bighorton
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• Fairbanks, AK, USA |
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• Registered on 12/17/2010 |
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• 2 posts |
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 Posted:12/17/2010 23:42 |
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So, I finally bit the bullet and got an Excursion. With a V10, I knew the mileage would be terrible, and it is - but Oh! What a comfortable truck!
Anyway - I'm in Fairbanks, Alaska. It's Winter. It's actually the winter-y-est winter I've been through since I moved here five years ago: Huge ice storm just before T'Giving that left a solid inch of glare ice on every flat surface, followed by inches of snow, and temps averaging -25 at noon (down to -45 at night) ever since. (The cold doesn't really bother me - just explaining the environment.)
I love the truck, it runs beautifully, only 63k miles, everything visible in great condition.
Here's the problem; the truck binds and hops and jerks like crazy during turns if it's in 4x4Hi. I'm not talking about at-the-lock turns (when it's really bad), the binding "jerks" start at about one full steering wheel turn from center, and get worse as you go to lock. This is even on polished sheet ice so slick that you can't stand up on it without steel cleats on your shoes.
Never having driven a traditional 4x4 before (AWD, but not 4WD), I've been assuming that it's "part of the deal", and taking it out of 4wd when parking and in other tight-maneuver situations. It does go in and out of 4wd (Hi and Low) without problems. There is no jerking/hopping in 2wd. It also runs fine on dry highway (had to drive 80 miles south to find some) in 2wd or 4wd. There are no obvious clunks, rumbles, vibrations, or any other apparent problems with the truck, except in middling-to-sharp turns, when the jerking/binding starts.
I've been reading posts, and I understand that, at 'lock' this is to be expected. I also know to check if the front wheel hub locks are working, but I can't check - it's too cold. (I don't have a garage this thing will fit in.) I can't get them to turn, but they may simply be frozen (as in, very cold).
I haven't taken it to a dealer/mechanic yet, both because it's XMas and we're fairly broke at the moment, but also because - well - is it really broken?
And that's the question. Is this normal, or excessive? Is there a good rule-of-thumb measure I can use to decide? Is putting the thing in and out of 4wd a dozen times a day okay?
Any comments, suggestions, or advice will be avidly read!
TIA
Scott |
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