Problem with 4x4

[cgx]

I recently purchased a 2005 Xterra S. While on vacation in Canada, I finally had the occasion to use the 4x4. However, I found that parking the car was very difficult, as was any precise maneuver. Specifically, the car did not respond well when given gas; it responded only when I gave significantly more pressure to the accelerator than average, and of course that would cause the car to lurch forward or reverse. I lived in Canada for many years and have driven several other cars like the LandRover, Jeep, and Honda CRV in 4x4 mode, but I didn't have such poor responsiveness to the accelerator in those cars when driving in 4x4. Previously, during the winter, my car was always in 4x4 mode. Never before was I was forced to shut off the 4x4 whenever I had to park the car in a tight spot. Can someone who has knowledge about driving the Xterra regularly in snow and ice let me if this is normal?

[OffroadX]

If you have driven full-time 4WD vehicles before, this is the difference that part-time 4WD has. You simply MUST NOT use 4WD when you have reasonable traction, ESPECIALLY when making tight turns. If conditions are such that you can make safe, effective progress in 2WD, use 2WD. Otherwise you risk damage to the driveline from the "binding" that is caused when the front and rear portions are trying to travel at different overall rates during turns and there is no center differential to allow it. Either a tire will break traction (as in snow/ice/dirt/mud) or something will break (pavement, etc.) if there is no other release of this difference.

And uh, read your owner's manual sometime...

Brent

[cgx]

Actually, I did read the manual. All it indicated was that 2WD was for dry, paved roads, and that I could use 4H for snow-covered roads. The only prohibition regarding snow-covered roads was that I could not exceed 62.5 mph. There is no indication in the manual that the snow must be a certain depth. The roads I was driving on were snow covered and icy, albeit not 6 inches of snow. However, there was enough snow and ice that the car fish-tailed at times when driving it in 2WD. And, the street where I was parking it had packed snow up against the curb. Nonetheless, thank you for responding to my query and giving me the answer to my question.

[OffroadX]

If the pavement has been cleared and is just wet, you will get binding. If there's snow under at least 2 tires, you won't.