I have heard that the AWD cannot be disabled on my 2016 Charger SXT. Can you tell me what activates it in the first place

 

pcm controls a clutch in the tcase which determines how much torque is sent to the front axles. the more rear wheel slip detected, the more the clutch is applied and power sent to the front.

 

Thanks. I get that. Got in the car today and it was in AWD. Car still in driveway. Is it temperature controlled?

 

Hi jimscharger,

AWD will activate when the ambient temperature is 40 degrees Fahrenheit and below. The reason for this temperature setting is an attempt to make sure the system is engaged when the chance of slippery conditions is greatest. Feel free to send us a PM with any additional questions!

Andrea
Dodge Social Care Specialist

 

Yes. Information on AWD operation can be found in your owners manual

 

Thanks. I looked at the manual and that information was not in it. I bought the car previously enjoyed and I am wondering if there is a supplement to the manual that I am missing. Is there any way to turn off the AWD feature for highway driving? I am assuming there must be more fuel consumed when in AWD.

 

You could see if there is a fuse for AWD you could remove to disable it.

 

Thanks. That's worth looking at. On my 2011 charger I installed17 inch rims for the winter with snow tires. It came from the factory with 18's. The 2016 I have now came from the factory with 19 inch rims. Can I install 18 inch snows on it? I wanted to put tires on it with a higher sidewall profile for the winter.

 

If they clear the front calipers, sure. If you have them, try one out.

 

Disabling AWD may cause you more issues than just leaving it alone. The question becomes, what is the 'default' mode of the t-case, if it doesn't get a signal from the controller? Will it just not power the front, or will it do a 50/50 torque split? The engineers actually had a clue when they were designing the system, trust them to know their stuff, and let the AWD figure out whether it is needed or not.

Swapping tires for winter should be ok, provided they fit, but, keep in mind, all four tires MUST be the same size, or you will be letting yourself in for some seriously expensive repairs.