disable 4x4 AUTO?

[jasonb]

jared.. its a little hard to tell in that pic, but the correct brown wire is obviously thicker than the rest and is solid brown. i do believe there is a thicker yellow one in the bunch as well. looks like the passenger side of the center console piece which doesn't seem right since the 4x4 switch is on the driver side, but who knows. i didn't look back there since i spliced at the door. take a look at the front of the tcase and you can see the brown wire going in all by itself. that's the one so just make sure it looks like that one. its the only one i know of that is that size and that color. here is mine where i spliced it at the door jamb. you can see a larger yellow wire in there as well, but i have no idea if its the same one as in your pic. the good thing about cutting it, is that you can reconnect it if its wrong!

just let me know when you do the writeup.. we'll put it at home in the useful threads section. thanks man..

 

[Lee S.]

Jared:

I just PM'ed you.

I am nearly certain you have the correct Brown wire in your pics. This is exactly where I found my Brown wire. Also, there appears to be a yellow wire (the wire which was originally dicussed in the beginning of the Brown Wire Mod thread) in your pics. If the yellow and brown wires are going to the same connector/component then you for sure have the correct Brown wire.

You look to be in good shape. Splice in a lighted switch and you should be good to go (in 2wd that is).

Lee

 

[jasonb]

doh.. i just noticed i forgot to attach the pic i meant to.. its at home and i can't do it now though.

 

[JPA1982]

Write Up: Brown wire mod

Ok, well there are about um, way to many posts on this, all of which were good to read,but here is new, the new improved, quick resource for the 2wd mod, hope this makes it easier for others, enjoy ,take care.

Tools needed:
-7mm socket
-3/8 socket extension(10")
-Ratchet
-Flathead screwdriver
-wire strippers
-crimper

Hardware needed:
-14 guage wire(15"x2)
-male/female crimp connectors
-electrical tape
-30 amp switch(doesn't have to be this big, but doesn't hurt, 10amp fine)

Steps: For in dash
*can also find this same set of wires under driver seat,along door trim*
1-use 7mm to undo 2 screws under side of radio bezel
2-pull bezel out
3-undo all wire harnesses from back of bezel
-might need flathead to pop 4x4 harness off
4-place bezel aside
5-use 7mm & extension to take out screws underside of vent tube(pic 1)

6-locate blue harness to the right, with wire colors Blue,Brown,Black,Yellow
-use flathead through hole in bracket to pop harness off,pull with other hand(pic 2)

7-cut brown wire and strip outside(pic3)

8-attach new wire to each side of cut w/connectors
9-attach crimp connectors to other end of both wires (pic4 )

10-run down behind dash to center console
11-connect to 30amp switch

Rock and Roll, u now have 2wd when u want it, and thats 2wd in Hi or LO!!

 

[raptor86]

disregard post, i cant figure out how to delete

 

[Lee S.]

Nice write-up Jared. Glad everything worked out for you.

Only one thing to add and it's been discussed in length by many more astute car electrical experts than me in the long version of the brown wire mod:

There is really no need for a 30 amp switch.....a 5 amp switch will do. Now having said this I have a 20 amp switch in mine because i wanted to match other switches in a separate switch panel that I installed and that was to only matching one i could find.

So Jared how do you like the 2wd? I couldn't tell all that much difference from 4wd auto. I usually drive in 2wd just to try and get an extra mpg or so and save some wear and tear on the transfer case. I will admit to flipping the switch to go back into 4wd just to watch the switch light up whenever the computer calls for more power to the front wheels.....a cool thing to see.

Lee

 

[Ford_Racing_Guy]

would you cause any damage to the drive-train if being able to keep it in 2wd while in 4lo?

i can just imagine the smoke you could roll off the tires!!

 

[Lee S.]

would you cause any damage to the drive-train if being able to keep it in 2wd while in 4lo?

i can just imagine the smoke you could roll off the tires!!

Don't know and never tried....I drive nice. Think I only had my truck in 4wd low once since I owned it no less 2wd low.

 

[JPA1982]

Fordracing, don't think u would want to sit and spin ur rear shoes in 2wd Lo, not sure the trans would like it so much, lol, but 2Hi, oh hell yes, i'm planning on doing it sometime this week, we are expecting rain next couple of days, so i think a lil rear wheel spin is called for,

Lee, i love 2wd, u can notice it going around corners and when u are pushing the truck to its limits, which i only do once in a blue moon,(i know it sounds different right now, but thats cause i just got 2wd)lol, i will calm down just have to enjoy it for a few days after u know. and about the 30amp switch i know, but it doesn't hurt anything, plus the cost is only what a dollar more if that. take care.

jasonB is suppose to be moving that write up to "useful threads" so all new people and others can find it easily, if u think nething should really be added, let me know less so i can do it before it takes care of that.

 

[Ford_Racing_Guy]

i've seen people do it with older vehicles,

like F-150's and bronco's

they had the lock-outs, except they wouldn't lock them in and put it in 4lo, but still in 2wd,

and man could they spin the tires!
i have auto's on my mine, but even if i get the lockouts i would still be a little leary about trying it

 

[jasonb]

nice writeup! thanks for taking care of it. i'll let a few folks give input incase you want to edit before i move it over.

 

[dogfriend]

would you cause any damage to the drive-train if being able to keep it in 2wd while in 4lo?

i can just imagine the smoke you could roll off the tires!!

I think that this was the primary reason for the first group of people who did the "yellow wire" version of disabling the auto 4wd; they wanted to use 2wd low on the trail.

 

[Gonzo]

Ok, I am doing the Brown wire mod, using the brown wire behind the dash, but I can't find the harness like posted in the pics above. I have a '98, and it looks different than the pics of the '97. I was about to cut the wire, but it looks like it goes to the passenger air bag (although the wire colors are the same as above). The last thing I want is to set off the air bag I thought I better see if anyone can help before I cut any wires. Just out of curiosity, how much $$$ is an air bag? I've heard they're pricey.

 

[Lee S.]

Gonzo:

I take no responsibility for your airbag but I'm pretty certain that you have identified the correct brown wire. It's been a while but I seem to remember my 98 4dr looking just like your pics (and not like the pics posted by Jared for his 97). As I recall, it was the only brown wire in the area.

If you are unsure, you could try disconnecting the battery for 15 minutes (to remove the charge to to the airbag) and then cutting the brown wire and temporarily splicing in a lighted switch or lit circuit tester using alligator jumper wires. Reconnect the battery and take the X for a ride. The juice thru the brown wire varies...it's always partly on (dim light) and increases as more power to the front wheels is needed (juice increases and light gets brighter). If you jump on the gas you should see the light pulse brighter as the computer calls for more power to the front wheels. If this happens then you have found the correct brown wire. Having said this, I really don't think its necessary since I think you already have found the correct wire.

Lee

 

[Gonzo]

I'm still unsure if that is the correct wire. If you follow the wires in the 2nd pic. they go to a black harness, which is connected to a metal bracket that surrounds the airbag. Also, the red thing on the harness can be slid up and down. I don't know if it is a switch of some sort, or just a way to lock the harness. I know there are other people with 98's that have done this. I would appreciate a little more feedback. Thanks.

 

[Lee S.]

Gonzo:

Okay, while you're waiting for others to chime in, I just pulled my radio to take a look. The brown wire you have identified is the same brown wire that I tapped into to do this mod. It goes into a black connector along with a black, yellow and light blue/black striped wire. If you take a look at the original 25 page+ brown wire mod thread it talks about this 'gizmo' (I can't remember what it's called and I'm not wading thru that thread to find out) that sends out the signal from the computer to the transfer case. It has the famous yellow wire connected to it as well which was talked about in the first few pages of the original brown wire mod thread. So IMO the thing you think has something to do with the airbag is actually the 'gizmo' I am referring to.

Have no fear about setting off the airbag because I am confirming that that's the same wire I used and my airbag is fine (although I did disconnect the battery when I did this mod only because I wanted to be safe and not sorry when working near the airbag).

So it's either that you found the correct brown wire or I have been driving around for the last 8 months like an a$$ thinking I'm in 2wd when I'm not.

Lee

 

[Gonzo]

Wow, thanks a lot for the reply. That definitely clears things up. I read through the whole 25+ pages of how to do this, but it didn't really help much until I got towards the end. I still don't understand that gizmo thing. I looked at it pretty close, and saw that the harness plugs into it, but no wires come out. The only thing I can think of is that it might be some kind of little computer, or chip.

 

[Lee S.]

Gonzo:

One last post on this issue from me mainly because I want to clear up my unprofessional and inaccurate term 'Gizmo' for future readers of this thread. I had a little time tonight and went back into the original brown wire mod thread. The thing I called Gizmo earlier is actually the Torque on Demand (TOD) Relay. Here's a cut and paste paraphrase from Dogfriend located on page 7 or 8 of the original thread that explains it a little better:

'What does the brown wire come from? a relay??

Yes it comes from the Torque On Demand relay which is a solid state relay located in the dash (upper passenger side dash).


The Torque on Demand relay is a solid state relay. It uses the signal from the GEM (the infamous yellow wire behind the dash) to modulate the current in the Brown wire which goes to the transfer case clutch coil.


Four wires go to the Torque on Demand relay: Ckt 274 (Y) from GEM, Ckt 400 (LB/BK) 12V from Accy Delay relay, Ckt 57 (BK) Ground, Ckt 779 (BR) the brown wire supplying the Clutch coil.'


Hope all is clear now.

Lee

 

[thecause17]

I just did this in mine a couple days ago. It works great. I used a lit rocker switch, and I can actually see it working. When I have the switch on(normal mode) the switch lit dimly. If the tires slip(tried it in gravel) and the clutch engages, my switch will light fully and the front wheels engage. If I put it in 4x4, the switch also lights up, showing that the clutch has engaged. Shut the switch off, and voila, 2WD. Cost me about $5.

 

[Gonzo]

Thanks for all the help. That was nice to know what that gizmo thing does too. I got it all hooked up today, and it works. The only problem is, I can't get the light to change brightness when 4-auto kicks in. It is either off or on. Is there a certain way I should wire it? I am using a relay. Does that make the light not work like everyone else's?