09/23/2026
Your 4WD might not work this winter, and you won't find out until you're halfway up a wet gravel driveway. 🚙💦
Part-time 4x4s sit in 2WD from April to November. The seals dry out, the fluid sits, and the shift mechanism can stick. Add a summer of towing, which cooks transmission fluid faster than anything, and fall is when problems start showing up.
The good news: your drivetrain almost always warns you first. Watch for slipping, harsh or delayed shifts, a 4WD light that won't settle, or red spots on the driveway. And this week, take it to a gravel lot and run it in 4WD for a few kilometres. You'll know right now if it works, instead of in December.
Want to know for sure before the rain sets in? Book a transmission and transfer case check and we'll tell you straight what it needs. Call or text 250-720-9841.
Full checklist here 👇
https://www.ftpservices.ca/post/transmission-repair-parksville-4x4-winter
Most people find out their four-wheel drive doesn't work on the first steep, wet morning they actually need it. Usually halfway up a driveway in Errington, or on a gravel road with the truck already sliding. The good news: almost everything that goes wrong in a transmission or transfer case gives yo...