Page 1 of 2 1 2 LastLast
Results 1 to 15 of 17

Thread: HELP! I'm in a snow storm, and I need to know how to put it into 4 wheel drive!

  1. #1
    Member Since
    Dec 2004
    Location
    2001, Yellow, 1230
    Posts
    3
    Thanked: 0

    HELP! I'm in a snow storm, and I need to know how to put it into 4 wheel drive!

    I'm not kidding. I'm in a snow storm -- southern Indiana. I'm in this vehicle that I haven't had long. I have an automatic. Beside it is a 4-wheel drive stick, that says Hi and Lo. Then, I have these buttons that say "Winter" and one says "Power". I drove it awhile ago and a light said, "Power Mode" or something like that. Doesn't that mean it's in 4-wheel drive? How can you tell if it's in 4-wheel drive. You see, I'm totally confused about this 4-wheel drive (which I've never had) and this Torque on Demand stuff. I merely need to know how to get it into 4 wheel drive "High", and how to take it off. I pressed the "Winter" button but that didn't work. The Power button did go down though. Please help! I am not kidding.
    Thanks for ANY ADVICE.
    Julie
    wolfhill@evansville.net
    Julie Greathouse

  2. #2
    Member Since
    Jun 2004
    Location
    99 Astral Silver VX #1872 + 99 Ironman WIP
    Posts
    10,613
    Thanked: 1
    Julie,
    Easy now...don't panic, You are in s. Indy in winter...You're SUPPOSED to be in a snowstorm! Fear not, you're already in 4-hi,the TOD automatuically sends power to the front wheels as needed. Just drive safely & you will be fine.
    Happy Trails, Ldub

    Oh, BTW, Welcome!

  3. #3
    Member Since
    Jun 2002
    Location
    2000, Black, VX, 0021
    Posts
    172
    Thanked: 0
    step on the loud pedal and when the rears start to spin the Tod will send power to the front, then you are in 4wheel drive.

    The winter button is only for taking off from a stop. Press it and a light will come on the dash saying winter so you know it worked. It will start you in 3rd gear so the rears don't spin as easily.

    BTW, If you crank the steering hard left or right and gas it, the VX will do zero radius donuts... A lot of fun. I'm sure the CV joints hate me for it but I can't resist at least once a year.
    Anthony


  4. #4
    Member Since
    Jun 2002
    Location
    1999, Ebony, VX, #1679
    Posts
    8,422
    Thanked: 3
    Power button no good in snow/ice. Winter button starts you off in 3rd gear as you pull out from a stop to help prevent wheel spin. As was already stated, you are always in 4 hi. If however you become stuck in deep snow (or anything else) and need to use 4 lo you need to stop, shift into nuetral and then move the transfer case shifter to 4lo. While in 4lo you will not be able to go faster than about 40 mph. When 4lo is no longer needed you just stop again, shift into nuetral and put it back in 4hi.

    Better yet move out here to a Arizona and you won't have to worry about all that white stuff!
    Billy Oliver
    15xIronman
    My Sponsors:
    Accelerate3Coaching
    TriSports.com (PM me for 1 time use 20% off code)

  5. #5
    Member Since
    Nov 2004
    Location
    2000-Ironman 0219
    Posts
    164
    Thanked: 0

    Storm

    Julie

    your 4wd happens automatically (and your TOD light on the very left will show you this) as you need it. The Power Drive is activated by the switch on the center console; if activated it will shift gears at a higher RPM giving you a little more humpf. The lever next to your gear selector can be pushed forward while in Neutral. This will bring you into 4wd permanently, and lower your gear ratio. Use it for real steep or tricky 4wheeling.

    Enjoy, you are driving the perfect vehicle for an Indiana Winter.
    From Unimog to VX - a serious change in velocity - a small sacrifice in voracity.

  6. #6
    Member Since
    Jun 2002
    Location
    '99
    Posts
    1,158
    Thanked: 0
    Julie Greathouse, what a cool name! If your VX still has the stock tires, that's gonna be a problem for you. They are so terrible in the snow. Not even much better than bald tires. I remember a couple years ago someone drove their VX in the snow for the first time, and it was so scary, they pulled into a tire store in the middle of the storm to get new tires! I always get mildly aggressive tires and my VX is a blast in the snow. I find the best thing to do is just keep it in drive and let the TOD do it's thing. If we were in the middle of a 15" snowfall right now, I'd be out there havin' fun and taking some pics. Let it snow!

    BTW, your ABS may be very sensitive and you may find yourself unexpectedly unable to stop in the snow, even when pulling into a snow covered parking space. So be careful with that also.

    Mark Griffin



    Last edited by deermagnet : 12/22/2004 at 01:49 PM

  7. #7
    Member Since
    Jul 2003
    Location
    '01 Ebony #0939
    Posts
    2,142
    Thanked: 5
    Hi Julie,

    Are you having as much fun now in your VX as I am with all the snow we've gotten? I'm over in southern IL and have been dealing with the same storm since about 5:30 AM today. (As of 7:30 PM, 12/22, we've gotten about a foot). Actually though, I didn't drive the VX in to work this morning, but I did just get back from my first test drive in the snow since I bought mine about a month ago.

    I didn't really need 4-Lo driving around town, but I tried it out anyway just to see how well it would help me get around. And maybe it's just because my stock tires still have relatively low miles (~19k), but they seemed to work fine for me. I do have plans for purchasing different wheels and tires, but for now the stockers seem like they'll do OK.

    Including you now, I guess that makes about six of us VX owners in the southern IN/IL area. My friend Clyde over here has a Proton too.

    Merry VX-MAS.

  8. #8
    Member Since
    Sep 2004
    Location
    1999, Astral Silver, VX, 0938
    Posts
    1,127
    Thanked: 0
    Hey: I'm in central Illinois and I guess it just missed us, none here (yet). Good luck Julie, You'll find alot of good advice in this forum with quick response time.

    Hey Y33TREKker I just caught your user name (bike correct?) I have a Y22 and would like to upgrade but I still love it. Just got my 9 year old girl a 20" TREK 60 Mountaintrack and she loves it....Lata all!! Steve
    [SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]
    " Jeeps are nice, Barbie has one"

  9. #9
    Member Since
    Jul 2004
    Location
    2000 Black VX 0363
    Posts
    766
    Thanked: 0
    Since I really shouldn't say what I want to, I'll confine the expression to acronyms.

    OMFG RTFM.
    2000 Black VX 105k

  10. #10
    Member Since
    Jul 2003
    Location
    '01 Ebony #0939
    Posts
    2,142
    Thanked: 5
    Originally posted by VCrossfan
    Hey Y33TREKker I just caught your user name (bike correct?) I have a Y22 and would like to upgrade but I still love it. Just got my 9 year old girl a 20" TREK 60 Mountaintrack and she loves it....Lata all!! Steve
    You are correct. Similar to the VX, the Y33's overall look and design hooked me not long after I first saw it. I picked up the 33 about a year and a half ago, and it's been great. There are a few mods I'd still like to do along with the ones I have made since I got it, (different/stronger chain rings, derailleurs, etc), but so far it's gotten me everywhere I've wanted to go.

  11. #11
    Member Since
    Jun 2002
    Location
    2001 Ebony S/C #1304
    Posts
    3,647
    Thanked: 10
    Ah yes Julie, the magic of TOD. You need not worry. The VX will do all the work on it's own.

    Good luck and above all else, HAVE FUN!
    Gary Noonan
    '01 S/C VX / '18 Forester XT

  12. #12
    Member Since
    Dec 2004
    Location
    2001, Yellow, 1230
    Posts
    3
    Thanked: 0
    Thanks to all of you for your support! Yes, with my little 2001 Vehi and your advice, I made it through! I only have 8,000 miles on it, the original tires, etc. All of you explained it a lot better than the manual. I have 2 degrees from I.U. at Bloomington, and I still prefer your advice to the manual's. Thank you sooooooo much to all of you. I'm getting used to it -- and it's fun!
    Happy New Year and thanks once again!

    Julie

  13. #13
    Member Since
    Mar 2004
    Location
    2000 Firefox Red 0758
    Posts
    564
    Thanked: 0
    Y22 ... or is it Y33 ... VCross ............
    .
    Do you remember the Y5O ?......... One of my friends had one for a while ........ limited production 'Y' bike .....
    .
    I'm a bike nut ...... have many bikes ....... road, off road, bmx, kids bikes ......... etc ...... barely ride now though .......
    .
    the kids do most of their riding on the the BMX bikes .... not the heavy free-style bikes, but the lightweight racers ........

  14. #14
    Member Since
    Sep 2004
    Location
    1999, Astral Silver, VX, 0938
    Posts
    1,127
    Thanked: 0
    t2p: I have a Y22. In the mid to late 90's they had Y3,Y5,Y11,Y22 and Y33. The Y3,5 had Aluminum frames and the 11,22,33 are carbon fiber. I've added Icon headset and set post etc. Also a "Strada Pro" Lockout rear shock and it makes it nice for street riding,then with a flip of the lever once you hit the trails. They also had others like Y-SL and the Y-Foil road bike is bad azzzz looking bike..And yes I remember seeing a Y -50. It's like the "Maui" Limited edition, nice Hawaii style decal on it...

  15. #15
    Member Since
    Jun 2002
    Location
    00 00 00
    Posts
    1,627
    Thanked: 0
    Ahh... Trek's "Y" bikes. Pretty neat for its time, as was the Klein Mantra. Pretty flexy rear-ends though, correct?, being the single-pivot design.

Similar Threads

  1. No all wheel drive
    By p_justin13 in forum VX Troubleshooting...
    Replies: 8
    Last Post: 02/14/2015, 07:33 AM
  2. 4 Wheel Drive problem
    By bloodforrugby in forum VX Troubleshooting...
    Replies: 3
    Last Post: 05/17/2011, 04:57 PM
  3. A beautiful spring snow storm
    By deermagnet in forum VX Talk...
    Replies: 11
    Last Post: 04/07/2011, 11:59 PM
  4. Infiniti intelligent all wheel drive
    By etlsport in forum VX Talk...
    Replies: 9
    Last Post: 11/07/2008, 07:54 AM
  5. 4 wheel drive trouble
    By Otto in forum VX Troubleshooting...
    Replies: 7
    Last Post: 02/12/2006, 05:25 PM

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •  
$lv_vb_eventforums_eventdetails