An engineer told me. My98 Acura 3.5 has a transfer case. Its not 4WD but engine isnt sideways and its FWD. I hear in Japan the same car comes with a supercharger and its AWD .

Do both my front tries spin equally like posi?

[This message has been edited by DanDamage (edited 05-10-2015).]

Transfer case splits power between front and rear wheel(s). It's NOT a transmission. There are full time and part time t cases as well as hybrids. Doesn't matter what orientation your motor is. If you have a t case, technically, you have 4wd even though that tends to be a truck term and technically is probably a lie. Very few vehicles (truck or car) have true 4 wheel drive. If you don't have a limited slip differential (LSD), you'll only get 1 wheel per axle with power. I have a "4wd" Blazer withOUT LSDs so, when I'm in 4wd mode, I'm still only powering 2 wheels (one in front and one in back). I can't speak for your Acura but I'd guess it doesn't have LSDs. The rule is if the t case powered both axles all the time, it was AWD. If you could switch between both axles being powered and only 1 axle with power, it was called 4wd. It doesn't matter, car or truck however, both terms are technically correct for either scenario.

4 wheel drive, All wheel drive, quatro drive, etc, are all marketing terms. For instance, I have a Volvo S40 with AWD. But, it's really FWD with an as-needed RWD when the fronts lose traction. The transfer case handles the power to the rear wheels when the fronts lose traction.

If you have a transfer case then it's in addition to the transmission and you have some form of 4WD.

Here are my distinctions for automotive applications...

Transmission: takes engine power as an input and and sends it to either a differential or transfer case.
Transfer Case: takes transmission power at an input and sends it to a differential, normally they are used to split power F/R in 4WD and AWD applications.
Transaxle: takes engine power as an input and sends it to the wheels via axle shafts (has integrated differential).

Most of the Transaxle based AWD versions (typically cars, not trucks), still have a transfer case section that bolts on to provide the power to the rear wheels, however, some also have the transfer case fully integrated into a single transaxle housing.

quote Originally posted by DanDamage: Do both my front tries spin equally like posi?

Floor it at a standstill in a straight line and see if it leaves one or two black stripes on the pavement.

so does my model which is not AWD, only FWD with a transfer case, get both tires equal power? or is that not the case?

quote Originally posted by DanDamage: so does my model which is not AWD, only FWD with a transfer case, get both tires equal power? or is that not the case?

I really don't know the mechanicals of an Acura, but even if the engine is mounted longitudinally, if it isn't AWD why would it have a transfer case?

If you read This, whenever it mentions a transfer case, it is in reference to AWD.

[This message has been edited by FrugalFiero (edited 05-10-2015).]

It does according to the Engineer I had look at it

[This message has been edited by DanDamage (edited 05-10-2015).]

The engineer was probably messing with you. Either that, or he isn't very automotive savvy.

quote Originally posted by Blacktree: The engineer was probably messing with you. Either that, or he isn't very automotive savvy.

That sounds like the problem,

OK why not, here is my thinking on the subject, now remember I am not an engineer, but I did stay at a holiday inn once, a while ago.

A transmission does send power from the motor to the drive wheels, but so does a transfer case, Dodge caravan FWD minivans have a transfer case that is part of the transmission. So in that case would it be considered both. And those very same minivans also had a AWD option as well.

So aren't they both transmissions as well as those with 4 WD have a high and low gear set as well some of the newer ones have other drive setups using the computer.

So aren't they both transmissions ?

Steve
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Technology is great when it works,
and one big pain in the ass when it doesn't



Detroit iron rules all the rest are just toys.

[This message has been edited by 84fiero123 (edited 05-10-2015).]

After some research. My RL 3.5 does indeed have a FWD transfer case. So do both wheels receive equal power?

https://www.partmyride.com/...on=1&campaign=uswide


My car has an AWD version as well, same 3.5L but supercharged

Have you actually looked up under your car? Could you post a pic of the transfer case? Maybe the rear axle? Because something is not adding up.

i dont got a lift, but here is a pic of the 98 trans

[This message has been edited by DanDamage (edited 05-11-2015).]

Ok, looks like a standard FWD transmission (aka transaxle). Seriously, if you have a transfer case, it must be AWD, otherwise, why would there be one? I just do not see any other reason unless it's a hybrid and the transfer case connects to an electric motor or something like that. The whole purpose of a transfer case is to transfer power from the transmission to something else like a differential. I have 3 vehicles with transfer cases. The S40 AWD and the transfer case is managed by a computer. A 4x4 S10 Blazer and the transfer case is manual, engaged with a big lever by your knee. And a 2007 Honda CR-V which runs AWD all the time.

If you do not have a differential for each axel (front and rear) then you don't have a transfer case. The wheels get power based on the differential that sends the power. Some cars have 3 differentials. One for each front and back, to differentiate between left to right, and one differential in a transfer case to differentiate the traction to front wheels or back wheels.

[This message has been edited by Rickady88GT (edited 05-11-2015).]

then whats this?

http://jdmengineland.com/im...uto_transmission.jpg

Looks like a transmission for a FWD car.

Here is a 4T40 for a FWD car (can be made to fit the Fiero since we basically have a FWD setup in the back):



Here is the wikipedia on transfer cases:

A transfer case is a part of a four-wheel-drive system found in four-wheel-drive and all-wheel-drive vehicles. The transfer case is connected to the transmission and also to the front and rear axles by means of drive shafts. It is also referred to as a "transfer gearcase", "transfer gearbox","transfer box", "jockey box", or simply "T-case".

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transfer_case

There are also cars with engine in front and tranny in back, still no transfer case..

quote Originally posted by DanDamage: then whats this? http://jdmengineland.com/im...uto_transmission.jpg

Do you actually have one of those in your car? Or is that just a file photo?
Do you have AWD?

Your Acura 3.5 does not use a transfer case, in the traditional sense. But technically, yes it has a transfer case integrated into the transmission housing. It transfers power from the rear of the transmission to a front differential through the transfer shaft, rear end is closed off omitting power to be transferred to the rear wheels. The awd version has an open rear with a drive shaft to the rear differential, think Subaru. It is very similar to a FWD Subaru, been ages since I've seen one. Does it use a limited slip? Depends, but not likely, more common on the manual Legends. Those transmissions used in the RL and Legend were inherntly weak, often stripping out the teeth between the transfer shaft and differential. Take it easy on it.

Found this diagram doing a google search. It is from THIS website which references a 1998 Acura.

I do not see a transfer case. I do see a FWD engine / transaxle that is installed in a longitudinal configuration. It looks like it has a jackshaft to transmit power to the differential, but it would appear that all transaxle parts are enclosed in the same case.

Edit: If the diagram doesn't display properly - link here: http://www.moibibiki.com/im...ura-rl-engine-10.jpg

[This message has been edited by FrugalFiero (edited 05-12-2015).]

quote Originally posted by FrugalFiero: Found this diagram doing a google search. It is from THIS website which references a 1998 Acura. I do not see a transfer case. I do see a FWD engine / transaxle that is installed in a longitudinal configuration. It looks like it has a jackshaft to transmit power to the differential, but it would appear that all transaxle parts are enclosed in the same case. Edit: If the diagram doesn't display properly - link here: http://www.moibibiki.com/im...ura-rl-engine-10.jpg

That one is an Automatic, did they come in a manual?
It does look like the 300M and Subaru drive train.
But it also looks like the GM Caddy AWD drive train too, less the transfer case.

[This message has been edited by Rickady88GT (edited 05-12-2015).]

If they make an AWD variant I'm sure the transmission has a transfer case or center diff to be used for AWD. Just since yours is FWD they did not put in a drive shaft or rear axle. Also that has nothing to do if your differential has limited slip or not, I'm sure it doesn't. 90% or cars don't, 99% of FWD cars don't.

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1987 Fiero GTX 3800 Turbo... My Build, ST3 Cam, Lowered, Wheels, and pics enjoy!https://www.fiero.nl/forum/Forum1/HTML/089483.html

quote Originally posted by IanT720: If they make an AWD variant I'm sure the transmission has a transfer case or center diff to be used for AWD. Just since yours is FWD they did not put in a drive shaft or rear axle. Also that has nothing to do if your differential has limited slip or not, I'm sure it doesn't. 90% or cars don't, 99% of FWD cars don't.

exactly

thanks all

its automanual" aka trictronic shifting

[This message has been edited by DanDamage (edited 05-14-2015).]

quote Originally posted by DanDamage: exactly thanks all its automanual" aka trictronic shifting

Sorry if this makes things more complex, but it takes a bit more than just a change in direction of power flow to equate a transfer case. A transfer case has a differential at the least and can also have a gear or two extra to change the final drive ratio. A spool is not a differential.

[This message has been edited by Rickady88GT (edited 05-14-2015).]