I believe the sound you hear when you are slipping is the car applying the brakes to the other wheels that aren't slipping to regain control. But what I find strange is that I can be driving along at 45mph or even 50 and throw on snow mode and feel the car slow down as the power is being split. When I turn it off going at these speeds, I have to let up off the throttle then hit it again and it feels much more responsive. But everyone and their mother says these cars are only locked at 50:50 up to 12mph? This is all on dry pavement too.

 

I think you are feeling the results of the less-aggressive throttle map, not any power loss due to transfer to the front wheels.

 

So when I am driving at 50 mph on a snow covered street, it can still operate in AWD?
We had a big snow storm the other day and my car did as well as my Audi used to do.

 

Of course. At 50 mph the AWD operates under the control of the computer, rather than the locked-in 50-50 Snow button.

 

Hmm, I didn't realize that it cut the throttle response in snow mode. So basically if you're going above 12mph there is no real benefit to having snow mode on?

 

Im extremely confused. I thought AWD meant that when I had the snow button o I was in AWD. Now what your saying is that its only RWD above 12 mph? Somebody please explain a little better.

Thank You

 

Basically its locked at 50/50 up to 12mph with snow mode on, anything after that, it's RWD unless the computer senses slipping from the front wheels then distributes power back to the front to regain traction in the front. Unlike most other AWD systems which are locked at 50/50 all the time no matter what speed you're doing.

 

So its still a awd drive car kind of bc when going over 12 it has a throttle control linked to the computer

 

Non awd might also have traction control, which includes throttle control. Only AWD can transfer power to the front wheels when slipping, and it can do this at any speed. Only the Nissan AWD system can transfer as much as 100% to the rear. Those still unclear should read the snip above carefully. Several times.

 

This sums it up.

We haven't had a snow storm or road conditions that were bad enough to get me stuck in my X yet. It has to be one of, if not the best AWD systems out there.

 

So can I dyno my car on just a single roller like its rear wheel drive if I have the vdc turned off?

 

Hmm, I don't think so. The VDC is the traction control and is completely separate from the AWD system.

You may be able to dyno it on a single roller if you pull the AWD fuse, but I'm not 100% sure on that.

 

Only if you want it driving into a wall. VDC is not the same as AWD. You can't turn AWD off with a button in your car (unless you mod it), so when starting from zero the car will engage both the front and rear wheels. Once certain speeds are achieved (somewhere around 15-18 mph) it will distribute more power to the rears until all the power is in the rear wheels. It will only give power to the fronts if they begin slipping so they can regain control.

The only thing that changes in snow mode is how much power is given to the front from start. I believe with snow mode off, the power distribution starts with either 25:75 or 30:70 with rear wheel bias. In snow mode, it starts with 50:50.

 

Ok that's what I was wondering bc I live in N IL and we've seen a lot of snow this winter which is y I want an X.

 

If you are hearing a noise directly below the center console, you are hearing the transfer case modulating the power being transferred to the front wheels. If you hear it coming from near the tires, you're hearing the VDC applying the brakes to specific wheels. Our transfer case uses an electromagnetic clutch, so you're hearing that being actuated. You can turn off AWD by pulling the transfer case fuse.

For more info on the AWD vs VDC, see posts by myself and others https://g35driver.com/forums/g35-sed...-you-know.html