AWD Transmission: How do you test its still 4 wheel drive

[NCS XC90]

Just reading some of the issues regarding loss of 4 wheel drive. Dumb question I know but how do you test to see if the bevel gear or spline shaft are damaged to the point you are only 2 wheel drive?

[cam]

you could try putting it on a muddy feild,all the 4x4's (not volvo's) i have had wont go anywhere when its muddy unless in 4 wheel drive,if you suspect the above are broken i would have thought there would be a noise or some warning light's not 100% on that though,all best,cam

[Rockhopper]

No warning lights, no noises...

- use this snowy/icy time to check the 4wd (or wet grass / junction with loose surface), easily done by getting someone to watch your wheels whilst pulling away 'relatively' sharpish. Fronts should spin ever so slightly (if at all) then rears come in and you'll be away. Unlike me where the fronts go on spinning, the DTSC light goes mad and it torque steers like a Saab turbo...

- or jack front up with both wheels off the ground. In N. Grab the prop shaft (above exhaust) and turn by hand - the front wheels should turn. If not there's a problem with the spline shaft / front bevel gear etc. If it turns the wheels yet you still suspect there's no 4wd, then there's a problem with the diff at the back (usually a pressure sensor in the Haldex, easy to change).

[midge]

Originally Posted by Rockhopper

No warning lights, no noises...

- use this snowy/icy time to check the 4wd (or wet grass / junction with loose surface), easily done by getting someone to watch your wheels whilst pulling away 'relatively' sharpish. Fronts should spin ever so slightly (if at all) then rears come in and you'll be away. Unlike me where the fronts go on spinning, the DTSC light goes mad and it torque steers like a Saab turbo...

- or jack front up with both wheels off the ground. In N. Grab the prop shaft (above exhaust) and turn by hand - the front wheels should turn. If not there's a problem with the spline shaft / front bevel gear etc. If it turns the wheels yet you still suspect there's no 4wd, then there's a problem with the diff at the back (usually a pressure sensor in the Haldex, easy to change).

Warning lights for telling you are not wearing a seatbelt, for your lights not working and for your water bottle being empty - all of which are obvious any way. But the first you know about the 4WD not working is when you actually need it!! All your neighbours have gone off to work in 'regular' cars and the tank XC90 is stranded in the middle of the Close going nowhere!!

[Rockhopper]

Crazy isn't it? What's the latest with yours Midge? Just hoping I can get over to Sheffield tomorrow in my 4x4 (!) for the dealer to give me the bad news...

[bircham]

for your water bottle being empty

Is there? I've never seen it on my 90. Where is it?

I've had no problems in all the snow we've had up here, the car drips nicely and the Nokian WRs definitely help. I have noticed though that there can sometimes be a slight delay in the AWD when I pull away from a junction in the wert. Sometimes the front wheels actually spin before the car moves away.

Jon

[midge]

Originally Posted by bircham

Is there? I've never seen it on my 90. Where is it?

I've had no problems in all the snow we've had up here, the car drips nicely and the Nokian WRs definitely help. I have noticed though that there can sometimes be a slight delay in the AWD when I pull away from a junction in the wert. Sometimes the front wheels actually spin before the car moves away.

Jon

Apologies - there isn't a warning light for the empty water bottle - it flashes up in the error messages on the dash board as part of the computer messages (If that makes sense!!)

[midge]

Originally Posted by Rockhopper

Crazy isn't it? What's the latest with yours Midge? Just hoping I can get over to Sheffield tomorrow in my 4x4 (!) for the dealer to give me the bad news...

I haven't gone any further with it - I am waiting to see what your garage says!!!

Also still reeling from the changing 2 tyres adventure which ended up costing me £652. Having read the message boards I am definitely going to check out these Nokians next time round.

Also going to put on a separate post requesting a recommendation for an independent gear specialist in South Manchester - Nervous about just going the dealer route.

[Rockhopper]

Well just about made it to the garage in my 2 wheel drive.. Not really much more to report other than to confirm that it is definitely 2 wheel drive! The 'diagnosis' by the dealer was really just what I already suspected - either the spline shaft or angle gear. They reckon its 90% going to be the stripped spline as 9 out of 10 of the ones they've had in turned out to be this rather than the AG itself. I didn't get out of them just how many of the AG's they'd replaced were due to them not getting the shaft out rather than actual gear failure! They say they have 5 or 6 incidents of this a year - do people think this is therefore a 'known issue'? The service manager did also imply that the spline shaft is potentially a 'sacrificial' part to save any further damage to more expensive parts.

Anyway, as I need a courtesy car it can only be fixed when one's available - looking at 10 days or so of more comedy slipping and sliding. In the meantime I'm waiting to hear if my indy warranty will cover it.

Originally Posted by midge

Also going to put on a separate post requesting a recommendation for an independent gear specialist in South Manchester - Nervous about just going the dealer route.

I'd be interested in this too. Thought you were in up in North Yorks though?

[speedbird800]

Stuck at the bottom of this hill. Ice to the Left of and Snow to right dead in front a Icy Snowy hill.

My XC90 Huffed Puffed and slide from side to side but was not going up that hill. This is when I was told that it was all over and I would have to spend the next 4 hours digging 100 Metres of Snow and ice out of the way of my TANK.

I'm hoping that it's just a sensor That needs changing. I will find out in the morning!

Wish me luck!