Confusing Wheel Spin

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kaillum

New Member
Posts
5
Hi LandyZone newbie Here... please be gentle... Bought my first Gaylander in the middle of December and i've got a little problem. :eek:

I've noticed that the front wheels spin when pulling away from lights or junctions.. The traction control light pops up to tell me its trying to do something, and if I keep my right foot planted it finally catches up and accelarates as normal or if I lift off and then re-apply its all good... Its really annoying, and not something i'd expect...

I dont know if its something to do with a 'Slack' VCU or dodgy tyres (currently Federal Meha Steels!! - which are the first things to be changed when the bank balance recovers)

Can anyone suggest any ideas to either rectify or for a start of the investigations...

its s '98 1.8 5 Door..
smile.gif
if that helps..

Cheers

Andy
 
Sounds like your running in 2 wheel drive if just the front wheels spin.
Transfer box or rear diff?
Check the viscous coupling too.

All guesses but it does sound like you only have power to the front wheels.
 
thats perfecly normal, if you gun it and dump the clutch, you can get it to spin like a front wheel drive car, the traction control is trying to sort it out by applying the brakes to the spinning wheels, however, if you back off and re-apply the gas it returns to normal and drives off.

If you're driving in snow just keep your foot down and the traction control will do the rest.
 
thanks for your replies guys... so this is nothing to worry about then.. Excellent.. I had a search around about VCU's the other night, and as I I do a 40 mile each way commute.. and I stopped at the petrol station (getting used to that with this 26mpg!) and reached underneath to have a feel of the VCU and it was barely warm, didn't think it was seized or anything..

and thanks for the welcome and for being gentle on me ;)
 
I have the same car as you and on mine you really need to give it a lot of right foot before the wheels spin on tarmac. My TC light never comes on during normal driving conditions - only on wet grass/snow etc. I think you may have a problem but not sure what, sorry.

Check out other recent thread "Traction Control" he cannot get his wheels to spin easily on tarmac like me.

If your 4 wheel drive is working properly you should be getting the perfect start everytime.

Perhaps the more experianced guys on here will tell me im wrong but i can only say how it is with my car....

Good Luck
Moose1. ;)
 
I dont have the luxury of TC on my FL, theres no need unless you are on sheet ice. How many farm quads do you know of have TC?

Your tyres at the front will spin, then as VCU does its job the back wheels take up the drive. The VCU is passive and only really comes in to play when induced spin on the front wheels. The TC only works up to something like 25mph.

The tyres on the steelies are on the thin side, so grip will never be 'performance like' but even the 7" tyres will spin in the wet.
 
yeah.. pretty sure that everything is as it should be.. think it's just my heavy right foot and a bit wet on the roads... that mixed with the shocking tyres on the old girl are making her a bit skittish...

soon be time to look for some new rubber....
 
well, a little update if anyones interested...

Had her checked out at a local garage, and the VCU is goosed... very little resistance with the back wheels jacked up and giving them a spin... The VCU has got lines on it suggesting its thrown its fluid out, which would account for the slackness.. But at least its slack and not seized and taking the IRD with it!

Oh well, something else to add to the every increasing Hippo Shopping List!

Next up some decent rubber..
 
well, a little update if anyones interested...

Had her checked out at a local garage, and the VCU is goosed... quote]well if its any help at least it went kaput the right way, better than a seize, hope yer get a new one sorted,or you could jist 2wd like a few others i know. . .:) ;)
 
well, a little update if anyones interested...

Had her checked out at a local garage, and the VCU is goosed... very little resistance with the back wheels jacked up and giving them a spin... The VCU has got lines on it suggesting its thrown its fluid out, which would account for the slackness.. But at least its slack and not seized and taking the IRD with it!

Well!

i never heard o that appnin :rolleyes: ;)
 
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