The Auxiliary gear is an integral part of your automobile and a go-to tool in distress. This article will discuss its functions in a car engine, explaining in simple English for the everyday car owner.

What is auxiliary gear?

Auxiliary transmission[/caption]Auxiliary gear is a driving aid in a vehicle. The Auxiliary gear aids the gear system and is only used when required. When your vehicle gets stuck in a muddy/ sandy place, the gear starts to function.

The Auxiliary gear helps you get out of a slippery or sandy place when the Normal gear transmission power could not overcome the forces acting on the wheel. The Gear transmits more power to the wheels. Once you’re out of the slippery place, disengage the Auxiliary Gear.

This gear is not required or designed for Normal driving; it will destroy some of its components. This Gear sits between your engine and the axle of your car’s wheel for power transmission.

‍Discover the different types of the axle and how they work. Big cars like range rover, land cruiser, SUV needs Auxiliary gear to function. When your car gets stuck in a place where it becomes too difficult to drive out, you can make use of your aux gear.

Once this Gear is applied, it becomes a four-wheel actuated drive. In automobiles that do not have this gear, it becomes difficult to move back when their front wheel gets stuck. This phenomenon is because all the forces are at the front. With this gear applied, it powers the four wheels, and it will move out of the slippery or sandy place. There is a symbol that represents the auxiliary gear in a car.

Functions of the auxiliary gear

• It transfers force from the engine to the wheels.
• It helps your vehicle to get out of a muddy or sandy area.

How does the Auxiliary gear work?

The auxiliary gear is an electronic-based component attached with gear teeth on the wheel. Once engaged, the auxiliary gearbox transmits force to the wheel, and the tires can now withstand the resistance or restriction on the soil surface. The Auxiliary gear is a driving aid to your vehicle, only used when the need arises.

The Auxiliary Gear is not to be used at every point while driving. If you engage this gear at any time without the need for it, this practice will damage some components of your car. You use the auxiliary gear when you’re in a slippery or muddy place. When driving in a muddy place, the tire may not hold the surface of the ground.

Even with the Normal gear is transmitting power to the tires, it will be slippery. Furthermore, the tires will not move and will be rotating on the surface.

The auxiliary gear is a force transmitter that acts on the floor surface. When engaged in a muddy place, it will grip the tire down, and the tires start moving. While moving, it transmits power to the wheels till you’re out of the mud. Once you’re out of the mud, you should disengage the auxiliary gear.

What happens if you don’t disengage the auxiliary gear?

When you don’t disengage the gear, movement will not be smooth. There will be restriction or resistance. Furthermore, there will be so much friction, and you will not be able to turn your wheels. Some damages that can occur when you don’t disengage your  gear include:

• It will wear out your tire teeth off
• It will affect your vehicle’s brake system.

Does every car have auxiliary gear?

This gear is only available on a four-wheel-drive car. An example is SUV, land cruiser, range rover, etc.

Can wear on the tire affect the auxiliary gear?

It can function with wear on the tire but with more pressure. For instance, the aux gear should work on a good tire for 1 minute. While for a bad tire, the auxiliary will take more time to carry out his functions.

How do you know your auxiliary gear is not working?

You know your auxiliary gear is faulty when you engage it while driving, and there is no resistance or restriction in your driving. In reality, when you initiate your Gear, you will not get a smooth drive on a Normal surface.

You cannot take a turn when your gear is engaged. There will be a resistance to your movement, and the car will be making a funny sound thereby, engaging the four-wheel-drive. If this is not the case, then the gear is faulty.

Where is the auxiliary gear located?

Different manufacturers designed their Auxiliary gear differently. This gear commonly sits in-between the gearbox and the axle unit. Why not have a read of our previous article for further information on the gearbox.

For a front-wheel drive, you will find it with the axle unit. For a four-wheel-drive automobile, it sits with the gearbox. We have both the automatic and manual Auxiliary gear. For the Automatic design, you can initiate it by a button or switch. For the manual system, you will see another small gear lever by the side of the main gear lever.

Features of Auxiliary Gearbox

• It contains two-speed drives
• This gearbox has an option for 2-wheels or 4-wheel drive.
• It can drive front and rear axle at a time in a four-wheel-drive vehicle
• The gearbox can carry a high load

What makes the gear fail?

This gear can become uneven, slack, and finally fail. The worst thing that could happen to this gear is when the bearing cage breaks up. This fault can make the gear thrust front and back, leading to further damage to the Main car gear. When this gear fails, the following takes place

• Roaring sound only in low range decreases in high range
• The lever moves front and back while speeding up and slowing down.
• When reversing, the lever can jump out.

What is the difference between the Normal and the auxiliary gear in a vehicle?

We apply the Normal gear in any form of movement you are taking with your vehicle. It controls the speed, Normal drive, reverses drive. The gear cannot control speed. It resists the Normal drive. When your vehicle is on slippery ground, it functions by transmitting more powers to the wheels to overcome the surface resistance.

Is it Cheaper to buy a vehicle that uses Auxiliary gear?

It is expensive to buy a car with auxiliary gear in it. Auxiliary is an added component to the vehicle. Hence, the price will be more.

Does the Auxiliary gear have any connection with the hand brake?

This gear and the hand brake are two different components. The only similarity between them is that they resist or restrict movements in your vehicle. When you try to move your car, and it doesn’t move, the first component to check is the hand brake. When the hand brake is not activated, the next component to look at is your gear.

What is Auxiliary Speed?

The auxiliary speed contains two by two, four by four, and middle bars. When it moves from two by two to four by four, its velocity has increased.

FAQ about the auxiliary gearbox

• Where is the auxiliary gearbox used?

We use the auxiliary gearbox for transferring the power from the engine to the wheel. The gearbox transfers force to the front and rear differential.

• Which and what type of gear arrangement is there in the auxiliary gearbox?

It is a similar gearbox with helical or spur gears

• What are the features of the auxiliary gearbox?

It has a shifter device that engages and disengages the four-wheel drive. It has several speeds, which we know as high speed and low speed.

• What is the application area for the auxiliary gearbox? We can use them in security trucks, moveable hoists, and off-road vehicles.
• What is the reduction ratio for the auxiliary gearbox? The reduction ratio at the first stage is 1:1 while in the second stage is 1:7.8

Conclusion and final words from the expert

The auxiliary gear is only an aid for the gear system. Do not use the Auxiliary bus when the need does not arise. When you engage your four-wheel drive, you have also activated the gear.

At this point, you may notice that your car will not be moving smoothly. Furthermore, its speed level will reduce, the car will not fire as it should. At this point, disengage the gear.

Furthermore, in some vehicles, you will get 2L, 4L, 4H, and 2H. 2L means two-wheel drive, low range. We advise you to leave your car at 2H, which is a two-wheel drive, high-range. At 4H and 4L, your gear will automatically come into play. 4L means four-wheel-drive, low range, while 4H means four-wheel-drive, high-range. When the car is on 4H or 4L, there will be no comfort in the vehicle.

Key Takeaways

• The gear is an aid to the gear system.
• Its functions in your vehicle are predominantly useful in a sandy or muddy environment
• This gear is resistant to Normal drive
• Ideally, this gear is never operational when you are on a Normal drive.

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