On Demand Awd Vs Awd (3.3 Santa Fe 2009) Options

[K.G]

What is the difference bettween ON DEMAND AWD and AWD??

Also have heard that AWD does not work under 35km/hr....if true then does it become FWD over 35km/hr???

I might me wrong on all this but want to know how it works on 2009 santa fe 3.3

thanks

This post has been edited by K.G: Oct 16 2009, 10:10 PM

[Volfy]

What is the difference bettween ON DEMAND AWD and AWD??

Also have heard that AWD does not work under 35km/hr....if true then does it become FWD over 35km/hr???

I might me wrong on all this but want to know how it works on 2009 santa fe 3.3

thanks

Check out the pinned thread on the SF AWD system titled: Santa Fe's All Wheel Drive System Information Here.

[K.G]

A button on the dash can lock the clutch to provide 50% torque to the rear wheels, but this only occurs below 35 kph. Above that speed, the computer pulses the solenoid to disengage the clutch mechanism, but it will automatically engage it again when vehicle speed lowers.



Does this mean that above 35km/hr it reverts to FWD and below 35 its AWD???

[MalagaMan]

A button on the dash can lock the clutch to provide 50% torque to the rear wheels, but this only occurs below 35 kph. Above that speed, the computer pulses the solenoid to disengage the clutch mechanism, but it will automatically engage it again when vehicle speed lowers.



Does this mean that above 35km/hr it reverts to FWD and below 35 its AWD???

Yes, above 35km/h it is FWD, and below that speed all four wheels are driven - when the manual over-ride button is pushed.

So summarising:
The vehicle normally drives as a FWD.
When a front wheel(s) slip e.g. sand, snow, the rear wheels receive torque and then all four wheels are driven. This all happens below 35km/h.

Much of the confusion derives from the acronym AWD, which is ambiguous, in that it could be Full Time or Part Time All Wheel Drive.
So for example we know that a Range Rover has all four wheels driven all the time, whereas most modern small to medium SUV's have a part time system.

This post has been edited by MalagaMan: Oct 17 2009, 02:33 AM

[Pinto_Siftbean]

What is the difference bettween ON DEMAND AWD and AWD??

Also have heard that AWD does not work under 35km/hr....if true then does it become FWD over 35km/hr???

I might me wrong on all this but want to know how it works on 2009 santa fe 3.3

thanks

The button on the dash has been explained for low speeds and AWD, but most "AWD" vehicles are on demand. It detects wheel slippage and then sends power to that wheel or wheels when needed. Hyundai is simply called AWD.. Honda Real Time AWD and so on. Even the subie's I've had that were automatic transmissions were an on-demand system really... at hiway speeds they were at least 90% FWD until slippage was detected.

This post has been edited by Pinto_Siftbean: Oct 17 2009, 06:12 AM

[Dino Kirov]

Only the 4WD LOCK (AWD LOCK) mode is up to 40kph. The AUTO mode (90:10 to 50:50 torque split) is ALWAYS ACTIVE. This means that if at 100kph the computer decides that you need torque on the rear wheels it will send power there. And something more, the ITM 3e magnetic clutch ALWAYS sends at least 10% of the power back.

[Don67]

Auto AWD mode is really all you need, but some of us obsessive types like to engage "Lock" when playing in the snow just to eliminate that short (some would say imaginary) gap before the rear wheels dig in. "Lock" is also helpful when pulling a camper up gravelly hills in campgrounds, to avoid those scratchy front-wheel burnouts which earn you dirty looks from your neighbours as they pull their children closer.

[CanuckGLS]

to avoid those scratchy front-wheel burnouts which earn you dirty looks from your neighbours as they pull their children closer.

LOL....good one, Don!

[UniR]

Auto AWD mode is really all you need, but some of us obsessive types like to engage "Lock" when playing in the snow just to eliminate that short (some would say imaginary) gap before the rear wheels dig in.

In deep snow*, I find the handling to feel more finicky with AWD locked. The back end seems to be "busy" rather than dutifully following the tracks of the front wheels. It doesn't feel dangerous locked but to me it doesn't feel nearly as secure.

*For example a residential street with 8" of light to wet snow before the plows have arrived.

[Don67]

In deep snow*, I find the handling to feel more finicky with AWD locked. The back end seems to be "busy" rather than dutifully following the tracks of the front wheels. It doesn't feel dangerous locked but to me it doesn't feel nearly as secure.

*For example a residential street with 8" of light to wet snow before the plows have arrived.

Must be that San Jose snow since you moved, UniR (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

My preference for Lock mode is probably based on a heavier right foot, where Auto mode produces more pronounced front wheel slippage followed by a more abrupt transition to 50/50 AWD. But under light to moderate wheelspin you are definitely right... Lock mode causes more rear-end squirm since it goes 50/50 rather than preserving a front wheel bias.

[AlaskanAWD]

Must be that San Jose snow since you moved, UniR (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

My preference for Lock mode is probably based on a heavier right foot, where Auto mode produces more pronounced front wheel slippage followed by a more abrupt transition to 50/50 AWD. But under light to moderate wheelspin you are definitely right... Lock mode causes more rear-end squirm since it goes 50/50 rather than preserving a front wheel bias.

In the winter, lock mode also helps on sharp swithback corners where the inside wheels have slippage. I live on the side of a mountain where our roads follow the natural contours with lots of corners, lock mode makes a big difference.