disable 4x4 AUTO?

[davesexplorer]

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

That's a good idea! The switch I have is awful gaudy looking so I'll have to find one that fits there and looks good. hmm blue led maybe. Thx for the idea.

 

[briwayjones]

They have blue, green, red and amber L.E.D.s in the type of switch I got. I got it at Advance Auto.

 

[collkid]

I think its funny how u compare it to soccer mom's... can't there be a system manage ment computer that can help ya out?

 

[r37ribution]

I think its funny how u compare it to soccer mom's... can't there be a system manage ment computer that can help ya out?

wha?

 

[dogfriend]

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.

95 - 96 Control Trac has a vacuum powered disconnect at the front diff. These models have 2wd, 4wdAuto,4wd Low positions on the switch

97 & later Control Trac is engaged all of the time (no disconnect). These models have no 2wd position on the switch. They have 4wd Auto, 4wd High, 4wd Low on the switch.

 

[r37ribution]

Ah thanks, I knew about the vaccume disco on those years but I never understood what it was used for. Thanks!

Well at least there is something I like about my old beast.

 

[adarkang]

I have a question, if you dont ground the switch, will it not work properly? I put the switch in and the intensity of the light changes but I am not certain if it is actually working because it has been sunny and nice and I cant seem to find gravel or dirt anywhere to spin my tires.

 

[Lee S.]

I have a question, if you dont ground the switch, will it not work properly? I put the switch in and the intensity of the light changes but I am not certain if it is actually working because it has been sunny and nice and I cant seem to find gravel or dirt anywhere to spin my tires.

Grounding the switch should not matter. You can actually just use a two pole non-grounded switch and wire in a LED after the switch and it will work the same.

Lee

 

[adarkang]

Thanks Lee S. One more quick question on how it works. I put it in 4LO and the switch was off ( LED light was off but dash said 4LO), I floored it and the rear end was fishtailing. I am assuming when the green light is off, the 4WD system is disabled? or vice versa? Also at highway speeds I should leave it in Auto mode with the switch off?

 

[dogfriend]

All tips and information provided on this site by either "Serious Explorations" or it's contributors are for use at your own risk and discretion.
Modifying the suspension on any vehicle will cause changes to it's handling characteristics.
Some modifications described within this website may void your factory warranty.

I think the above quote applies in this case.

If your switch cuts power on the brown wire, you will be in 2wd because the clutch in the T-case cannot engage. If the power on the brown wire gets to the clutch, and the GEM detects wheel slippage, then the clutch will engage in an attempt to keep the front and rear driveshaft speeds the same (4wd) . In the case where you have the switch in 4wd low, it will always be sending some torque to the front.

It sounds like your lighted switch is getting power when the circuit is closed (power is sent on the brown wire), therefore, you have 2wd when the light is off, 4wd when the light is on. The brightness of the light is proportional to the amount of time that the clutch is engaged.

 

[adarkang]

I can hear the clutch engaging when the switch is off when I flip it over to 4Lo. I am assuming this is how it works. Thanks for the info dogfriend.

 

[dogfriend]

You are probably hearing the shift motor engaging the Low range in the Transfer Case when you switch from 4wd High to 4wd Low (or viseversa). That is actually different from the clutch engaging.

If you switch to 4wd Low and you flip the switch that you installed to cut power to the Transfer case clutch, you will actually get 2wd Low. You will have a lower gear ratio with more torque at the rear wheels. This is the original reason that people started doing this mod; they wanted to have 2wd Low for offroad use.

 

[Lee S.]

Thanks Lee S. One more quick question on how it works. I put it in 4LO and the switch was off ( LED light was off but dash said 4LO), I floored it and the rear end was fishtailing. I am assuming when the green light is off, the 4WD system is disabled? or vice versa? Also at highway speeds I should leave it in Auto mode with the switch off?

Listen to what Dogfriend says. He is a wise man.

If the brown wire mod switch you just installed is off (unlit) then you are in 2wd in all dash switch modes ...auto, high and low will all be in 2wd only... the gauge cluster light will show 4wd high or 4wd low depending on where your dash switch is set but as long as the BW switch is off (unlit) then you are actually in 2wd high or 2wd low.

Conversely, if the bw switch in on (lit) then you are back in the normal stock 4wd operation.

In dry weather I usually always drive in 2wd Auto (bw switch is off/unlit and dash switch is on auto). In rain or snow or wet roads I usually put the bw switch on/lit with the dash switch on auto so I'm back in part time 4wd.

Lee

 

[adarkang]

Thanks alot guys that helped me out a ton. From all these posts I have been getting so confused what does what. You cleared that up for me completely. Thanks again!

 

[gijoecam]

Listen to what Dogfriend says. He is a wise man.

If the brown wire mod switch you just installed is off (unlit) then you are in 2wd in all dash switch modes ...auto, high and low will all be in 2wd only... the gauge cluster light will show 4wd high or 4wd low depending on where your dash switch is set but as long as the BW switch is off (unlit) then you are actually in 2wd high or 2wd low.



Lee

Actually, it depends on where exactly the brown wire was cut to install the switch. There are actually three brown wires: One from the TOD relay, one from the TCS relay, and one from the splice between them down to the transfer case.

If the wire is cut between the TOD relay and the splice with the wire from the TCS relay, the switch you install will only disable the TOD in automatic mode. When you shift into 4 low, the TCS relay will still power the clutch coil in the transfer case.

If the wire is cut between the splice and the transfer case (i.e. under the seat) then yes, you are correct. If the switch is off, you will only be in 2wd regardless of whether the transfer case is in high or low range.

By the same token, you can use the same mod for the 95-96 to give it full-time 4wd high. Instead of breaking the circuit, you use the switch to manually apply power to the circuit and it will lock the transfer case in 4 high. (i.e. 100% duty cycle) Just make sure you use a switched source, or use a relay connected to a switched source so that you don't forget and leave the transfer case engaged overnight.

-Joe

-Joe

 

[tuffenuf83]

I have a 2000 XLS, so will this brown wire mob work for it. In the exact same pics that were posted here on page 2, I think. I havent read the long write up (25 pages), but what I have here should be good enough dont you think?? ALso if someone has a pic of there dash, with the LED installed can you post it, just to see it. Also if there is any caution, or warnings before i do this, please fill me in. Planning on doing it this weekend or next!

Thanks

 

[Lee S.]

Actually, it depends on where exactly the brown wire was cut to install the switch. There are actually three brown wires: One from the TOD relay, one from the TCS relay, and one from the splice between them down to the transfer case.

If the wire is cut between the TOD relay and the splice with the wire from the TCS relay, the switch you install will only disable the TOD in automatic mode. When you shift into 4 low, the TCS relay will still power the clutch coil in the transfer case.

If the wire is cut between the splice and the transfer case (i.e. under the seat) then yes, you are correct. If the switch is off, you will only be in 2wd regardless of whether the transfer case is in high or low range.

By the same token, you can use the same mod for the 95-96 to give it full-time 4wd high. Instead of breaking the circuit, you use the switch to manually apply power to the circuit and it will lock the transfer case in 4 high. (i.e. 100% duty cycle) Just make sure you use a switched source, or use a relay connected to a switched source so that you don't forget and leave the transfer case engaged overnight.

-Joe

-Joe

Interesting...

So you're saying that cutting the brown in the dash by the TOD will not give you 2wd low or high...it will only give you 2wd when the dash switch is in auto? I have the bw cut this way and to be honest, I have never checked whether 2wd low works since I always keep the dash switch on auto and operate 2wd or 4wd with the bw switch. I'll have to check it out now to see if I really get 2wd low.

If this is true, then I guess your saying that the only way to get real 2wd low is to cut the brown wire under the seat...not sure that really matters for me since I never use 2wd low anyway. However, like myself, I'll bet most who have cut the bw in the dash by the TOD are not aware of this.

Lee

 

[dogfriend]

Actually, it depends on where exactly the brown wire was cut to install the switch. There are actually three brown wires: One from the TOD relay, one from the TCS relay, and one from the splice between them down to the transfer case.

If the wire is cut between the TOD relay and the splice with the wire from the TCS relay, the switch you install will only disable the TOD in automatic mode. When you shift into 4 low, the TCS relay will still power the clutch coil in the transfer case.


-Joe

I never noticed that splice before on the schematic. That is a good point; you need to cut the wire below the splice to ensure that no current can be sent to the clutch coil if you want 2wd low. My service manual says the splice is near the t/o for the radio (i.e. look at the harness near where the radio wires come out)

 

[dogfriend]

Interesting...

If this is true, then I guess your saying that the only way to get real 2wd low is to cut the brown wire under the seat...not sure that really matters for me since I never use 2wd low anyway. However, like myself, I'll bet most who have cut the bw in the dash by the TOD are not aware of this.

Lee

I think the majority of people in the first thread cut the wire under the passenger seat.

It should still be possible to cut the wire behind the dash; you just need to trace the wire so that you cut at or below the splice which is near the radio.

I'm glad I haven't done this mod yet; I'm waiting until everyone gets this perfected.

 

[gijoecam]

Actually I've got good pictures of the wiring in the dash in my gallery.

Click the link in my signature, and go to the gallery called "Control Trac Mod"

-Joe