Our purpose in this article is to explain the meaning and how to resolve the “AWD high temperature stop vehicle” light on your dashboard.
Nissan and Infiniti vehicles experience this problem frequently, and I have experience working on many vehicles with a similar issue. Let’s begin.
AWD High Temp Stop Vehicle Warning: What Does It Mean?
I want to start by exploring the meaning behind the “AWD high temp stop vehicle” light before going into possible causes and fixes.
Essentially, Nissan/Infiniti vehicles are all-wheel drives, which means that a transfer case drives both front and rear wheels.
Transfer cases function similarly to small drive shafts, except they direct power down an axle instead of turning your tires.
You must stop the vehicle to cool the AWD system if the “AWD high temp stop vehicle” light appears.
It is more likely that the problem lies with sensors and fluids than with a transfer case, which I will explain in more detail below.
AWD High Temp Stop Vehicle Fault: What Causes It?
Now that I have provided you with a brief overview, let’s look at the various things that might be causing the problem, based on my professional experience.
1. Speed sensor for Faulty wheels:
An AWD High Temperature Stop Vehicle fault is most commonly caused by a malfunctioning wheel speed sensor.
Vehicle wheels are monitored by a wheel speed sensor, which sends this information to the computer.
There are a variety of issues that can occur when one of these sensors fails. It is recommended that you replace your wheel speed sensor if you are experiencing this problem.
2. Sizes of tires
If your tires are different sizes, your Nissan/Infiniti’s AWD system will be triggered.
Having mismatched tires can cause problems with your AWD system due to the weight and diameter of your tires affecting power transfer.
It also applies to vehicles with all-wheel drive that have a spare tire. Replacing mismatched tires as soon as possible is an important step if you have mismatched sizes and types.
3. Defective differential fluid:
In addition to bad differential fluid, there are other common causes of AWD high temperature stop vehicles.
A dirty differential can lead to some serious problems. It’s responsible for sending power to the wheels.
The differential fluid level may need to be checked if you’ve driven on rough roads recently.
4. Tire pressure differences
There is a possibility that tire pressure may be a contributing factor to the AWD High Temp Stop Vehicles problem.
Because the AWD System involves a great deal of interaction between the front and rear tires, even slight differences in pressure will not affect the system; however, large differences in pressure will make the system unusable.
It is recommended that you add or remove air from one of your tires if you recently checked your tire pressures and found that they differ from one another.
5. Differential sensor failure
High Temperature Stop Vehicles can also be caused by the Rear Differential Sensor of the AWD System.
In order to know how much torque to apply, the ECU uses this sensor to measure how much power is being transferred to each wheel.
The PCM can think there is something wrong with the All Wheel Drive system if the sensor fails, causing power to be transferred unevenly or incorrectly.
AWD High Temperature Stop Vehicle – Fix and Reset
Having identified the possible causes of the “AWD High Temp Stop Vehicle” fault, let’s focus on how to resolve it.
I recommend the following steps:
1. Inspect and balance tires
You should first check your tire pressure and balance the tires if your vehicle has an “AWD High Temp Stop Vehicle” warning light.
Having a problem with tires can be caused by either having lost air or being out of balance.
2. Use OEM tires of the same size
Your vehicle may receive a warning light stating “AWD High Temp Stop Vehicle” if you have tires that are not OEM.
You must have identical size and type tires on all four wheels.
3. Replace wheel speed sensor(s):
Using an OBD2 scanner, I recommend checking the wheel speed sensors and replacing any that are bad if steps one and two have not solved the problem.
4. Find a qualified mechanic or dealer:
The best course of action is to take your car to a qualified mechanic or dealer if replacing the wheel speed sensor (ABS sensor) doesn’t resolve your problem.
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Frequently Asked Question
What does the “AWD High Temp Stop Vehicle” warning mean?
The “AWD High Temp Stop Vehicle” warning indicates that the vehicle’s Electronic Control Unit (ECU) has detected excessive heat in the All-Wheel Drive (AWD) system, typically due to heavy load on the transfer case or mismatched tire sizes. This triggers a temporary shutdown of the AWD system to protect it from damage.
What causes this warning to appear?
Several factors can lead to the “AWD High Temp Stop Vehicle” warning, including:
Mismatched Tires: Using tires of different sizes or tread depths can cause uneven weight distribution and overheating.
Spare Tire Use: Installing a spare tire that differs in diameter from the other tires can trigger the warning, especially if driven over 40 mph.
Low Tire Pressure: Under-inflated tires can create additional strain on the AWD system, leading to overheating.
Driving Conditions: Aggressive driving maneuvers, such as brake launching or drifting, especially in cold weather, can overheat the system.
Can I drive my vehicle with this warning light on?
It is not advisable to drive with the “AWD High Temp” warning light illuminated. Continuing to drive under these conditions can lead to further damage, including activating limp mode, which restricts vehicle speed and functionality. If you encounter this warning, it is best to pull over safely, turn off the engine, and allow the system to cool down.
