how can i manually engage the 4wd on crv

[billhonduras1]

I have a 2002 honda crv. I have gotten stuck a few times on the beach. How can i manually engage the 4wd. thanks for any help

[tsmithvt]

I have a 2002 honda crv. I have gotten stuck a few times on the beach. How can i manually engage the 4wd. thanks for any help

Short answer is, you can't. The RT4WD System is a self contained, hydro-mechanical system that is fully automated.

For more information on how the system works, see:http://www.quebeccrv.com/other/rtawd.pdf

There is also a great deal of information on the forum about effectively using the system. Use the search function and have a look around.

While I'm posting, I'll add my own personal short list of tips:

Deflate your tires to about 15 to 20 psi. Definitely turn the VSA off. Keep the speed up if at all possible. If you feel yourself slowing/bogging down, add throttle to increase front wheel spin. This last tip may seem to violate all the rules and may be counterintuitive but by increasing front wheel spin (VSA off), you increase the amount of torque being fed to the rear axle. The RT4WD System is most effective in sand and snow when the front wheels are spinning. The exact level of wheel spin in different situations, unfortunately, is a matter of experience. The technique has, however, been proven many times in snow.

How ironic that this post would show up in another forum just today:

awd - HondaSUV Forums - Discussion forum and bulletin board for Honda CR-V, CRV, Element, Pilot, HR-V owners (http://www.hondasuv.com/members/showthread.php?t=34812)

[Davecr-v]

I have a 2002 honda crv. I have gotten stuck a few times on the beach. How can i manually engage the 4wd. thanks for any help

Push hard on the right pedal. tsmithvt's answer is spot on the truth is this vehicle isn't a hardcore offroader my advice is when you get in deep loose terrain pin the throttle down and keep those front wheels spinning.

[aslguy]

Definitely turn the VSA off.

You can't on a 2002 model.

[tsmithvt]

You can't on a 2002 model.

Right you are. Gen 2.0 didn't have VSA so it's one less item for them to be concerned with in tough going (VSA can really be an interference when your hunting for traction). The rest still goes, however. :)

[doctor_at]

Dear friends,

I have 2008 CR-V and there isn't 4wd lock. But has anyone done a manual switch to force that hydromechanical switch that controls 4wd to switch on. It should be an easy task but what and where it isn't so easy. So I ask if someone has done this already and can guide us.

AT

[Black Pearl]

The mechanism is purely hydraulic. If what you are trying to do could be done, it would probably involve drilling precise holes into the housing to create an external hydraulic flow path through tubing to some valve in the cockpit, or if one got clever a solenoid operated valve mounted on the differential.

I am not real knowledgeable on the rear differential, but my own feeling is that if it could be done easily it would probably be a recipe of destruction for the clutch pack. My understanding is that the clutch pack is designed only for temporary applications of power to the rear wheels, not full time.

Tsmithvt, please chime in.

[doctor_at]

Yes that's almost what I'm loking for. First there is a 4wd lock which is controlled by the hydraylic switch (now we give a HS name to that switch). That hydraulic switch HS is set on/off NOW by the computer which measures that if front wheels are spinning more tan they should spin (or not). But what I want to do now is to simulate the signal to the HS that front whells are spinning more than thy should spin. At the easiest case it could be a wire A and Wire B where wire B is ground and when 12 VDC is connected to the wire A then HS is set on and 4WD lock is set on. I think that is is that easy but now the A wire must be found. If it is more complicated then HS is controlled not by the current or voltage 12 VDC but by the hydraulic fluid flow BUT THAT HYDRAULIC FLUID FLOW IS CONTROLLED BY THE SWITCH WHICH HAVE TO BE VOLTAGE OPERATED (or what I mean is that there is one MASTER switch that is voltage operated which controls directly or after one, two, three or several hydraulic or pneumatic or what ever switch that locks then the 4WD lock [I'm sure that you get the point]). Now we have to find that MASTER SWITCH and add a manual voltage control to that switch so that when my manual switch is set on then that master switch is also SET ON and 4wd lock is SET ON and vice versa (set off) :) .

Regards,

AT

[tsmithvt]

Yes that's almost what I'm loking for. First there is a 4wd lock which is controlled by the hydraylic switch (now we give a HS name to that switch). That hydraulic switch HS is set on/off NOW by the computer which measures that if front wheels are spinning more tan they should spin (or not). But what I want to do now is to simulate the signal to the HS that front whells are spinning more than thy should spin. At the easiest case it could be a wire A and Wire B where wire B is ground and when 12 VDC is connected to the wire A then HS is set on and 4WD lock is set on. I think that is is that easy but now the A wire must be found. If it is more complicated then HS is controlled not by the current or voltage 12 VDC but by the hydraulic fluid flow BUT THAT HYDRAULIC FLUID FLOW IS CONTROLLED BY THE SWITCH WHICH HAVE TO BE VOLTAGE OPERATED (or what I mean is that there is one MASTER switch that is voltage operated which controls directly or after one, two, three or several hydraulic or pneumatic or what ever switch that locks then the 4WD lock [I'm sure that you get the point]). Now we have to find that MASTER SWITCH and add a manual voltage control to that switch so that when my manual switch is set on then that master switch is also SET ON and 4wd lock is SET ON and vice versa (set off) :) .

Regards,

AT

Where in the world are you getting your information from?:confused: There are NO electrical controls for the RT4WD System. It is a completely self contained, hydro-mechanical system. Please read the following to get a basic idea of how the system works:

http://www.quebeccrv.com/other/rtawd.pdf