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

Wahoooo, yeah I just googled your listed spec there. It's a combo all right, what fun. I hope that it doesn't cock up on you - it will be expensive haha. But while it's working it will be pretty good. From the spec, it has an electrically/electronically controlled center diff/clutch arrangement that when in "Auto" mode senses wheel slip at the rear and automatically transfers drive to the front wheels to compensate via a center electronically controlled clutch. Effectively it will be giving you automatic "3wd" when it detects slip (4x4 purists consider the usual 'open' front differential in these "softroader" style off-road capable vehicles to be three wheel drive if they aren't locked up as one front wheel slipping can rob all the drive from the other). In 2WD mode, it holds the center clutch unlocked despite whatever happens in the back - this is the equivalent of the highway 2wd "2hi" mode in a manual setup. "Lock" fully locks the center clutch i.e. the old fashioned manual 4hi mode.

Calling it "Full Time AWD" is really not correct, and is a bit of an advertising gimmick. Full time AWD is drive to all four corners at all times, and unless you select "Lock" and manually lock the center clutch that isn't what you have.

In your case, I'd leave the thing in 2wd mode and hi selection on the side lever most of the time while normal on highway driving and when you get to the beach whop it into "Auto" still in high range on the lever. If it gets soft or wet and you feel like you need more control then stop fully and go to the "Lock" position before taking off again - with these setups if you go straight into "Lock" while rolling and the system has decided that there isn't any wheel slip then the center clutch might be in a fully unlocked situation so your trying to get everything to start spinning from cold - good for a graunch or three. Safer to stop and let it lock up without things rotating at different speeds, you might simply get a 'clunk' as you put it into Drive and move off which is just the systems engaging and locking up.

Same if you decide you need more control (i.e. slower speed) like towing a trailer through a tricky bit on a farm or the like, stop, main trans to neutral or park (whatever it likes) then neutral then "L" on the lever. "Lock" on the knob selector if you need it. Then main trans back into gear and away you go. Reverse that sequence to get the thing back out into high range.