dumb 4x4 question

[HappyBuddaH]

I have a '93 Explorer Sport - manual 5 sp. -
I was driving around and the sun lit up something that said 4x4 near the turn signal indicator on the dash near the steering wheel. I was confused as I thought I didn't get a 4x4 truck. There is no button or anything that I can see to activate 4wd. How would I do this? Am I looking in the wrong place? Do I have to do something with the wheels? Seems like it'd be a pain to get out and mess with the wheels everytime you wanted four wheel drive. I'm not too up to date on 4x4's so if someone can walk me through it without being too confusing, then thanks.
sorry if this is a dumb question.

edit: found out that the button would be in the center of the dash a the top, all i have there is what looks like an air vent but is solid behind it.

 

[DeRocha]

Welcome to the site.. Most likely you have a 2 wheel drive explorer. 4 wheel drive explorers activate 4wd (depending on model) by pressing a dash button above the radio, or by engage a manual stick shift. All explorers have the 4x4 indicator light on the dash, which will only illuminate once 4x4 has been activated.

Note: 4x4 Explorers have 2 drive shafts whereas 2wd Explorers only have the rear shaft. If you look under your truck you should be able to identify the front and rear shafts as they connect to the center of the differentials. If you don't have a front shaft and front differential you don't have 4x4..

Here is a picture of the front TTB (Twin Traction Beam) of a 4x4 Explorer.. On the right side of the picture you can see the differential to which the front drive shaft would be connected.

 

[JDraper]

I have a '93 Explorer Sport - manual 5 sp. -
I was driving around and the sun lit up something that said 4x4 near the turn signal indicator on the dash near the steering wheel....

The 2WD and 4WD Explorers most likely used the same dash assembly to save on costs, so the light cover with the 4x4 is there, but there's just nothing behind it. It's a way that auto manufacturers save costs.

 

[HappyBuddaH]

well... that just drains the excitement from me. i pulled the cover off the fake vent/vent and saw a plug on the back of the fake vent side. any idea what this is for??

 

[JDraper]

well... that just drains the excitement from me. i pulled the cover off the fake vent/vent and saw a plug on the back of the fake vent side. any idea what this is for??

Same thing...they used one wiring harness for both the 2x4 and 4x4...just didn't plug the 4x4 components in when the vehicle was 2WD.

 

[HappyBuddaH]

so in theroy i could rig something up to this plug and it would draw power?

 

[JDraper]

so in theroy i could rig something up to this plug and it would draw power?

Yep..when the ignition is on. IIRC the module doesn't get power when the ignition is off...you would have to pin it out and find out where the power is...

 

[DeRocha]

so in theroy i could rig something up to this plug and it would draw power?

You could also add 4x4 by picking up the 4x4 parts (Dan35 TTB, T-case, Front Drive shaft, 4x4 dash button, and 4x4 computer).

 

[Glen4X4]

You could also add 4x4 by picking up the 4x4 parts (Dan35 TTB, T-case, Front Drive shaft, 4x4 dash button, and 4x4 computer).

Plus isn't the rear drive shaft shorter with a t-case?