Back when my buddy was looking to get a D-max(the one now stolen) he was coming from a 99 gmc 1/2ton sierra that was loaded and had the auto 4wd feature. He was really wanting it on this truck but the folk at the dealer said it wasnt an option...they claimed it was something to do w/the alli... Curious if this is the real deal or osmething else...

Alli....no way. It's the power and the case/friction plates stuff. GM even dropped the AUTO from the 8.1 burb because they can gut them out so fast.





Burner------------>http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/smiley4.gif

Burner nailed it on the head, too much torque and power in the DMax for autotrack - it's a 1500 option only. We doan need no steenkin Soccer Mom auto 4x4!http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/smiley17.gif

I agree we don't need no soccer mom suv, but I owned an 01 8.1 Suburban before my 04 D/A. I will admit that while towing even in the summer with a big trailer attached that in heavy rainy days and water in the ruts in the road I would turn on the auto 4x4 to help pull through the water and prevent hydroplaning. In the winter pulling the big snowmobile trailers it was helpful with the on and off again snow and slushy roads without the full 4x4 high engaged all the time. I understand that the power would/could tear it up, but it was nice in the 8.1 and I used it quite a bit. Maybe just personal preference, but you could instantly feel the power shift from wheel to wheel and keep you going straight. JMHO.

My first diesel was a '99 6.5TD 2-door Tahoe. Being a 1500, it had the autotrack 4wd (as well as a 9.5" rear diff and some other "light duty" issues with the engine and emissions). I drove it in some pretty serious winter conditions in Wisconsin and Illinois and personally never really felt that the autotrack was any major benefit. It was nice in the changeable conditions you mentioned, but I was more likely than not to run 2wd or 4wd high and skip autotrack altogether.

It is bad enough that they put that auto locking diff in the truck. Last year it went out in the middle of a blizzard in my 95. Try plowing 2 feet of snow in 2wd. I would love manual hubs again. I would never own a truck with push button shifting. I'll take my manually shifted 4x4. I can fell it in gear and not rely on some electronic crap that will break in the least opportune time.

Auto 4x4 would probably also send your stock tie rods to hell with the dmax.

The front differential has locked up with an electric valve since 1988 whether you had a floor shifter or a push button. Later! Frank

Yea, regarding tie rods and ball joints, I used the Auto4x4 quite a bit and replaced all the tie rods, upper ball joints, drag link and pitman arm on my 01 Suburban in under 50,000 miles; service tech took one look at it and said "use the auto4x4 alot don't ya" (he knew we snowmobiled all over in the winter and raced in the summer-so he knew how much I used it). Yup! :) Didn't matter to me, was still under warranty and new owner liked seeing the entire front end being brand new again! http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/hihi.gif

I don't think that is a front differential lock-up, Frank.


It is instead an axle connect/disconnect. The front differential itself is open. Probably what you meant.......

Turfmower is right. We had 2 GM's on the ranch. A '91 2500 and a '95 3500 (both pieces of sh*t). The manual shift isn't tough enough as it is. The front ends aren't built heavy enough either. They both had flatbeds on them, and in the winter we would put a feeder on them and feed our cows with them everyday. Starting with the 95 we made it about a month before it had to go to the shop for approximatly $2000 worth of work. Then moving to the 91, it went about a month before both front axles broke. We finally had to put the feeder on an old worn out Ford, but at least it didn't break down. MANUAL HUBS. NO ELECTRONICS. MADE OF METAL.http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/smiley32.gif


The regular 4wd isn't good enough. I think that the auto would be even worse. Esspecially w/some power behind it.