AWD stopped working at the worst time

[cc_lightning]

Thought I share this in case anyone else gets stuck.

Last weekend, I took the Lightning to the beach and was promptly stuck (have driven on beach many times without issue). When I tried to dig it out, I noticed that the front wheels never spins. Which I think cause me to get stuck. After an hour of shoveling the sand under the truck out and airing down to 8 psi, I was able to get the truck out.

It turns out there’s a software bug that occasionally the front motor doesn’t engage. A simple restart of the truck solves it. But I wasn’t aware and the car was never turned off during the recovery.

So, if you are going onto the beach, it’s worthwhile to change my view to see the power distribution and make sure the front wheels is getting power. Might save you from getting stuck.

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[RickLightning]

Yes, that bug is pretty widely known, but clearly not universally known. Putting on the display is key to understanding what's going on.

 

[Heliian]

Did you use off road mode?

Did you notice a useable power reduction?

 

[Revenge]

Did your gauge cluster display reduced power on the left side?

 

[P-38]

Thanks.

I must be part of the narrow side as I was blissfully unaware...

I had heard that at some low percent of charge it does not engage the front motor which is very annoying in snow/ice for getting up driveways.

 

[FloridaMan655321]

Well this is good to know. So do you just shut down the truck and turn it back on?

 

[Heliian]

Thanks.

I must be part of the narrow side as I was blissfully unaware...

I had heard that at some low percent of charge it does not engage the front motor which is very annoying in snow/ice for getting up driveways.

No, the front contactor glitch reduces available power.

The front drive stays on in normal operations including reduced soc which will also have a reduced available power.

 

[cc_lightning]

Did you use off road mode?

Yes, with locking diff turned on

Did you notice a useable power reduction?

No, in the sense power isn’t really an issue in the sand. There was no power to the front wheels at all.

Did your gauge cluster display reduced power on the left side?

I wasn’t aware of the bug when I was stuck. So I did not turned on the power distribution screen. My suggestion for others going forward is to turn it on when going off road/beach so you can make sure power is going to both motors

Well this is good to know. So do you just shut down the truck and turn it back on?

That’s what I’ve read. Since I discover this after the fact, I didn’t test it out in real time. If it does happens to someone else and this trick works. It would be great to confirm.

 

[broncoaz]

Good to know, I was unaware of the glitch. I plan on taking mine out on Nauset Beach soon.

 

[JAXLightning]

Thanks for the heads up. I go out to Amelia Island State Park pretty frequently. Luckily never had the issue.

 

[MaintGrl]

Yes, that bug is pretty widely known, but clearly not universally known. Putting on the display is key to understanding what's going on.

Well, apparently I'm NOT part of the crew that is part of the widely known group. I don't usually get into a situ like that, but a restart will be the first thing I try after changing to the power distribution screen.

 

[Heliian]

screen

When the front motor drops offline you'll notice reduced power available on the main IC, left side.

 

[MountainAlive]

When the front motor drops offline you'll notice reduced power available on the main IC, left side.

That’s true. I think with the front motor out the power will read 56%. The rear motor is consider the “primary” and the front “secondary”.

 

[prophetdeafening]

Good to know, I’ll be putting it on sand later this summer.

A little hijack, what tire pressures are you guys airing down to? I’m on 20” Michelins.

 

[cc_lightning]

When the front motor drops offline you'll notice reduced power available on the main IC, left side.

Thanks. I wasn’t aware of this either. Good to know.

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