Sport Mode AWD to Normal Mode 2WD

[Todd Haag]

Has anyone else experienced the issue of switching from “sport mode” with AWD (while at a stop) to “normal mode” and the vehicle remaining in AWD instead of transitioning to 2WD?

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[12Lariat21]

Yes, I think it is just how Ford has it, and I have not noticed any change in MPG running Normal mode in either 2WD or AWD. If you want it back in 2WD you either need to pause in Eco Mode, or just hit the button.

 

[fordtruckman2003]

Yes it will switch into 4A in sport if you have it. You can switch back to 2H if you want in sport mode.
Other modes like "slippery" will force you to stay in 4A.
Once any of the modes force you into 4A you will remain there until you turn it off.

Many people drive thousands of miles on 4A without any issues. From my understanding it doesn't harm anything since it is clutch based and not engaged unless needed.

 

[Snakebitten]

I've logged many thousands of miles in 4A with my last 3 F150's.
But still on occasion I will manually put it back into 2WD in Sport Mode if the roads are nice and dry.

I find my Powerboost likes a Sport Mode jaunt every once in a while just to get the cobwebs off. ?

And I much prefer the CCD damping curve/map in Sport Mode. Man I wish I could duplicate it in Normal mode. So much better composed.

 

[fordtruckman2003]

I've logged many thousands of miles in 4A with my last 3 F150's.
But still on occasion I will manually put it back into 2WD in Sport Mode if the roads are nice and dry.

I find my Powerboost likes a Sport Mode jaunt every once in a while just to get the cobwebs off. ?

And I much prefer the CCD damping curve/map in Sport Mode. Man I wish I could duplicate it in Normal mode. So much better composed.

Good to know. It's still new to me coming out of an old 2011 I rarely used 4x4 on at all except deep snow.

 

[12Lariat21]

Good to know. It's still new to me coming out of an old 2011 I rarely used 4x4 on at all except deep snow.

Well just an FYI, deep snow you will still need to switch to Full-Time 4x4. The 4Auto(AWD) sucks in deep snow, at least that was my experience last year, seemed like it was trying too hard to keep wheels from slipping, so I wasn't going anywhere. Had to switch it to 4H and just let her spin to dig through the snow.

 

[fordtruckman2003]

Well just an FYI, deep snow you will still need to switch to Full-Time 4x4. The 4Auto(AWD) sucks in deep snow, at least that was my experience last year, seemed like it was trying too hard to keep wheels from slipping, so I wasn't going anywhere. Had to switch it to 4H and just let her spin to dig through the snow.

Good to know I still need to boss it around.

 

[Eskram]

But still on occasion I will manually put it back into 2WD in Sport Mode if the roads are nice and dry.

I find my Powerboost likes a Sport Mode jaunt every once in a while just to get the cobwebs off. ?

My trips to the gym in the morning are the best - Sport Mode, 2wd (if not raining), TC off, no nagging. from the wife.

Back to the original question, if I change dive modes it does switch back to 2wd when I switch modes. However, if I put it in 4A using the switch, it keeps the same mode in Normal mode when I turn the truck back on.

 

[JExpedition07]

Well just an FYI, deep snow you will still need to switch to Full-Time 4x4. The 4Auto(AWD) sucks in deep snow, at least that was my experience last year, seemed like it was trying too hard to keep wheels from slipping, so I wasn't going anywhere. Had to switch it to 4H and just let her spin to dig through the snow.

You have to watch the rear locking axle in deep snow/sand. Not sure if you guys with the 4A Torque on demand case are the same but this applies to those of us with the ESOF case for sure. I noticed deep snow/sand mode locks into 4x4 High and also locks the rear axle. The rear axle should not be locked on snow or ice, I needed to manually turn off the locking axle when I used snow/sand mode last winter. The back kicked out and fish tailed until I realized it was on. Mud and Ruts mode also automatically locks the rear axle on mine.

Locker is great to utilize if you are stuck in deep snow, but not for just rolling down the road in snow.

 

[fordtruckman2003]

You have to watch the rear locking axle in deep snow/sand. Not sure if you guys with the 4A Torque on demand case are the same but this applies to those of us with the ESOF case for sure. I noticed deep snow/sand mode locks into 4x4 High and also locks the rear axle. The rear axle should not be locked on snow or ice, I needed to manually turn off the locking axle when I used snow/sand mode last winter. The back kicked out and fish tailed until I realized it was on. Mud and Ruts mode also automatically locks the rear axle on mine.

Locker is great to utilize if you are stuck in deep snow, but not for just rolling down the road in snow.

Perhaps "slippery" would apply then. I don't think that turns on the rear locker. The graphics are not the greatest on dash. I can't tell if that is rain or snow but I tested it in heavy rain just to see what it would do.

 

[Todd Haag]

Yes, I think it is just how Ford has it, and I have not noticed any change in MPG running Normal mode in either 2WD or AWD. If you want it back in 2WD you either need to pause in Eco Mode, or just hit the button.

Thanks for the feedback!

Yes, I think it is just how Ford has it, and I have not noticed any change in MPG running Normal mode in either 2WD or AWD. If you want it back in 2WD you either need to pause in Eco Mode, or just hit the button.

Thanks for the response. Much appreciated.

 

[12Lariat21]

You have to watch the rear locking axle in deep snow/sand. Not sure if you guys with the 4A Torque on demand case are the same but this applies to those of us with the ESOF case for sure. I noticed deep snow/sand mode locks into 4x4 High and also locks the rear axle. The rear axle should not be locked on snow or ice, I needed to manually turn off the locking axle when I used snow/sand mode last winter. The back kicked out and fish tailed until I realized it was on. Mud and Ruts mode also automatically locks the rear axle on mine.

Locker is great to utilize if you are stuck in deep snow, but not for just rolling down the road in snow.

When I needed to go to 4H I just hit the 4H button while in Normal mode, I did not change the drive mode. But that is a good point, I will put it into Deep Snow/Sand today and see how the truck reacts. I'm glad you pointed that out, not sure I would know that unless I was really paying attention to what the truck was doing going into those driving modes.

 

[Oxford_Powerboost]

You have to watch the rear locking axle in deep snow/sand. Not sure if you guys with the 4A Torque on demand case are the same but this applies to those of us with the ESOF case for sure. I noticed deep snow/sand mode locks into 4x4 High and also locks the rear axle. The rear axle should not be locked on snow or ice, I needed to manually turn off the locking axle when I used snow/sand mode last winter. The back kicked out and fish tailed until I realized it was on. Mud and Ruts mode also automatically locks the rear axle on mine.

Locker is great to utilize if you are stuck in deep snow, but not for just rolling down the road in snow.

I think the locker is good for what that mode is designed for - deep snow/sand. In deep snow you need to keep momentum going. The computer keeps the gears low, rpm’s high, and throttle sensitive. I don’t think in deep snow you’ll have much leeway to fishtail. Slippery sounds like a more appropriate mode for what you’re describing which would be driving on snowy roads.

 

[FirstTimeFord]

On the 4A, I've heard driving with 4A on all the time in normal helps with the occasional hard shift and clunkiness of the 10 speed? Anyone finding this to be true? I'm in FL, any reason not to be in 4A all the time? Wear life? Gas Mileage? The clunks are the only thing I don't like about my 23 Platty. Everything else, I really enjoy this truck.

 

[dogboye]

Well just an FYI, deep snow you will still need to switch to Full-Time 4x4. The 4Auto(AWD) sucks in deep snow, at least that was my experience last year, seemed like it was trying too hard to keep wheels from slipping, so I wasn't going anywhere. Had to switch it to 4H and just let her spin to dig through the snow.

That sounds very similar to my Tacoma. Well, in snow. I once was trying to pull onto a road from a slight uphill incline with it. Just "normal mode" equivalent. It had one rear wheel on a patch of snow, and kept dethrottling when that wheel would spin. I disengaged traction control, which automatically engages a brake-controlled pseudo rear locked differential. Had no more problems.
Do the same thing on slippery surface (disengage traction control), and it will swap ends quite quickly if you aren't careful.

Both our F-150 and my Tacoma only have part-time 4WD... so life on snow can't be totally simple.

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