AWD not available message

[Geo8866]

So if you look at the attached photo, I pulled forward in my driveway, with the intent of backing into my usual spot. When I went to reverse into the spot, my front wheels were fully on the snow (about six inches deep) and my back wheels were on dry pavement. My understanding of All Wheel Drive was that the power would shift to the back wheels and I would easily back into my spot. Nope. The front wheels kept spinning and the back wheels did nothing. After a minute or two of trying to rock out of the snow, I received a message that AWD was currently not available or something to that effect. I eventually rocked out of the snow.

Is my understanding incorrect? Should my back wheels have easily gotten me out of the snow?

I should add that I would start to feel the rear wheels want to work and then they would "give up" so it's not a mechanical thing.

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[n289rs]

AWD is control by speed, 15 mph and under AWD is engaged over 15 mph front wheel only,
I'll guess that because you were not moveing the computer did not sense speed. attached link explains AWD on Ford
https://www.mavericktruckclub.com/f...ystem-actually-works-video-explanation.75371/

 

[Gaidheal]

I've driven the work AWD hybrid through deeper snow than that, on steeper inclines. With the OEM Conti summer tires. I'm amazed where I can go without snow tires.

Something doesn't add up.

I've never experienced any significant wheel spin, even in a parking lot trying to get the thing to break loose for a tighter turn.

 

[Pointyears]

AWD is control by speed, 15 mph and under AWD is engaged over 15 mph front wheel only,

Are you sure? Ford's AWS implementation taken from the Escape which the Mav is based on which is all 4 wheels getting power from a dead stop and then decreasing power to the rear wheels as the speed increases, assuming no slippage. If that's a change, that's a drastic change.

 

[Cherokee]

Turn traction control off.
Slippery mode puts equal power to all four wheels until one slips.
Simple.

Long video with lots of repetition but if you stick with it to the end you’ll know more.

 

[Geo8866]

Turn traction control off.
Slippery mode puts equal power to all four wheels until one slips.
Simple.

Long video with lots of repetition but if you stick with it to the end you’ll know more.

Yep, I turned of Traction control and still only the front wheels were spinning. I think because, as someone mentioned earlier, i was accelerating to 35 or so, as far as how fast the wheels were spinning. But, I didn't think to try slippery mode. Next time, thanks.

Edit: I watched the video after this post. The video explains everything. I completely misunderstood how AWD worked.

 

[Geo8866]

Turn traction control off.
Slippery mode puts equal power to all four wheels until one slips.
Simple.

Long video with lots of repetition but if you stick with it to the end you’ll know more.

That video was great. Thanks for your help.

 

[Cherokee]

Question :
Could my Non Tremor Non locking rear differential be drained and filled with a thicker fluid like from 70 - 90 wt ?
Or 100 ?

We used to tune our R/C race car gear differentials in this manner with different weights of silicone shock fluids.
Thicker in the front differential would help the car pull harder mid turn on fast turns and thinner in the rear would help the back end stay behind the car in switch backs.
Lose is fast.

If possible would this slow the slip ?
Making a limited slip diff more limited,
Less slip ?

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