AWD MODE

pakizzie2015 · Wed Feb 24, 2016 4:27 pm

Well I drove the kizashi for the first time in AWD turned on here in PA. just as a precaution as the day was was a mix of snow sleet and rain.. Although here in the Hazleton area was mostly rain.. But got a question.. since I have been able to drive mostly in fwd all winter . I was surprised how the car felt. seemed stiffer and slower. like the engine was really not happy with it on. I mean it drove ok. but it just felt different. I am probably just not used to it but I though I would ask if others notice this stiff feeling.

kconklin33 · Wed Feb 24, 2016 5:38 pm

Interesting, as you remember I'm from Scranton, and have yet to use my AWD this year. I can't say I notice anything really stiffer or slower per say. Although, acceleration does seemed to be slightly hindered but ever so slightly.

FrankoLaMoya · Wed Feb 24, 2016 6:54 pm

It should be the same except the sliding in the corners...

pakizzie2015 · Wed Feb 24, 2016 7:07 pm

kconklin33 wrote:Interesting, as you remember I'm from Scranton, and have yet to use my AWD this year. I can't say I notice anything really stiffer or slower per say. Although, acceleration does seemed to be slightly hindered but ever so slightly.

Yup remember your in Scranton.. I really didn't need to use the awd but thought to just try it out. your right it must be the acceleration that was the issue. it seems to slow it down, but once up to speed it was the same. I wish we had more chances this year to have used the awd so I could really compare but THANFULLY we didn't.. HAHAHA.. Now bring on summer and the wonder how to keep the cvt cool. I don't understand this cvt over heating and going into limp mode thing.. every automatic I have ever had never had issues , meaning that transmission is cooled by radiator .. I'm going to going to wildwood NJ in July and want to take this car. When I go there it seems to be the hottest time driving through the turnpike 95 area.

pakizzie2015 · Wed Feb 24, 2016 7:10 pm

FrankoLaMoya wrote:It should be the same except the sliding in the corners...

It felt like it was a tank (glued to the road).. in front drive felt lighter and easier to turn. Just a different all around feeling. spring , summer weather coming so I most likely will not see awd again for many many months. I hope!

Wed Feb 24, 2016 7:22 pm

pakizzie2015 wrote:Now bring on summer and the wonder how to keep the cvt cool. I don't understand this cvt over heating and going into limp mode thing.. every automatic I have ever had never had issues , meaning that transmission is cooled by radiator .. I'm going to going to wildwood NJ in July and want to take this car. When I go there it seems to be the hottest time driving through the turnpike 95 area.

Conventional automatics work very differently than CVTs. Automatics have gears like a manual while CVTs are more like two coned pulleys attached by a metal band that keep changing their ratio to each other. I think your CVT probably won't have issues in normal summer driving but if you drive hard or go up a mountain, it can possibly overheat above its normal operating temperature range and start acting up, much like overheated brakes with brake fade.

As for cooling, the Kizashi features a CVT cooler with its own dedicated radiator but RRM sells an aftermarket CVT cooler. I don't know of anyone on this forum who has installed it, but RRM promises this keeps the CVT cooler in more demanding use. I really can't comment on its efficacy given I don't even have a CVT in my Kizashi.

Here's the RRM CVT cooler:
http://roadracemotorsports.com/store/in ... cts_id=697

Wed Feb 24, 2016 7:24 pm

pakizzie2015 wrote:
FrankoLaMoya wrote:It should be the same except the sliding in the corners...
It felt like it was a tank (glued to the road).. in front drive felt lighter and easier to turn. Just a different all around feeling. spring , summer weather coming so I most likely will not see awd again for many many months. I hope!

If I had AWD, I'd personally use it in heavy rain. The summers occasionally bring some serious thunderheads with insane rainfall.

pakizzie2015 · Wed Feb 24, 2016 7:49 pm

KuroNekko wrote:
pakizzie2015 wrote:
FrankoLaMoya wrote:It should be the same except the sliding in the corners...
It felt like it was a tank (glued to the road).. in front drive felt lighter and easier to turn. Just a different all around feeling. spring , summer weather coming so I most likely will not see awd again for many many months. I hope!
If I had AWD, I'd personally use it in heavy rain. The summers occasionally bring some serious thunderheads with insane rainfall.

Your right. It is really heavy rain here today. and I have appointment after work so I believe I will keep it in AWD for the trip.. and yes I think I will do the same in the summer thunderstorms. If we get them. we here in PA the last few years haven't gotten much of them at all. and I like them.

pakizzie2015 · Wed Feb 24, 2016 7:58 pm

KuroNekko wrote:
pakizzie2015 wrote:Now bring on summer and the wonder how to keep the cvt cool. I don't understand this cvt over heating and going into limp mode thing.. every automatic I have ever had never had issues , meaning that transmission is cooled by radiator .. I'm going to going to wildwood NJ in July and want to take this car. When I go there it seems to be the hottest time driving through the turnpike 95 area.
Conventional automatics work very differently than CVTs. Automatics have gears like a manual while CVTs are more like two coned pulleys attached by a metal band that keep changing their ratio to each other. I think your CVT probably won't have issues in normal summer driving but if you drive hard or go up a mountain, it can possibly overheat above its normal operating temperature range and start acting up, much like overheated brakes with brake fade.

As for cooling, the Kizashi features a CVT cooler with its own dedicated radiator but RRM sells an aftermarket CVT cooler. I don't know of anyone on this forum who has installed it, but RRM promises this keeps the CVT cooler in more demanding use. I really can't comment on its efficacy given I don't even have a CVT in my Kizashi.

Here's the RRM CVT cooler:
http://roadracemotorsports.com/store/in ... cts_id=697

thanks for that information.. I do not drive crazy speeds . 70 tops and that is mostly interstate driving.. and the mountains around here the longest would be up out of wilkesbarre about a 4 mile gradual hill. and the car has no issues going 70 up it on interstate 81 south. the temp gauge doesn't even move.. I got the car in late sept and it was still in the 70's at the time some 80's but didn't drive it much then.. this is mostly my winter car. the other is a 5sp stick Pontiac G5 that I will not take out in the snow or salted roads.. it stays out of that crap until maybe mid april depending on the weather.. then I drive it most of the time in the warm months.. then the kisazhi takes a break for the summer. but I do want to take it to wildwood. it is about a 3.5 hour drive from here.. there usually isn't stop and go traffic until you get to philly and then around the area going into wildwood itself . this is why I am concerned but this is NORMAL driving and you would think Suzuki would build a car that can handle normal driving.

Wed Feb 24, 2016 8:35 pm

pakizzie2015 wrote: but I do want to take it to wildwood. it is about a 3.5 hour drive from here.. there usually isn't stop and go traffic until you get to philly and then around the area going into wildwood itself . this is why I am concerned but this is NORMAL driving and you would think Suzuki would build a car that can handle normal driving.

I think your Kizashi will be fine. I think the CVT overheating issues are more prevalent in demanding driving conditions so a road trip should be fine. A member here drove his CVT AWD from Oregon to Florida packed full of stuff because he was relocating. No issues reported.
What I'm largely curious about is whether this larger RRM CVT cooler actually helps to keep the CVT cooler and performing better.