Thread: 1997 R50 Series II Nissan Terrano Auto - 4WD Operation

Originally Posted by Pepo1

You're right mate! I'm glad you showed up or I wouldn't have known. It's a full-time 4WD. Can you confirm my understanding please. Didn't quite catch all you said....

- I can drive in "Auto" mode all the time and it'll detect slippage and engage 4WD as necessary. Will this provide enough traction for getting up the average wet boat ramp? I guess use "L" if needed.

- For full 4WD, put car in neutral, select "Lock" on the dash, then shift into "H" or "L" as needed.

Thanks again mate. MUCH appreciated.

No, I don't think so - if you had a full time 4wd you would not have the option of 2wd. I am picking you have a "part time" selectable 2wd/4wd system and refer my post up above for my experience of operating these "neither Arthur (fully electrically controlled) or Martha (fully manually selected)" systems. You have an inbetweener which is partially manually selected for hi and lo range with the 4wd/2wd duties selected electrically and this is why you are getting the metal protesting when you select things in the wrong way/order.

Most of the modern systems just have the knob (2wd, 4hi, 4lo) or the older gear has a lever that has "2hi, 4hi, N, 4lo" and a push button on the dash to lock the front hubs or either manually selected front hubs (have to get out to engage the hubs) or automatic front hubs that engage by the front driveshaft rotation when in 4wd (which means you need to be bloody careful when going between forwards and reverse as you unlock then relock the front hubs in the other direction meaning you can get well and truly stuck...