AWD Question
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From: Danbury, CT
AWD Question
I have just bought a 1999 Navigator for my wife my question is if I remove the front Driveshaft to disable the AWD will that cause run problems from the ECU? I want to see if I can get a little more MPG out of it in the months with the good weather
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From: Wisconsin
There really isn't a whole you can do. Even if you remove it, it won't make a difference. You have a 6000lb truck. If you do remove it and your A4WD or AWD kicks in automatically and detects no wheel spin up front but the back is slipping it is most likely going to cause a problem. It may even try to transfer almost all of the power to the front wheels because of this. What will happen is the power is taken away from the rear to send it to front because the back is still spinning at a different speed than the front. The computer doesn't know you have removed the driveshaft. It will keep trying to compensate and could leave you literally, stuck. In all reality, you really can't do much to increase mpg and the gains are extremely minimal.
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It may even try to transfer almost all of the power to the front wheels because of this. What will happen is the power is taken away from the rear to send it to front because the back is still spinning at a different speed than the front. The computer doesn't know you have removed the driveshaft. It will keep trying to compensate and could leave you literally, stuck.
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From: Wisconsin
Whoops, my bad and here I thought I knew it all.
Sorry about that. But you have to think about it. Can it really cause a problem by confusing the computer. Who knows. I haven't been able to find anyone who has disconnected the front driveshaft and driven it. In all reality, there isn't much that can be done except keep the right foot off the floor board!
Sorry about that. But you have to think about it. Can it really cause a problem by confusing the computer. Who knows. I haven't been able to find anyone who has disconnected the front driveshaft and driven it. In all reality, there isn't much that can be done except keep the right foot off the floor board!
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No, there really ins't anything you can do but keep the truck in a good state of tune and drive like granny.
If you pull the fuse that provides power to the 4wd system it will not try to engage the t-case, so whether or not the driveshaft is there doesn't matter.
The front hubs are direct splined and you still turn the axles and diff gears. Removing 20-30 lbs of driveshaft on a 6000 lb V8 powered truck isn't going to make any difference.
These trucks actually do well on fuel IMO. It is a full sized SUV with a fairly large gas V8. Mine will get 19 on the highway, and 15-16 in mixed driving. If you need better than that you need a different vehicle but accept that you will have to go much smaller.
If you pull the fuse that provides power to the 4wd system it will not try to engage the t-case, so whether or not the driveshaft is there doesn't matter.
The front hubs are direct splined and you still turn the axles and diff gears. Removing 20-30 lbs of driveshaft on a 6000 lb V8 powered truck isn't going to make any difference.
These trucks actually do well on fuel IMO. It is a full sized SUV with a fairly large gas V8. Mine will get 19 on the highway, and 15-16 in mixed driving. If you need better than that you need a different vehicle but accept that you will have to go much smaller.
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From: Danbury, CT
Thanks Guys
I have pulled the fuse to try to locate a problem I have with it I figure if I start eliminating things I can narrow down the possibilities . I have a horrendous clunking in the front end only during power application also on a hard turn it feels like its in 4 WD I have pulled the fuse and still have the problem any suggestions.. I was thinking a sticking hub ? but not so sure that can be now Hoping its not going to be a T-Case issue
Ken
Ken
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If it is stuck in 4wd with the fuse pulled it could be a stuck shift motor on the side of the t-case, or an internal problem in the t-case.
It might be worth pulling the fuse and the driveshaft to see if you still have problems. If so, you have now narrowed it down to the front diff or axles. If the problem goes away it is the t-case or shift motor.
It also could be bad u-joints in the front driveshaft.
Good Luck
It might be worth pulling the fuse and the driveshaft to see if you still have problems. If so, you have now narrowed it down to the front diff or axles. If the problem goes away it is the t-case or shift motor.
It also could be bad u-joints in the front driveshaft.
Good Luck
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