How to: The Comprehensive Brown Wire Mod Thread

[DrKlawz]

it ain't vaccuum

There are days I wish I had the vaccuum hubs, just so I could swap them out with manual. My 2000 is the electronic hubs w/ "live" front axle, similar to the Explorer setup. I'm not sure if Ford was jacking around that year, but I've seen 2000's with both setups.

I have the 3 position dash switch: 2wd, 4wd L, 4wd H

When I split the dash open behind the radio I have the TCM and the GEM in the same general positions.

Some "traction control" must go on...no spins, no burnouts. This is fine for me on asphalt, but it would be nice if it drove normal offroad at high speed. We've got some "pre-runner" terrain in Colorado that would be alot more fun with no trac control.

 

[Glen4X4]

Don't think you're fully understanding this, your ranger has no control-trac with the BW1354 transfer case you have it has a 2wd/4hi/4low position. The 95+ Explorer transfer case is always in 4wd hi position so therefore the transfer case only has two positions in the 95+ explorer its either in 4hi or 4low position. You must not be giving it enough throttle or your tires are really good that you get no wheel spin in 2wd.

 

[gijoecam]

Update: The site I used to host the photos on is, for some unknown reason, down. I will be relocating the images as soon as possible, but your patience is appreciated. Thanks.

I'm GIJoeCam, and I approve this message.

 

[Explorer#2]

^^^when do you think they will be back up???

 

[gijoecam]

Sorry for the delays, gang... I'll be out of town for the holiday, so it likely won't be until next week sometime... I need to find them in my hard drive first, among all 4800 photos I have there... Sorry for the inconvenience... I guess I should've hosted them here to start with, but I don't think I could at the time.

-Joe

 

[Explorer#2]

its cool i am going to do this some time this summer and I wanted to look at the pics before i did anything

 

[zonianbrat]

I too will be attempting this mod sometime this summer (with the help of a friend who isnt a electrotard like myself) so if you can manage to get those pics back up that would be awesome. Thanks for the good writeup GIJoecam. I want this mod simply to be able to actually control when I am in 2wd. I am not interested in roasting my tires but, I live in the rockies and the thought of cruising and hitting a patch of ice and the transfer case suddenly engaging sending me out of control does not sound apealing.

 

[gijoecam]

Well, the good news is that the site I used to have them on is back up and running, and the pics are all there. The bad news is that the links apparently changed, hence the red X's... I've since uploaded the pics to my Flickr account (www.flickr.com/gijoecam) I just haven't had a chance to re-link the images.... We've been busy at work and around the house lately, as wella s traveling a lot, so I haven't had the spare time I once did... My humblest apologies for the delays on this one, gang... Please be patient...

 

[gijoecam]

Updated the pics today. Sorry it took me so long, but thanks for your patience. I put the images in my Flickr gallery. The entire gallery can be viewed by clicking here.

If you need the full-res images, they're in there as well. You should be able to view and download them as necessary.

Enjoy!

 

[damarble]

I read through everything and nothing has been covered for the 3rd gen Sports. My 01 has a knob that reads 2WD-4HIGH-4LOW, unlike either the 1st or 2nd gens. Yet the 3rd gen Sport has more similarities to the 2nd gen 4 doors than the 3rd gen 4 doors so it's confusing what I actually have. I'm looking for true 2 HI and 2 LO. I'm assuming my "2WD" selection is the same function as "4Auto" on the 2nd gens?

 

[Gator Jeff]

Welcome! Your 01 Sport IS a Gen 2. There is also a thread that does a similar modification for Gen 3's, but I repeat... if you have an 01 Sport, you have a Gen 2.

 

[gijoecam]

I read through everything and nothing has been covered for the 3rd gen Sports. My 01 has a knob that reads 2WD-4HIGH-4LOW, unlike either the 1st or 2nd gens. Yet the 3rd gen Sport has more similarities to the 2nd gen 4 doors than the 3rd gen 4 doors so it's confusing what I actually have. I'm looking for true 2 HI and 2 LO. I'm assuming my "2WD" selection is the same function as "4Auto" on the 2nd gens?

Can't be done to the transfer case in your truck. Yours works similar to the 13-54 case in the 1st gens. It's not a torque-on-demand case. Yours already provides you with a true 2wd, as well as a locked 4wd. It's not possible to adapt your case to get 2low.

Welcome! Your 01 Sport IS a Gen 2. There is also a thread that does a similar modification for Gen 3's, but I repeat... if you have an 01 Sport, you have a Gen 2.

Won't work... although the body, chassis, and suspension are similar to the 2nd-gens, the 4wd control system is more like the 1st gens.

 

[damarble]

Quickly learning the 01-03 Sports are the most *******ized Explorers ever built....

 

[gijoecam]

Quickly learning the 01-03 Sports are the most *******ized Explorers ever built....

At least they did the right stuff with them though... they ditched the PITA Control-Trac system in favor of a real lockup collar inside it, like they've been using on 4x4s since the 30s. You still have the benefit of the SOHC and 5R55E trans, and the newer electronics (on the late-builds at least) that make the entire system more streamlined. I think it was an improvement. Personally I was sad to see 'em go...

-Joe

 

[Gator Jeff]

Won't work... although the body, chassis, and suspension are similar to the 2nd-gens, the 4wd control system is more like the 1st gens.

I am standing here corrected... :roll:

 

[damarble]

You still have the benefit of the SOHC and 5R55E trans

Almost.. No slushbox for me. M5OD FTW.

 

[X~FACTOR]

I just did this mod, holy ****! The truck could drift! LOL! I'm loving this truck now.

 

[iBangKaty]

..........confused..............

im not quite sure which brown wire to cut (theres 2 brown wires one a bigger guage)... i dont wanna cut the wrong one.... can anybody help me with this? should i take a pic?

 

[IZwack]

Do a continuity test (you'll need long wires ) to the brown wire that goes into the back of the transfer case (the thick one).

 

[iBangKaty]

Do a continuity test (you'll need long wires ) to the brown wire that goes into the back of the transfer case (the thick one).

what's a continuity test!? and i found the wire underneath the flap behind the back seats when they are folded down... on the driver's side