4x4 function

[Escape2Bronco]

Yup, I say leave it in normal unless you are off road doing something thing very specific and then since I have a Badlands, I engage the functions manually. I find the change in throttle and transmission control unsettling and prefer to modulate those myself.

As for winter rode driving, leaving it in normal mode was better for me then trying the slippery mode.

my advice is to try the goat modes in the area they are for and not while driving normally on the road. Just like I don’t like the adaptive cruise control, others love it so you may like the changes in steering, transmission, and throttle controls.

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[sajohnson]

Me old Gaffer told me once that 4WD, chains, etc. are emergency gear, not to be used until needed.

Time-tested solid advice. That is another reason to leave it in normal.

If I get motivated I'll try to find the video(s) I referred to in which they were demonstrating how -- in difficult off-road situations -- it can be better to manually pre-select the mode that is best for the terrain.

The idea is that since the BS (all models) is ordinarily FWD, if a driver is approaching some terrain that s/he knows will require the center and rear to be locked, it's best to be in that mode going in, rather than waiting for the computer to sense that the front tires are spinning, because by then some momentum will be lost, and/or the front tires may have already dug in.

As a practical matter, most of us will rarely, if ever, need to do that.

 

[BigPhatPaulie]

Ditto on the Off Roadeo, although I took a different tack. The only time I actually followed directions about mode selection was when she asked us to use Trail Control, the system that sets and holds a speed for you. I wanted to see how it worked. Other than that, I left the G.O.A.T. mode in NORMAL the entire time. Why? Me old Gaffer told me once that 4WD, chains, etc. are emergency gear, not to be used until needed. I decided to follow that guidance at the Off Roadeo just see what'd happen. I thought if I got stuck in NORMAL mode I would consider that an emergency and select whatever mode our guide had recommended to get me out. I never got stuck. I never even got close to getting stuck. I determined that NORMAL mode likely knows a helluva lot more about the appropriate modes/components to employ for any give situation than the overwhelming majority of drivers out there. I'm certain it's a lot smarter than me.

Don't get me wrong: the modes are fun to play with. I've tried different modes in different situations, and other than using SPORT in the snow I didn't really notice significantly different behavior. There are minor differences in the throttle response and shift points, and that's about it. I think if you need to get somewhere you should just leave it in NORMAL and the car will probably make better choices about modes than you will.

I almost got stuck in a mud pit using "Mud and Ruts" of all things as that mode does not like wheel spin. Switched to rock and put my foot down and it pulled right out

@MJE can attest to this XD

 

[NorCal67]

Where do you see an option to engage 4x4 on a B Sport? They are AWD, There is no 4x4 button on my Big Bend.

Only the Badlands versions have it. Here are the main differences.

 

[Zadazoo]

The Bronco Sport is always in 4WD.
Depending on which model you have, some have added capability, the Badlands for example has additional GOAT modes, locking rear differential and 4WD lock.
I typically drive in normal mode until I start loosing forward motion and then select the appropriate GOAT mode for the situation and continue my journey.

It's always in AWD, not 4WD. It normally prefers just using FWD and will kick in the rear wheels for various reasons.

 

[Big Ben]

Only the Badlands versions have it. Here are the main differences.

Thanks!

 

[bouwmatic]

Only the Badlands versions have it. Here are the main differences.

Is this an official Ford doc? I'm wondering what the oli cooler and manual shitfing mode do

 

[NorCal67]

Yes, it was from the Ford site. Bronco Sport Technical Specifications. The oil cooler is for the dual clutch system and the manual shifter refers to the paddle shifters in manual mode.

 

[BigPhatPaulie]

Yes, it was from the Ford site. Bronco Sport Technical Specifications. The oil cooler is for the dual clutch system and the manual shifter refers to the paddle shifters in manual mode.

IIRC the oil cooler is for the PTO and not the rear diff but either way the 1.5's do not have it

 

[westcoaster818]

Ditto on the Off Roadeo, although I took a different tack. The only time I actually followed directions about mode selection was when she asked us to use Trail Control, the system that sets and holds a speed for you. I wanted to see how it worked. Other than that, I left the G.O.A.T. mode in NORMAL the entire time. Why? Me old Gaffer told me once that 4WD, chains, etc. are emergency gear, not to be used until needed. I decided to follow that guidance at the Off Roadeo just see what'd happen. I thought if I got stuck in NORMAL mode I would consider that an emergency and select whatever mode our guide had recommended to get me out. I never got stuck. I never even got close to getting stuck. I determined that NORMAL mode likely knows a helluva lot more about the appropriate modes/components to employ for any give situation than the overwhelming majority of drivers out there. I'm certain it's a lot smarter than me.

Don't get me wrong: the modes are fun to play with. I've tried different modes in different situations, and other than using SPORT in the snow I didn't really notice significantly different behavior. There are minor differences in the throttle response and shift points, and that's about it. I think if you need to get somewhere you should just leave it in NORMAL and the car will probably make better choices about modes than you will.

The GOAT modes are not minor they are very distinctive. If you are on real trails you want to be in 4wd modes...

 

[MJE]

I almost got stuck in a mud pit using "Mud and Ruts" of all things as that mode does not like wheel spin. Switched to rock and put my foot down and it pulled right out

@MJE can attest to this XD

Yep! Glad we had your driving skill that day. The sport exceeds my capabilities as a driver that’s for sure.

 

[Mark S.]

Here's a great explanation of the (non?) difference between AWD and 4WD.

https://www.autoblog.com/article/awd-4wd-all-wheel-drive-vs-four-difference-explainer/

 

[sajohnson]

Here's a great explanation of the (non?) difference between AWD and 4WD.

https://www.autoblog.com/article/awd-4wd-all-wheel-drive-vs-four-difference-explainer/

Good article. The old "newsreel" type film was fun.

Some quotes:

* "A 4WD system also typically has a transfer case, which the driver must control via a secondary shift knob or electronic selection dial, offering a low range for better gearing off the pavement and a high range for improved highway gearing."

* "Unlike a 4WD system, however, AWD systems typically do not have a transfer case that the driver can use to select from extended gearing ranges for on- and off-road use."

* "In practice, in the United States since the 1970s especially, the AWD term has indicated permanent drive sent to each wheel, but without the use of a transfer case. Four-wheel drive, on the other hand, has been used to refer to part-time or on-demand systems that do use a transfer case."

* " In an AWD system, especially AWD systems intended for sportier uses, it’s common to find not only differentials on the front and rear axles but also a center differential between the front and rear axles. This latter center differential is often omitted on 4WD systems..."

* "All-wheel-drive systems typically lack a transfer case, and therefore typically aren’t as well-suited for extreme off-road situations."

The author is careful to point out that there are no absolutes. There are exceptions. The point about the transfer case with low range gearing being a major factor is a good one.

 

[sajohnson]

My previously owned 1978 Ford F150 4X4 Pickup only used the front differential (via the transfer case in 4H or 4L) when the hubs were locked (manually) with the rear wheels following.

Technically, the front wheels had the bulk of the power, so it should have been named “2WD Locked”.

Since the first video mentioned Subaru...

Subaru has used several AWD systems. Some better than others. The system in my 2002 WRX relies on viscous coupling units to transfer torque, and they are lame -- very weak. I've had it stuck with one rear tire spinning on ice, and the other 3 on bone dry blacktop!

I had it tested at the dealership (the one where we bought our BS BL) -- all of the techs laughed at how pathetic the "AWD" system was/is. Then they brought in a brand new WRX (later model) off the lot -- same result. Subaru just cheaped out on the 5MT WRX.

In contrast, the automatic version of the WRX got a competent AWD system. When the manual WRX STi came out, it had a killer AWD system -- true "all wheel drive".

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