If your 4WD switch looks like this AUTO, 4HI, 4LO then...

[TPLYNCH]

Normin, the amount of gas used in auto negligable compared to what you would get w/the 2wd switch. Power is supplied to the front from start only up to 35mph. You still have all the weight of the 4x4 gear and your front driveline is still spinning (drag) when you are switched to 2wd. For better gas milage, try aftermarket airfilters, exhaust mods and assorted maintenance items. Try searching for a thread titled "my quest for 30" (or Thirty can't remember if it was spelled out or not) by Aldive. Will find lots of ideas for improved gas milage there.

 

[MO_GUY]

here we go

this is the information from the first 4 or 5 pages i've read, correct me if im wrong/stupid

i can find the yellow wire coming from my GEM module, slap a switch on it and flip it on and off and this will give the front driveshaft 0% of the power?

or i can take out the driver seat and put a relay on the brown wire, which is the exact same thing as doing it with the yellow wire except for the fact that the lights on the dash dont flash?

 

[Yomie]

Use the Brown wire, not the Yellow, if you use the Yellow wire you ahve to turn off the truck and restart it again just to get 4WD back..If you use the brown wire your 4WD is at the touch of a button

Originally posted by TPLYNCH
Power is supplied to the front from start only up to 35mph.

I know everyone says this and the book does to somewhere, but i kinda beg to differ. I have a switch that lights up when power is sent to the front end in Auto4WD and you can actually see when your front end is engaged, and i have caught mine on when i drive really hard on my 3-4 shift which would be over 45-50+ mph. I'm not trying to start an argument, if you don't believe me come to Louisivlle and i'll give you a ride, but my Auto kicks in over 35 mph

 

[dogfriend]

Mo Guy:

Youre pretty close. The advantage of intercepting the brown wire is that the GEM won't detect that you have cut power to the t-case clutch, so you can turn it off and on at will without having to shut off ignition switch to reset the GEM.

Yomie:

I believe you. I have yet to find anything definitive that says that the 4wd shuts off at 35mph. The BW patent includes some info that indicates that the clutch engagement time varies with speed in 4wd Auto (and 4wd High), but it is clear to me that Ford does not use the same software to control the t-case as described in the patent.

 

[MO_GUY]

ok, can anyone on this thread give me a clear picture of where i need to attatch the switch behind the dash so i dont screw it up, every picture ive seen on this thread so far isnt good enough for me, the one that does show the yellow wire is really blurry

 

[X24]

Dont use the yellow wire. Used the brown wire that is in the harness directly under the drivers seat. I think some people have actually found the brown wire under the plastic part that is right by the door, but I know there are tons of wires in there. When mine was done, the drivers seat was unbolted and the carpet was pulled up.

 

[dogfriend]

I haven't done this mod (yet), but it occurs to me that it should be possible to find the brown wire right at the point where it leaves the TOD relay behind the dash (near the GEM). Has anyone made the connection to the relay or switch at the TOD relay?

 

[Campo]

Originally posted by Yomie

I know everyone says this and the book does to somewhere, but i kinda beg to differ. I have a switch that lights up when power is sent to the front end in Auto4WD and you can actually see when your front end is engaged, and i have caught mine on when i drive really hard on my 3-4 shift which would be over 45-50+ mph. I'm not trying to start an argument, if you don't believe me come to Louisivlle and i'll give you a ride, but my Auto kicks in over 35 mph

I believe you, I have a lighted switch to, and it will get bright in AUTO above 40mph at WOT..

 

[Campo]

Originally posted by dogfriend
I haven't done this mod (yet), but it occurs to me that it should be possible to find the brown wire right at the point where it leaves the TOD relay behind the dash (near the GEM). Has anyone made the connection to the relay or switch at the TOD relay?

I think that was the original idea that started this thread but they found that it would cause the dash lights to flash and they would have to restart the engine to reset it. But it does work.

I think it's just like unplugging the switch motor so the system think's theres an error and defaults to 2WD mode..

 

[Yomie]

Originally posted by Campo
I believe you, I have a lighted switch to, and it will get bright in AUTO above 40mph at WOT..

Thank you campo, when i first had it installed i thought there was a problem cause my light was on soo dim, then i saw it flash bright red, and i was like WOOOooo Woooooo!

 

[Campo]

I did the exact same thing Yomie..lol

 

[taxx]

Originally posted by Yomie
Thank you campo, when i first had it installed i thought there was a problem cause my light was on soo dim, then i saw it flash bright red, and i was like WOOOooo Woooooo!

It just be decoration.. You shoul be up makin brefast or somin.

This mod works well I have been running it for quite a while and have a few off road trips in there too. Works great going between 2 low and 4 low. Just make sure you aren't rolling to much when you switch it back in if you are in low range.

 

[dogfriend]

Originally posted by Campo
I think that was the original idea that started this thread but they found that it would cause the dash lights to flash and they would have to restart the engine to reset it. But it does work.

I think it's just like unplugging the switch motor so the system think's theres an error and defaults to 2WD mode..

Yes, but I thought that originally they were cutting the yellow wire between the GEM and the TOD relay. Somehow the GEM detects this as an error and you must reset the GEM to get 4wd back.

What I'm saying is that you could cut the brown wire just as it leaves the TOD relay. I don't see why this wouldn't work the same as cutting the brown wire under the seat. I don't recall if anyone has done it this way, but I don't have time right now (I'm supposed to be working ) to reread this whole thread.

 

[Campo]

Originally posted by dogfriend
Yes, but I thought that originally they were cutting the yellow wire between the GEM and the TOD relay. Somehow the GEM detects this as an error and you must reset the GEM to get 4wd back.

What I'm saying is that you could cut the brown wire just as it leaves the TOD relay. I don't see why this wouldn't work the same as cutting the brown wire under the seat. I don't recall if anyone has done it this way, but I don't have time right now (I'm supposed to be working ) to reread this whole thread.

Oh ok, gotcha.. I don't think that has been mentioned (like you I don't feel like searching thru the entire thread)

If it is the same wire, I don't see why it wouldn't work, unless the TOD wire from the GEM goes to the OBDC before it goes under the seat.

 

[Explorer_5.0]

will this work for us AWD guys?? i didnt have time to read all the post so dont get mad if you already discussed this... thanks

 

[Robert]

Originally posted by Yomie
Thank you campo, when i first had it installed i thought there was a problem cause my light was on soo dim, then i saw it flash bright red, and i was like WOOOooo Woooooo!

Yomie - The reason your light is so dim under non-slip situations is because the transfer case sends at least 4% torque to the front wheels at all times. You will be getting 4% of the current going through the lighted switch when it doesn't slip, and much more current through the switch when it does. It's pretty cool watching my switch flash when the rear wheels slip.

 

[Robert]

Originally posted by Yomie
. . .I know everyone says this and the book does to somewhere, but i kinda beg to differ. I have a switch that lights up when power is sent to the front end in Auto4WD and you can actually see when your front end is engaged, and i have caught mine on when i drive really hard on my 3-4 shift which would be over 45-50+ mph. I'm not trying to start an argument, if you don't believe me come to Louisivlle and i'll give you a ride, but my Auto kicks in over 35 mph

Yomie - I have yet to see anything official from Ford stating that the Control Trac gets disabled above 35 MPH (and that includes a lot of official Ford crap). What I have seen are many posts from people stating that it is disconnected above 35 MPH. I have a feeling that most of the people making the claims are just repeating what they have already read. I don't make it a regular habit of going WOT on slippery surfaces since things can get out of hand pretty quickly above 35 MPH at WOT on slippery surfaces. Until I've read something officially from Ford, I'll continue to believe that mine operates at speeds above 35 MPH.

 

[NorminN.B.]

I understand the Ford Escape has 4 auto and 4high only. Didn't the 95 Explorer have the same setup in 4 wheel drive. If so, can the escape transfer case be "switched" for 2 wheel drive also?:redexp: Thanks, NorminN.B.

 

[Mascman]

WOW! I haven't been here in a while. I did this mod a long time ago using the yellow wire. I do see a definite gas mileage increase. I don't know if it is because I have 33s and 4.56s or not. Judging from the posts of people who don't see a difference it's probably because they have stock setups.

I just like the way it drives in 2WD...Do this mod!

Now I have to go back and do the brown wire. Since I have a stick it's no big deal to just shut it off while driving to reset the computer, but why do it if you don't have to? Good work guys.

I installed a switch in my dash where the cig lighter was. It looks almost factory and you can check it in my pics found at the www link at the bottom. Got it from Radio Shack.

 

[dogfriend]

Originally posted by Explorer_5.0
will this work for us AWD guys?? i didnt have time to read all the post so dont get mad if you already discussed this... thanks

Already been discussed in the first couple of pages: Nope, AWD is mechanical only.