RWD. But you can feel the weight transfer of RWD. It works great. It's not over-restrictive. You get the "feel" of driving a RWD car.
You won't get this feeling or characteristic on a full time AWD system like Quattro.
No. I couldn't even do that in the snow (as in 90 degrees) and I tried very hard. It will kick in and straighten you out. On dry roads you can feel it start to swing out but the AWD grips pretty quickly.