Home Forums Gear Hunting Trucks and Four-Wheel Drives Is the Chevy "Auto 4x4" button any good?

Sounds about right? Looked it up at the time, thinking it was some sorta little "heating filament" doohickus? BTW, it was on a new Sonoma ext. cab 4x4.

Second worst part of the deal, was that the dealer was shut down for almost a week due to the blizzard, so we were "stuck" without 4WD just when we really needed it. On the brighter side, the truck actually got around fairly well in 2WD, thanks to the factory locking rear and new tires.

Thanks guys, that gives me what I needed to know.

I guess I'm the dissenter in the group. I've got a 2003 Z71 with 200,000 miles on it, and have never turned the 'auto' 4wd on. Same for my wifes 2007 Z71 with 60,000 miles. I'm either in 2wd, or 4wd. I don't really have a good reason for doing it that way, just something in my head saying I don't want it switching back and forth without me controlling it.

Getting back to this.

Cheesy

From my experiance you won't even feel it go in or out of 4wd.

Have now had two GMs with that button and have used 'em a time or two. Driving on the highway, with varying road conditions encountered (some bare, some wet, some icy and some snow covered), 'bout fits the purpose of "the button".

If'n ya want to pretend it isn't there, then don't use it?

Why someone would choose to drive under the above conditions, with the thing punched into 4WD high, or continually opting in and out of that choice, escapes me?

Yep, great when the conditions are kind of "iffy", mixed snow etc on the streets. Occasional slick spots. Off-road, I usually go with 4Hi, but also use the Auto 4x4 setting out on gravel roads if it has been wet.

Yep, good for varied road terrain. I too have heard reports of premature wear if it is left in auto all the time. I believe it locks the axle hubs but leaves the t case in 2wd. Then when slippage is detected, it can shift the t case without the delay of waiting for the hubs to lock.

I have heard it referred to as the wife button since your wife can use it and doesn't have to worry about messing anything up. That works for me.