Ive had quite a number of these cars but never an AWD. I currently have an 05 TW vrx in orange (sold my 2010 xr6 turbo for it) and absolutely love the drive quality compared to the ford. Miss the power of turbo tho.
last weekend I bought a 2003 tj series 2 AWD for weekend enjoyment and the farm. Pretty plain jane car but holy moly the grip and road presence is incredible. Absolutely love it. I want both my cars combined into one.

I picked it up for 3k. Its done 120k km and has a bit of paint peeling in the front. Think the owner wanted to rid it because it ticks slightly on startup. A good flush and new oil its all good. The tranny needs a change too.

The one thing that bothers me is the vibration when accelerating reasonably hard. Cant feel it really when just ccrusing and its only noticable in the mid rev range in gear 1, 2 and kinda 3.

Dies anyone else have that and what might be a good place to ty reduce it.

A good full tranny flush with proper mitsu fluid will do wonders with the shudder.
Enjoy the AWD, I know I do

I see. Will do that asap. Tempermental things.
Both my cars hate changing down to 2nd from 3rd in tippy. They shunt like hell

Ive had quite a number of these cars but never an AWD. I currently have an 05 TW vrx in orange (sold my 2010 xr6 turbo for it) and absolutely love the drive quality compared to the ford. Miss the power of turbo tho.
last weekend I bought a 2003 tj series 2 AWD for weekend enjoyment and the farm. Pretty plain jane car but holy moly the grip and road presence is incredible. Absolutely love it. I want both my cars combined into one.

I picked it up for 3k. Its done 120k km and has a bit of paint peeling in the front. Think the owner wanted to rid it because it ticks slightly on startup. A good flush and new oil its all good. The tranny needs a change too.

The one thing that bothers me is the vibration when accelerating reasonably hard. Cant feel it really when just ccrusing and its only noticable in the mid rev range in gear 1, 2 and kinda 3.

Dies anyone else have that and what might be a good place to ty reduce it.
Congrats and welcome to the AWD club! Absolutely amazing experience after the FWD isn't it?
My experience is that there are a few additional vibes and shocks in the AWD over the FWD but the joy of the additional traction balances the less refined ride quality.
+1 on the flush of the ATF. Get a full flush with the proper mits fluid.
I have also noticed in 1st gear on take-off there is a short vibe felt through the floor sometimes. I think the front shafts and joints are critical but i don't think we will ever have the same smooth experience as the FWD.
Let us know how it handles on the farm!

drove my vrx again today. love the hum of that exhaust note and the refined feel of the TW.
took the car out to a friends farm this afternoon and had a bit of a play with grip. incredible is all i can say. what a machine! tried yo get it stuck but nope. am going to enjoy this awd without being a truck

Welcome
Recently bought an AWD as well, absolutely love it
Mine's an '03 TJ Sport
Plenty of grip to handle nicely, yet enough kick from the back end to keep it fun :p
I have also felt the shudder, but it felt more like wheel shudder from the rear to me from the hard throttle

Miss the power of turbo tho.
You can close the gap (8-10% more power through most of the range) just by fitting some HM Headers. See: http://www.aussiemagna.com/forums/showthread.php?t=71053&p=1596077&viewfull=1#post1596077

am going to flush the trans this weekend so hopefully that will settle the vibrarion.
but i also feel quite a distinctive thump at times when accelerating mainly in first and second under mid acceleration and around the 2.5 ~ 4000 rpm band. but when thrashing it there is nothing like that. its odd.
will investigate but im sure somethings broken or at least worn, not major but its bugging me.

Congrats and welcome :) now for some pics :)

will get pics up after i tidy it up a little.
how durable are these awd systems. do you get decent grip offroad

I see. Will do that asap. Tempermental things.
Both my cars hate changing down to 2nd from 3rd in tippy. They shunt like hell

I notice my VR-X does this, sometimes. Other times it doesnt and I always service the trans. its a 5sp thought, I presume thats what you have also?

I have been driving around in this KL Awd Verada for a week now and it shudders as well. around 40kph when the revs are 2500-3000. Very odd.

I have driven a KJ awd without this problem. It quite literally shakes the steering wheel.

I think it is very odd.

I wonder if its been in a prang, not declared. Just an idea

its not been in a prang. had it on hoist and checked it out.
tightened all the bush housings and its much better now. but i actually think the play in the bushes cause some of this acceleration vibration.
funnily enough ive changed the engine oil in both cars and now the tw vrx doesn't do the 2nd gear changedown shunt.

next things to do nxt weekend is to inspect all the bushes properly and service the oil in the drive line components. will let u know how that goes. also havent done a trans flush yet.

Thats good to hear

Sorry but a change of engine oil can not in anyway change a change down shunt, the trans and engine are totally un related in the lubrication systems.

Mal,

What in your experience causes AWD cars to shudder under engine load?

Mike

Mad, i know that they are unrelated, i'm reasonably mechanically understanding of these cars but the simple fact is that on my vrx the trans is being better since the oil change. don't ask me to explain coz its weird.

I bought my TJ AWD in June last year, it had a nasty shudder too. After some work put into it it's reduced to almost nothing. This is what I did:
1. Tranny flush and service.
2. Replaced a series of worn and broken suspension bushes, front and rear.
3. Replaced front CV joints.
3. New shocks and springs, back and front.
4. New wheels and tyres - upgraded from factory 16's to 18x8's with 235/45 rubber.
5. New engine mounts.

Each one of the above jobs reduced the shudder a little more every time. If it was a 10/10 in severity when I bought it, it's sitting at a 1/10 now - only barely noticable at slow speeds.

do you get decent grip offroad

Yes good grip off-road.
With centre transfer case, rear LSD (and front open/standard diff) all working properly you should theoretically have (at least) three wheels getting power, particularly in slippery conditions. I have had my car moving in mud for example going up a gradual hill with three people and gear in the car. Although wheels were starting to lose traction there was enough grip and control to progress. Most 2WD cars (even with LSD) would have been stuck.
Just remember though you have the suspension of a road car.

Check engine mounts very thoroughly. The top one on the drivers side can degrade very badly without exterior evidence to show its poor state. If in poor condition it will allow the engine to move within the engine bay to a small extent manifesting in a clunk as the limit of movement is taken up.

To really appreciate the launch grip these things have, find a section of dirt road, slight up hill (to be done only in a controlled off road environment, best not to have anyone else around and make sure you have plenty of space just in case you need it). Bring the car to a complete stop. Then launch it with everything you have. It does not squirm or go side ways, you don't have to fight the steering- it just goes straight and builds speed on dirt like you can not believe.

These AWD's are an acquired taste for discerning motorists. Something Clarkson could never understand.