awdpath

NightHawk and Silverstar are not available as H11 currently. The European Osram Nightbreaker H11 is significantly brighter than the stock bulb as well (about $50 a pair from Ebay).

Tuned Ford Fusion 0-90mph acceleration:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_3pe1T_tkAI...feature=related

For the first time in five years, domestic models have gained ground in the family car category, which has been consistently dominated by Japanese nameplates. The Ford Fusion V6 with all-wheel-drive and Saturn Aura were identified by respondents as two of the top four most satisfying family cars behind the Toyota Prius and Toyota Camry Hybrid. The inclusion of the Lincoln MKZ AWD was also a five-year first for a domestic model to be found among the most satisfying Luxury/Upscale cars.

http://www.autoblog.com/2007/12/03/japanes...r-satisfaction/

Until you actually sit behind the wheel and drive the beast ... Man, this car can go.

Adapted from the Mazda6, it is one of the better handling sedans in the world, staying stable at cornering speeds that send tires of more prominent sports sedans whining off into a corner in shame.

Acceleration is brisk from any speed, and the car doesn't convey the heaviness that's so evident in a Subaru Impreza or Audi A4.

http://www.autonet.ca/donut/content/search...30/4821558.html

The Fusion and the Accord have a completely different feel on the road as well. The Fusion is still more of a driver’s car, with a more overtly firm ride, snappier response from the throttle, more noticeable induction sounds from the engine, more decisive shifts from the six-speed automatic, and a level of handling and maneuverability that make it feel quite a bit smaller and lighter (they’re basically the same size and weight, with the Accord about three inches longer, an inch wider, and 90 pounds heavier).

http://blogs.thecarconnection.com/blogs/ma...80%9908-fusion/

How catalytic converters work

 

Eggbert and Shelley were driving home from the market when they stopped at a red light behind a new minivan. As they waited, an unpleasant, rotten egg smell permeated their sedan, and they realized the offensive odor was coming from the minivan. "Why does that new minivan smell so bad?" asked Shelley. "Oh, that's the catalytic converter," replied Eggbert. "It's not working properly, so some bad fumes are coming out in the exhaust." "What a shame," lamented Shelley. "A new car and the converter is broken already." While the couple puts away their groceries, let's get an SwRI Whizard to tell us what's going on.

http://www.swri.org/10light/catalyst.htm

Turn the mirror away from the vehicle to its max then pull the mirror toward you and upward. Be careful of the electrical wires connected to the mirror while pulling the mirror out. Un-clip the puddle lamp housing and remove the bulb socket from the puddle lamp housing ( 1/4 turn clockwise for the driver side, counterclockwise for the passenger side).

New tires are quite slippery and the engine/transmission and/or the software programs may not have adapted to your aggressive driving.

STANDING-START ACCELERATION [FWD]

0-60 mph: 7.5 sec

0-100 km/h (62.1 mph): 8.01 sec

0-quarter-mile: 15.7 sec @ 91.2 mph

http://www.autoweek.com/apps/pbcs.dll/arti.../-1/mmstorymini

In our usual electronic acceleration measures, the top-of-the-line Fusion SEL with AWD netted a 0-100 km/h time of 7.97 seconds and a ¼ mile time of 15.78 seconds, with a peak of 146.2 km/h. A front-wheel drive SEL we tested earlier had turned in identical times of 7.97 and 15.78 seconds (quite a rare occurrence), but reached a slightly higher peak of 148.5 km/h at the end of the quarter-mile. The performance penalty vs the added security and surefootedness of all-wheel drive is thus negligible.

http://en.autos.sympatico.msn.ca/guides_an...umentid=5280796

So, when I'm stopped at a stop light and press the accelerator it is normal for a delay of up to 1 second for the engine to respond?

 

If that's normal it seems like an excellent reason NOT to go wireless.

 

Anyone know why the car doesn't do this when it's new and after miles are added it does?

 

. . . and if this is normal I certainly don't consider drive by wire an improvement in my driving experience.

2006/7 Ford Fusion: Technical Service Bulletins

07-2-3

VARIOUS DRIVEABILITY/TRANSMISSION SYMPTOMS - PCM/TCM CALIBRATION UPDATES - 3.0L - AISIN F21 AUTO TRANS

From the Ford's Workshop Manuals for the 2007 Fusion/Milan/MKZ:

Traction Control System — All Wheel Drive (AWD) [based on Ford's claims, this feature allows side to side power transfer]

The ABS module communicates with the powertrain control module (PCM) to assist with traction control. When the drive wheels lose traction and begin to spin, with vehicle speed under 100 km/h (62 mph), the ABS module requests the PCM to reduce engine torque while simultaneously applying and releasing the appropriate brake caliper(s) to maintain traction. The PCM accomplishes this by minor incremental timing changes and fewer fuel injector pulses until the ABS module ends the request. The request ends when the driven wheel speed returns to the desired speed. After the vehicle speed exceeds 100 km/h (62 mph), the traction control is accomplished only through the PCM torque control. The traction control system can be disabled by pressing the traction control switch and is indicated by the traction control light in the instrument cluster. The traction control system will reset and return to normal operation when the ignition switch is cycled, or when the traction control switch is pressed and released a second time during the same ignition cycle.

Traction Control System — Front Wheel Drive (FWD)

The traction control system is designed to limit wheel spin by modulating engine torque, in order to achieve maximum traction, when driving on slippery or loose surfaces.

Four Wheel Drive (4WD) Systems — All Wheel Drive (AWD)

Principles of Operation

The vehicle is equipped with a four wheel drive (4WD) system, also referred to as intelligent torque control coupling (ITCC) , that is always active and requires no driver input. The system has no mode select switch. The system combines transparent all-surface operation with AWD, and is capable of handling all road conditions, including street and highway driving as well as off-road and winter driving.

The system continuously monitors vehicle conditions and automatically adjusts the torque distribution between the front and rear wheels. During normal operation, most of the torque is sent to the front wheels. If wheel slip between the front and rear wheels is detected, or if the vehicle is under heavy acceleration (high throttle position), the AWD system increases torque to the rear wheels to prevent or control wheel slip.

The system consists of a power transfer unit (PTU), 4WD control module, rear axle and a solenoid actuated intelligent torque coupling control device. The module varies the torque sent to the rear wheels by sending a duty cycle based on the amount of current sent to the clutch to the active torque coupling device located inside the rear axle.

The 4WD control module also provides the brake system with its current clutch duty cycle and whether or not the brake system may take command of the clutch duty cycle.

The PTU is a gearbox that attaches to the transaxle. The RH halfshaft passes through the transfer case and engages the differential side gear as in normal front wheel drive (FWD) applications. The transaxle differential drives the PTU. The PTU then drives the driveshaft at all times. The driveshaft drives one half of the rear axle clutch pack. The other half of the rear axle clutch pack drives the rear axle ring and pinion.

Rear Drive Axle and Differential

The differential housing cover uses a silicone sealant rather than a gasket.

The halfshafts are held in the differential case by a driveshaft bearing retainer circlip that is located on the inboard CV joint stub shaft pilot bearing housing. When each halfshaft is installed, the driveshaft bearing retainer circlip engages a step in the differential side gear.

The rear drive axle operates as follows:

The rear axle drive pinion receives power from the engine through the transaxle, transfer case, driveshaft and active torque coupling, and is always engaged. The pinion gear rotates the ring gear, which is bolted to the differential case outer flange. Inside the differential case, 2 differential pinion gears are mounted on a differential pinion shaft which is pinned to the differential case. These differential pinion gears are engaged with the differential side gears to which the halfshafts are splined. As the differential case turns, it rotates the halfshafts and rear wheels. When it is necessary for one wheel and halfshaft to rotate faster than the other, the faster turning differential side gear causes the differential pinion gears to roll on the slower turning differential side gear. This allows differential action between the 2 halfshafts. The right halfshaft is longer than the left halfshaft.

The active torque coupling is installed as an assembly with the rear axle.

"Porsche calls this system Automatic Brake Differential (ABD),..."It's a beautifully simple and elegant,..."

http://www.whnet.com/4x4/ets.html

http://www.fordvehicles.com/cars/fusion/awd/

Traction 2006: Giant winter traction test , Mercedes-Benz C350 4MATIC ranked first:

http://www.canadiandriver.com/winter/traction2006.htm

I never did find a conclusive answer to my original question. Speculation isn't the same as a definitive answer. Based on my research on the 2007 500 AWD, it appears the rear differential would be an electronically actuated limited slip differential since it is a Haldex unit. The LSC would transmit power to the active coupling unit and that module would clamp the clutches in the rear differential as needed, transmitting power to both or one of the rear half-shafts.

 

The question is, has anyone determined if the CD3 AWD system is based on or similar to the Haldex unit, and if the front differential in the transaxle is indeed open, or if it is a Torsen-style limited slip? The 500 AWD's FSM entries did not contain anything that would indicate the differential in the transaxle was limited slip or open.

To clarify, if "eLSD" is referred to the Haldex 4.0 ( Saab xwd 2008) , then yes, it does have LSD with electronic control within the axle using "wet, multi-plate clutch units from Haldex". Here lies the confusion, I suggested that the Fusion AWD system function like "eLSD" without realizing that the Haldex 4.0 ( Saab xwd 2008) actually has mechanical components that qualifies as "true" LSD although electronically controlled within the axle. Akirby described the Fusion AWD side to side power transfer system as "Open diffs with traction control", while others on the net called it "ediff", "ELD","eLSD", "E-LSD",sucks,junk..etc. Here is one from Porsche:

"PSM also assists when you’re accelerating on a slippery surface, applying the integrated Automatic Brake Differential (ABD) and Anti- Slip Regulation (ASR) functions to help maintain traction and stability."

RWD open/standard differentials with Traction/ABS programed for side to side power transfer at work:

http://www.1addicts.com/forums/showthread.php?t=4483

Note that the reviewer said the BMW 135i has LSD. Did he mean "true" LSD? Was it modified? Stock BMW 135i does not come with "true" LSD.

At 39s in, notice inner rear wheel braking

http://www.bmwblog.com/2007/12/04/bmw-135i-drifting/

Again, inner rear wheel braking because of less traction which has an effect of transferring power to the outer rear wheel where there is more weight/traction resulting in oversteer. By applying steady throttle and counter steer, the car drifts.

Thanks akirby. I am looking at the 2007 500 AWD FSM and it shows that there is an electronic active coupling unit for the rear differential:

 

 

 

One of the diagrams showed "HALDEX" on a fluid pan, but this is on the 500 (before it was called Taurus). I understand this is not the same unit on the CD3 cars.

"The main role of the active on-demand coupling and the differential electronic module (DEM) is to regulate the all wheel drive (AWD) function by distributing torque between the front and rear axles." [ No side to side power transfer ]

http://f150online.com/forums/showthread.php?t=317410

Maybe they've improved the TC logic or it works differently with AWD. On the 2000 LS if you hit a bump while turning the TC would cut in and you could feel the braking and drop in torque - it was just like you had lifted off the accelerator. Very disconcerting. And many folks had problems trying to go up a hill because of that - it would lose all forward momentum. Sounds like they've improved it quite a bit.

What happens when TC is optimally calibrated?...it gets banned from F1.

http://www.f1technical.net/articles/7

" In our usual electronic acceleration measures, the top-of-the-line

Fusion SEL with AWD netted a 0-100 km/h time of 7.97 seconds and a ¼

mile time of 15.78 seconds, with a peak of 146.2 km/h. A front-wheel

drive SEL we tested earlier had turned in identical times of 7.97 and

15.78 seconds (quite a rare occurrence), but reached a slightly higher

peak of 148.5 km/h at the end of the quarter-mile. The performance

penalty vs the added security and surefootedness of all-wheel drive is

thus negligible. "

" The Fusion SEL and SEL AWD we ran through our usual simulated

emergency braking tests, from 100 km/h [62.14 mph], stopped over

respective distances of 43.75 and 42.8 metres [difference of 3.1

feet] , both weighted averages. "

http://en.autos.sympatico.msn.ca/guides_an...umentid=5280796

Autoweek's 2006 Fusion V6 FWD review:

STANDING-START ACCELERATION

0-60 mph: 7.5 sec

0-100 km/h (62.1 mph): 8.01 sec

0-quarter-mile: 15.7 sec @ 91.2 mph

BRAKING

60 mph-0: 132 ft

http://www.autoweek.com/apps/pbcs.dll/arti.../-1/mmstoryfull

Ford Fusion AWD tops FAMILY/AFFORDABLE category ( and guess the contender )

http://en.autos.sympatico.msn.ca/winterdri...umentid=1408348

Yes, it can to a certain point where the braking slows the forward progress too much. This seems to happen a lot in snow where both tires can lose grip at the same time. With a true LSD both wheels would spin freely until they found solid ground. Still not sure how you can apply TC to all 4 wheels independently with only 3 channel ABS.

For forward acceleration traction, TC( ABS pulsing) applies only to one of the wheels with greater slippage on the axle at any instant in time. With slight modification and computer control (" AWD system monitors vehicle conditions-and driver inputs-100 times a second "), the single rear ABS channel can pulse/brake either rear left or rear right( "eLSD" at work).

The Fusion AWD TC slows down wheel(s) slippage, not forward progress ( at least in a controllable manner ). In poor traction conditons, the wheel(s) with greater traction is still able to spin until the computer narrowed it down to one wheel if no forward progress is made(then you are in trouble). Remember, the Fusion AWD preprogramed parameters and along with " An active, on-demand coupler can deliver the precise amount of torque to the rear wheels up to 100 percent "

It does sort of imply a limited slip diff in the rear but I don't think it has one.

 

I do believe that the Taurus has 4 wheel Traction Control therefore it has the ability to apply brakes to a spinning front or rear wheel to transfer torque to the other one (not the same as limited slip but effective in most circumstances). It can do this because it has 4 channel ABS which gives the ability to modulate braking on all 4 wheels independently. This also allows for AdvanceTrac stability control.

 

The Fusion, OTOH, only has 3 channel ABS (design oversight) with only one channel to the rear so it can't provide TC on the rear wheels like the Taurus. That will be fixed at the end of this year.

 

I still don't think the Fusion or Taurus have locking or limited slip diffs in the front or rear.

Some details form Ford about the 2008 Lincoln MKZ awd ( 4-sensor/3-channel ABS):

http://ford.ca/main/default.asp?language=e...n&model=MKZ

"Together with standard Traction Control, AWD can even direct power side to side on each axle, allowing you to continue forward motion if only one wheel has grip"

About the Fusion Traction Control:

http://www.worldcarfans.com/2060529.005/fo...-control-system

"Traction control on the V-6 test car[Fusion] was just right -- perhaps unique in all the industry," Healey wrote. "It allowed tire spin when starting forcefully on slick roads and gradually eased the spinning without trying to stop it, allowing the car to keep moving forward as traction was gained. It should be unusually effective in winter and whenever some spinning helps forward progress."

From the various sources on the net I gathered, the Fusion 3-channel ABS comes with 4 sensors.

I think we can conclude that the Fusion does not have LSD in the traditional sense. However, with ABS sensors/Traction Control, the Fusion awd can perform with similar LSD effects to a certain extent.

I don't think Ford's AWD system is Haldex 4 based. The Ford system can shift torque front to rear but the front and rear diffs are open with electronic traction control only on the front (at least in the Fusion - the Taurus may have TC front and rear).

 

TC is no substitute for a true LSD or locking diff. It does work if only one wheel loses traction and the other one is on a dry surface but not if you're in snow or mud where you need to spin the wheels to dig down and find traction.

According to the Fusion 2007 brochure, the Fusion awd can send power/torque to the individual wheel that has traction ( the illustrations below suggest front and rear).

Ford Fusion awd illustrations provided by Ford:

http://www.fordvehicles.com/cars/fusion/awd/

And the Fusion awd "can deliver the precise amount of torque to the rear wheels up to 100 percent" http://www.mazdausamedia.com/article_displ...rticle_id=23516 The Fusion awd is more likely to get stuck resting on its belly in deep snow due to its relatively low ground clearance.

My worse winter city MPG is 16 during a cold week( -25/-32F, idling half the time ) and average summer city MPG is about 18-19.

So to answer my question, does the Fusion AWD really transmit power to all 4 wheels (disregarding bias for the time being) or does it have an open diff in the front and rear?

 

I have seen Ford's traction control in action and it hardly functions the same as a limited slip or locking differential. Ford's trac ctrl with an open differential spells doom for traction, while the trac ctrl can only assist a functional limited slip differential.

 

The reason I ask is that I could *live* with a FWD-biased AWD system if it functioned like a FWD w/ a limited slip differential and a RWD w/ a limited slip differential. I do not want an AWD system that can only transmit power to 2 out of the 4 wheels (like a 4x4 with front and rear open diffs).

 

I also read that the Fusion AWD owners are getting abysmal gas mileage in the city. I thought the whole point of a reactive AWD is to boost fuel economy.

Regarding the Fusion awd poor mileage complaints found on the internet, I think poster "urnews" alone is responsible for at least half of them (LOL).

You can think of the front/rear differential as an "eLSD", see under "Electronic" http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Limited_slip_differential ( reason why the Fusion awd comes with Traction Control and ABS is a required option for the 2007 awd models)

I think if Ford were to reveal details about the Fusion awd system, it would be something like this:

http://www.autoblog.com/2007/11/30/saab-xw...ystem-up-close/

As for my Fusion se awd 2007, the gas mileages have been better than the EPA's updated/revised estimates.

2007 (April built) SE Awd (oem tires):

Fill up tank at Mackenzie Lake Esso Calgary (Canada), reset avg speed, L/100 Km( US MPG) and by the time I arrived in Edmonton, 300Km(186.4 Miles), avg speed 108 Km/H (67.11 Mph), it reads 7.3 L/100 Km (32.22 US Mpg).

Driver + 2 passengers= about 450lb, all tires at about 34 psi, 87 octane gas on the pump ( auto gas in Alberta is relatively "clean"), and 4 quick passes from say 70Mph to 80 Mph.

My rough estimated city US Mpg is about 19.60 ( no congestions, just the typical city traffic lights in Edmonton, 8 Miles oneway to/from work at 5:30 am/2:30pm). The mornings in the past week has been relatively cold, -2 c (28.40 F) this morning.

Unit conversions help from:

http://www.convertunit.com/fuel-consumption-calculator.php

Don't know how much a car person you are or how you value your time, how about importing a car( the ones you may love) from the States.

Currency Converter http://finance.yahoo.com/currency/convert?...;amt=1&t=1y

Auto - WOW ---- New cars from US up to 20% cheaper (cost to import under $200) [ maybe up to 30% now!, LOL]

http://www.redflagdeals.com/forums/showthread.php?t=307601