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Is 4WD Auto any good?

My 02 Avalanche seems to fight the auto 4 wheel drive.

It bounces in and out of 4 wheel drive so much that I think that is what wore out the spider gears in the front end.

When in 4 wheel drive it is much better because the traction is right there.

I have had times where I have drove 70 miles before I discovered that it was in auto 4 wheel drive and I have had it up to 70 mph.

That is not good , because I believe that it locks the front axles and the only thing that shifts is the transfer case when there is slippage.  Which increases wear in the front end driveline.

I had a 1992 Silverado Z 71 Pick Up truck that had a shifter on the floor and even at 150,000 miles it still had all the origional drive train.

Not a single problem with the front end, rear end, drive shafts, transfer case, transmission or engine.

Nothing more than one set of spark plugs and wires the whole time I owned it.  And the spark plug wires didn't cost $100 when I changed them either.

It seems like the more conviences they put on them, the more there is to go wrong.
 
Mikeholmes said:
My 02 Avalanche seems to fight the auto 4 wheel drive.

It bounces in and out of 4 wheel drive so much that I think that is what wore out the spider gears in the front end.

When in 4 wheel drive it is much better because the traction is right there.

I have had times where I have drove 70 miles before I discovered that it was in auto 4 wheel drive and I have had it up to 70 mph.

That is not good , because I believe that it locks the front axles and the only thing that shifts is the transfer case when there is slippage.  Which increases wear in the front end driveline.

I had a 1992 Silverado Z 71 Pick Up truck that had a shifter on the floor and even at 150,000 miles it still had all the origional drive train.

Not a single problem with the front end, rear end, drive shafts, transfer case, transmission or engine.

Nothing more than one set of spark plugs and wires the whole time I owned it.  And the spark plug wires didn't cost $100 when I changed them either.

It seems like the more conviences they put on them, the more there is to go wrong.

I normally don't use auto 4wd for just this reason - there is no idiot light on the dash showing whether the vehicle is operating in 4wd or 2wd when the truck is in "auto 4wd".  Instead, you have to feel for 4WD operation and I am not comfortable with that due to possible driveline and tire wear if I am not aware of the vehicle actually being in 4WD.  Thats one of my minor gripes with the AV - the dash needs a 4WD idiot light that will illuminate if 4WD is in use while set on "auto".  In the meantime, I just do it the old fashioned way - shift into 4HI when the weather or conditions warrant, and shift out to 2HI under most other circumstances.
 
I generally end up using regular 4wd for the most part now.  I was using Auto quite a bit, my primary reason for this is sometimes the roads to the mountain vary and are perfectly clear in some spots, an icy in others.  This snow season it was pretty uniform all around.

Playing round in a snow filled parking lot, I did discover that I didn't like how consistent the Auto setting was, meaning sometimes it would jump in instantly, and other times it wouldn't. 
 
Use it when it rains to keep the front gears and bearings lubed, when i purchased my 91 S10 4x4 there was a tape in the glove box on how to use the 4x4 properly and use in the rain was one of them.
 
Auto 4WD has saved my can a few times when driving in bad conditions. 

Speed limit at 70, I was driving 55.  It was freezing, and has rained the night before, so there was ice on the road.  Coming around a curve, I felt the rear wheels slip, and maybe a half second later I felt the front wheels kick on and help me straighten up.

I always turn it on in heavy rain, snow or ice conditions.
 
Wow, diggin up a 10 yr old thread?

I use it Auto 4WD on those weird days when the roads are dry, with patches of ice/snow. Does a good job for me.
 
I turn it on if the wife takes it in the snow.
Kind of one of those set it and forget it things.
I am glad she has it and she is happy she does not have to mess with anything.
Happy Wife, Happy Life (y)
 
greatgab said:
Auto 4WD is great for pulling the boat up a slimy boat ramp...

:laugh:
Been there, done that.
 
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