4A issues. ford says this is normal?

[andersman02]

"The owner's manual says X, and Ford engineers have come out and confirmed that, but I refuse to believe it."

Fake news, eh?

You're welcome to believe anything someone tells you.

I'm saying that the more you use something, the quicker it is to wear and eventually fail. So why use something when it's 100% not needed, knowing that?

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[Ducati1098]

"it should never bind in 4A"

That is a stretch. Anytime there is power going to the front wheels (4WD engaged) there is a potential for binding, some anyways. Is it more than it should be in this case, perhaps. If the tires are just chirping a little I wouldn't be worrying about this -- shouldn't be using 4AT on dry pavement. If there is severe binding like being in straight 4WD mode, maybe there is an issue.

Clearly I meant in this scenario, not every possible driving situation.

Turning into a parking spot it shouldn’t bind, period.

Claiming you shouldn’t use it on dry pavement is just stupid when the people that designed, engineered and built the vehicle claim you can. Not to mention it’s been proven by millions of others that do it

 

[Kevfra]

Hey everyone. Picked up a 22 Badlands fully loaded wirh 47K miles a few weeks ago. Haven't really used 4WD other than sport mode and Baja in the sand trails in my local Forrest. Used 4A slippery mode the other day and noticed when pulling into a parking spot at super slow speed the front wheels were chattering and the wheel had some resistance. I immediately knew something was wrong. Isn't the truck supposed to be in 2H until it detects traction issues or sharp turns in 4A? I know I read a few people had the same problems here and it ended up either being the TCM or the transfer case.

Called the dealership I got the vehilce from and the guy in the service department said that is normal, which I know is not the case.

Am I wrong or is the service guy ignorant?

You have to understand Ford definition of normal. My F150 10 speed tranny does terrible things that are not 'right', but according to Ford are 'normal'. They say if the same thing occurs in another vehicle it is normal. Has to be unique to your vehicle to be an issue.

 

[adam1991]

You're welcome to believe anything someone tells you.

If Ford documents it to behave a certain way, why wouldn't I expect it to behave that way?

 

[adam1991]

Clearly I meant in this scenario, not every possible driving situation.

Turning into a parking spot it shouldn’t bind, period.

Claiming you shouldn’t use it on dry pavement is just stupid when the people that designed, engineered and built the vehicle claim you can. Not to mention it’s been proven by millions of others that do it

of course.

It looks like too many people here are of the attitude that "Fords are junk, half their stuff doesn't work, so don't even try, just use what does work" attitude.

 

[adam1991]

My F150 10 speed tranny does terrible things that are not 'right', but according to Ford are 'normal'.

Ford? Or a technician at an independently owned Ford dealership?

Many techs are not professionals, don't really know or care what they're doing, and never bother to better themselves in this regard.

 

[adam1991]

I really wanted a Sasquatch package but because of our research decided a safer bet for flat tow was the regular transfer case.

I really want the 4A transfer case but not Sasquatch. Thanks to Ford, at this point buying something new that combination is very limited.

There is a somewhat conspiratorial theory that Ford has since quietly updated The software and fixed the 4A flat tow issues. (quietly to avoid paying warranty claims they had already blamed on the owners)

 

[mpeugeot]

I really want the 4A transfer case but not Sasquatch. Thanks to Ford, at this point buying something new that combination is very limited.

Ya, this is unfortunate, but at least you can still get it in a lightly used Bronco.

I am sure that at some point, someone will figure out how to retrofit the Advanced 4x4 transfer case to the rest of the Bronco fleet.

 

[bloominguez]

I really want the 4A transfer case but not Sasquatch. Thanks to Ford, at this point buying something new that combination is very limited.

Amen. I specifically bought a Black Diamond trim level because it was the lowest trim level where I could option the advanced transfer case without getting the Sasquatch package (can't order it this way anymore, I think). Specifically so I could use the Bronco as an AWD vehicle, essentially. And make it easy to let my daughters drive it in bad conditions with simple instructions.

As for Ford making options limited, that was true from the very start. They tried to charge me ~$10,000 for heated seats, for crying out loud. We all remember the "no Mid package if you want a manual transmission, unless you step all the way up to a Badlands" fiasco, right? No thank you.

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

I wondered the same thing. Maybe I'll try experimenting when I get a chance, with the power distribution screen in the dash.

Speaking of Slippery mode....
I told my daughter in Michigan that she could either go to Slippery mode or press 4A in bad conditions. She tried both and over time she preferred to just press 4A, and *not* go in Slippery mode. Slippery mode, like Eco mode, really reduces gas pedal response, enough that she noticed it and didn't like it. Maybe Slippery mode is needed in really bad weather, but she's in the Detroit area where it's not far north and "winter" there is very mild.

I also agree with @Fordified1 that if I were flat towing, I would avoid the advanced transfer case. Keep it simple (or at least simpler), don't risk it given what I've read.

 

[adam1991]

I specifically bought a Black Diamond trim level because it was the lowest trim level where I could option the advanced transfer case without getting the Sasquatch package (can't order it this way anymore, I think). Specifically so I could use the Bronco as an AWD vehicle, essentially. And make it easy to let my daughters drive it in bad conditions with simple instructions.

Bingo.

There are LOTS of people in the world, and on this forum; many of them do things like what you describe. That Ford offers it is a benefit to Ford's bottom line.

Now Ford just has to make the system work as advertised--notwithstanding the members here who declare "why do you expect it to work at all? When it fails, just ignore it" or "you know, using that feature uses that feature--and like any feature, it has a limited life span" (my personal favorite).

Slippery mode, like Eco mode, really reduces gas pedal response, enough that she noticed it and didn't like it.

and changes transmission behavior.

Hey, if she doesn't like Slippery, have her just use Sport! 4A turns on...

 

[andersman02]

So as a side note- I just Effd around in the street.

Sport mode- 100% disengages front wheels when turning the wheel- with or without gas
Slippery mode- does not 100% disengage, it shows about 50% power to the front tires, but still engaged. My guess is the clutch pack in the xfer case disengages to a certain point in slippery, but not completely.


Guessing sport mode "errors on the side of 2wd" while slippery "errors on the side of 4wd"

I didn't hear any chatter, but "felt and heard" it more, area i was testing was not dry pavement though- it was slightly loose.

 

[bloominguez]

and changes transmission behavior.
Hey, if she doesn't like Slippery, have her just use Sport! 4A turns on...

Slippery and Sport modes do not change transmission behavior ... when you have three pedals. I understand people with automatic transmissions like Sport mode because Ford tends to tune the transmissions to seek higher gears for fuel efficiency, but that reason doesn't apply to those of us with the manuals.

Also, I'm not a huge fan of Sport mode, or "Nissan mode" as I call it (*not* a compliment). The throttle response is more sensitive, too sensitive for my taste, just a little jerky. Just like Nissan used to do back in the day to make their cars seem more responsive, a complete gimmick that made their cars feel like shit.

I've used Sport mode when I'm having fun on a twisty road, it's great if you're in the mood for it. But that is pretty rare (for me with the Bronco, because I have multiple other cars and motorcycles that are WAY better for that purpose) and I don't think the overly responsive throttle is desirable most of the time. And certainly not desirable if you're going to 4A because traction is spotty.

I really like being able to select 4A without changing to Sport or Slippery mode. It's good to be able to go into 4A without changing throttle response (too sloppy in Slippery, too jerky in Sport). I think the Normal mode settings are well calibrated. I have no reason to change modes to alter transmission behavior. Good on Ford for controls that let me do what I want with the car.

 

[bloominguez]

Guessing sport mode "errors on the side of 2wd" while slippery "errors on the side of 4wd"

Good summary and good to know, thanks for checking that out. My daughters and I will keep using 4A for medium bad weather, and only use Slippery mode when weather conditions are *really* bad. And 2H most of the time overall.

 

[adam1991]

Slippery and Sport modes do not change transmission behavior ... when you have three pedals.

you mean, "...when you're one of the 300 who has three pedals".

Of course you're correct, but those that are being handed to high school and college age daughters--they've got the computer controlled hands-off transmission, which Slippery takes advantage of. So in that regard, on slippery surfaces, using Slippery mode adds a potion to the cauldron.

OTOH, if you're handing the 7 speed to your high school daughter, I'm interested in what ammo she shoots for best performance on target.

 

[bloominguez]

you mean, "...when you're one of the 300 who has three pedals".

Of course you're correct, but those that are being handed to high school and college age daughters--they've got the computer controlled hands-off transmission, which Slippery takes advantage of. So in that regard, on slippery surfaces, using Slippery mode adds a potion to the cauldron.

OTOH, if you're handing the 7 speed to your high school daughter, I'm interested in what ammo she shoots for best performance on target.

My daughters are a little older now, actually, both just out of college. But I did teach them both how to drive a manual transmission. One loves it (and works in the auto industry, hence Michigan) and the other .... doesn't.

As for ammo, they just use my guns, and I keep it simple. Only 9mm--easier (and cheaper) to just stock one caliber.

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