HOW JEEP® 4X4 SYSTEMS WORK

 

By putting the Patriot in 4x4, you force 1/2 of the power to go to the rear wheels. In AWD mode, the front wheels would have had more power, up to 100%, and the rear would not have tried to walk out from behind you.

4x4 lock is a magnetic clutch in the drive system that equally distributes power 50-50 front and rear, then to 2 wheel on that axle.

 

So hang on a second....I have a 2011 Jeep Patriot (Sport, doesn't have FDII, so it's a FDI, right?). I thought it was 4WD, not AWD. Are you saying that the Patriot is a FWD vehicle by default EVEN WHEN THE 4WD switch is off, and that it will switch to part-time 4WD by default, but when you pull up on the 4WD you are basically forcing it into 50% front/rear?

 

If you don't have one of the Freedom Drive packages (FDI or FDII), it's NOT 4x4. Its FWD.

 

OK, so then I have FDI. So it's AWD then? Interesting... I had no idea... other than thinking it performed really well on some hill climbs when not on '4WD'.

Thanks for the insight! I was under an incorrect assumption. Is this (the FWD vs RWD) detailed somewhere in the manual?

 

The situation you describe is an "open" differential. A "locked" differential will continue to send power to each wheel equally. The Patriot has open differentials. There is some electronic wizardry that will help with that....

 

Very good. Thanks so much for the information!

 

Good point Murman. AWD systems send power to any of the wheels, whereas the Patriot is front wheel drive sending power to the rear as needed(on demand 4WD). And when the lever is pulled, it's locked into 4WD

 

Too bad you can't lock it into FWD only mode. Oh well, still a great vehicle... if you overlook the fact that the radio has terrible reception and often picks up motor EMI on a weaker station... that's about my only complaint on it.

 

To keep life simple, leave the 4WD off on dry roads, and switched on in snow, wet, or slippery roads. Leave the ESP on unless you get stuck in snow or sand. Then try half off, or full off.

 

Freedom Drive would be better classified as an all wheel drive system because it can vary the amount of torque that goes to the rear axle. I believe for marketing purposes Jeep calls it 4x4. There are a few other AWD systems out there that let you lock the torque split at 50/50: Subauru's STI, and Suzuki's SX4 come to mind (although I believe the SX4's "lock" mode still varys the torque with between 30% - 50% going to the rear depending on conditions).

It is my belief (and I don't own a Pat so I don't know) that in nearly every condition on the street 4x4 lock is not necessary with Freedom Drive. It may even be detrimental as in the case the OP described, steep hill with a 50/50 lock, both axles with limited traction. Without the lock on I would have expected the front tires to slip then the system start applying a small amount of torque to the rear. In this situation it is possible that the amount of torque sent to the rear would not have been enough to overcome the traction and instead of spinning, it may have provided forward movement. Either way, it would have eventually moved to a 50/50 split if it kept spinning the front. The only time I would expect the lock to be useful on the street would be deep snow that you're digging through (3 inches or so accumulated on the ground) or extreme ice conditions. Keep in mind the 50/50 lock goes away at what... 30 mph? something like that.

 

examples of subaru forester's AWD system and suzuki AWD. I know the FDII is a better than both, but are they better than the Patriots FD1?


http://youtu.be/FOmZIu_y1js

http://youtu.be/XPElu1Un1qY

http://youtu.be/uFUkBVkfTJc

http://youtu.be/X-ix8Xq6NJM

 

examples of subaru forester's AWD system and suzuki AWD. I know the FDII is a better than both, but are they better than the Patriots FD1?
http://youtu.be/X-ix8Xq6NJM

The video of the Subaru getting out of the thick mud, uphill, with three adults, is pretty impressive