disable 4x4 AUTO?

[99stocksport]

i was think about that...but i like the idea of a switch that lights up..so i might cut a hole in the bezel and mount it under the fog light switch...but then again the cuttin part kinda scares me

 

[briwayjones]

That whole switch doesn't light up but there is a LED light on that switch that does light up when it's on.

 

[99stocksport]

i installed it this weekend, but with out a switch with a light and no ground, so late this afternoon i got a new switch that does light up and does have a ground. is the ground the the lighter the black wire on the side? if so can i jsut hook that to ths switch?
thanks
Davis

 

[tl1000r]

I just did the the brown wire mod works great i ran the the the brown wire through the normally closed contact on a 40 amp realy, then put a nice round rocker sw. with blue led light next to my 4x4 knob. so when the sw . is on then the realy comes on and the transfer case loses the brown wire i wired it normally close just in case if the the coil of the relay was to go bad i wouldn`t lose my 4x4

 

[r37ribution]

Mike, you may be correct, but I dont think so. All three explorers of this style that I have had, have put forth the same symptons since new. The problem becomes much more pronounced as the tires wear.Maybe some others with the bypass switch installed could chime in with their opinions. Do you have the bypass switch on yours? Again, mine would only engage at 3/4 or so throttle(load) at any speed on dry surface even after just installing new Michelins.

Mike I do believe this is related to your speed sensors, I have a '96 and this was exactly what mine was doing in 4WD Auto mode. You can check out my issues with 4WD Auto here. The only difference is, on mine after driving around for a while like this I would eventually get a code out of the 4WD and 4WD LOW lights after about 5 min of driving: they would flash 6 times. Do the 4WD and 4WD LOW lights ever flash?

According to the Ford TSB and from my experience, if the issue is related to the GEM needing the updated software, you will for the most part only experience a minor binding when making sharp turns in 4WD Auto. All other operation in 4WD Auto should be, for the most part, "normal."

It may be a good idea to go up to a dealer and describe the problem your having. They would be able to better assist you as your X is a different year and has a little bit different electronic design for the transfer case.

 

[briwayjones]

That's the wire. I just hooked it up to my switch. The lighter of course won't work then. Or did you stick it in place of the lighter like I did?

i installed it this weekend, but with out a switch with a light and no ground, so late this afternoon i got a new switch that does light up and does have a ground. is the ground the the lighter the black wire on the side? if so can i jsut hook that to ths switch?
thanks
Davis

 

[99stocksport]

i acctually just didnt ground it..i wanted my lighter because i ma using it for a power converter so some extra interior lights

 

[b3ross]

Hi guys i am new to this forum and i am just curious where the best place to buy a switch for the brown wire mod, and what others recommend regarding amp size of switch and wether or not to use a relay when wiring. I have saw Jareds write up in this forum but find it a little difficult to make out the last picture and how to exactly wire up and splice a new wire into the existing brown wire. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thank you

 

[99stocksport]

i went to advanced auto parts to get mine...and i got a 30 amp switch..i think this a little overboard but better safe that sorry

 

[briwayjones]

I got a 30amp switch from Advanced Auto and didn't use a relay and haven't had any problems yet after a year.

 

[greeneye]

I can't find that thread anywhere.
I searched "brown wire mod".
I didn't see one that was complete with pictures.
Can someone send me a link please?

 

[Lee S.]

I can't find that thread anywhere.
I searched "brown wire mod".
I didn't see one that was complete with pictures.
Can someone send me a link please?

What thread are you looking for? Page two of this thread has the pics for getting to the brown wire in the dash. It basically summarizes the original 25+ page thread that was a kind of work in progess.

If you are looking for the original thread here it is:

http://www.explorerforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=81385

It's in the Useful Threads forum. Be prepared for a lot of reading. Remember that this mod only works for control trac (dash switch has 4 wd auto, 4wd high and 4wd low). It will not work on AWD trucks.

Lee

 

[greeneye]

missing link to brown wire mod

For some reason I can't view the pictures on the link from Lee above.
I can see all other pictures on the page, so my browser is set up for it. I wonder if the post is so old that the pictures were removed for archiving or something.

Also, this is the yellow wire mod, does anyone have the original brown wire mod link with pictures?

 

[briwayjones]

Later in the thread it gets switched from yellow wire to the brown one. Might want to read the whole thread. It's long but a good read.

 

[Lee S.]

For some reason I can't view the pictures on the link from Lee above.
I can see all other pictures on the page, so my browser is set up for it. I wonder if the post is so old that the pictures were removed for archiving or something.

Also, this is the yellow wire mod, does anyone have the original brown wire mod link with pictures?

Why don't you be more more specific on what you want. What pics are you looking for...what are you trying to accomplish. The original 25 page thread was a work in progress...you obviously didn't read thru it if think it was only about the yellow wire.

I will repeat what I said before that this very thread we are posting in right now is the best thread (including the pics contained in it) for the mod to disable 4wd in control trac. The pics in this thread are coming thru fine for me. What more are you after???

Lee

 

[davesexplorer]

Just did the mod myself, now I just need to find a decent place to mount the switch. Oh the wires seemed to be a b!tch to get to for me - maybe I was just making it hard on myself?

 

[BigE]

If you disable auto 4WD will the half shafts still turn or will this also disable the auto locking hubs so that the front wheels turn freely, e.g. like a standard 2WD vehicle? If not, is there a way to disengage the locking hubs so that the front wheels turn freely, thus saving the wear on the half shafts?

 

[briwayjones]

Greeneye

I just realized you have a 2002 X. Is it a sport or 4DR? If it's a 4DR this mod is probably going to be different if it works at all.

Dave

Do you use the cigarette power outlet? I put my switch in there and it looks okay. It looks semi-stock. Pictures are in this thread here:

http://www.explorerforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=117748&highlight=minidisc

 

[TPLYNCH]

If you disable auto 4WD will the half shafts still turn or will this also disable the auto locking hubs so that the front wheels turn freely, e.g. like a standard 2WD vehicle? If not, is there a way to disengage the locking hubs so that the front wheels turn freely, thus saving the wear on the half shafts?

You don't have auto hubs. The halfshafts will turn no matter what.

 

[r37ribution]

You don't have auto hubs. The halfshafts will turn no matter what.

Do some explorers have auto hubs? The reason I ask is because I can hear a loud click 2 times coming from the front end of my truck when any time I go from 2WD to either 4x4 Auto or 4x4 Low. I does not make the noise if I'm already in a 4x4 setting and switching to another 4x4 setting, but when returning to 2WD I hear the "double click" again. My truck has 2WD as the standard position.