How many RT4WDs actually have functioning RWD

MrWhoopeeMrWhoopee Wagonist
in General Civic Wagon Discussion
Given that the viscous couplers don't last forever and are subject to accelerated degradation due to uneven tire wear/unequal tire size front to rear, I wonder how many RT4WDs on this list are actually working. The official test is performed by raising all four wheels off the ground, starting the engine, setting the emergency/parking brake, putting the trans in gear then letting the clutch out. If the engine dies, the VC is functioning properly, if not, then not. I currently have one that is working and one that isn't. How's yours?

Comments

  • CharbCharb Administrator
    1) you don't have to start the car to test- put it in neutral and spin the wheels yourself (so, that wouldn't be an 'official test')
    2) you can rebuild your VC (search)
  • AbideAbide Council Member
    bought my car with nothing but air between the transfer case and rear diff. been piecing the shaft together thanks to bam and turboteg shooting for functioning by christmas.
  • MrWhoopeeMrWhoopee Wagonist
    Charb1618 wrote:
    1) you don't have to start the car to test- put it in neutral and spin the wheels yourself (so, that wouldn't be an 'official test')
    2) you can rebuild your VC (search)

    I am currently working on rebuilding my non-functioning VC. Even when it wasn't working properly, the rear wheels would rotate with the front if the brake wasn't set, but the engine wouldn't stall when performing the official test. The coupler was transmitting torque to the rear, but wouldn't achieve full lock-up. It wouldn't get me up my snow covered driveway while my other RT cruised right up with no problem.
  • woodiwoodi Wagonist
    Haven't done the official test but mine definitely works. I've had all 4 wheels spinning and digging in the snow and she climbs things my 2wd civic couldn't even touch.
  • jcchappyjcchappy Wagonist
    ujoint problems killed mine for now. worked great but ujoint needed replaced none were available so I milled the holes in the yoke and diveshaft put size bigger ujoints in. something is wrong, vibrates at 55 mph so no drive shaft till I find one or fix this one.
  • 503Wagon503Wagon moderator
    jcchappy wrote:
    ujoint problems killed mine for now. worked great but ujoint needed replaced none were available so I milled the holes in the yoke and diveshaft put size bigger ujoints in. something is wrong, vibrates at 55 mph so no drive shaft till I find one or fix this one.

    you can replace the ujoints....i did all of mine a couple weeks ago.
  • jcchappyjcchappy Wagonist
    where did you get replacements? not that it matters now I killed my driveshaft by milling the holes out bigger.
  • shenrieshenrie Council Member
    All i did on the test drive for the rallywagon was find a gravel area for a hard launch. Made the wife get out to make sure the rear wheels engaged, but feeling the car go sideways told me all I needed to know, but she did confirm 4 roosts, lol. That and the flatspins I do whenever it snows.
  • 503Wagon503Wagon moderator
    jcchappy wrote:
    where did you get replacements? not that it matters now I killed my driveshaft by milling the holes out bigger.


    here you go, problem solved.

    viewtopic.php?f=7&t=7489&hilit=rockford+driveline
  • AbideAbide Council Member
    chalk one more up to the functioning rt list!
  • dukevonDANKdukevonDANK Wagonist
    I had mine jacked up, in neutral, spun the front tire, and the back spun as well.
  • stampernstampern Senior Wagonist
    Mine worked a couple months ago when I was out in the sand!!!
  • BOWZBOWZ New Wagonist
    1 more!

    bowz
  • pyroskater6912pyroskater6912 Wagonist
    mine works as well, found that out when i decided to drive it over some stuff the other day
  • dannyk20dannyk20 Band Wagon
    Mine is out, anyone know what website to go to?
  • ProOnThaSnowProOnThaSnow Wagonist
    Right here.

    On this site floating around in the suspension and drivetrain is a write up on how to repair the VC.

    And mine definitely works, as is apparent by the 4 tire marks left while pulling out of my shop the other day :)
  • finalimpactfinalimpact Band Wagon
    here as well....switched trans to 2wd mode and nothing but wheel spin up front....switched it back and no wheelspin. looking forward to playing in the snow here shortly.
  • MrWhoopeeMrWhoopee Wagonist
    I am amazed at how many of these are still working past 200k.

    Just finished rebuilding the VC in my '91. Put it up on the hoist, set the ebrake, started the engine, put it in gear, let the clutch out, the engine DIED instantly. Tried again with more revs, died again. Had a friend watch the front wheels, they barely moved. Now THAT'S how it is supposed to work!

    Anyone needing PDMS (silicone fluid) to rebuild theirs, pm me. I had to buy a gallon and it wasn't cheap.
  • AbideAbide Council Member
    mine just keeps rotating the rear wheels lol i need to do a little work to the rear brakes.
  • jcchappyjcchappy Wagonist
    +1 it works good now.
  • 88rallywagon88rallywagon Band Wagon
    240,000+ miles and all tires spinnin on the ice! Just waitin for some snow now
  • 91RT4WD6spd91RT4WD6spd Band Wagon
    mines working fine tested it on a gravel raod and had it inspected by a honda master tech
  • beauregaardhooliganbeauregaardhooligan New Wagonist
    My VC has over 300k and still works fine.
    {knocking on wood}

    btw, the VC can also act in reverse and give an anti-lock braking effect.
  • klumklum Senior Wagonist
    mine works fine but my motors blown lol
  • 90 RT4WD (Cody)90 RT4WD (Cody) Senior Wagonist
    Mines works great!
  • ZCPower_RZCPower_R familEE
    Mine has been working great since I got it! Snow + ice = supercharged sideways drift!

    I suspect that the harshness of the environment is proportionally related to the lifespan of an RT Driveshaft. I keep my RT in the garage and drive it sunny weekends and the occasional camping trip
  • tpar1220tpar1220 Band Wagon
    finally got around to checking mine today.. i set the e brake but gave it gas instead of just letting clutch out, you can see the rear wheels tense up as brake was holding em back.. or trying to till i gave it more gas. then i released brake and all spun freely.

    th_VIDEO0015.jpg

    so... i think it is working.

    then i pulled plugs for a look see. when i changed oil bout 1,000 miles ago i changed plugs and they were white! i mean dangerously white.. very lean, i think due to a vacuum leak. i changed 18' of stinkin vacuum line but didn't solve the erratic idle problem. i finally just got a pair of needle nose pliers and started pinching vacuum lines one by one till the idle finally changed. when i pinched #26 (according to vacuum diagram) idle dropped to a smooth and consistant idle. i don't know what that vacuum line does.. but everything seems to still be working fine. anyway the plug looked really good..

    IMAG0181-3.jpg


    oh.. guess i should include a pic of the beast... it's an 87.

    IMAG0183.jpg

    oh, another thing.. i don't know what the original tire size is. but according to my calculator this thing has been getting round 35mpg with a best of 37.2! can't really believe that is accurate..

    this is my tire size..

    IMAG0182.jpg

    so what is the correct size?
  • VPTVPT Band Wagon
    I just go on a gravel road, stop, rev the motor and dump the clutch. Just checked mine the other day after it snowed, yep works like it should. :)
  • darktricksterdarktrickster Wagonist
    Love the gravel road test, It's how I confirmed mine as well. Have two wagons, both still get plenty of torque to the back. I don't actually know about the one I just picked up, but the guy I got it from said he did nothing but rally the piss out of it in the snow. So, I figure that's a good sign. Still have to put it back together.
  • GriftyGrifty Wagonist
    Checked mine while it was on stands with the handbrake up, car stalled every time I tried the test :)

    yet to do the gravel road test
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