Re: Is my quattro system working?

["Barry P. Lewis" <barry@ctron.com>]

>My real reason for writing is to find a sure fire way to tell if the q
>system on my 86kcstq is functioning properly.  I tried accelerating with two
>wheels on pavement and two on packed snow on the shoulder of a road.  The
>way I understand the quattro system, which may not be correct, is that most
>of the power should go to the right side (the pavement side) and the left
>side shouldn't spin too much.  Is this thinking flawed?  If so, is there a
>fool proof way to see if all's well in drive train land?

Not on an '86 with "open" differentals. With the diffs unlocked, all the
power will go to the wheel that is spinning. That's why the diffs can be
locked. When locked, power is apply equally to the wheels.

In the case above (right wheels on pavement, left in snow) putting the 
console switch in the number 2 position would lock the center and rear
diffs, and you would be able to accelerate with no wheel spin. With the 
diffs "open" (unlocked) the left wheels might spin. This is normal.

Barry
'86 4000CS Quattro