First Explorer... first 4x4... first question...

[heinamj]

Last month I finally graduated from the minivan masses and got the Explorer I wanted...

'05 Red Limited, 1 owner < 50k

One of my favorite features of the X's is the tight turning circle... better than my Mazda Portege 5!

But... in Auto 4x4... in low speed parking situations, if I turn the wheels tightly (but not to the locks) as I roll slowly I occasionally will get little lurches like the wheels are rolling over something... I've heard this is normal in 4 wheel drive...

I've noticed this in the snow and on wet pavement today... the wet pavement surprised me as I wouldn't expect the front diff to be engaged in auto mode.

Being an '05 I also have the stability control system... so as a test I disengaged that and it still did it in the wet...

Is this OK? I'm pretty sure that if I notice it on dry pavement its a bad thing... right?

Is there a way to force an Auto 4x4 system into just 2WD rear?

Thanks

PS: Looks like a GREAT forum ... so glad I found it!

 

[BrianDye]

Welcome!

I believe you can do the "BWM" on yours, aka Brown Wire Mod, which is where you find a certain wire, and you add a switch to it, and it will make it only RWD until you flip the switch again, its a little easier said than done, but from what I hear, its well worth it, search "Brown wire mod" and youll have plenty of info on it

 

[heinamj]

Sounds like an interesting mod...
...though reading through some BWM threads it sounds like what I'm experiencing is completely normal since the front always as a 40/60 or 50/50 split... ? even in the dry?

I'm not interested in a mod that will in any way increase the likelihood of failure unless the likelihood is slight and the payoff is good (ie: increased MPG)... but the threads didn't seem to tout increased MPG...

From what I read about the BWM, the biggest benefit is the ability to do burnouts and I got my fill of those with my '85 Mustang GT...

Also, I didn't find a thread on BWM with the Stability Control system that comes standard in '05s... what impact would that have?

 

[BrooklynBay]

Welcome to this forum! What kind of minivan did you previously own?

 

[heinamj]

'98 Ford Windstar... got 12 years and 118k out of it before my daughter redecorated the front end and the head gasket blew... just didn't want to put more money into it.

My wife was quite ready for the old witch to die and happy with the new one...