All wheel drive?

[Traveller136 Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close Traveller136]

Is the 2006 Prado GXL a permanent all-wheel drive? When I select H for normal driving, the 4wd light goes out but the front wheels still spin on soft sand.

[OldGreyFart Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close OldGreyFart]

Is the 2006 Prado GXL a permanent all-wheel drive? When I select H for normal driving, the 4wd light goes out but the front wheels still spin on soft sand.

It is indeed.

[Traveller136 Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close Traveller136]

Thanks for that - much appreciated

[r4ndll Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close r4ndll]

Yup, with a Torsen centre diff full of black magic that distributes power fore and aft according to demand but is usually a 60/40 rear bias. (A T3 or Type C TORque SENsing diff to be exact).

"The main disadvantage of the Torsen differential is when no torque is sensed on one of the axles, the differential does not lock. Torsen differential is not capable of transferring 100% of torque to one of the axles. In real life this means that when a single axle loses grip completely (very low traction on ice, or if wheels raised in the air) the car is not able to move. " Hence your front wheels spinning in sand when in H because you've not 'locked' the centre diff.

http://www.awdwiki.com/en/Torsen/