General Electronic diff switches off

[deeyup]

The thing with those fiat promo videos is when they do the cross axle test, it's always on a grippy surface, never going uphill, and both the front wheels are on the ground.
I wonder how a trekking would perform on that particular section? I reckon it could cope?

It's a shame they don't have a warning light on the dash that tells you when the 4x4 engages and disengages, like they do with the ESP. I'm curious to know whether the types of conditions that I use mine in (a muddy, twisty farm track on which I regularly reinvent myself as Hannu Mikkola) actually ever causes the 4wd to engage.

That would be great. The eld light on the dash flashes when it applies the brakes, but a 4x4 light would really help when it starts sending more than 2% toward the back. I suppose it's permanent 4x4 so fiat would say it doesn't need it?

 

[gar074]

Must admit that I hadn't realised they are permanent 4wd! I'd better read the handbook!

 

[MickG]

Maybe permanent 4wd in the sense of normally 98% power through the front and 2% through the back (or similar figures). That's the way I understood it anyway.
M

 

[R1NGA]

Maybe permanent 4wd in the sense of normally 98% power through the front and 2% through the back (or similar figures). That's the way I understood it anyway.
M

Pretty much as you understand it actually - there's no true Centre Differential, so it's just a well managed 'Haldex style' setup - think Audi A3 quattro rather than A4/A6 q which have longitudinal engines and a proper Torsen centre diff.

In my experience, when engaged on the button the ELD will not solidly lock the electronic unit on the nose of the rear diff in slow, non-wheelspin manoeuvres such as turning round on a gravel drive. My Mk1/2 cars (with the umbrella handle in the middle), my Disco 200 TDi and any other car with a fully lockable (or indeed direct drive) 4WD system WILL overspeed the rear axle when turning on loose surfaces, but my 4x4TA doesn't. We have to assume that it will be effective come the snow - and I am sure it will - but we are at the mercy of electronics this time, rather than mechanical physics (be it Mk1/2 style or the viscous coupling in the earlier 169-model Mk3).

Either way, I want snow and want it soon

 

[gar074]

Either way, I want snow and want it soon

+1

 

[jasonFazack]

I had mine out in the snow last winter - nothing could touch it! it was superb, overtaking landrovers etc.

 

[deeyup]

Is it not the car of choice in the alps etc?

I took mine for a "spin" off road today. Great fun.

 

[Herts Hillhopper]

Snow in the forecast (even for Hertfordshire) for Saturday... (will be short lived though :-(

 

[gar074]

Snow!!!!!

Just off to get my Sunday papers. Think I'll take the long route. :slayer:

 

[babbo_umbro]

Is it not the car of choice in the alps etc?

...

The mountainous bits of central Italy, and the Italian-speaking bit of Switzerland are absolutely full of them.

 

[Panda 4x4 TA Antarctica]

I had mine out in the snow last winter - nothing could touch it! it was superb, overtaking landrovers etc.

Of course two of the biggest assets the Panda 4x4 has over many other cars for snowy conditions is a) snow tyres on all year ( so you're never caught out!) and crucially b) comparatively light weight, both of which help coming downhill as well as going uphill. "b)", coupled to a less 'flash', friendlier image is also likely to encourage bystanders to give a little push if needed on a particularly slippery slope.

Of course, none of this helps if the roads are blocked by numpties polishing the surface and crashing into parked cars in their 22" low-profile summer-tyred behemoths....!

 

[gar074]

Well, mine coped admirably with the dusting of snow we had yesterday, but it wasn't really a test worthy of it. My trip to work early this morning served as a reminder that if the roads are icy and none of your wheels have any grip, you're heading for the nearest ditch big-time if you're not very careful, 4x4 or no 4x4. Fortunately, today I wasn't the one who learned by experience, but there's a shiny new Outlander headed for the local body shop.

Go carefully out there, folks.