So, the short story is I rammed a snow mound in reverse and proceeded to lift the rear end off the ground. I know, I know. The front tires were still on the ground on blacktop. However I was stuck. The rear wheels were spinning, and the front was just sitting there. I would have assumed that the fronts would have pulled me out. I even shut off Traction Control..no dice. Had the embarrassment of having an Explorer basically idle me out. Any ideas why the front didn't engage and pull me out? I hope this is just my inexperience on how this AWD works and is not indicative of a major issue. Thanks in advance...
2005 Denali XL AWD - How does AWD work?
- Thread starter amallano
- Start date
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Yukon John
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With any 1 wheel off the ground AWD will not engage. The Transfer Case with all wheel drive has a clutch in it that allows differential between front and rear. To out smart the system you may have had success by setting the parking brake fooling the clutches in the transfer case into thinking the rear wheels were on the ground getting some traction.
Another trick that works sometimes is to apply the brakes and gas simultaneously with the traction control on...this starts a "stutter" of sorts with the ECM supplying power to alternate wheels.
I have actually done this on a 2005 Escalade AWD pulling a boat up a slippery ramp.
AWD systems cannot be "locked" as conventional 4 wheel drive can.
Another trick that works sometimes is to apply the brakes and gas simultaneously with the traction control on...this starts a "stutter" of sorts with the ECM supplying power to alternate wheels.
I have actually done this on a 2005 Escalade AWD pulling a boat up a slippery ramp.
AWD systems cannot be "locked" as conventional 4 wheel drive can.
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Why do all 4 wheels turn when my Denali AWD is on a lift then? I was having a corvette servo installed and the tranny shop had mine on a lift and they started it and ran it up to about 40 mph and all 4 wheels were turning.
Yukon John
Full Access Member
The clutches in the transfer case are free wheeling. The same thing happens when you put a Non Posi single leg rear axle in the air...both rear wheels will spin. Often times you can hold the left rear, put the vehicle in gear and the right rear will spin....don't try it with Posi !!
Second this. We used this concept on 4wheelers back in the day
Thanks much for the reponse. I guess it makes sense but it is kinda sad. Of course I am the dope that put myself in that situation. Certainly, I know a locked differential 4x4 would have been different. Maybe a Yukon SLE in my future! Thanks again.
afpj
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Sorry, I'm not understanding this so appreciate some learning.. If one wheel is on ice, wouldn't it be like being off the ground? Shouldn't the other wheels take over?
Rivieraracing
Full Access Member
Never thought of those, will have to log that in the brain tank for future use!
With AWD power will unfortunatley flow to the wheels with least resistance (least traction)
Hacksaw1981
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So one wheel in the back and one wheel in the front won’t spin ?
if you get in some kind of predicament the best you can do is pull the abs fuse, then it can't read any wheel data.
most if not all of the awd drives have a g80 which is a mechanical (rear) locker which kicks in around 15-20mph wheel spin, the front is a open diff.
so basically it really depends at that point.
it should also be noted that if you are parked and lift one end or the other off the ground it will roll away on you, provided the parking brake is not set on the rear and you lift either end.
and if the parking brake is set and you lift the rear the front will roll away.
so pro tip never jack it up without wheel chocks on any kind of incline
SilverSport
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I do not show a G80 on my RPO sticker nor do I believe the AWD GMT800s had a locking differential (at least not the G80) offered as an option...I'd love to find out I'm wrong...
I do recall reading that there was a G80 on the 2005 Yukon Denali but as I say, my RPO sticker does not show G80 nor did I see that offered as an option on in the brochure for the AWD vehicles like the similar Cadillac Escalade...
Bill
I do recall reading that there was a G80 on the 2005 Yukon Denali but as I say, my RPO sticker does not show G80 nor did I see that offered as an option on in the brochure for the AWD vehicles like the similar Cadillac Escalade...
Bill
mhaywoodcz
Member
Mine is a 2002 Denali with the G80. It's AWD but has the NP149 transfer case vs the newer Bosch. Don't know it has the works the same with the silicone coupler vs discs like the Bosch as far as power delivery
Marky Dissod
Full Access Member
My Z71 does not have permanent AWD.
It has RWD (2Hi)
RWD that resorts to AWD when the rear wheels slip (Auto 4WD)
4Hi, 4Lo, and totally disengaged true neutral.
It also has a Gov-Lock G80, which means over 25MpH, I don't have a G80.
I'd not be surprised to find out that Escalades don't have Gov-bombs.
