OK,
Bought my G35X here in Colorado and we had our first snow last week...
My question is, how does the AWD system work? (Not how well it works )

Here's the thing, I see an AWD light light up briefly upon startup on the dash so I know it's there...but last week, no matter what I did, that light never lit up to indicate the AWD was in fact, working while I was driving out in the snow.

I had my slip light come on all the time, and the car cut power etc but I never sensed it was in AWD.

Yes, I tried using the "Snow" switch (which produced no noticeable difference IMO) and there was enough snow on the roads to have slippery conditions...

Lastly, I know the car is normally in RWD mode and only goes into AWD when needed...so does that AWD light come on when it's working?

Thanks for your help!

 

Light is only there to indicate a malfunction in system.

Here is an overview of how system works:

http://www.nissannews.com/infiniti/2.../awdtech.shtml

 

Unless I'm very wrong, the AWD is on all the time, power is always going to all four wheels. That AWD light should only come on during normal operation if something is wrong with the AWD system. The slip light should only come on whenever the traction control kicks in and it cuts power to one or more of the four wheels(note that the slip light does not come on every time the TCS does something, just when it does something major.) The snow mode switch if for when the car is really kind of buried in the snow, normally the AWD system has a bias towards the rear wheels(60%? 65%?), the snow mode will equalize the power distribution to all the wheels up to something like 12mph and will then kick off.

Hope that helps, and someone please correct me if I'm way off.

 

I was told that the car is 100% rear biased, until it senses slipping, at which point it can transfer up to 50% of power to the front wheels.

C

 

Almost everything. It starts as AWD(always no matter what) and turnes to RWD till AWD needed. If losing traction it turns AWD. It is pretty simple and effective AWD system. Called attesa (smart) AWD.

TG

 

Hey thanks everyone, - this clears it up for me!

 

I live in Denver and had my car last winter. I don't know if you were here, but it was one killer winter. My car did PHENOMENAL!!! I was driving past SUVs stuck on hills and in snow. I couldn't be happier with the snow performance of the X.

 

It's 50/50 at startup... which is the only "switching" car that allows this. Not even X-Drive and 4MATIC can claim this, since they send less than 50% up front at startup.

Once you reach 12mph all bets are off and you're off to the races, 100% rear, unless snow mode is on.

And I definitely felt the car being toned down by snow mode when I drove it last winter. You can feel the throttle response is definitely reduced, and I guess the fact that you don't spin out is a good indication that AWD is kicking in... Some other cars you can actually hear the slip. I know my Benz goes crazy when it starts slipping and you can hear the electronic stability fighting the uneven wheel spin.

 

What were you running for tires? I'm about the get winter treads here in Vermont.

 

I just picked up the Blizzak WS-50's that TireRack had on sale for just over $90 each, and had them mounted on basic 5-spoke aluminum wheels.
I'm waiting for the temps to even out around here in MA to something always in the 30's or lower, and then I'll put them on.
Even with the basic wheels, they look awesome... not bad for $800 (shipped)

 

You may want to check this out:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ATTESA_E-TS

Also I thought from a dead stop the G35x is 75/25 R to F, and then switches to 100% R at 12 mph, unless it detects slippage. Regardless, it feels very surefooted, especially with VDC on.

----
See here:

http://www.motortrend.com/roadtests/...infiniti_g35x/

"Standing starts send 25 percent of drive torque to the front wheels and 75 percent to the rear. Once underway, the system can deliver 100 percent of the torque to the rear, mimicking the driving dynamics of a rear-drive car. Snow and ice launches are simplified by activating the center-console-mounted switch. This provides a permanent 50/50 torque split at speeds up to 12 mph."

 

Just the standard stock tires.