4A issues. ford says this is normal?

[Techun]

I would put it right back onto you and ask, why would you not choose to?

Because I don't trust Ford to implement an auto 4wd that doesn't cause binding on sticky pavement

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[adam1991]

Because I don't trust Ford to implement an auto 4wd that doesn't cause binding on sticky pavement

Then why would you trust Ford at all?

 

[bloominguez]

Sure, they give you to option to use it. I'm asking why would you choose to.

You might want to have some fun on a twisty mountain road, to the extent that you can in a Bronco, that's why. Or any other time you want to make sure you're getting as much power to the ground possible, without worrying about driveline binding. Which is why Ford puts the Bronco in 4A (if you have it on your Bronco) when you put it in Sport mode (also if you have it). Perfectly appropriate and safe (when the transfer case is working properly) to use on dry roads.

If you're in 2H with an open diff in the back (no LSD, and you're not going to engage the rear locker) you won't be putting all the power you can to the ground. The inside rear tire will have little weight on it and may spin. Not saying you'll be doing this all the time or even often, but that's one of my use cases.

Another use case is driving in the winter, where you have patches of snow/ice but also stretches of dry road. Which is why Ford puts the Bronco in 4A (if you have it on your Bronco) when you put it in Slippery mode. You want the car to engage the front wheels when appropriate, but not bind when it's not. It's why I bought my Bronco with the advanced transfer case, so I could tell my daughters "if you think it may be slippery, just put it in 4A." I loaned my Bronco to my daughter in Michigan last winter, with those instructions.

Don't confuse "it's not working properly" with "it's not meant for this." Two different things. You should be able to use 4A at any time, including dry pavement, with no ill effects. If that's not the case, it's a problem with that particular transfer case not with the application.

 

[Techun]

You might want to have some fun on a twisty mountain road, to the extent that you can in a Bronco, that's why. Or any other time you want to make sure you're getting as much power to the ground possible, without worrying about driveline binding. Which is why Ford puts the Bronco in 4A (if you have it on your Bronco) when you put it in Sport mode. Perfectly appropriate and safe (when the transfer case is working properly) to use on dry roads.

If you're in 2H with an open diff in the back (no LSD, and you're not going to engage the rear locker) you won't be putting all the power you can to the ground. The inside rear tire will have little weight on it and may spin. Not saying you'll be doing this all the time or even often, but that's one of my use cases.

Another use case is driving in the winter, where you have patches of snow/ice but also stretches of dry road. Which is why Ford puts the Bronco in 4A (if you have it on your Bronco) when you put it in Slippery mode. You want the car to engage the front wheels when appropriate, but not bind when you don't. It's why I bought my Bronco with the advanced transfer case, so I could tell my daughters "if you think it may be slippery, just put it in 4A." I loaned my Bronco to my daughter in Michigan last winter, with those instructions.

Don't confuse "it's not working properly" with "it's not meant for this." Two different things. You should be able to use 4A at any time, including dry pavement, with no ill effects. If that's not the case, it's a problem with that particular transfer case not with the application.

I have no issue with using 4a in your wet/snow example. I'm just not going to use it (personally) in the dry.
If I lose traction that's a - fun and b - only seems possible below like 10mph :/

 

[adam1991]

so I could tell my daughters "if you think it may be slippery, just put it in 4A." I loaned my Bronco to my daughter in Michigan last winter, with those instructions.

and THIS is why Ford has this feature.

I know forums are full of control freaks, unable to let a computer do a single thing, insistent on being in complete control every moment. "If I want it in 4H, I'll put it there." Sure. But understand, that's not the world. And Ford wants to attract as many people as possible.

The ability to say, "hey, this behaves just like that Subaru or Toyota you were looking at, only better" is a powerful selling point that Ford wanted to be able to put out there. "You don't give up on any of the automatic stuff; feel free to let your wife/daughter drive it on the road with confidence."

From the manual:

SLIPPERY - ADVANCED 4X4 WITH
4A MODE, EXCLUDING: RAPTOR

For less than ideal road
conditions, you can use this
mode for crossing terrain where
a firm surface is covered with loose or
slippery material, such as snow or ice.
Slippery mode lowers throttle response
and optimizes shifting for slippery surfaces.

Four-wheel drive auto (4A) is the default
four-wheel drive mode. Two-wheel drive
high (2H) is not selectable in slippery
mode.



SLIPPERY - 4X4 WITH PART TIME
ENGAGEMENT

For less than ideal road
conditions, you can use this
mode for crossing terrain where
a firm surface is covered with loose or
slippery material, such as snow or ice.
Slippery mode lowers throttle response
and optimizes shifting for slippery surfaces.

Four-wheel drive high (4H) is the default
four-wheel drive mode. All four-wheel drive
modes are selectable in slippery mode.

 

[adam1991]

I'm just not going to use it (personally) in the dry.

And that has nothing at ALL to do with the subject matter here, which is "it's not supposed to do that; if it does that, it's not working properly".

 

[adam1991]

If you engage SLIPPERY GOAT MODE, you should NEVER EXPECT SOME NOISES on ICEY SLIPPEREY STREETS AND BINDING OF THE FRONT DIFFERENTIAl AT ALL.

Don’t worry about today being in the Summertime. Just check your “Reading Comprehension” and you will be GOOD.

That is the OP’s issue.

The entire issue is 4A (which you can set by yourself, in addition to some GOAT modes setting it for you) misbehaving on dry pavement--which it's not supposed to do, EVEN IN SUMMER ON DRY PAVEMENT.

RIF.

 

[andersman02]

Here's my take. Running 4a when you don't need it will only cause problems in the long term and excessive wear and tear that isn't needed.

I've ran sport mode low speed and high speed, switched in and out slow and over 80. Has worked great and smooth.

I think everyone should run sport mode and turn on your power distribution to see when the fronts actually get power. It's quite often.

What's more impressive is when it gets none. It reacts to your steering wheel and disconnects it at a certain point.

I'm going to test this tomorrow with slippery mode. I have a hunch that slippery holds onto 4wd longer in slippery than it does in sport.

I'm a very mechanically inclined person with a very curious mind in regards to how things work. I have no problem using 4A, but that juice isn't worth squeeze long term using it daily IMO

 

[BroncoBuckaroo]

(4A) OPERATION

When (4A) is selected on the ATCM , the 4WD system provides electronically controlled four-wheel drive with power delivered to all four wheels, as required, for increased traction. (4A) is appropriate for all on-road driving conditions, such as dry road surfaces, wet pavement, light snow or gravel. Shifts from (2H) or (4H) to (4A) can be made at any speed. In (4A):

• The ATCM sends a (4A) mode status to the AWD module via the GWM .
• The shift motor positions the ball ramp device at the clutch kiss point when driving conditions do not require 4WD.
• The shift motor positions the ball ramp device to apply the clutch when wheel slip is anticipated or detected.
• The reduction sleeve connects the input shaft and output shaft
• (4A) is displayed in the message center.

Eco

• For efficient driving. This mode helps deliver maximum fuel efficiency and helps to increase driving range.
• (2H) is the default four-wheel drive mode. (4L) is not selectable in eco mode.
• The front electronic locking differential is not available in eco mode.
• The rear electronic locking differential is available.
• The stabilizer bar disconnect is not available in eco mode.

Sport

• For sporty driving with improved performance handling and response. This mode increases accelerator pedal response and provides a sportier steering feel. The powertrain system holds onto lower gears longer, helping your vehicle accelerate faster.
• (2H) is the default four-wheel drive mode. (4L) is not selectable in sport mode.
• The front electronic locking differential is not available in sport mode.
• The rear electronic locking differential is available.
• The stabilizer bar disconnect is not available in sport mode.

Slippery

• For less than ideal road conditions such as snow or ice covered roads. This mode can be used for crossing terrain where a firm surface is covered with loose, wet or slippery material. Slippery mode lowers throttle response and optimizes shifting for slippery surfaces.
• (4H) is the default four-wheel drive mode. Both four-wheel drive modes are selectable in slippery mode.
• The front electronic locking differential is available when in (4L).
• The rear electronic locking differential is available.
• The stabilizer bar disconnect is not available in slippery mode.

Sand

• For off-road driving on soft, dry sand or deep snow. This mode may help get your vehicle unstuck from deep snow or sand.
• (4H) is the default four-wheel drive mode. (4L) is selectable in sand mode.
• The front electronic locking differential is available when in (4L).
• The rear electronic locking differential is engaged when in sand mode and is available in all selectable four-wheel drive modes.
• The stabilizer bar disconnect is available in (4H) or (4L).

Mud/Ruts

• For off-road driving. This mode enhances vehicle performance to traverse muddy, rutted or uneven terrains.
• (4H) is the default four-wheel drive mode. (4L) is selectable in mud/rut mode.
• The front electronic locking differential is available when in four-wheel drive low.
• The rear electronic locking differential is engaged when in mud/ruts mode.
• The stabilizer bar disconnect is available in (4H) or (4L).

Rock Crawl

• For off-road driving and optimum rock-climbing ability. Rock crawl mode optimizes the throttle and transmission response to provide you additional control of your vehicle.
• (4L) is the only four-wheel drive mode selectable in rock crawl, the system prompts you to put your vehicle into (4L) upon selection.
• The front electronic locking differential is available when in (4L).
• The rear electronic locking differential is engaged when in rock crawl mode.
• The stabilizer bar disconnects when in rock crawl mode.

Baja

• For high speed off-road driving. Baja mode optimizes the throttle control for better response and torque delivery.
• (4H) is the default four-wheel drive mode.
• The front electronic locking differential is available when in (4L).
• The rear electronic locking differential is available
• The stabilizer bar disconnect is available in (4H) or (4L).

Ahhh..thanks I had read this when first getting my badlands, nice reminder

 

[HoosierDaddy]

Feel free to argue with me but I see no reason to run 4A on dry pavement under "normal" conditions.

I think too many people are expecting Subaru levels of AWD performance from the Bronco 4A.
They are NOT similar and will act differently.
I've had both, the 4A is really lacking compared to a quality AWD system.


Also, there have been, in my opinion, too many stories about 4A failures due to that clutch in the transfer case overheating/burning up for the system to be trustworthy to me.
Running it on dry pavement or even moderate conditions just seems to cause issues.

 

[Brian_B]

Couldn't you really say the same thing about an auto transmission?

All that shifting on it's own can't be good for it and will wear it out, so it must be bad to use it.

 

[Fordified1]

Couldn't you really say the same thing about an auto transmission?

All that shifting on it's own can't be good for it and will wear it out, so it must be bad to use it.

In a way yes. I have manually shifted automatic transmissions sometimes or turned off overdrive to keep it from “hunting” between gears over and over, especially when towing. Every shift it makes is one less shift it has left in it for its lifetime. (clutch packs do eventually wear out) but I’m not a normal owner, in that I keep my vehicles well past 200k miles.
That being said I haven’t felt the need in the Bronco as this 10-speed seems to do really well selecting gears without my input. And I don’t have the 4A transfer case, but probably would take it out of 4A on dry pavement to possibly increase its longevity.
The binding described by the op is apparently pretty common, but according to everything I’ve read shouldn’t be considered normal. Common and Normal are two different things.

 

[Sitruc_btb]

Couldn't you really say the same thing about an auto transmission?

All that shifting on it's own can't be good for it and will wear it out, so it must be bad to use it.

Precisely. Get the 7mt to avoid any automagic catastrophes.

 

[Fordified1]

Yes.
Low speed parking lot maneuvers in 4A should not be binding.
Realistically it should never bind in 4A, which is why it's acceptable for all driving/road conditions.

I just re-read the OP’s post. He had it in slippery mode. Is it possible 4A is more aggressive in slippery mode?

 

[usarms]

If the transfer case and front wheels are engaged then you get chatter on dry surfaces which is normal. It should be avoided. If the transfer case and front wheels are not engages it is not normal for the front wheels to chatter. Period.

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