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I recently purchased an AWD PP and was curious if the PP is in NORMAL mode, is the vehicle in front wheel drive or AWD ? A video I watched on youtube confused me on the issue
Just curious
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The Passport is always in AWD mode, how it distributes power to the wheels depends upon where the traction is needed. It's a good system. From your dash menus you can select AWD torque mode and it will show which wheels are providing power. Most of the time it will be the front wheels.
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Front wheel drive most of the time. When the computer think you need AWD, it will activate it for you.
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just got back from a day up riding with my buddies, there was only about 3” of fresh snow on the pass but it did just fine, minus a couple times hydroplaning but we’ve been hit with some serious rain this week
I always keep my AWD torque monitor on, it's really interesting to watch how the system distributes power. Even entering a smooth, paved highway if the on ramp has any kind of hard curve you'll see the system driving both left wheels and only the front right.
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Went to Stevens Friday for some boarding and I can honestly say I hate the throttle response when the PP is in SNOW mode, it feels like the throttle throw is shortened making me feel like I have to move my seat forward, also to accelerate/pass someone I feel like I have to push way too hard to get throttle resphones
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Seems like you are pushing a button to retard your engine, then you "hate the throttle
response " while your engine is being retarded.
When you had it in snow mode, did you spin out or lose traction while driving on slick roads?
If not, I think you should be happy about how it performed.
As you know, many of the accidents that occur on slick roads happen when people aggressively accelerate, brake or turn.
Snow mode retards the power at each wheel. It makes it difficult for the driver to accelerate aggressively. It helps to maintain a really good thing, rolling traction.
If you want full power to pass, (which of course is very dangerous on slick roads) you need to take it out of snow mode. Just try to maintain rolling traction while doing so.
The reason you see so many large four wheel drive pickups in the ditch on icy days is because they have all of that power, and they don't have the brilliant electronic traction aids these wonderful Passports have.
Once they lose rolling traction, due to (usually) rear wheel spin, its game over.
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As a matter of fact I was losing traction and the traction control light blinked a couple times, it only happened when trying to accelerate during passing.
I came up on slower traffic (40 mph) and attempted to pass and had a tough time accelerating up to 50-60mph. Driving at 50-60mph on Stevens pass is not an issue if you’re a confident driver, for the last 15 years I had no problem down shifting my Element and cruising at 55-60 in 4–5” of fresh snow. Are you saying I need to shift out of SNOW mode to pass someone ? I would hope that is not the case.
I came up on slower traffic (40 mph) and attempted to pass and had a tough time accelerating up to 50-60mph. Driving at 50-60mph on Stevens pass is not an issue if you’re a confident driver, for the last 15 years I had no problem down shifting my Element and cruising at 55-60 in 4–5” of fresh snow. Are you saying I need to shift out of SNOW mode to pass someone ? I would hope that is not the case.
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Perhaps "accelerating during passing" on icy roads is the root problem here. Not snow mode.
The light blinks whenever slight wheel spin is detected. One wheel breaking traction while the other three are adjusting for slippery conditions does not always constitute an emergency or mechanical failure.
It's a wake up call. The little flashing light could be trying to say, "Hey, it's super slippery out here, please slow down, don't accelerate or try to pass, please safely increase your following distance and pay close attention."
I'll never tell you what to do on icy roads . 50 and 60 mph on icy roads is serious business. Passing at those speeds under those conditions sounds very risky to me. Even if you manage to maintain control of your vehicle during these, high risk, close proximity passes, who's to say the other guys will as well?
I'm just saying, if you demand more power than snow mode will allow, you must get out of snow mode to get it. It's the drivers choice.. I'm not saying it's a good idea, or am I assuming any responsibility here or even encouraging passing cars on public, icy roads.
I tend to take the "stay back, and see it all" approach when driving on slick roads. To each their own.
I'm sure you are a good driver and it sounds like you have lots of winter driving experience.
Those who don't have any snow and ice experience may be over accelerating without even knowing whats happening.
These folks usually wind up in the ditch or on their roofs.
They should prolly put it in snow mode whenever it's cloudy out.
The light blinks whenever slight wheel spin is detected. One wheel breaking traction while the other three are adjusting for slippery conditions does not always constitute an emergency or mechanical failure.
It's a wake up call. The little flashing light could be trying to say, "Hey, it's super slippery out here, please slow down, don't accelerate or try to pass, please safely increase your following distance and pay close attention."
I'll never tell you what to do on icy roads . 50 and 60 mph on icy roads is serious business. Passing at those speeds under those conditions sounds very risky to me. Even if you manage to maintain control of your vehicle during these, high risk, close proximity passes, who's to say the other guys will as well?
I'm just saying, if you demand more power than snow mode will allow, you must get out of snow mode to get it. It's the drivers choice.. I'm not saying it's a good idea, or am I assuming any responsibility here or even encouraging passing cars on public, icy roads.
I tend to take the "stay back, and see it all" approach when driving on slick roads. To each their own.
I'm sure you are a good driver and it sounds like you have lots of winter driving experience.
Those who don't have any snow and ice experience may be over accelerating without even knowing whats happening.
These folks usually wind up in the ditch or on their roofs.
They should prolly put it in snow mode whenever it's cloudy out.
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Ok today I got to use my PP in a intense snowstorm. We took the day off today to ride some fresh powder.
First thing I noticed was that I liked the way the vehicle handled in NORMAL mode, acceleration was what I expected and traction was incredible. After a day of riding I came back to the PP to find it buried in 10-11” of fresh snow, I had absolutely no tire slippage backing out of the spot, I also pullover into about 24” of snow and still no problem pulling away and that was with the stock tires, can’t imagine what it will do when I throw the BFG all- terrains on.
The next thing I tried was putting the PP in SPORT mode and paddle shift it down one gear as to keep from riding the brakes for 5 miles. It worked great I basically used the paddles to accelerate and decelerate without putting my foot on the gas or brake pedal.
First thing I noticed was that I liked the way the vehicle handled in NORMAL mode, acceleration was what I expected and traction was incredible. After a day of riding I came back to the PP to find it buried in 10-11” of fresh snow, I had absolutely no tire slippage backing out of the spot, I also pullover into about 24” of snow and still no problem pulling away and that was with the stock tires, can’t imagine what it will do when I throw the BFG all- terrains on.
The next thing I tried was putting the PP in SPORT mode and paddle shift it down one gear as to keep from riding the brakes for 5 miles. It worked great I basically used the paddles to accelerate and decelerate without putting my foot on the gas or brake pedal.
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I went the rest of the season leaving it in normal mode, worked great.
This winter I’ll get to try it out with my newly installed BFG’s
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