Crawford’s Auto Repair offers 4-Wheel-Drive and All-Wheel-Drive services to customers from Chandler, Gilbert and nearby areas. Customers can include individuals, families or businesses with fleets that include 4-wheel drive and heavy duty vehicles.
Schedule An AppointmentWhether your vehicle is used for business, recreation or safer driving, the 4-wheel drive and all-wheel drive features will need specific maintenance and repairs. Get affordable 5-star service at Crawford's Auto Repair where we treat your vehicle like it belonged to our own mother and we never try to sell unnecessary repairs. Call 480-201-0740 to schedule an appointment.
In most respects 4-Wheel Drive (4WD) and All-Wheel Drive (AWD) vehicles are the same as other vehicles except they have additional components in their drivetrain to power all the wheels instead of just a pair. The drivetrain is a series of gearbox parts and shafts which transmits the rotational kinetic energy from the engine to the wheels. See also our service page on the Transmission and the Drivetrain & Differential. When the drivetrain and the engine are considered together it’s called the powertrain.
Here are the layouts for the different drivetrains:
Front Engine, Rear Wheel Drive
CC BY-SA 3.0 Moebiusuibeom-en
Vehicles with a front engine and rear wheel drive will have a drivetrain that consists of a transmission, drive shaft, rear differential and rear axles. This is the most common arrangement used when describing the drivetrain because all the essential parts can be described separately. These will have the traditional cone-shaped transmissions.
Front Engine, Front Wheel Drive
CC BY-SA 3.0 Moebiusuibeom-en
A front engine, front wheel drive vehicle will have a transversely mounted engine and a transaxle, which is a transmission and a differential combined into one.
Rear Engine, Rear Wheel Drive
CC BY-SA 3.0 Moebiusuibeom-en
A rear wheel drive vehicle with a rear engine will have a transaxle. This arrangement is not nearly as common, but notable vehicles include the Volkswagon Beetle, Porche 911 and historically the Tucker ’48 Torpedo. This diagram doesn’t contribute that much to the explanation of 4WD and AWD but just being able to mention the Tucker ’48 makes it worth it.
4-Wheel Drive (4WD or 4×4)
CC BY-SA 3.0 Moebiusuibeom-en
A Four Wheel Drive (4WD or 4×4) vehicle has a more complex drivetrain. It includes the transmission, transfer case, front drive shaft, front differential, front axles, and rear drive shaft, rear differential, and rear axles. Vehicles built for heavy duty and off-roading use this arrangement. Notable manufacturers include Ford, Jeep, Toyota, and others.
All-Wheel Drive (AWD)
CC BY-SA 3.0 Moebiusuibeom-en with labels corrected.
An All-Wheel Drive (AWD) vehicle may have a front transaxle, drive shaft, rear differenial and rear axles. It could also have a central differential which is not pictured. AWD vehicles can be particularly useful in icy and snowy conditions. This does not describe the Chandler, AZ area, yet, AWD vehicles are still found here, especially when driven by snowbirds, visitors, and most Subaru vehicle owners. Subaru is well-known for making all-wheel drive vehicles. Some of their main competitors (Nissan, Mazda, etc.) also make all-wheel drive vehicles.
The pictured diagrams are intended to show the difference between 4-wheel drive, all-wheel drive and other vehicles. This page will discuss the maintenance and repairs for these additional parts, including the transfer case and other parts that are unique to these vehicles.
For additional services see the following pages:
Maintenance For 4-Wheel Drive and All-Wheel Drive Vehicles
All vehicles brought to Crawford’s Auto for oil changes and landmark maintenance checks will have a free safety check and general inspection. The technician will test drive the vehicle and do a visual inspection both under the hood and with the vehicle raised on hydraulic lifts. While many 4-wheel drive vehicles can be much bigger than a traditional sedan or hatchback, the lifts in our shop are capable of lifting 4-wheel drive vehicles and fleet vehicles.
During these maintenance checks we inspect many of the parts of the drivetrain. That includes the parts that are unique to 4WD and AWD vehicles, such as the transfer case, locking hubs, final drive, drive axles, and both front and rear differentials for leaks and damage. Many of these are “gearbox” parts, which means that they need proper lubrication to work. For parts that have an accessible port, the level and condition of the fluid is checked. Further inspection and services may be needed if there are any signs of leaks or damage throughout the drivetrain, or if the fluid is discovered to be low or dirty.
Transfer Case Flush (Transfer Case Fluid Service)
Similar to a transmission, the transfer case fluid may need to be drained and replaced with new fluid according to the manufacturer’s maintenance schedule. The manufacturer for your vehicle could recommend any mileage between 60,000 to 150,000 miles depending on the age of the vehicle and whether you’re following a “standard” or a “severe” maintenance schedule. In the hot AZ weather we usually lean more towards the “severe” maintenance schedule but this is recommended on a case by case basis, especially with 4WD and AWD vehicles. A lot of it also depends on how you use the vehicle.
We prefer to call this a “service” instead of a “flush” since there is more to the service than simply draining the old fluid and replacing it with new fluid, and we don’t “flush” the part with water like we would for a cooling system flush.
Differential Fluid Flush (Differential Fluid Service)
This service (and it should be called a “service” as well) is also mentioned on our service page for Differentials. Of course it also has relevance here since a 4WD or AWD vehicle could have multiple differentials. Like other “gearbox” parts it requires proper lubrication to operate correctly and a fluid service helps remove metallic micro debris which build up over time. This extends the life of the part and we perform this service according to the manufacture’s recommendation. Differential maintenance service could be every 30,000 to 60,000 miles.
Warning Lights For 4-Wheel Drive and All-Wheel Drive Vehicles
The unique parts and more specialized machinery of 4WD and AWD can come with their own dashboard lights. A lot of these lights are not warning lights; they’re just indicator lights which tell you which mode you’re in (2-wheel drive or 4-wheel drive, etc.). If the light is simply an indicator light and not a warning light, then we didn’t include it here. We’ve included the lights that help you know when you need service.
Transmission Temperature Light
This light means your transmission is running too hot. You should pull over immediately and let it cool.
Differential Lock Indicators And Axle Lock Indicators
These lights should only be on when you engage a differential lock or axle lock. When you’re stuck in the mud or snow it’s used to help get out. If it is accidentally engaged while you’re driving on the pavement then your vehicle will buck and feel like it’s tearing itself apart. Pull over safely to the side of the road to disengage it.
Malfunction, Disabled & Service Symbols For 4WD And AWD
The addition of an exclamation point, wrench, cross out, “SERVICE” or “DISABLE” to the symbol indicates that the vehicle needs to be serviced for that particular function or part. Some of these may temporarily flash while using that function. It’s when they stay on that it needs servicing. When the “AWD” light is green instead of yellow, that simply indicates the AWD is engaged.
Signs Of Failing 4-Wheel Drive or All-Wheel Drive
The following signs of a failing 4-wheel drive or all-wheel drive will require further investigation and repairs:
- Difficulty shifting gears
- Difficulty shifting in and out of 4-wheel or all-wheel drive
- Grinding noises coming from underneath the vehicle
- Vehicle jumps in and out of four-wheel drive
- Vehicle bucks or jerks
- Illuminated Warning light
- Signs of damage or leak seen upon inspection
- Low or dirty part fluid seen upon inspection
Repairs For 4-Wheel Drive and All-Wheel Drive Vehicles
The repairs for your vehicle may depend on whether your vehicle has a manual or automatic system. If it’s an automatic system then there may be an issue with the electronics and hydraulics.
A front axle engagement switch replacement may be needed if there is difficulty engaging the 4-wheel drive, if it won’t activate at all, or if the vehicle is stuck in 4-wheel drive
If the issue is with the transfer case then you could possibly need transfer case leak repair, transfer case rebuild or transfer case replacement. Similar services for various differentials are also available, including differential leak repair, differential rebuild or differential replacement.
The following is a more complete list of AWD and 4WD services and repairs:
- Clutch engagement switch assembly replacement
- Center support bearing replacement
- Axle shaft seal replacement
- Differential gasket replacement
- Differential output seal replacement
- Shift interlock solenoid replacement
- Shift selector cable replacement
- Transfer case fluid replacement (transfer case flush, transfer case fluid service)
- Lubricate drive shaft
- CV Axle-shaft assembly replacement
- Differential oil replacement (differential flush, differential fluid service)
- Gear oil replacement
- Transfer case rebuild
- Transfer case replacement
- Differential rebuild
- Differential replacement
Heavy duty vehicles can be hard on the transmission. See also Transmission Services.
Fleet Account Services
Do you own a business with a fleet that includes 4-wheel drive and heavy duty vehicles? Crawford’s Auto Repair can service these vehicles. Learn more about Fleet Account Services.
Call 480-201-0740 To Schedule Services For Your 4-Wheel Drive Or All-Wheel Drive Vehicle
Does your vehicle shows any the signs listed above? Do you have dashboard warning lights illuminated? Or are you due for maintenance? Bring your 4WD or AWD vehicle to Crawford’s Auto Repair. We’ll treat your vehicle as if it belonged to our own mother and we never try to sell unnecessary repairs. We can service vehicles for any customer including individuals, families and businesses with fleets. Call 480-201-0740 to schedule an appointment.
No Comments
Sorry, the comment form is closed at this time.