Is it bad to turn on/off the snow mode on the G35x while driving? We are supposed to get some serious weather tonight and over the weekend, I don't turn on the snow mode until I notice I have a problem with getting the car rolling... usually I am already moving a little bit tho...

 

what do you mean by "bad"? bad for what?

although i don't have an x, i can't imagine there being a problem to the vehicle by switching something off and on. i turn my VDC off in certain situations. if a manufacturer gives you a choice of off/on, clearly that feature is meant to be disabled/enabled.

now if your asking if it is "bad" in terms of safety, that's a different thing. since i don't know what "snow mode" does, i can't comment on the effects on safety by disabling it in slippery conditions. it sounds like it helps with traction, which is normally viewed as being safe compared to sliding around...

 

What I mean by bad is, Damage. Will it cause damage or extra wear on the vehicle if I turn on/off the snow mode while the vehicle is in motion. The best example I can think of right now (its 3 am) is say a 4x4 truck you should put the truck in park and then turn on the 4x4 mode, not while going down the street at 40mph and then just clunk it in 4x4....

 

I'd suggest reading the owner's manual, but from what I understand switching into snow mode distributes the power evenly (50/50) from front to rear wheels. I can't remember if our X's are usually front or rear drive...until a slip occurs, then power is transferred to where it's needed.

 

I dont have a snow mode button, but something tells me that the control is routed through the computer, and if something bad WERE going to occur... the ECU would prevent the action.

Snatchin a truck out of 4HI while doin 40mph would be a non-electronic process....

 

I believe that the x has a 30% front, 70% rear distribution off the start normally. Once it hits a minimal speed it switches to 100% rear if there is no slip detected. Switching on Snow mode splits it 50/50. From what the sales guy at the dealership said, it may also descrease the torque from the tires off the line so that the tires have a better chance of gripping the snow.

Since the x is capable of dynamically changing the % drive to the front and rear, switching on the Snow Mode should not be a problem while driving.

 

Thank you.

 

All snow mode does it "lock" the transfer case at 50/50 until a certain speed (around 20 mph) then switches back to regular operation. It also decreases throttle sensitivity so you don't just spin the tires in low traction conditions. I say "lock" because the transfer case is driven by a electromagnetic (read: not straight mechanical) clutch. It isn't like taking a 4x4 truck and slamming it into 4 low at 80 mph. Throttle sensitivity is simple to control on our cars because they use an drive by wire (read: electronic) throttle body setup. All the car has to do to change the throttle sensitivity is change a computer setting.

To answer your question, no, putting snow mode on while moving will NOT damage your car, especially if you do it at low speeds just to get rolling.

 

See my post in this thread:
https://g35driver.com/forums/g35-sedan-07/253831-g35x-question.html

I have owned 2 G35Xs and I never find snow mode necessary especially after equiped with the proper winter tires.

 

Would snow mode be beneficial, launching from a dig? Would it still be possible to brake torque?

 

SNOW doesn't help you at all in launch, if you read above, many of stated that SNOW mode decrease your pedal sensitivity and lowers torque. this is somewhat compatible to VDC as well.

To get the best launch you need, SNOW OFF and VDC OFF, and just have better foot control over the pedal not to spin tires and take off. I think i've read in most X's you can really just mash the pedal and it will have VERY minimal spin, on other cars you might be spinning tires for a but and then GO.

 

No, it wont.

 

Just thought I would give you guys an update, the weather today/tonight. Temps from 33 to 25 and light to moderate precipitation (snow/ice) well early in the evening it got cold (30 deg) and it began to snow well about mid evening it warmed up to about 33/34 and the snow/ice began to melt a little bit and later in the night conditions got cold again (31-25 deg) allowing the roads to become covered in ice and frost. Now, I have SUMMER TIRES on my 2004 (yes summer tires, not all season not winter tires, summer tires.) I did not use the snow mode until the roads became clearly covered in ice and snow. I noticed the throttle was desensitized to my touch and when starting from a dead stop the car felt "heavy" When I got on the throttle in known icing conditions, to force the car to loose traction I noticed the car would begin to slip/slide and the "slip" light would come on, if I kept on the throttle the car would "bog" out until traction was reacquired and then car would continue to accelerate. Over all I was impressed with how the car did. NOW please understand this was NOT heavy snow or weather, just a lot of icing conditions. I plan to IMMEDIATELY buy snow tires and have them put on the car. The few times I had to get the car to a stop fast/quick, the awd did nothing to help. (I didn't expect it to.

 

Where do you live? We got snow yesterday as well.

 

North Dakota