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Jupitor 2
X-TRAIL FANATIC
Date Registered: 01-2009
Location: Newcastle Australia
TOTAL POSTS: 318
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Redhead/ 9 Mile Beach
So we met up with a couple of friends at the beach entrence, they drove a Holden Rodeo and a Prado.
The entry/exit point was made up of slats of wood to make getting on and off easier, but one section was badly damaged making me wish we had more ground clearence, we did hit bottom as we drove over the wooden slats.
As we let the tyres down, to about 15PSI, we were told by some other people to either drive down near the water or up higher near the dunes, anywhere inbetween and the sand is very soft.
My friends told me I was going first as this was all my idea, so I had ESP off and put it into lock mode untill I got onto the beach.
Now the sand was very soft, but once I got going I put it into auto mode, I realised that I was no where near the water or anywhere near the dunes and yep, I got stuck, so out with the MaxTrax and once under way I head for firmer ground.
I left the CVT in manual 1st gear and kept it around 3000rpm, in drive it seemed to bog down easier before changing into a lower gear.
Now I got confused, whilst driving along between 30-50kph I noticed the 4x4 lock light was on, but I had selected 4x4 auto, so I tried turning lock off by rotating the dial to lock and back but no change, then for a second I selected 2wd mode then back to auto but the lock light came straight back on, it went back to normal after we stopped and I turned of the engine.
We then headed up into the dunes,
I was surprised how high I got as the sand seemed even softer, the Prado and Rodeo went even further, to far for me, and I was impressed at how well the Prado did, untill he tried to hard.
MaxTrax wont work here
The Rodeo dragged him off
We drove some more, then my ABS and slip indicator light came on, I assumed it was the sensors getting fouled up with all the soft sand. After another stop they went out only to come on again sometime later, no problems once back on the tar.
We decided to part ways, the other two went home through the dunes and we drove back along the beach, again very soft sand, again in Auto mode and again the lock light came on by itself but this time I saw it come on and could feel the back wheels getting more power to them, very strange, only shortly after this the the 4x4 warning light started flashing and it dropped in 2wd mode and we got stuck. Two cars stopped to see if we needed help and watched us use the Maxtrax, they were impressed how easy it was, after the short pause the 4x4 warning light had gone out and we made it off the beach without any problems.
So it was a experience and think Stockton is next.
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Last edited by jalalski, 22/Mar/2012, 6:45 am
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Diamond White Series 1 T31 CVT Petrol
X-1111 (c)
Bash Plates
Towbar
Rubber Mats
TomTom GPS
Garmin Etrex 10 for Geo-caching
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18/Mar/2012, 7:26 pm
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Toddyh03
X-TRAIL HOLIC
Date Registered: 08-2011
Location: Lalor Park, NSW
TOTAL POSTS: 1663
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Re: Redhead/ 9 Mile Beach
Good stuff Peter. You're experience sounds exactly like my first time on sand. Plenty of getting stuck and confusion about exactly what the vehicle is trying to do. Usually an easy recovery with the xtrail though.
I'm pretty sure the 4WD Lock light comes on when you're in Auto mode and the car detects lots of slipping. Basically letting you know that its using 4wd mode.
As for selecting 4WD Lock and it starts to flash indicating that the car is no longer in 4wd mode this could be 2 things. Either you exceeded 40km/h and it shuts down or the 4wd system overheated and needed a rest. The latter was a big problem in the T30 (my old one did it all the time) but was usually fixed by driving in auto mode whenever possible. I believe Nissan fixed this for the T31.
Also great to see the MaxTrax worked well.
--- Toddyh X-2048 (c)
New: Challenger
Old: 2010 T31 Diesel modified
My XTrail |
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21/Mar/2012, 10:38 am
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cooch t31
X-TRAIL HOLIC
Date Registered: 06-2008
Location: Blue Mountains, NSW
TOTAL POSTS: 5966
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Re:
Nice trip report there with great pics.
The 4wd light will still illuminate until the car reaches 100km/h, not that you reach those speeds on sand.
In your case though I think it got a bit confused with the constant spinning of tyres (slip light) and it got a little overheated which for some reason happens in the X trail.
As you say, turning the ignition off and on sometimes fixes this.
Last edited by cooch t31, 22/Mar/2012, 6:39 am
--- Tony X-891c
HERE is my D22 Navara
HERE is my old 2008 T31, ST Series1
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22/Mar/2012, 6:38 am
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Toddyh03
X-TRAIL HOLIC
Date Registered: 08-2011
Location: Lalor Park, NSW
TOTAL POSTS: 1663
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Re: Redhead/ 9 Mile Beach
Yes Tony the 4WD light will stay lit beyond 40km/h but the 4WD LOCK light will flash beyond 40km/h.
--- Toddyh X-2048 (c)
New: Challenger
Old: 2010 T31 Diesel modified
My XTrail |
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22/Mar/2012, 7:38 am
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Toddyh03
X-TRAIL HOLIC
Date Registered: 08-2011
Location: Lalor Park, NSW
TOTAL POSTS: 1663
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Re: Redhead/ 9 Mile Beach
Yes Peter I would definitely go higher than 1st gear. 2nd gear sitting on around 30-40km is what I find works best on sand. Revs are high enough to give you the torque required but you're not working the engine too hard. Obviously use higher gears again when on the hard sand.
--- Toddyh X-2048 (c)
New: Challenger
Old: 2010 T31 Diesel modified
My XTrail |
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22/Mar/2012, 9:36 am
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cooch t31
X-TRAIL HOLIC
Date Registered: 06-2008
Location: Blue Mountains, NSW
TOTAL POSTS: 5966
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Re:
Lock is only engaged up to 10km/h, after that its on auto.
--- Tony X-891c
HERE is my D22 Navara
HERE is my old 2008 T31, ST Series1
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22/Mar/2012, 12:28 pm
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jalalski
Date Registered: 02-2004
Location: SUTHERLAND, SYDNEY
TOTAL POSTS: 29100
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Re:
Peter,
Did you turn ESP off? ESP should be off in soft sand driving conditions.
Tony,
The LOCK mode speed limit is 40kms/hour I believe.
Last edited by jalalski, 22/Mar/2012, 1:15 pm
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22/Mar/2012, 1:13 pm
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