In this article, I will be discussing the meaning of the “AWD high temp stop vehicle” light coming on your Dashboard and the possible solutions to fix the issue.
This is a common problem among Nissan and Infiniti vehicles, and as someone who has worked on numerous cars with a similar problem, I can provide some helpful insights. Let’s get to it.
What Does the “AWD High Temp Stop Vehicle” Warning Mean?
Before we dive into the potential causes and fixes, let’s look at what the “AWD high temp stop vehicle” light actually means.
In simple terms, since your Nissan/Infiniti is an all-wheel drive, it uses something called a transfer case to send power to both the front and rear wheels.
The transfer case is like a small drive shaft, but instead of turning your tires, it sends power down the axle.
The “AWD high temp stop vehicle” light means that the system may be overheating and you must stop the vehicle to cool it off.
In most cases the fault is not caused by a transfer case issue but by sensors and fluids which I will discuss in detail below.
What Causes the Awd High Temp Stop Vehicle Fault?
Now that I’ve given you a quick rundown, let’s take a look at the different things that could be causing the issue, based on my experience working as a mechanic.
1. Fauly Wheel Speed Sensor:
The most common cause of the AWD High Temp Stop Vehicle fault is a bad wheel speed sensor.
The wheel speed sensor is responsible for monitoring the speed of the vehicle’s wheels and relaying that information to the computer.
When one of these sensors goes bad, it can cause a variety of issues, including this one. If you’re experiencing this problem, start by replacing your wheel speed sensor and see if that fixes it.
2. Different Tire Sizes
The AWD system of your Nissan/Infiniti is really sensitive to tire sizes being different.
The weight and diameter of your tires will affect the amount of power that is transferred to each wheel, so if you have mismatched tires, then this can cause problems with your AWD system.
This includes using a spare tire on a vehicle that has AWD. If you have mismatched tires, then you should replace them with ones of the same size and type as soon as possible.
3. Bad Differential Fluid:
Another common cause of AWD High Temp Stop Vehicles is bad differential fluid.
The differential is responsible for sending power to the wheels, so if it’s not lubricating properly, this can lead to some serious issues.
If you’ve driven on rough roads recently and encountered any problems with your drivetrain, it may be time to check the differential fluid level.
4. Different Tire Pressures
The AWD High Temp Stop Vehicles problem can be caused by varied tire pressures.
This is because the AWD System depends heavily on both the front and rear tires having similar pressures; even if they are only slightly different it is fine, but as soon there is a large difference with one tire, the whole system will not be able to function properly.
If you have recently checked your tire pressures and found that they are different from each other, then it is recommended that you level them out by adding or removing air from one of them.
5. Bad Rear Differential Sensor
The Rear Differential Sensor is another component of the AWD System that can cause the High Temp Stop Vehicles problem.
This sensor measures how much power is being transferred to each wheel and sends this information back to the ECU so that it knows how much torque should be applied.
If this sensor fails, then it can cause power to be transferred unevenly or incorrectly which can cause the PCM to think there is something wrong with the All wheel drive system.
How to Fix and Reset the “AWD High Temp Stop Vehicle”
Now that you know the potential causes of this fault, let’s look at how you can fix and reset the “AWD High Temp Stop Vehicle” problem.
Here are the steps I recommend:
1. Check Tire Pressure and Balance Tires
If you are getting an “AWD High Temp Stop Vehicle” warning light, then the first thing you should do is check your tire pressure and balance them.
The tires may have lost air, or they may be out of balance which can cause this issue.
2. Ensure that the Tires are OEM and the Same Size
If your tires are not OEM, then they can cause a problem with the all-wheel drive system, and you will get an “AWD High Temp Stop Vehicle” warning light.
Ensure that all four tires are exactly the same size and type.
3. Change Wheel Speed Sensor(s):
If steps one and two don’t solve the problem, then I recommend using an OBD2 scanner to see if you have any wheel speed sensor(s) that are bad and replace them.
4. Take your Car to a Dealer or Qualified Mechanic:
If replacing the wheel speed sensor(ABS sensor) doesn’t solve the problem, then I recommend taking your car to a dealer or qualified mechanic for further diagnosis.
Additional Sources
https://www.nissanusa.com/experience-nissan/news-and-events/awd-vs-4wd-vs-2wd.html
https://www.yourmechanic.com/article/symptoms-of-a-bad-or-failing-wheel-speed-sensor