FX 35 AWD issues.

[Marker1030]

Hello all new to this forum, so I'm looking for help with my 2008 FX35 AWD. I'm thinking the AWD is not working, went to the infiniti Dealer and all checks out ok. It snow mode with the VDC on the car rear wheels slip, the AWD light flashes, and the back end kicks out. It like driving a read wheel chevy. I take off the VDC control and the resr wheels spin, the front wheels do not spin? Is this a issue. I just bought my FX35. Thanks

 

[Dracula]

center diff leak? probably malfunction.
or broken axle shaft or cv.

try changing the differential fluid and transmission fluid, maybe incorrect differential fluid?

 

[Marker1030]

Hi, the Infiniti dealer service my FX35 checked all the fluids and changed the engine oil, did some computer tests and said that the AWD is ok, there were no codes to read. I it runs grest on dry rosds, but once it snow out i cant back out of the drive way on flat ground, or go forward. We just had a phase storm today that dropped 18 inches of snow here it the Berkshires I had to use my girls XC90 to drive to work. At was not good.

Thanks

 

[Dracula]

go to the dealer when the conditions outside as you desribrd are present; try to reproduce this with the service rep and technician..

 

[g0tb00st]

Marker,

I'm from MA too and know how bad the snow has been this year for us. Quick question, is this FX new to you or have you driven in it in the snow in the past and AWD never gave you a problem?

I'm a new owner, picked up a 08 FX AWD earlier this past Jan. When one of the few storms hit in Jan I had a terrible time battling the snow in the FX, the snow mode doesn't do much but control the throttle. I was slipping and sliding all over the roads, made me feel like I was driving my 350z. The worse contributor to how the FX handles is the crappy Goodyear RS-As, I just actually got rid of them (car only has 16.9k on the clock) and the tires are worn down to around 3/32" to 4/32" all around. I now have the Hancook Ventus and am now loving the ride comfort, total night and day difference! I can't wait for the next snow storm to see how these tires do in the snow, but from everything I've read on the forms these will do VERY well in all weather conditions when compared to the RS-As.

Good luck!

Erik

 

[Tanker]

I had a similar problem with my '06 35, the first time I took it out after a snowstorm I was severely disappointed. It had the original Badyears on it and I was going downhill and realized that I had NO control what so ever. So I started bouncing off the snowbanks on the sides to slow down and avoid hitting the cars at the bottom. Meanwhile, other 2whl dr cars were going up and down the hill with no problem at all. I eventually spun the car around and tried to go up the hill, that's when I learned that the AWD kicks out around 28/29 mph and if and when it kicks in due to wheel slippage it does it at its leisure and has an adrenaline producing lag. Not a fun ride, especially when our other cars and trucks navigated our hilly snow covered back roads with no problems. So I bought rims and Blizzak tires, and like a miracle from heaven.....it didn't snow any more! Then we got a major snowstorm and a phone call from my daughter who was stuck at the airport. It was on! The ride of my life.......8 hours of some of the most challenging driving of my life. It took several miles of spinning, slipping and sliding to learn that I could plow through a deep snow covered highway, where most of the cars and trucks were stuck in all different positions and some sliding backwards, by hitting the gas and keeping it there. The snow tires made the car a different machine, I passed a tractor trailer that was in the left lane, jack knifing backwards and a CTS V that had no traction. I hit the gas and just squeezed in between the two vehicles before the gap closed! After a while it felt more like a Snowmobile ride and I spent the whole ride snaking in and around the stuck vehicles. After that I had much more respect for the FX's abilities in the snow, the problem was the tires and the learning curve of the (performance) AWD system. Not many people get the chance to learn what their can really do in a snowstorm. I was lucky and it was fun! BTW I still have those snow tires and rims for sale if anyone needs them, PM me.

 

[jbaker1121]

like I've been satying....blizzaks on 18's are the answer to heavy snow. the 20's and all seasons are ok for some snow, but have fun trying to stop or navigate turns

 

[Tanker]

like I've been satying....blizzaks on 18's are the answer to heavy snow. the 20's and all seasons are ok for some snow, but have fun trying to stop or navigate turns

Yes, also, IMO (my age is showing), besides looks I don't see a reason for the 20s. I don't think that they handle much better than a good set of 18" low profiles and the cost and bad weather handling really suck. I'll bet there are a lot of accidents that are caused buy people using summer tires in the snow. Between the danger, moving violations, ride comfort, cost and the constant bubbles in the sidewalls I'd give the customer the option to opt out of very low profile tires, especially the 20s and over. I guess in today's society it's looks over function.....OFO (Old Fart's Opinion)

 

[jbaker1121]

Yes, also, IMO (my age is showing), besides looks I don't see a reason for the 20s. I don't think that they handle much better than a good set of 18" low profiles and the cost and bad weather handling really suck. I'll bet there are a lot of accidents that are caused buy people using summer tires in the snow. Between the danger, moving violations, ride comfort, cost and the constant bubbles in the sidewalls I'd give the customer the option to opt out of very low profile tires, especially the 20s and over. I guess in today's society it's looks over function.....OFO (Old Fart's Opinion)

yeah the 20's definitely look better but even with summerish tired on the 18s there is a little less performance IMO because of the bigger tires...idk If that makes sense but thats how I felt. I personally like 20s on the FX's and will probbaly stick with my current summer 20's setup...

 

[Tanker]

yeah the 20's definitely look better but even with summerish tired on the 18s there is a little less performance IMO because of the bigger tires...idk If that makes sense but thats how I felt. I personally like 20s on the FX's and will probbaly stick with my current summer 20's setup...

I see you are closer to the city than me, I'm about 45 min above you. Do you have a problem with bubbles in the sidewalls from hitting potholes? On my wife's A6 18" Michelins it's a real problem and the Audi rims have no lip on the rim that helps protect the tire. I had Michelin replace the 4 tires twice already. Every time we take the car to the dealer they find another bubble and sometimes it's on the inner sidewall that you would never have seen. I'll bet there are a lot of people driving around with dangerous bubbles on their tires and they don't even know it. My next car will NOT have low profiles, I miss the HR/78/15s on my old Caprice. That's back when tires lasted a long time and cost half the price.