Suzuki Jimny sz4 info

As per the instructions in the handbook, and my experience in real life, you can use 4x4 on wet and slippery roads without any problems. You will notice the wheels 'scrubbing' and the steering getting very heavy if you are in 4x4 when you shouldn't be. My opinion is it's better advise to use 4x4 and maybe put a bit of wear on the transmission, than to have an accident and get hurt or damage the car because you were afraid to use it.

Well Busta I would agree with that statement too. If the driving conditions are very wet and treacherous then sure,y the 4x4 should be used. Being a newbie I was worried to hear that I may be causing damage to my transmission

PCD wrote: windup is exactly what?

If you are driving round a corner, or even in a straight line and one wheel goes over a bump. the wheels travel a different distance to each other.
If the tyres cannot slide then this difference is taken up by twisting the driveshafts relative to each other, like winding up an elastic band powered aeroplane (can you still get these?)
Eventually, either the driveshafts twizzle up like liquorice sticks and snap*, or more likely one of the CV joints bursts.

If the road is slippery enough, the tyres simply slip to relieve the strain.

*You can twizzle up a single driveshaft and snap it if you have a locked differential and only one wheel has good grip.

Ah ha, that makes sense. Thanks for the education on this subject. So basically if driving in 2wd and losing traction it is save to use 4wd. Cool, thank you

The forces in the Jimny are very low so you won't ever get close to breaking a CV or snapping a driveshaft without the engine making a lot of fuss about it first! I really don't think it's the issue that most on here make it out to be.

Put it this way Suzuki advise against it and if you are buying a fairly recent car that may still be under warranty and damage occurs they may not honour it and leave you with a large bill??
Yes of course you can drive on tarmac in 4wd in light snow or ice just not on dry days or normal rain as you won't need it just as other non 4wd cars don't need it either.
As I said "slippery" surfaces.
If you feel the steering get a bit "light" or you lose traction from the rear wheels then it is slippery enough.
it's the same as you would get in a standard car as you would feel it start to get a bit slippery or even walking around so you would take it easy anyway.
There are numerous posts on here from new owners asking why their car is making a bang when disengaging 4wd or they can't steer properly etc. and the answer is always wind up due to driving on a non slippy surface.
Whether the older cars are more accepting or worn enough or the gearing is different I don't know but I've had wind up just driving a few yards and if the gearbox or other parts in the transmission break then it will be a big bill.

When you get to see the handbook it's section 5-7 "operating your vehicle" it states
"Never operate your vehicle in 4H or 4L on dry pavement and as much as possible avoid using 4H or 4L on wet pavement as this may seriously damage the drive train".

Who's going to be the first to say that they always drive on the pavement ?? :laugh: :laugh: :laugh: