How to activate 4WD

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Jun 17, 2003 | 09:34 PM

dgardner

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Joined: May 2003

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From: Annapolis, MD

How to activate 4WD

Hi everyone. I'm new to 4WD. I Owned all rear wheel drive cars ( all Fords). I just got a 2002 4WD Explorer. One question about putting it in 4WD. Do you have to be stopped before you use 4WD Auto / 4WD High / 4WD Low? My dad said that 92 Ranger you had to stop put the truck in neutral and activate 4WD Low. Thanks for your help.

Jun 17, 2003 | 09:56 PM

stubborn1

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Joined: Jul 2002

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How to activate 4WD

You don't have to be stopped to put it in 4wd hi. Just turn the switch and away you go. Be careful not to use 4wd on dry pavement because you can cause damage to the system components. Only activate it on gravel roads (or other loose surface), snow, or when heavily raining.

I think you have to be stopped to use 4wd lo. If I remember right, you turn the switch to 4 lo, put the vehicle in neutral, wait for the light on the dash to indicate 4 lo (you can hear the transfer case shift also) and put back in drive.

I would strongly suggest reading the owners manual section on 4wd if you are unfamiliar with it. I also think I have instructions under the drivers side window visor. Read these, it will save you some headaches.

Jun 17, 2003 | 10:49 PM

dgardner

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Joined: May 2003

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From: Annapolis, MD

How to activate 4WD

Thanks stubborn1. I did read the manual but it didn't say anything about putting the truck into neutral or anything. It just talked about the types of conditions to use the 4WD(which was basically common sense). I will check under my visor tomorrow. Thanks for the info

Jun 18, 2003 | 11:31 AM

SplashMan

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Joined: Aug 2001

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From: Illinois

How to activate 4WD

stubborn1 is correct... 4HI just turn the switch at any speed up to 55, 4LW stop, neutral, turn switch and wait for the light.

Jun 18, 2003 | 02:47 PM

1956MarkII

Lead Driver

Joined: Apr 2002

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From: Tampa Bay, FL USA

How to activate 4WD

Quote:

Originally posted by SplashMan
stubborn1 is correct... 4HI just turn the switch at any speed up to 55, 4LW stop, neutral, turn switch and wait for the light.

There's one more step to getting into 4low: you have to be in 4hi first. You can't just switch from 2hi (or 4auto, whichever one you have) to 4lo. So, switch in to 4hi, come to a complete stop, put tranny in neutral, switch to 4lo, wait for the light, then put it in gear. Reverse the procedure to get out of 4lo. By the way, there is a fail-safe feature built in. If a passenger reaches over to operate something else and accidentally swithces you into 4lo while the vehicle is moving, nothing wil happen. just switch it back to where you had it. Can you imagine what would happen if you could shift into 4lo at 70mph? OUCH!!

Jun 18, 2003 | 02:56 PM

dwessels

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Joined: Mar 2003

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From: Elkridge

How to activate 4WD

One more step to that, your foot must be on the break for 4-low to engage. Also, my owner manual for my '96 says you can run in 4-Hi all year long if you want to, but you get worse gas mileage. I wouldn't recommend that.