Talon Selecting four wheel drive

[DAJO]

The Talon manual says it is ok to engage four wheel drive while moving except when wheels are spinning and or high power usage.

The mech at dealer yesterday told me I had to stop to engage four wheel drive. I told him the Honda manual does not say this. My machine is making a horrendous noise while four wheel is engaged. It also hangs in four wheel and does not want to disengage even after the indicator symbol on dash panel goes out. At dealer now.

Do you only select four wheel when stopped or do it on the fly like the manual stats?

 

[Montecresto]

The Talon manual says it is ok to engage four wheel drive while moving except when wheels are spinning and or high power usage.

The mech at dealer yesterday told me I had to stop to engage four wheel drive. I told him the Honda manual does not say this. My machine is making a horrendous noise while four wheel is engaged. It also hangs in four wheel and does not want to disengage even after the indicator symbol on dash panel goes out. At dealer now.

Do you only select four wheel when stopped or do it on the fly like the manual stats?

Personally everything that I own that’s 4 wheel drive I stop and engage/disengage four wheel drive, no matter what manuals say. It’s just my personal conviction.

 

[ohanacreek]

I’d default to the manual in arguments with dealer then get Honda involved if they say they won’t warranty it since you admitted to shifting while moving as per the manual.

 

[PaulF]

I constantly shift in and out of 4WD many times a day with no problems at all. 1500 miles mostly duning and I like 2 wheel most of the time for the fun factor of slipping the rear end but when I anticipate the need I will flip it into 4WD on the fly when moving. However, if I fail to shift it and get stuck or start to slip, I DO NOT try to shift at that point, I stop and shift.

As far as noise, in 4WD mine has a VERY slight drivetrain rumble. Every machine I have driven has the same noise, some worse than others and my Talon is almost imperceptible but it is there. It is normal but anything more than a slight rumble is not normal.

 

[HUCK]

Stopped , rolling , on the fly , anytime . No issues BUT I would not do it under stress like spinning the rear wheels . If I look at something that I think might spin a tire in 2wd , I put in 4x4 .

 

[DAJO]

Thanks for the replies. My Talon was hardly noticeable in four wheel earlier. I can't really say exactly when the noise started or gradually got louder. It has less than 800 miles now. Now it is so loud I consider it not usable until fixed somehow. Will find out more when the holidays are over and everyone gets back to work.

 

[Montecresto]

Thanks for the replies. My Talon was hardly noticeable in four wheel earlier. I can't really say exactly when the noise started or gradually got louder. It has less than 800 miles now. Now it is so loud I consider it not usable until fixed somehow. Will find out more when the holidays are over and everyone gets back to work.

Good luck with that and let us know what develops.

 

[fartsalot]

Thanks for the replies. My Talon was hardly noticeable in four wheel earlier. I can't really say exactly when the noise started or gradually got louder. It has less than 800 miles now. Now it is so loud I consider it not usable until fixed somehow. Will find out more when the holidays are over and everyone gets back to work.

I would like to know the end result as well. When on dry surface mine will make some gear type noise and I take it out of 4wd as soon as I get on dry ground or at the top of a hill climb. When I'm at the sand dunes it is in 4wd constantly except when coming and going to and from my camp area.

 

[Ezgoin]

I shift mine in and out of 4WD on the fly all the time. Never been any kind of problem, and no discernible noise, and I think it’s perfectly acceptable! Shifting between hi and low range is another story. Always stop before shifting between hi/low ranges!

 

[DAJO]

The one thing no one has mentioned. Does your four wheel disengage immediately? Mine stays engaged even after the dash
indicator goes out. I can tell by the noise, it does finally disengage later.

 

[Fyathyrio]

Dajo, briefly let off then hit the throttle, it can't disengage until unloaded.

 

[DAJO]

Dajo, briefly let off then hit the throttle, it can't disengage until unloaded.

Does not work on mine as demonstrated today at dealership today.

 

[dankathyc]

6000 miles on mine, noise hasn't changed from new. I always run 4 wheel drive except when on asphalt. It does seem to come out of 4 wheel when the light changes- the noise does change. I find the indicator so hard to see that I disregard it. Just a little dust and sunlight makes the display useless. Mine will engage at speed, but I have to be very slow or stopped before it will disengage. Works for me- run down a hard surface road in 2 wheel, let off the throttle when I get into gravel or dirt and go to four wheel. Get back to asphalt it seems prudent to stop or slow to look for traffic as it disengages, pedal down and on to the next place

 

[DAJO]

Honda tech where have you been? Like to hear your opinion.

 

[Sheetmetalfab]

Honda tech where have you been? Like to hear your opinion.

@HondaTech

 

[HondaTech]

I've noticed in the few LE model Pioneers and Talons I've driven that a noise in 4wd is noticeable that is not there in 2WD. Since it seems to be a common noise across i-4wd models, I assume it's a normal thing and shouldnt cause any issues.

I've never stopped to engage or disengage 4wd on a Honda product. The electronically actuated models arent going to engage if the wheels arent matched in speed. So if you've got the rear wheels spinning and the fronts not moving the 4wd wont engage until wheel speed is close.

 

[DAJO]

Thanks for responding, I was wondering if you had ran into this but I guess I have a one off issue.
I am familiar with the normal noise, we drove a new Talon after mine. My Talon makes a lot more noise like their is a bearing or gear starting to fail. I consider it undrivable the way it is. Waiting on Western Honda now closed until tuesday.

 

[snuffnwhisky]

Thanks for responding, I was wondering if you had ran into this but I guess I have a one off issue.
I am familiar with the normal noise, we drove a new Talon after mine. My Talon makes a lot more noise like their is a bearing or gear starting to fail. I consider it undrivable the way it is. Waiting on Western Honda now closed until tuesday.

I've read about some loosing a C clip that holds the u joint caps in the front driveshaft. Might be a good thing to check.

 

[DAJO]

I've read about some loosing a C clip that holds the u joint caps in the front driveshaft. Might be a good thing to check.

Hope the dealer checked that but who knows. They are supposed to doing what Honda tells them to do. They were supposed to call yesterday and did not.

 

[Pan]

The Talon manual says it is ok to engage four wheel drive while moving except when wheels are spinning and or high power usage.

The mech at dealer yesterday told me I had to stop to engage four wheel drive. I told him the Honda manual does not say this. My machine is making a horrendous noise while four wheel is engaged. It also hangs in four wheel and does not want to disengage even after the indicator symbol on dash panel goes out. At dealer now.

Do you only select four wheel when stopped or do it on the fly like the manual stats?

I own a 2016 Pioneer 1000, and it says to stop completely before shifting. I really haven't got a problem with that. I'd rather be in 4 wheel drive before getting in the rough then to wait till I'm in the middle of "oh crap", then its too late.