Alright...so I am possibly looking into a used "AWD" 2002 dakota. The deal is pretty good but I am confused by what people are telling me about the AWD.

The seller states there is the normal switch for 2wd HI and 4wd HI, 4wd LOW.

Does this mean in 2wd it truly is JUST 2wd? Like any other 4x4 dakota in 2wd? You smash the gas on wet pavement and just the rear tires will spin? (not 2wd until a tire slips, then the "awd" aspect kicks in to put torque to a non-slipping tire??)

Anyone who can tell me would help out greatly! So far I have asked 6 people to get 4 different answers lol.
Thanks!

 

it means you have a 4x4. all wheel drive transfer cases only have 4hi and 4low to select from. you cannot stick it into 2wd

 

thats correct i dont think they put the full time part time trannies in these trucks so he is confused about something. if you go to look at it try and get a pick of the **** and then we'll be able to tell you for sure

 

I think the "AWD" is just a different form of 4WD Hi. As a general rule, you shouldn't drive a truck in 4 Hi all the time due to wear on tires and the axle. However, AWD in a Dakota is a type of 4WD that can be used constantly and will have a 2WD setting. The only thing MOPAR made thats really AWD is a SRT8 Jeep, 5.7 300's and Grand Cherokees with the Quadra-trac I and II transfer cases.

 

To be clear, it seems that basically you are asking if your truck has Traction Control.

Traction Control is your truck's computer telling your wheels that you have no traction, so it tries to get traction from other tires.

AWD is all wheels drive all of the time.
4WD is variable between 2WD and 4WD.
2wd is kind of apparent...

 

I have a 2000 AWD Dakota. The only difference btrween it and a 2002 model is that the newer model has an electronic, rotory switch whils mine has a lever on the floor.
It has 3 drive modes (4 if you include Neutral) in the transfer box. 4WD Hi which is the everyday setting. Its in 4wd all the time but as it has a centre differential it can run on dry roads all the time whilst giving far better traction in the wet. The next setting is 4WD Locked which is like normal 4wd on a selectable 2/4wd model. It mustn't be used on dry roads as will cause damage to the drive train due to the front and rear axles being locked together. Finally there's 4WD Low which is for real off-roading, using the extra low ratios togher with the locked centre diff.
Personally I woudn't have any other set up as it rains a lot over here and being restricted to 2WD would really suck. Try pulling into fast moving traffic from a side road in the wet and you'll understand why!

Hope this helps.

 

Thanks for the input guys. And yes i know the basic definitions/theories on AWD/4x4, BUT what is confusing is this "awd" truck (if it really is that) has the electric switch (like mentioned) but instead of having 4hi, 4lock and 4low it has

4hi, 4 low and 2wd like a typicaly 4x4 would. I would actually rather it be a typical 4x4...

SO I am thinking one of two things either

1: It is actually a 4x4 and the guy is just putting it down as "awd"
2: It is the AWD, but the AWD only pertains to the 4x4 hi mode, so 4x4 hi is not all 4 tires spinning 24/7, it is an actual AWD mode so it has some form of torque sensing that transfers power to different wheels when needed.

I am hoping for number 1, but scenario 2 is fine with me as well. As long as I can have true 2wd I will be happy. I dont need to be driving with 4 tires spinning for 8 months out of the year!

Thanks guys.

 

The short answers is "no" you can not change to two wheel drive with an All Wheel Drive Dakota.

In AWD mode, it employs the inte-axle differential. And allows the front and rear wheels to rotate at different speeds.

When switched to 4Hi or 4Lo, it locks the transfer case inter-axle differential and allows the front and rear wheels to rotate at the same speed.

If you're not sure what this means, make a semi-tight turn in AWD and see what it feels like. Then switch it to 4Hi and make the same semi-tight turn. You'll feel that inside front tire really torquing. Just don't do it for very long.....kind of hard on the vehicle if it's dry out.

Hope this made sense.

 

don't you love it when you help someone out and they never get back to you to say thanks or other stuff...

 

Hold on guys! I just sold my 02 4X4.. It was NOT a full time AWD. You had normal
2WD, 4WD hi and 4WD low. The 02's also did offer full time AWD, no switching in
and out ever.

Better look at what you're buying rOOst. Full time AWD doesn't give you good
gas mileage over the part time 4X4. The part time ones (like mine was) was bad
enough on gas with the v8.