Why 4A is your Ford's friend

[geargeek]

For those of you with the "Advanced 4x4" option, Robert Pepper just dropped this video on Ford's system. He's based in Australia and just purchased a new Ranger, but it's basically the same system on the Bronco.

Why 4A is your Ford's friend


Edit: An important pinned comment made by Robert Pepper in his You Tube video:

"4A is an ONROAD mode only, and for smooth dirt roads. It is NOT for offroad use. If you are on a low-traction surface, for example a rough dirt road, use 4H. This includes mud, snow, rocks etc. That is what 4H is for, or if your speed is going to be below about 30km/h, 4L. 4A is there for additional on-road, high-traction surface grip. If you use 4A in offroad conditions your performance will suffer and you'll probably overwork the centre clutch. "

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[userdude]

Well, according to this guy, AWD (4A) is on "pre-emptive not reactive ... only 2WD when cruising". Which is kind've not what I've seen others say. Actually, the opposite.

"AWD when pulling away, accelerating and cornering (and revmatching when downshifting)"

This would actually explain to me why I feel a difference (that I prefer) when driving in 4A and not in 2H. That also seems to imply it's actually doing a lot more than I thought.

 

[crenca]

That's good, starting about 6 minutes in all the way to the end the content is worth your time (at 1.25 or > speed ) As he points out, the Bronco's (Fords) 4A system is "preemptive" - variable, and thus even though it is a clutch base system "it acts as a differential" thus preventing the driveline bind/wind-up that many around here believe is a given using it. He also points out how there is no benefit in not using it from a fuel mileage perspective, as even if the owner is in 2H the friction loss/weight loss are the same. This would also apply to the argument that using it causes increase wear (say on FDU seals, internals, etc.).

I guess the only thing I might quibble with is his emphasis it is an "on road" mode. I have had much success with it off-road, though I switch to 4H/4L if I believe I am perhaps relying too much on the clutches - not sure about their durability under high slip conditions

 

[Flstfat1998]

It's not my friend. Wouldn't bother me if I didn't even have it. (I worked in a Ford Dealership shop for 25 years!)

 

[Andrew Bynum]

I used Sport almost exclusively for the first 3 years but not the past 6 months or so because it increasingly feels like it's binding when turning at slow speeds. I've even switched out of 4A into 2H and still felt the binding even though the screen said 2H. Probably going to be a problem and Ford is going to blame me, I already know it.

 

[swami37]

Driving in 4A on road is just silly

 

[Flstfat1998]

4A

AGREED 100%

 

[SeptuagenerianSasquatch]

It's not my friend. Wouldn't bother me if I didn't even have it. (I worked in a Ford Dealership shop for 25 years!)

And your reasons?
Also, what position(s) did you have working in Ford?

 

[JediMcMuffin]

 

[Flstfat1998]

And your reasons?
Also, what position(s) did you have working in Ford? Sponsored

I was mechanic, Shop Foreman, Assistant SVC Mgr before I left 4 years ago. Seen WAYYY too many out of warranty repairs on vehicles ran in 4A (most of the time, because Ford said it won't hurt anything)....Ford claims they weren't aware of any issues, but they could tell how many transfer case repair parts and complete transfer case assemblies we were ordering. And from the tech chat threads on the dealer site it wasn't just our dealership. The way I always saw it, if you don't need 4wd, use 2wd. If you will probably need 4wd, lock it in to 4wd... Simple. 4A is useless in my opinion. But to each his own..

 

[Ducati1098]

Ah yes. Another 4A thread. This should be fun. Let me go get my popcorn so I can at least enjoy reading all the comments about how it’s going to hurt something

@mpeugeot how’s that T-case holding up after 100k+ miles of 4A? Let me guess, perfectly fine.

 

[Andrew Bynum]

Ah yes. Another 4A thread. This should be fun. Let me go get my popcorn so I can at least enjoy reading all the comments about how it’s going to hurt something

@mpeugeot how’s that T-case holding up after 100k+ miles of 4A? Let me guess, perfectly fine.

So the issues others experienced are just made up?

 

[JaxGtc]

The ass end breaks loose pretty easy in wet conditions in 2H. I feel like I don't have that problem in 4A.

 

[SeptuagenerianSasquatch]

I was mechanic, Shop Foreman, Assistant SVC Mgr before I left 4 years ago. Seen WAYYY too many out of warranty repairs on vehicles ran in 4A (most of the time, because Ford said it won't hurt anything)....Ford claims they weren't aware of any issues, but they could tell how many transfer case repair parts and complete transfer case assemblies we were ordering. And from the tech chat threads on the dealer site it wasn't just our dealership. The way I always saw it, if you don't need 4wd, use 2wd. If you will probably need 4wd, lock it in to 4wd... Simple. 4A is useless in my opinion. But to each his own..

Thanks for the reply. It's good to hear what the shopfloor has to report.

I use 2H for my primary pavement drive and fairly firm dirt, move to 4A when the road is seriously wet, light snow, slush, and looser dirt/gravel. 2H and 4H are for serious offroading involving serious obstacles, mud, snow that reaches the steel wheels edge, and the like. For example, exiting a parking lot with a high icy furrow from the snow plow, I pop it into 4A, exit, return to 2H, no problem.

This guy seems to be talking from a high-theory point of view, and made very few references to serious off-road or trail conditions or seriously inclemental weather. I think regular 2H helps to minimize pressure and wear on the front drive train.

 

[userdude]

Ah yes. Another 4A thread. This should be fun. Let me go get my popcorn so I can at least enjoy reading all the comments about how it’s going to hurt something

@mpeugeot how’s that T-case holding up after 100k+ miles of 4A? Let me guess, perfectly fine.

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