Kia Sportage 2wd has a 4wd Lock button ??

vidapura

HI Folks,
I was out test driving a 2006 Kia Sportage (petrol 2.0l) this morning.
I noticed that there is a button on the dash to the right of the steering wheel, next to the ESP button, that reads "4WD Lock"...

And I'm scratching my head as to what thats all about?

The owner says its a 2WD .. so am a bit confused.

Having the ability to turn on a 4WD mode when backing my boat down a slipway would really make me interested in this yoke.

Thanks
Vida

ltdslipdiff

Best bet is get down on all fours and have a look in under and see if there's an axle running down to the rear. As far as I remember most if not all of those earlier Sportages were 4x4, thirsty wenches too !

Bpmull

"4wd lock" locks the diffs and gives a 50/50 split between front and rear diffs ie each wheel gets 25% of the power but you wouldn't drive around with 4wd lock on most have a speed limit when this is switched on it. It's really only if you are stuck or struggling at low speeds. If that's the only button that normally means the jeep is normally in constant automatic 4wd mode ie sending the power to whatever wheels that need it.

colm_mcm

This explains it very well.

http://www.kia-forums.com/2011-2013-xm-sorento-forum/69046-2011-sorento-awd-explained.html

Special Circumstances

So,is the consensus here that

A) we have the mythical stereotypical irish driver here - seller convinced for years he had a 2wd despite a 4wd related button staring him in the face?

seller is a trader who knows bog all about a yoke he got at auction?

C) all models came with default buttons and this car could be a 2wd with a non functional 4wd related button?


Edit, D) it was originally 4wd but something unfortunate and expensive to repair led to it being nobbled and sold on as 2wd?

colm_mcm

You'll know the 4wd is on because it'll crab all over the place when you steer.

Also there's a light...

_Brian

What are the chances that the prop shaft is removed... I know some chancers will drop out the prop shaft if there are drive train problems..
Its a straight NCT fail if its been done, fella at work got caught with a freelander like this..


thus he's selling it as a 2WD ??

OR.. he's an idiot !

Dia1988

Special Circumstances wrote: »

So,is the consensus here that

A) we have the mythical stereotypical irish driver here - seller convinced for years he had a 2wd despite a 4wd related button staring him in the face?

seller is a trader who knows bog all about a yoke he got at auction?

C) all models came with default buttons and this car could be a 2wd with a non functional 4wd related button?


Edit, D) it was originally 4wd but something unfortunate and expensive to repair led to it being nobbled and sold on as 2wd?

E) It could be an intentional clever Marketing ploy by KIA Motors to fit all 2WD Sportages with non-functioning 4WD buttons, to distill disappointment into owners for being tight arses for not spending an extra 3-4k on a proper functioning 4WD system. KIA Motors foresee owners upgrade their 2WD Sportages to 4wd Sportages, thereby selling extra volume of Sportages at a higher margin.

Special Circumstances

Dia1988 wrote: »

E) It could be an intentional clever Marketing ploy by KIA Motors to fit all 2WD Sportages with non-functioning 4WD buttons, to distill disappointment into owners for being tight arses for not spending an extra 3-4k on a proper functioning 4WD system. KIA Motors foresee owners upgrade their 2WD Sportages to 4wd Sportages, thereby selling extra volume of Sportages at a higher margin.

It just plays random noises when you press it - that buzzer noise you get in TV gameshows when some makes the wrong choice, Nelson from the Simpsons laughing at you, donkey braying, toilet flushing etc...

vidapura

Ha ha,
Just logged on this morning to find all the above replies.
Great wit to be had here on boards.

Yeah, I was in a real rush when I viewed the yoke.. I should of course have looked underneath, but it was lunchtime, and it was lashing rain, and I didn't want to go back to work covered in muck.

Any of the sportages I've seen advertised as 4wd actually have a 4wd drive badge above the forward wheel arch.
The seller is no dope, mechanical type, who drives a v6 toerag and who bought the sportage for De-Wife.
So tis a certainty that its 2wd.

Having discussed it with the Erudite Council of the Afternoon Coffee Break, their considered opinion is that it was just Kia Inc. kept costs down by producing a single version of the dash. And if the thing had 4wd then they connected up the button, if not they didn't connect it. Just left it there filling a hole in the dash.

And sad tho I am that this would put paid to all the great conspiracy theories espoused here .. I'm inclined to agree.
Boring as it sounds...

I'm going to go back and have another look when the rain eases off anyway and will put it to rest.

Thanks for all the interest folks!

Vida

colm_mcm

2wd sportage here

http://cars.donedeal.ie/cars-for-sale/kia-sportage-2-0-crdi-gse-2wd-low-mi/8719737?offset=2

No button.


There's no way they'd fit a button that does nothing.

Hyundai Tucsons have 4wd badge on the wing.

vidapura

Special Circumstances wrote: »

So,is the consensus here that

A) we have the mythical stereotypical irish driver here - seller convinced for years he had a 2wd despite a 4wd related button staring him in the face?

Special said it first, and colm_mcann was certain... kudos to both of ye!

Yes folks its true.. The mythical irish confused.com is alive and kicking...the seller didn't know he has a 4WD !!!

I got the sportage over to my local garage.
Put it up on the lift. Walked in under. Looked up.
And Laughed!!!
Yup, there it was, a drive shaft going all the way to the back axle.
Despite the lack of a 4wd badge..

So, before taking it back to the seller I stopped off on some scrub and depressed the Lock button and tried it out.. yup.. all four wheels doing their thing on the gravel..
So, it not only has the 4wd option but it works too!!

Very hard to believe this guy in particular wouldn't have known.
I know it was bought for his mammy and all.. but seriously... I even pointed at the button on the dash and asked what it was for. He was certain tis a 2wd.

Now I'm off to do a bit of haggling about the price...

Anybody know how much a towbar would cost?

Dia1988

vidapura wrote: »

Special said it first, and colm_mcann was certain... kudos to both of ye!

Yes folks its true.. The mythical irish confused.com is alive and kicking...the seller didn't know he has a 4WD !!!

I got the sportage over to my local garage.
Put it up on the lift. Walked in under. Looked up.
And Laughed!!!
Yup, there it was, a drive shaft going all the way to the back axle.
Despite the lack of a 4wd badge..

So, before taking it back to the seller I stopped off on some scrub and depressed the Lock button and tried it out.. yup.. all four wheels doing their thing on the gravel..
So, it not only has the 4wd option but it works too!!

Very hard to believe this guy in particular wouldn't have known.
I know it was bought for his mammy and all.. but seriously... I even pointed at the button on the dash and asked what it was for. He was certain tis a 2wd.

Now I'm off to do a bit of haggling about the price...

Anybody know how much a towbar would cost?

I still prefer my explanation


Quote:
Originally Posted by Dia1988 View Post
E) It could be an intentional clever Marketing ploy by KIA Motors to fit all 2WD Sportages with non-functioning 4WD buttons, to distill disappointment into owners for being tight arses for not spending an extra 3-4k on a proper functioning 4WD system. KIA Motors foresee owners upgrade their 2WD Sportages to 4wd Sportages, thereby selling extra volume of Sportages at a higher margin.

Cee-Jay-Cee

vidapura wrote: »

Having discussed it with the Erudite Council of the Afternoon Coffee Break, their considered opinion is that it was just Kia Inc. kept costs down by producing a single version of the dash. And if the thing had 4wd then they connected up the button, if not they didn't connect it. Just left it there filling a hole in the dash.

And sad tho I am that this would put paid to all the great conspiracy theories espoused here .. I'm inclined to agree.
Boring as it sounds...

I hope you and your work Colleagues never have to consider anything important when the general consensus was that Kia fitted a non functioning part in order to save money rather than the obvious which should have been its a 4WD but the seller didn't realise/know.

goz83

Typical irish mentality.

Paddy goes to a carboot sale.

Paddy sees old jewellery box for €10 he thinks the wife would like.

Upon further inspection, paddy uncovers a secret compartment, filled with millions of euros worth of diamonds.

Paddy shouts to seller "will ya take a fiver for it?"

colm_mcm

What's this Paddy ****e about. If you used the same analogy to stereotype another nationality you would be labelled a racist.

machiavellianme

_Brian wrote: »

What are the chances that the prop shaft is removed... I know some chancers will drop out the prop shaft if there are drive train problems..
Its a straight NCT fail if its been done, fella at work got caught with a freelander like this..


thus he's selling it as a 2WD ??

OR.. he's an idiot !

I don't see why it should be a straight fail to remove a propshaft?
As long as the 2wd runs correctly, the car is still safe and road worthy?

goz83

colm_mcm wrote: »

What's this Paddy ****e about. If you used the same analogy to stereotype another nationality you would be labelled a racist.

Well, as you know, i'm very much Irish, so there isn't a need to take my post out of context. Paddy, being a very common Irish name, shortened from Patrick and unfortunately used to describe an ethnic minority in some cases. It's pretty obvious that I wasn't being in anyway insulting and was pointing out that even when an absolute bargain is in front of the average Irish person, they will still try get a few quid off (myself included). I try to make a joke from time to time.

CianRyan

colm_mcm wrote: »

What's this Paddy ****e about. If you used the same analogy to stereotype another nationality you would be labelled a racist.

Not if it was made by that same nationality.

Skylinehead

vidapura wrote: »

Now I'm off to do a bit of haggling about the price...

Surely the 4wd version would cost more no?

CianRyan

Skylinehead wrote: »

Surely the 4wd version would cost more no?

What he doesn't know...