Control trac question.

[ljungberg3]

I have been searching but I cant find any results for this question.

When you are driving in 2wd with a control trac equipped explorer, how would you be able to tell that the 4wd has kicked in automatically? Do any of the lights come on in the dash when it kicks in? to my knowledge i have never experienced my 98 xlt shifting into 4wd on its own when i was stuck....

 

[97sprt4x4]

there is no standard way for you to tell, if you do the Brown wire mod, with a lit switch, that's a way to tell, but there is no stock way. I would assume that you have an open differential, and that would be the reason that you've never been able to tell... if the front truely will not spin at all, your transfer case is toast, and you'll need to replace it.

a good way to figure it out, is to put the truck up on 4 jack stands and put it in drive. if the front wheels engage then you have 4wheel drive electrically. If they don't you'll need to start a new thread in the transmission section.

Good luck

Justin

 

[ljungberg3]

My 4hi and 4lo work when i put the switch in that position, but im wondering that if i leave it in "auto" what indication will the car give me that all 4 wheels have begun spinning if they need to?

 

[97sprt4x4]

without modification, none. it's meant to keep soccer moms on the road.

If you want to have some indication, you can either do the brown wire mod, or you can wire an LED in instead of a switch.

Justin

 

[ljungberg3]

oh ok, so its probably better to just offroad with the 4hi engaged if i think i need it, and not leave anything up to the auto4x4?

 

[97sprt4x4]

Yeah, that's probably a good bet, if you think you need it's probably better to have it on.

good luck.
Justin

 

[ljungberg3]

sweet, thanks for the help!

 

[97sprt4x4]

no problem, the explorer isn't a bad offroading vehicle, it just needs some help

 

[Joe Dirt]

Wait- how do you have 4wd Auto, 4wd Hi, and 4wd Low?

If you have Control Trac, you have 2wd, 4wd Auto, and 4wd Low... you shouldn't have 4wd Hi that you can leave it in...

 

[97sprt4x4]

Wait- how do you have 4wd Auto, 4wd Hi, and 4wd Low?

If you have Control Trac, you have 2wd, 4wd Auto, and 4wd Low, you don't have 4wd Hi that you can leave it in...

that's on the 95-96. 97+ they got rid of the 2wd option. kinda sucks.

 

[Joe Dirt]

Wow-learn something every day. I didn't know that!

 

[Centracated]

I know this thread is old, but I want to ask something really quick. On the 95's you have the 2wd option. Is that a legit 2wd option or will the control-trac auto engage the front wheels when the rear starts to slip or can it only do that when the 4wd auto is in? Thanks so much!

 

[Joe Dirt]

2wd selection will not engage the transfer case. My '95 never engaged unless I flipped the switch to auto.

Still though- I've always loved this quote:

If the front wheels engage then you have 4wheel drive electrically. If they don't you'll need to start a new thread in the transmission section

Priceless...

 

[Centracated]

Awesome, thanks for the fast response! So with the 2wd selection available, would it still be unwise to have some fun roasting or stay away from it?

 

[Joe Dirt]

I'd put it this way- the 1995 uses a transmission that can ONLY come from a '95. So roast at your own risk- they're not cheap to fix since it's kind of a ******* truck... With 160HP new, if you have much luck roasting anyway

 

[Glen4X4]

Honestly, if you want to roast tires then get a mustang or some ricer with power because these trucks just aren't meant for that kind of play. Or look under the Need For Speed section of the forum to get ideas on giving your truck some power and to beef it up for that kind of play.

 

[Centracated]

Thanks for the help! It rained quite abit today so I let em' loose real easy for a second just for my enjoyment but I don't hold it at a stop, the front wheels are always moving with the rears.

 

[Glen4X4]

Thanks for the help! It rained quite abit today so I let em' loose real easy for a second just for my enjoyment but I don't hold it at a stop, the front wheels are always moving with the rears.

Wasn't trying to sound like a d*ck just honest opinion.