4WD AUTO, 4WD HIGH, 4WD LOW .. Stupid question

[Trek5000]

On my 2003 explorer .. is the default 4wd auto..??

and what is 4wd auto.. the manual is a little vague.. or am i complicating this .??

no dash light appears for this function is that correct ?

just high and low versions....

 

[irocdupi]

Yes 4WD Auto is the default mode for driving around, and no there should be no dashboard light for this mode. This mode is similar to traction control but not. Explorers are rear wheel drive, so normally in 4WD Auto on a normal rode your in 2WD. But say its raining and you hit the gas hard around a turn, the back tires spin. 4WD Auto utilizes the ABS sensors to detect wheel slip, and when it does detect it, the computer engages the front wheels or 4WD High without you doing anything. After your tires stop slipping, it will resume 2WD for you. 4WD High will indicate a light on the dash, this mode is good for snow. In this mode all four weels are getting power. This mode will not shut it self off, so if you get to dry road again be sure to go back to Auto. Lastly 4WD Low, uses a low gear in the transfer case and provides alot of torque for rock crawling, pulling heavy objects, or getting out of a ditch. Just remember dont go over 15mph in low.

 

[taburch]

I would say 4wheel auto is like a awd system when switch to 4 wheel high u lock the diffs with the standard transfer case gear ratio and 4wheel low is like the 4 wheel high but the transfer case will change the ratio to give more torque to the wheels.

4w auto is like an awd system
4w high locks the diffs and uses std ratio
4w low locks the diffs and uses w different ratio to supply more torque to wheels

 

[irocdupi]

No 4WD Auto is not like AWD at all. AWD cars give power to all wheels equally, and at all times. 4WD Auto is RWD until the back wheels slip. AWD doesnt offer the ability to lock the differentials or use a low range.

 

[Trek5000]

thanks for the info and quick response.....

 

[not8taxi]

No 4WD Auto is not like AWD at all. AWD cars give power to all wheels equally, and at all times. 4WD Auto is RWD until the back wheels slip. AWD doesnt offer the ability to lock the differentials or use a low range.

auto actually give the front wheels some what of power and rotation...if you guys ever put you trucks on a lift...start them up and put them into drive...youll see exactly what im talking about...the front wheels spin at a low percentage of power until it slips and give it that full power to that wheel that is slipping....

 

[irocdupi]

Yea, try it with the brown wire mod and the fronts wont spin at all. A ford mechanic told me that the computer is detecting some slippage on the lift because the wheels turn so easy. Who knows though

 

[waskly]

auto == when the car senses it needs front wheels to engage, it will bang and engage it for you

4x4 high, is what you would use for snow, sand, etc, everything else but pavement.

4x4 low. is when you need lots of torque to the front at slow speeds, maybe a gravel loading dock for a boat etc... besides that 4x4 auto for street, daily driving an 4x4 high for uneven surfaces, gravel, sand, snow, when the car is not on top of pavement.

 

[D Hook]

Yes 4WD Auto is the default mode for driving around, and no there should be no dashboard light for this mode. This mode is similar to traction control but not. Explorers are rear wheel drive, so normally in 4WD Auto on a normal rode your in 2WD. But say its raining and you hit the gas hard around a turn, the back tires spin. 4WD Auto utilizes the ABS sensors to detect wheel slip, and when it does detect it, the computer engages the front wheels or 4WD High without you doing anything. After your tires stop slipping, it will resume 2WD for you. 4WD High will indicate a light on the dash, this mode is good for snow. In this mode all four weels are getting power. This mode will not shut it self off, so if you get to dry road again be sure to go back to Auto. Lastly 4WD Low, uses a low gear in the transfer case and provides alot of torque for rock crawling, pulling heavy objects, or getting out of a ditch. Just remember dont go over 15mph in low.

Best explanation I've heard of this feature.

 

[imp]

Best explanation I've heard of this feature.

++! imp

 

[fedyfedz]

also depends on what type of axles you have, if you have Limited slip More tires will spin than if dont have LS, im on of the unfortunate ones to have 3.55 No LS, i figured since i have the limited v8 that they would at least give me some decent gears(guess not)

 

[skoville]

Never having a 4x4 before I really appreciate your guys knowledge. Thanks, I wondered what the hell to do with that knob. It's probably one of the few things that work on my 97.

 

[imp]

Yea, try it with the brown wire mod and the fronts wont spin at all. A ford mechanic told me that the computer is detecting some slippage on the lift because the wheels turn so easy. Who knows though

@irocdupi
With all 4 wheels off the ground, none of the brakes will drag exactly the same amount, so all the wheels wind up turning at diofferent speeds, usually. Except in the case of Locking Differentials, where both will turn equally. Usually, if an Ex having 4X4 AUTO is put on a lift and run up in drive a bit, the "Electronic Clutch" in T.C. will go nuts, and scare hell out of you. However, I've run mine on stands a number of times to pin-point noise source. Just press "4X4 HIGH", and you can run it all day long. imp

 

[ROBinGa]

I have found that if you have uneven tire wear then your 4WD Auto feature may sense this and think one tire is spinning faster than others and activate the FWD need. When our last set of tires were getting towards the end of life the Explorer started driving very strangely and was told this explanation. The service manager at tire place confirmed that my front tires were a little less tread life and when we got the new tires installed it drove wonderfully smooth. He also told me for this 4WD system to never ever allow different size tires -i.e. the spare needs to be same if ever needed or it would really mess with Auto 4WD system.

 

[TechGuru]

also depends on what type of axles you have, if you have Limited slip More tires will spin than if dont have LS, im on of the unfortunate ones to have 3.55 No LS, i figured since i have the limited v8 that they would at least give me some decent gears(guess not)

Put 4.10 in that!