2012 Acura RDX SH AWD and Towing
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2012 Acura RDX SH AWD and Towing
I thought I'd ask the experts because I can't definitively get the answer I'm looking for.
I have a third of a company that impounds vehicles and every so often we run into something that is all wheel drive.
Previous SH-AWD honda/acura equipped vehicles have been "wheel lifted" with just the front tires off the ground without any issues. I've read that honda controls its all wheel drive system via an electronic differential so when the vehicle is off its essentially 2wd.
Tonight we picked up a 2012 Acura RDX with SH-AWD. Over some point I thought I read that the awd system had been updated to the point where more power is directed to the rear wheels and that 15% of available power is always powering the rear wheels. If this is the case, is the differential different from previous generation SH-AWD models?
The vehicle tonight was unwilling to move with "go-jacks" placed under the front wheels. I didn't look to see if the e-brake had been pulled but that may have been the issue. Rather than spend additional time with it, the car was dollied which is easy enough to do and ultimately safer...in this particular case.
Any additional insight would be appreciated.
From acura's website:
The RDX all-wheel drive system is designed to help maximize the use of available traction in both dry and slippery conditions, while minimizing system-wide friction and power loss to help optimize fuel efficiency.
In normal cruising, the system operates as an efficient FWD vehicle with 100% of engine torque being directed to the front wheels.
During moderate acceleration or when front wheel slip is detected in dry conditions, 25% of engine torque is transferred to the rear wheels.
On a wet or slippery surface, wheel slippage will cause a reduction in engine output to the front wheels possibly to a point torque is distributed 50/50 between the front and rear wheels.
Systemic efficiencies allow the AWD system to operate at only one mile per gallon below the front-wheel drive model.
To me, this seems like the vehicle is only all wheel drive when the RDX's computer sends power to the rear wheels.
I have a third of a company that impounds vehicles and every so often we run into something that is all wheel drive.
Previous SH-AWD honda/acura equipped vehicles have been "wheel lifted" with just the front tires off the ground without any issues. I've read that honda controls its all wheel drive system via an electronic differential so when the vehicle is off its essentially 2wd.
Tonight we picked up a 2012 Acura RDX with SH-AWD. Over some point I thought I read that the awd system had been updated to the point where more power is directed to the rear wheels and that 15% of available power is always powering the rear wheels. If this is the case, is the differential different from previous generation SH-AWD models?
The vehicle tonight was unwilling to move with "go-jacks" placed under the front wheels. I didn't look to see if the e-brake had been pulled but that may have been the issue. Rather than spend additional time with it, the car was dollied which is easy enough to do and ultimately safer...in this particular case.
Any additional insight would be appreciated.
From acura's website:
The RDX all-wheel drive system is designed to help maximize the use of available traction in both dry and slippery conditions, while minimizing system-wide friction and power loss to help optimize fuel efficiency.
In normal cruising, the system operates as an efficient FWD vehicle with 100% of engine torque being directed to the front wheels.
During moderate acceleration or when front wheel slip is detected in dry conditions, 25% of engine torque is transferred to the rear wheels.
On a wet or slippery surface, wheel slippage will cause a reduction in engine output to the front wheels possibly to a point torque is distributed 50/50 between the front and rear wheels.
Systemic efficiencies allow the AWD system to operate at only one mile per gallon below the front-wheel drive model.
To me, this seems like the vehicle is only all wheel drive when the RDX's computer sends power to the rear wheels.
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