Get Driving -> Transmission: 4-wheel drive Guide for Dacia Duster SUV Third Generation (2024-2026)

TRANSMISSION: 4-WHEEL DRIVE

Depending on the type of roads or

tracks you are taking and the external

conditions, you can select from five dri-

ving modes:

Special cases

Remember that driving a

vehicle off-road is very dif-

ferent to driving it on the

Depending on the selected

mode and the grip condi-

tions encountered, the ESC inter-

vention may reduce engine power

to limit slipping of the drive

wheels.

In some off-road situations, the

user may choose to deactivate

the ESC function in order to man-

age wheel slip and vehicle trac-

tion themselves.

– "ECO" mode;

– "AUTO" mode (default mode every

time the vehicle is started);

– mode "SNOW";

– mode "MUD-SAND";

– "OFF‑ROAD" mode.

All the modes are preset. Each of

these modes is characterized by spe-

cific settings for:

road. To make the most of your

vehicle in an off-road situation, we

recommend that you are trained

to drive a 4x4 vehicle.

The safety of both you and your

passengers is your responsibility,

and depends on your skill and the

care you take when driving off-

road.

3

– steering force;

– electronic stability control (ESC and

traction control);

– accelerator pedal sensitivity and en-

gine responsiveness;

– the engine torque distributed be-

tween the front and rear axles.

"ECO" mode

Driving mode selector

Using "ECO" mode optimises fuel con-

sumption.

It acts on some of the vehicle's energy-

consuming systems (air conditioning,

etc.) and on vehicle performance (ac-

celeration, cruise control, deceleration,

etc.)

Turn the selector 2 to select the mode

that best suits the driving and road

conditions.

The selected mode is displayed on the

instrument panel 1.

Use this mode on paved roads.

Driving - 189

TRANSMISSION: 4-WHEEL DRIVE

To change modes, turn the selector 2

indicator light is displayed on the in-

strument panel 1 to confirm that it is

activated.

to a different position. The " " in-

dicator light disappears from the instru-

ment panel 1 to confirm deactivation

and the newly activated is displayed.

"AUTO" mode automatically distributes

the engine torque between the front

and rear axles according to the road-

holding conditions and the vehicle

speed.

3

"AUTO" mode

"AUTO " mode is the default mode to

This mode optimises road holding.

be used on the road.

To change modes, turn the selector 2

to a different position. The "AUTO" dis-

play disappears from the instrument

panel 1 to confirm deactivation and

the newly activated mode is displayed.

It is a versatile mode that covers the

majority of uses intended for the usual

road conditions.

Use this mode on paved roads or

when towing (trailer, caravan, etc.).

To activate this mode, turn the selector

2 to "ECO" position 3 : the light on the

"SNOW" mode

"SNOW" mode allows you to optimize

your vehicle's electronic stability pro-

gram on slippery roads (snow, ice,

etc.).

selector comes on and the "

"

warning light is displayed on the instru-

ment panel 1 to confirm that it is acti-

vated.

The electronic stability control ESC

and traction control interventions are

enabled and the steering force is in-

creased.

"ECO" mode automatically distributes

the engine torque between the front

and rear axles according to the road-

holding conditions and the vehicle

speed.

Use this mode on paved and slip-

pery roads.

Note: the use of "SNOW" mode is not

suitable in certain driving situations (on

soft ground, deep snow, mud, sand,

etc.).

Note: when driving (e.g. when overtak-

ing), it is possible to temporarily regain

the engine's optimum acceleration ca-

pabilities. To do this, press the acceler-

ator pedal firmly and fully. "ECO" mode

is reactivated when you ease off the

accelerator pedal.

To activate this mode, turn the selector

2 to "AUTO" position 4: the light on

the selector comes on and the "AUTO"

190 - Driving

TRANSMISSION: 4-WHEEL DRIVE

"MUD-SAND" mode

the instrument panel 1 to confirm acti-

vation.

"MUD-SAND " mode allows you to

make progress on soft ground in con-

ditions of reduced grip (sand, mud,

deep snow, etc.).

"MUD-SAND" mode distributes engine

torque between the front and rear

wheels in all grip conditions and under

certain speed conditions.

The "traction control" function is auto-

matically deactivated to keep the en-

gine speed under your control and

help you move your vehicle forwards

by probing the ground to find grippier

areas.

3

To change modes, turn the selector 2

to a different position. The "MUD-

SAND" display disappears from the in-

strument panel 1 to confirm deactiva-

tion and the newly activated mode is

displayed.

Use this mode only off paved roads

and on soft ground.

"OFF-ROAD " (LOCK) mode

Using "OFF-ROAD" mode maximizes

the performance capacity of your vehi-

cle in off-road situations (rough or rut-

ted roads, quagmire, soft sand, steep

uphill and downhill slopes, etc.).

To activate this mode, turn the selector

2 to the "SNOW" position 5 : the light

in the selector comes on.

The SNOW indicator light 1 lights up

on the instrument panel to confirm acti-

vation.

Use this mode only when off dri-

vable roads and on difficult terrain.

"SNOW" mode automatically distrib-

utes the engine torque between the

front and rear axles according to the

road conditions and the vehicle speed.

To change modes, turn the selector 2

to a different position. The "SNOW"

display disappears from the instrument

panel 1 to confirm deactivation and

the newly activated mode is displayed.

To activate this mode, turn the selector

2 to the "MUD-SAND" position 6 : the

light integrated in the selector comes

on and "MUD-SAND" is displayed on

Driving - 191

TRANSMISSION: 4-WHEEL DRIVE

In this case, stop as soon as possible

to allow the system to cool down. This

cooling can last for several minutes.

Special features of the 4-wheel

drive transmission

If the system detects a difference in

size between the front and rear wheels

(e.g. under-inflation, significant wear

on an axle, etc.), the "4-wheel drive"

system automatically switches to "2-

When the 4WD (or 4x4) system is op-

erational again, the

warning

3

light will switch off and the

warn-

ing light will be displayed again on the

instrument panel.

wheel drive" operation: the

warning light is displayed on the in-

strument panel 1 accompanied by the

"4 wheel drive unavailable" message

and, depending on the vehicle, "4

wheel drive unavailable unsuitable

tyres".

Anti-lock braking in OFF-ROAD

mode

(vehicles equipped with ABS)

When "OFF-ROAD" mode is activated,

the ABS automatically switches to an

off-road setting. In this case, the

wheels may lock intermittently to

achieve better grip and reduce braking

distances on soft ground.

To activate this mode, turn the selector

2 to the "OFF-ROAD" position 7: the

light integrated in the selector comes

on, "OFF-ROAD" is displayed and the

Note: the problem may be resolved by

replacing the tyres. Always use four

identical tyres (same brand, profile,

etc.) and with similar wear.

In the event of excessive stress result-

ing in abnormal overheating of the sys-

tem:

indicator light

firm activation.

1 appear to con-

When "OFF-ROAD" mode is active:

– the vehicle's manoeuvrability is limit-

ed during braking. This operating

mode is therefore not recommended in

very low-grip conditions (e.g., ice);

– there may be some noise. This is

normal, and does not indicate an oper-

ating fault.

"OFF-ROAD" mode distributes engine

torque between the front and rear

wheels in all grip conditions and under

certain speed conditions.

– the

warning light is displayed

on the instrument panel 1 accompa-

nied by the "4WD Overheating (or

4x4)" message;

– if the wheels still spin, the system

automatically switches to "2-wheel dri-

ve" operation to protect the mechanical

components.

To change modes, turn the selector 2

to a different position. The "OFF-

ROAD" display and the

indicator

light disappear from the instrument

panel 1 to confirm deactivation and

are replaced by display of the newly

activated mode.

192 - Driving

TRANSMISSION: 4-WHEEL DRIVE

Electronic stability control

to "2-wheel drive" operation, the

(ESC) and traction control when

driving off-road

,

warning lights and the

(vehicles equipped with ESC)

"Check 4 wheel drive" message ap-

pear on the instrument panel.

When driving on soft ground (sand,

mud, deep snow), we recommend that

you deactivate the ESC function by

pressing and holding the "ESC" button.

In this case, only individual wheel

braking remains active.

Drive as soon as possible at a moder-

ate speed to an approved dealer.

3

This function applies the brake to any

wheel that is slipping, allowing the en-

gine torque to be transferred to the

wheels where there is the most grip.

This is particularly useful when cross-

ing a bridge.

All the ESC functions will be automati-

cally reactivated when the vehicle

speed exceeds approximately 31 mph

(50 km/h), (62 mph (100 km/h) in

"OFF-ROAD " mode) or after restarting

the engine or pressing the "ESC" but-

ton again ꢀ 195.

Note: the traction control system is re-

activated only after the engine is

restarted or by pressing the "ESC" but-

ton.

Operating faults

When the system detects a malfunc-

tion, the system automatically switches

Driving - 193

TRANSMISSION: 4-WHEEL DRIVE

Warnings

4-wheel drive system

– Regardless of the mode selected, do not start the engine if all four wheels are not on the ground.

– Do not turn the mode selector when cornering, reversing or if the wheels are spinning excessively.

3

– The "MUD-SAND" and "OFF-ROAD" modes are exclusively reserved for driving off-road. The use of this mode in any

other conditions may adversely affect the vehicle's manoeuvrability and damage certain mechanical components.

– Always ensure tyres with identical specifications are fitted to all four wheels (brand, size, structure, wear etc.). Fitting

tyres of different sizes to the front and rear wheels and/or left and right wheels may have serious consequences for the

tyres and mechanical drive components (gearbox, transfer box, 4WD (or 4x4) coupler, rear differential, etc.).

194 - Driving

Driving -> Transmission: 4-wheel drive for Your Dacia Duster SUV Third Generation (2024-2026)

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