Spinning front nearside

[Rogerdodge]

Hi all, I have owned my FL2 HST Auto (2012 model) for some three years. For most of that time we have experienced the front nearside spinning as we pull away and the car shifts into second gear. It happens when pulling away in what I would class as normal speed (light throttle action) and never if I pull away quickly when she is sure footed. The tyres I have are Pirelli Scorpion Verde and obviously the nearside wars quickly. Last December I did fit Continental Winter tyres for the season and it did not happen at all. Therefore have I answered my own question? The Haldex has been professionally serviced and the pump replaced. Thanks in anticipation.

 

[Nodge68]

What are you asking? Or am I missing something?

Do you have all wheel drive on slippery surfaces?

 

[Beneagles]

Probably due to the unstable nature of the roads in your area

 

[Stv123]

Do you have a broken spring? (The wheel that spins or the opposite corner) Could do with borrowing some corner weight scales.

 

[Stv123]

Has it been in a bad accident? Sounds like the whole car is twisted. Doesn’t sound like a drivetrain problem.

 

[Stv123]

If you let go of the steering as you set off does it pull to one side? If so which side?

 

[Rogerdodge]

What are you asking? Or am I missing something?

Do you have all wheel drive on slippery surfaces?

Why the wheel is spinning? Could it be tyre choice? Yes I have full 4 wheel drive, Thanks.

 

[Rogerdodge]

Do you have a broken spring? (The wheel that spins or the opposite corner) Could do with borrowing some corner weight scales.

The car is in general good condition, springs are fine. Thanks

 

[Rogerdodge]

Has it been in a bad accident? Sounds like the whole car is twisted. Doesn’t sound like a drivetrain problem.

Not to my knowledge, the car drives like a dream and is in good condition, it is just that the wheel has a small spin or skud on pulling away gently.

 

[Rogerdodge]

If you let go of the steering as you set off does it pull to one side? If so which side?

No, straight as a dye.

 

[Nodge68]

Why the wheel is spinning? Could it be tyre choice? Yes I have full 4 wheel drive, Thanks.

The wheels shouldn't spin, mine don't. The AWD is engaged the moment you start to move, so when turning the rear inside would be the most likely to spin, but only if you're putting sufficient power down to make it spin.

It's possible there's a problem with the front differential, but I'd expect the problem to affect both front wheels.

When was the Haldex last serviced?

 

[Rogerdodge]

The haldex was serviced in May and had a new pump. I am really beginning to suspect the tyres as everything else seems fine

 

[Nodge68]

The haldex was serviced in May and had a new pump. I am really beginning to suspect the tyres as everything else seems fine

There must be something very wrong with the tyres for it to spin.
Mine won't spin the tyres, even when doing silly hard accelerations.
However if I pull the Haldex fuse, mine spins the front inside wheel very easily, which is why I asked about the AWD working.
It's pretty common for the splines on the PTU to fail, which disconnects the rear wheels completely, allowing the front tyres to spin easily on pulling away.
You can check this easily, by trying to turn the propshaft from below with the vehicle stationary. The propshaft should be solidly tied to the front wheels, so it can't turn by hand while the front wheels are on the ground. However if the PTU splines are stripped, it is possible to turn the propshaft with some firm resistance from the Haldex. So if you can turn the propshaft, your PTU and spline link need replacement.

 

[Stv123]

Reasons for a spinning wheel is not enough weight pushing down on the wheel for it to grip or as Nodges said a fault with the front diff where all the power is being sent to the front left wheel. I would check out the function of the front diff first then if that is okay check that all the wheels are pushing down evenly onto the ground which means measuring the weight on each corner of the car. Perhaps borrow some corner weight scales scales.

 

[Stv123]

There must be something very wrong with the tyres for it to spin.
Mine won't spin the tyres, even when doing silly hard accelerations.
However if I pull the Haldex fuse, mine spins the front inside wheel very easily, which is why I asked about the AWD working.
It's pretty common for the splines on the PTU to fail, which disconnects the rear wheels completely, allowing the front tyres to spin easily on pulling away.
You can check this easily, by trying to turn the propshaft from below with the vehicle stationary. The propshaft should be solidly tied to the front wheels, so it can't turn by hand while the front wheels are on the ground. However if the PTU splines are stripped, it is possible to turn the propshaft with some firm resistance from the Haldex. So if you can turn the propshaft, your PTU and spline link need replacement.

But why would it only spin one front wheel and always the same one?

 

[GrumpyGel]

But why would it only spin one front wheel and always the same one?

...and why on light throttle only, not when giving it some welly?

I'd say that when giving it some welly the car is engaging the back diff/haldex more to assist, this would stop a front wheel spinning as it would be locked to the speed of the back axle.

Having said that, if a front wheel loses grip, how quickly would the haldex lock the transmission up? On F1 the VCU is supposed to lock everything up within 1/8th of a wheel rotation or summat - ie before you've even noticed its spinning.

 

[Stv123]

As I understand it the fl2 is front wheel drive until it detects a wheel slipping then the clutch in the haldex closes giving drive to the rear wheels. As the electric pump in the haldex is running all the time then the only delay is the hydraulic valve closing and multi plate clutch locking up which is quite quick (milli seconds) so sounds like the 4wd is doing its job. Not sure but don’t think the fl1 had electric pumps? so different system.

 

[GrumpyGel]

As I understand it the fl2 is front wheel drive until it detects a wheel slipping then the clutch in the haldex closes giving drive to the rear wheels. As the electric pump in the haldex is running all the time then the only delay is the hydraulic valve closing and multi plate clutch locking up which is quite quick (milli seconds) so sounds like the 4wd is doing its job. Not sure but don’t think the fl1 had electric pumps? so different system.

The F1 has a viscous coupling (VCU) that does an almost identical job to the haldex - except you can't turn it off!

The VCU has a set of alternating plates in it that spin at the speeds of the front and back axle. When they spin at the same speed the viscous fluid in it is 'dormant' and the plates will slip. If they move at different speeds, the fluid's properties change and if the speeds are great enough it pushes the plates together (like a clutch I suppose) so that they 'hump' (lock). This happens, like you say with the F2, virtually immediately, so it is difficult/impossible to get 1 wheel spinning - for a wheel to spin on 1 axle, a wheel on the other axle would also need to spin (then the TC kicks in).

 

[GrumpyGel]

The F1 has a viscous coupling (VCU) that does an almost identical job to the haldex - except you can't turn it off!

The VCU has a set of alternating plates in it that spin at the speeds of the front and back axle. When they spin at the same speed the viscous fluid in it is 'dormant' and the plates will slip. If they move at different speeds, the fluid's properties change and if the speeds are great enough it pushes the plates together (like a clutch I suppose) so that they 'hump' (lock). This happens, like you say with the F2, virtually immediately, so it is difficult/impossible to get 1 wheel spinning - for a wheel to spin on 1 axle, a wheel on the other axle would also need to spin (then the TC kicks in).

I should say - that is a very brief description of the VCU. Threads discussing how it works, run to many many pages!

(and make such wonderful reading )

 

[Stv123]

I should say - that is a very brief description of the VCU. Threads discussing how it works, run to many many pages!

(and make such wonderful reading )

Well I don’t have a fl1 so not likely to be reading that as it would confuse things for me.