3.3TT Stinger AWD got stuck in the snow

[Ken Wu]

There was a pretty bad snow storm yesterday and unfortunately I had to park on the side of the road that hadn't really been cleared. I was able to get into a "parking spot" relatively easily. However, when trying to exit I got beached. I only had 1 tire in the front/rear (maybe not even at the same time) spinning and couldn't move anywhere.

Anyone know how the Stinger AWD is supposed to work? I know it has an open diff, but so did my previous car (WRX). I just assumed it would use the brakes to stop the spinning wheel, and direct the power to the ones with the most traction, just like my old WRX used to do.

 

[GTA Jay]

I loved you in The Mighty Ducks.

 

[Kamauxx]

There was a pretty bad snow storm yesterday and unfortunately I had to park on the side of the road that hadn't really been cleared. I was able to get into a "parking spot" relatively easily. However, when trying to exit I got beached. I only had 1 tire in the front/rear (maybe not even at the same time) spinning and couldn't move anywhere.

Anyone know how the Stinger AWD is supposed to work? I know it has an open diff, but so did my previous car (WRX). I just assumed it would use the brakes to stop the spinning wheel, and direct the power to the ones with the most traction, just like my old WRX used to do.

Did you disable traction control?

 

[Ken Wu]

When I got stuck initially traction control was enabled. I even tried disabling traction control to see if it would help any. In the end, I had to dig out a bit and "rock" the car with some nice people pushing to finally get out.

 

[brancky3]

I assume you're still on the stock 18" all seasons?

 

[Ken Wu]

Nope. I switched to 18" winters running Michelin X-Ice 3.

Stock for the GT Limited is 19" (same as GT2 in the states).

 

[brancky3]

Nope. I switched to 18" winters running Michelin X-Ice 3.

Stock for the GT Limited is 19" (same as GT2 in the states).

Oh wow! That's a bummer, thought those tires would do better - I have the same but I can't get very far on RWD with the ice we get here. Hope someone has an answer about the diff / braking question!

 

[Onno P]

‘Active Diff’ seems to work on brake application only, thus needing friction between road and tyre.
Very disappointing we have AWD but the system lacks a good set of differentials to make it work.

The announced D-AWD is still only with an LSD onthe rear wheels as I understand.

 

[SKStinger]

AWD is useless on any car if you’re hung up on a hard snow drift. Once your ground clearance is used up and you lose traction to the point where you can’t rock the car your only alternative is to dig it out until it moves.

Been there done that a few times with my A4.

 

[GRStinger]

AWD is useless on any car if you’re hung up on a hard snow drift. Once your ground clearance is used up and you lose traction to the point where you can’t rock the car your only alternative is to dig it out until it moves.

Been there done that a few times with my A4.

Yup. The OP's description of "beached" is a great right. Once you get hung-up - with most of the weight of the vehicle resting on the underside snow / little weight on the tires - game over. Doesn't matter the vehicle or how much 'traction tech' you have. Call a tow or find a long-handled shovel.

 

[POS VETT]

Was the car high-centered?

 

[Ken Wu]

The snow wasn't hard packed, so wasn't technically "beached". Effectively, the bottom was shoveling the snow. Just removing a bit of snow around the wheels, and a few rocks (with someone pushing from behind) was enough to get it out.

Just never had any issue with my older AWD car, since it used the brakes on slipping wheels to push the power the one with the most traction. And it had the same ground clearance, if not a little lower.

I guess I just wasn't expecting the open-diff to just spin a tire without even trying to shuttle the power around a bit.

 

[usagi]

open diffs and no brake torque vectoring, kind of disappointing. maybe someone will figure out how to retrofit LSDs to the awd stinger.

 

[MerlintheMad]

Well, I just don't drive anywhere near deep snow: end stop. If it looks like I might high center, I avoid. AWD is for traction, not escaping.

 

[Pnbnationsbest]

Once ANY vehicle is high-centered it will be stuck. You could have 8 wheel drive, once you remove the weight from the wheels there is no mass to create friction. f=ma