power drain when warmed up causing the front wheels to go to 4 high.

[usmcgrunt]

1998 stock v6 sohc automatic explorer has new alternator, new battery. When its cold it runs fine in rear wheel only. When it warms up the amp gauge drops and the front tires start clawing the ground as the transfer case puts the front in gear. Let it cool off its right back to
2wd. Any ideas ? This is stumping everybody. I can't take it far from home. I ran a direct ground from battery to starter ground but its no help. Where does the original ground bolt to the motor on the 98 v6 300 ci.?? I left the original wire for the battery ground and the starter ground in case I had to go back to it. I'm going to hook them back up as the new direct made no difference. The wire harness is sheathed and very hard to follow to see the original ground. Thinking maybe its bad on the block but then why wouldn't direct ground have helped ? Never fails to start but can be sluggish when warm and locked in as stated above. Help , thanks. Would the brown wire mod stop this from locking in the front ? Not to spin wheels but to be able to use it.

 

[koda2000]

1. You don't have an AMP gauge. It's not even a real VOLT gauge, more of an idiot light with a needle.

2. There is no ground wire going to the stater motor. only the positive battery lead and some other wires. The short braided wire going from the starter solenoid to the motor is the motor's power feed, if that's what you're referring to.

Does the '98 have a 4WD Auto setting? If not, or maybe even if so, the question is what's making it go into 4WD without selecting it or it sensing rear wheel spin.

I'm not a 4WD guru, but from what I understand the "brown wire mod" is supposed to stop the transfer case from engaging the front wheels while in the 4WD Auto setting, so it would be intesting to see if cutting that wire would have the desired effect. Maybe one of the 4WD guys can give you a better idea of where to look for your electircal problem.