AWD

Pretty hard to tell when it is in use. The only way I have known on my other GM AWD is by knowing I'd usually be slipping in winter slop but instead with it moves through without any problem.

AWD cars like the Terrain run all four wheels at the same time ALL THE TIME. If you have 4x4 that means you can turn the 4WD off and on. AWD cars and trucks can never turn off their 4WD. I have FWD so only my front ones move the truck.

When at a stop sign and on snow or ice, take off the traction control and then floor it. You'll feel all the wheels spin up. Terra-Nox is right, most other times you won't even notice other than you excell through the snow and ice without any resistance.

Thanks for the feedback. I was under the impression that the Terrain is front wheel drive until it detects snow, slush, etc. and that is how you get better gas mileage.

WD80PD said:

AWD cars like the Terrain run all four wheels at the same time ALL THE TIME. If you have 4x4 that means you can turn the 4WD off and on. AWD cars and trucks can never turn off their 4WD. I have FWD so only my front ones move the truck.

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Not true. The AWD system of the theta vehicles is FWD all the time unless there is slip detected and then power is sent to the rear wheels to become AWD.

You are right that you cant turn it off but it is not active all the time.

The AWD Terrain I test drove had all four wheels spinning at all times. I felt the difference through out the drive..?? Maybe it was just me?

WD80PD said:

The AWD Terrain I test drove had all four wheels spinning at all times. I felt the difference through out the drive..?? Maybe it was just me?

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The way it's supposed to work is like bballr explained above. Even many true 4WD vehicles don't power all 4 wheels all the time..

From The owners manual:
Drive Systems

ALL-Wheel Drive

Vehicles with this feature always send engine power to all four wheels.

I believe that at normal driving most of the power (70-80%) is the front wheels.

Hmm.. good to know, thanks! Sorry fellas I'm used to 4x4 trucks and turning the **** 4WD drive on when I want it!! Thanks for schoolin me!

wrusprod said:

From The owners manual:
Drive Systems

ALL-Wheel Drive

Vehicles with this feature always send engine power to all four wheels.

I believe that at normal driving most of the power (70-80%) is the front wheels.

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Those numbers ring a bell.
It sure sounds like all 4 wheels are being driven when you listen to one drive past you.

wrusprod said:

From The owners manual:
Drive Systems

ALL-Wheel Drive

Vehicles with this feature always send engine power to all four wheels.

I believe that at normal driving most of the power (70-80%) is the front wheels.

Click to expand...

Owners manual has been wrong before. Quite a number of times actually.

Honestly, the theta is a FWD based AWD. That means that the vehicle is driven with all near FWD ratio all the time.

I was talking to a technician awhile ago at our dealership and he said the AWD is setup at 10% rear until slippage occurs. So as already stated by others it's operating all the time, and then adjusts.

Yes that's true.

90/10 all the time. When slip detected it can go up to 60/40.

If it was FWD until it detect a spin, the MPG would be the same as the FWD version. The AWD has a ~1 mpg difference with the FWD.

beautifulbc said:

I was talking to a technician awhile ago at our dealership and he said the AWD is setup at 10% rear until slippage occurs. So as already stated by others it's operating all the time, and then adjusts.

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