I have some newbie questions

[twokss]

Hey I recently sold my mustang in order for a nicer daily driver. I picked up a 2001 explorer XLT. Ill post some pics when the weather breaks around here. Any way, I did some searching around but didn’t see and exact answer to my question. I am a little confused on how exactly my 4x4 system works. (I know, I know, this has probably been covered a million times. I apologize ahead of time.) If I understand what I read on the forum correctly, these trucks do not have a 2x4 selection at all? If this is the case what is the difference between normal 4x4 (auto 4x4 on the dash), 4x4 high, and 4x4 low. Also when I am sitting at a stop light with my foot on the brake and the car in drive, and I select 4x4 high, the 4x4 high light comes on the dash. When I select 4x4 low no light comes on in the dash. Does the truck need to be in park to have 4x4 low selected? I have not tried it while in park, I have only tried to engage 4x4 low when the truck was in gear. If you could please shed some light on the subject, it would be greatly appreciated.

 

[BobWiersema]

Welcome Aboard,

Couple quick answers,

what is the difference between normal 4x4 (auto 4x4 on the dash)

If you select 4x4 on the dash, your truck is locked into four wheel drive. Auto is the normal selection until you get into deep snow or mud.

When I select 4x4 low no light comes on in the dash.

Oh Cripes, if you don't know what that is don't touch it!
I only use low to pull stuck trucks out of the ditch, or pull stumps, or get the boat up the ramp. YOU CAN NOT DRIVE ON THE ROAD IN LOW! That's why it wont engage. If you don't know how to do it I'm not about to tell you. : I don't want to see your trans trashed.


Bob

 

[994x4Bauer]

You have to have the truck in neutral to shift into 4x4 low, you should hear a moderate clunk, that is the transfer case changing into the lower gear ratio. I would not recommend driving over 10mph, and not at all on dry pavement in low. The truck should pull alot harder in low than in high or auto without touching the gas, and when you do hit the throttle look out, because as soon as you do it will fall on its face. Hope this helps!!!

 

[994x4Bauer]

I meant as soon as you let off the gas it will fall on its face, and Bob makes a good point, if you don't know what it is, I wouldn't mess with it.

 

[twokss]

jeez, no wonder i was having trouble finding my post. I meant to post this in the 95-01 section. mods could you please move this to the appropriate section.

thanks for the reply's.
I have no reason to use 4x4 low at all, but i just wanted to make sure that something wasn't broken. Even tho i don't use it I would still like it to work.

 

[XLT]

4x4 auto works like this. You are in 2wd but once the tires start to slip it kicks into 4wd. You can do the brown wire mod and be able to keep it in 2wd all the time, but you can only let those tires spin so much before you burn out your transfer case. Its a worth while mod thats easy to do though. When in 4x4 low just be gentle on the throttle. Its not as bad as these guys make it sound. I have been forced to drive in 4wd low for a little and only could go 45 or 50mph nad was up near redline. Regardless i didnt stay at that speed for long. Best to keep it at low speeds in 4 low.

 

[994x4Bauer]

4x4 auto works like this. You are in 2wd but once the tires start to slip it kicks into 4wd. You can do the brown wire mod and be able to keep it in 2wd all the time, but you can only let those tires spin so much before you burn out your transfer case. Its a worth while mod thats easy to do though. When in 4x4 low just be gentle on the throttle. Its not as bad as these guys make it sound. I have been forced to drive in 4wd low for a little and only could go 45 or 50mph nad was up near redline. Regardless i didnt stay at that speed for long. Best to keep it at low speeds in 4 low.

I wasnt trying to make it sound like a bad thing, it is just made for low speed and alot of power. And I like to know everthing works too!!

 

[BobWiersema]

You have to have the truck in neutral to shift into 4x4 low, you should hear a moderate clunk, that is the transfer case changing into the lower gear ratio. I would not recommend driving over 10mph, and not at all on dry pavement in low. The truck should pull alot harder in low than in high or auto without touching the gas, and when you do hit the throttle look out, because as soon as you do it will fall on its face. Hope this helps!!!

I did not want to tell him, I don't want him to trash it. On my 98 you select low in neutral and back up to engage low. Once its locked (shift to 1st on the selector) I think I can pull 2.5 g's when I mash it. To disengage, I put it in neutral, hit the auto button and backup, sometimes it takes patients to get it just right. Four wheel low is why we love these trucks. I have dug her down deep in the sand, snow and mud and never got stuck,


Bob

 

[994x4Bauer]

Oh ya, it feels like they could spin the earth in low!!! Sometimes I have to back up after being in low to get it to release, but the power that puts down in that mode is amazing!

 

[BobWiersema]

jeez, no wonder i was having trouble finding my post. I meant to post this in the 95-01 section. mods could you please move this to the appropriate section.

thanks for the reply's.
I have no reason to use 4x4 low at all, but i just wanted to make sure that something wasn't broken. Even tho i don't use it I would still like it to work.

Try it! you will never drive a car again. Just don't break anything those transmissions are expensive.

 

[twokss]

thanks for the info guys. very helpful. Any other forum i would have gotten 3 pages of B/S about me posting in the wrong section before i got an answer!!