Not Impressed

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Originally posted by VX_PA
Thanks for the invite, but I'm kinda excited that there's an icestorm scheduled for tomorrow. I should be able to pull 360's in the ice. Oh, and I'm going to try everything mentioned here,
going slow (under 7 mph), starting with the wheels turned, and using the power button.

If it still feels controllable in the ice and under all the above conditions I'm gonna be back on here cutting on anyone mentioning snow problems. Or I'll just brag about my supernatural driving skills. LOL

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C'mon How can people not be able to spin 360's, upon 360s, upon a 18000's! thats right 18000's.
OK find a parking lot that you could slide on with your shoes. Now crank that steering wheel all the way to one side while stopped. Now hit that gas pedal and keep those RPM's going around 3500 and you will spin an absolutely perfect circle until you let off the gas! I have had tons of people come up to me and say that it was the coolest, tightest circles they have ever seen. And they ask how the hell I can do them, but it's not my driving, its the car! If you keep the gas going you start spinning faster and faster untill you start leaning your spinning so fast. Then you let off the gas, come to a stop, and sit there for 5 min. your sooo dizzy! You guys are letting off the gas or something. One thing I found out is when my 4x4 was out I could not spin the circle I could with TOD, in fact I could only get about a 540 and that was it! If there was such a thing as a broadie contest the VX would put every other car to shame!

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Originally posted by AlaskaVX
If there was such a thing as a broadie contest the VX would put every other car to shame!

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There is such a contest. It's called drifting!! It's mostly a popular contest in Japan, but it is gaining a presence in the US. Basically you run your car (that's what they're using preferably RWD) around a track sliding what looks to be totally out of control but not losing it and eating the wall. It would probably be fun, but it's mostly favorable to the ricers. That doesn't sit well with most folks here.

Also, I've been going about the 360 thing all wrong. I have been flooring it straight and then whipping the wheel, that doesn't work. But I still say that no one with a VX should be accidentally blowing 360's, especially if it takes turning the wheel and flooring it. Who in their right mind is doing that in traffic at a stoplight or stop sign? My advise; feather the gas! Or use the winter button as mentioned so many times during this thread. Oh and get new tires. Nuff said.

The winter button is OK if you are having problems pulling away from a stop sign, but it is completly worthless for daily driving. Not only can you not hit the winter button everytime you get to a stop sign, but how about in rush hour traffic? Also, it does nothing for my traction when turning through an intersection or yielding then making a turn (intersections are where the snow tends to get the most mushy and rutted).

I guess I am dissapointed in the VX, I thought it was going to act more like a 4X4 truck, not like a part-time all wheel drive car. As much as I like the looks of the VX, I think the comforts + handling of the car are starting to wear on me. I cannot count how many times I've spilled my drink all down the center console because I have it jammed into that little square change holder thing that isn't quite big enough for a coffee mug. I am also sick of any friend I have that is more then 150# not being able to get into the backseat w/o a shoe horn. My windows continue to go up at the pace of a snail, even after having Isuzu inspect them under warranty and tell me they are fine. The two door part is OK, because I knew that going in, but the fact that the seats don't even move to let someone in is kind of lame. The engine power is nice, but its not any faster then a Trailblazer or most V8 sized pickups. I do have to admit it "feels" faster, but that could just be due to the smaller size and engine noise.

Anyway, enough rants.

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Originally posted by AlaskaVX
Hey Raque, make sure your 4x4 is working. When my 4x4 went out the VX handled like crap on the roads (However thats the only time "winter mode" ever got some use, and it worked well). The TOD lights were still working. Seriously the VX handles sooo well on ice/snow that I am trying to get into some ice racing up here. If your start sliding out most of the time you can hit the gas and bam, 4x4 kicks in and gets you going straight. Either you have a lead foot, can't drive in winter, or your 4x4 is out. ABS is touchy you just need to drive a lot and you will get used to how to brake without ABS.

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I assure you that I am very experienced in driving in poor conditions, but have always done so with 4 wheel high or AWD - the VX system doesn't come close to those IMO. My 4wl is working, I did the "circle test" to make sure that it was in 4WD. The issue is the rapid application and back off of the front wheel engagement. Several people have said that a 360 isn't possible in the VX, but I can tell you that mine will do it in a New York minute! Someone sent me an idea to fool the TOD into thinking that it needed to stay engaged - I'm going to try that when I get a chance.

On the flip side, every vehicle handles differently and takes some getting used to, so I'm going to experiment with it some. Unfortunately, I didn't have time to go to a deserted area and play with the VX to get accustomed to its handling quirks in the snow - I will during the next snow, and I WILL remove that ABS fuse!

The VX is NOT for everyone and TOD does not cure improper driving technique. True 4WD (LO) is typically used offroad in difficult traction situations. Maybe you need a 4Hi Yukon (or maybe an Assender) for all your friends to pile in and you can suffer the cost of 4WD HI all the time if you really need it. Oh yeah, a VX can take a Trailblazer BTW....

...they are CRAP! I had the same thing happen to me the first time I drove the VX in the snow with an underlying layer of ice. The stock bridgestones had 36k miles on them. I bought new AT Revos and have NEVER had trouble since. The VX handles great in the snow now. BTW, I'll have to try the 360 technique. :D

I agree with Rich. The stock bridgestones worked O.K. the first Winter I had them, but were not nearly as good last year. I'm glad I went with the AT tires I've got now, but I've seen the tread pattern on the Revos & it's much better than the Bridgestones that come factory equipped. The TOD works amazingly well to keep traction (I get a kick out of seeing the display flicker), but there's nothing (streetable) that will keep you from sliding on ice so be carefull!

Actually it was a coating of ice on the parking lot covered by about 3 inches of snow. I pulled in and stopped, turned the wheels to the right, and gave it the the gas. It didn't start pulling a tight 360 right away so I stayed on the throttle to tighten up the turning radius. Then it pulled a tight 360 followed by another tight 360 but then it started fading off. I could've probably got it back into a tight circle again but there were some parked cars about 20 feet away so I stopped before anything bad could happen. To come out of the 360 all I had to do was a quick counter-steer and the VX straightened right up. Keep in mind this was on ice covered with snow and I still had total control of the VX. It's the tires, I will guarentee that it's the tires! Nothing is good on ice, except my VX with BFG AT's!!

Thanks AlaskaVX for the proper 360 technique. It works!! (On the proper surface):D

ok...I know what it is like to have TOD properly working in any condition out there. It is IMPOSSIBLE to lose control when TOD is working properly.
Amazing in ice, snow, mud, rain, sleet, hail, and those series of grater bumps on dirt/gravel roads that make you slide...and just about anything else that could make you lose traction or slip and slide.

I also know what it is like to have TOD not working properly or not at all...as now I have this problem. I know exactly how those VX owners feel whos VXs' TOD does not work. It feels like you have no control and the rear end is about to swing out to either side sporadicly at any given second.

I want TOD back....has any one else had this problem or know how it can be fixed????


A) My TOD light has never flashed and I have no other lights on and no codes found when tested with computer.
B) 4Low works
C) I have manual AISIN locking hubs and have taken them apart, reinstalled, and they work.
D) TOD lights act as though they try to shift but power does not ingage...lights just flash up and then back down...but not at same time...like a TOD maxing out error or Issue...

couldn't have been from taking the little vixen swimming could it?

i have noticed that if you take it out of power mode it is much better.one of the things causing the rear to slide is the limited slip rear axle.normally when one wheel spins you have the other to help hold you in a straight line.with the LSD you end up with both wheels spinning which causes the rear to slide.and second the stock tires suck in the snow. shawn

TOD IS NOT WORKING......that is the cause of my sliding...HOW DO I GET IT WORKING AGAIN????

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Originally posted by SPAZZ
TOD IS NOT WORKING......that is the cause of my sliding...HOW DO I GET IT WORKING AGAIN????

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I have a feeling your TOD is not working. Have you thought of that? :-]

can you not see and read clearly??? if you can then you wouldn't answer with what I just said...


HOW DO I GET TOD WORKING????

OK, here is my take on your problem... first off you say your TOD lights in the dash are flickering like things normally do... do they come on at all if you accelerate easily... making sure NOT to spin the tires? If they don't flicker then, and DO flicker when you get tire spin, that tells me that the TOD computer is working fine as for differentiating the front and rear prop shaft outputs... I think the problem is in the solenoid that ingages the clutch OR the clutch itself. Do you have the VX CD manual? If so take a look at the TOD info... if not, from what I found, there is a YELLOW wire that is for the electromagnetic solenoid... if you use a digital multimeter and measure the resisitance from the YELLOW wire and ground the coil should read 1.4-2 ohms... if it reads from 1-5 ohms, it is allowable... anything more or less and you need to replace it... unfortunately, I think that is a complete overhaul as your gonna have the thing cracked open. The other possibilty is the clutch being worn out... which case is an overhaul too... I just don't see it being anything else...

Now, with that all being said, maybe just MAYBE it has something to do with your getting wet... maybe you have a bad connection in your harnesses... let it dry out good or take a hair dryer to the plugs and see if there is a difference... maybe you'll get lucky.

TTYL!

Coach... I mean Randy (I often forget who I really am) ;)
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if I had my hubs on FREE and TOD attempts to engage...it would attempt to send power to prevent slippage....but wouldn't detect any...so then it would disengage....that shouldn't effect it or be hard on it right?