What does ECT Snow do?
Pole Position
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 219
Likes: 2
From: CO
are you familiar with a standard transfer case with 4HI and 4LO settings???
AWD drive vehicles are 4wd all the time
selectable 2wd and 4wd vehicles usually give the driver the option of going from 2wd into 4wd with either 4HI or 4LO. 4HI is roughly equivalent to a AWD vehicle, with all speeds being safe to drive in, with 4LO being the equivalent of ECT SNOW, with the tranny locked into 1st gear only, or 1st and 2nd, gears only
Driver School Candidate
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 4
Likes: 0
From: New Hampshire
No low range in RX's
There is NO LOW RANGE GEARING in the transfer case, which is really just a center diff. in a RX or Highlander. 4Lo is only in dual range 4WD vehicles.
CL Community Team
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 16,557
Likes: 1,385
From: Austin, TX
Snow mode is not for driving in snow. Its impact is only in moving from stand still. [it locks out 1st gear]. Snow is just a name. and this setting can be used in mud as well.
Salim
Salim
Lexus Champion
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 4,507
Likes: 38
From: Bethlehem Twsp. Pennsylvania
are you familiar with a standard transfer case with 4HI and 4LO settings???
AWD drive vehicles are 4wd all the time
selectable 2wd and 4wd vehicles usually give the driver the option of going from 2wd into 4wd with either 4HI or 4LO. 4HI is roughly equivalent to a AWD vehicle, with all speeds being safe to drive in, with 4LO being the equivalent of ECT SNOW, with the tranny locked into 1st gear only, or 1st and 2nd, gears only
AWD drive vehicles are 4wd all the time
selectable 2wd and 4wd vehicles usually give the driver the option of going from 2wd into 4wd with either 4HI or 4LO. 4HI is roughly equivalent to a AWD vehicle, with all speeds being safe to drive in, with 4LO being the equivalent of ECT SNOW, with the tranny locked into 1st gear only, or 1st and 2nd, gears only
"There is NO LOW RANGE GEARING in the transfer case, which is really just a center diff. in a RX or Highlander. 4Lo is only in dual range 4WD vehicles." What he said!! These are NOT jeeps were talking about here.
It`s a Lexus AWD. Not to be confused with off road abilities.
Pole Position
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 219
Likes: 2
From: CO
i agree that we're not talking about jeeps... hence when i made a comparison that it is similar to a 4LO setting on selectable transfer case. ECT SNOW keeps the gear low and applies more torque to get the wheels moving
Jeff
Driver School Candidate
Joined: Feb 2013
Posts: 1
Likes: 0
From: IL
Ect snow button & gears
Hello Lexus Owners!
In Chicago and fighting another mini blizzard. I used my ECT button on my RX330 (2005). I understand the trans starts in "2nd gear" from a stopped position; however, my vehicle still slides when driving due to the slushy conditions - not speed!
Does anyone know if there are any GEAR restrictions when using the ECT SNOW button. For instance, can I use "4" , "3" or LO without tampering with the transmission? I just feel I need more traction. By the way, I bought new tires a few months ago.
In Chicago and fighting another mini blizzard. I used my ECT button on my RX330 (2005). I understand the trans starts in "2nd gear" from a stopped position; however, my vehicle still slides when driving due to the slushy conditions - not speed!
Does anyone know if there are any GEAR restrictions when using the ECT SNOW button. For instance, can I use "4" , "3" or LO without tampering with the transmission? I just feel I need more traction. By the way, I bought new tires a few months ago.
Driver
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 179
Likes: 1
From: N/A
I have no idea how AWD vehicle could still slide on low speed (unless you have really, really bad winter), so I can think of 2 reasons only:
1. This is not AWD model.
2. Bad tires. Good winter tires cost about $1500 or more, so don't save on them.
P.S. We have some "wild" winters here, and I never had any troubles with my RX + good snow tires.
1. This is not AWD model.
2. Bad tires. Good winter tires cost about $1500 or more, so don't save on them.
P.S. We have some "wild" winters here, and I never had any troubles with my RX + good snow tires.
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Hello Lexus Owners!
In Chicago and fighting another mini blizzard. I used my ECT button on my RX330 (2005). I understand the trans starts in "2nd gear" from a stopped position; however, my vehicle still slides when driving due to the slushy conditions - not speed!
Does anyone know if there are any GEAR restrictions when using the ECT SNOW button. For instance, can I use "4" , "3" or LO without tampering with the transmission? I just feel I need more traction. By the way, I bought new tires a few months ago.
In Chicago and fighting another mini blizzard. I used my ECT button on my RX330 (2005). I understand the trans starts in "2nd gear" from a stopped position; however, my vehicle still slides when driving due to the slushy conditions - not speed!
Does anyone know if there are any GEAR restrictions when using the ECT SNOW button. For instance, can I use "4" , "3" or LO without tampering with the transmission? I just feel I need more traction. By the way, I bought new tires a few months ago.
Moderator
Joined: Feb 2013
Posts: 2,498
Likes: 244
From: Milwaukee, Wi
I'm currently in Atlanta waiting for a flight back home to Milwaukee. Apparently the snow is coming down rather hard right now, so I'll be able to finally give Snow setting a try when I get home tonight. As far as any transmission restrictions, I haven't read of any. It just sets up the trans ECM to skip 1st gear and start out in second. I know the "power" setting changes the shift points slightly and it feels a little more "solid" when going into gear, but I didn't experience that with the "snow" setting.
Perhaps Lexmex or Salim can chime in??
Perhaps Lexmex or Salim can chime in??
Lead Lap
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 3,999
Likes: 37
From: FL
I have no idea how AWD vehicle could still slide on low speed (unless you have really, really bad winter), so I can think of 2 reasons only:
1. This is not AWD model.
2. Bad tires. Good winter tires cost about $1500 or more, so don't save on them.
P.S. We have some "wild" winters here, and I never had any troubles with my RX + good snow tires.
1. This is not AWD model.
2. Bad tires. Good winter tires cost about $1500 or more, so don't save on them.
P.S. We have some "wild" winters here, and I never had any troubles with my RX + good snow tires.
Lead Lap
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 3,999
Likes: 37
From: FL
Hello Lexus Owners!
In Chicago and fighting another mini blizzard. I used my ECT button on my RX330 (2005). I understand the trans starts in "2nd gear" from a stopped position; however, my vehicle still slides when driving due to the slushy conditions - not speed!
Does anyone know if there are any GEAR restrictions when using the ECT SNOW button. For instance, can I use "4" , "3" or LO without tampering with the transmission? I just feel I need more traction. By the way, I bought new tires a few months ago.
In Chicago and fighting another mini blizzard. I used my ECT button on my RX330 (2005). I understand the trans starts in "2nd gear" from a stopped position; however, my vehicle still slides when driving due to the slushy conditions - not speed!
Does anyone know if there are any GEAR restrictions when using the ECT SNOW button. For instance, can I use "4" , "3" or LO without tampering with the transmission? I just feel I need more traction. By the way, I bought new tires a few months ago.
ECT SNOW only puts you in 2nd gear. You can still put your vehicle in a lower gear should you choose to do so. However, from the sound of your situation I am going to say you are getting the power down you are just not getting any grip. So, a few things come to mind:
1. what tires do you have? size? these will have a big influence on your problem new or otherwise.
2. you may be coming across areas of ice below the snow and slush. little you can do about that and you are going to slip and slide.
3. are you getting any dashboard lights coming on regarding stability or traction control while your RX is slipping around?
I have routinely driven around in PA with 6" of snow on the ground, along unplowed back roads, with a standard FWD 2004 RX330 on Bridgestone Alenza tires. Never had a problem.
Driver
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 179
Likes: 1
From: N/A
Not very sure of prices in US, but it's impossible to buy a set of good winter tires for less than $1000 (this is the minimum amount needed) in EU
Lead Lap
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 3,999
Likes: 37
From: FL
There are plenty of places online to compare tire prices. Here in the US, prices on snow tires are no worse than all-season tires with the upper end being around $200 (plus or minus) per tire not including installation. Much of that "$1500" you are paying over there is in taxes I might assume.
CL Community Team
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 17,329
Likes: 210
From: Miami, Florida
Tires were also expensive in Mexico. I ended up paying close to $250 USD a piece for my 235-70-16 Michelin CrossTerrains and that was about 5 years ago. I never complained about tires prices in the U.S. after living down there.