I have a '96 XLT with the 5.0 liter AWD system. I'm looking to get a '03 or '04 XLT with the 4.6 V8. I'm confused about the practical difference in the new cars between AWD and 4WD. The '03 Explorer is of no help at all nor are the salesmen. I've been told to always get Limited Slip differential even with 4WD but it looks like while that is available with AWD it is not available with Control Trac 4WD-Why Not? I'm confused as to which I should get. Most of my driving is in town. My only off road forays are the occasional beach use at the Outer Banks.

 

4WD is for off-road use. AWD is all wheels all the time. In 4WD usually there's no viscous clutch to slip between the front wheels and back (when making turns) as in AWD. 4WD is to be used only when off-road in dirt/mud. If used on street prepare to buy tyres very often plus bad on t-case.

Why no trac control? Cause if you have trac control in 4WD (remember to be used off-road in dirt/mud) you'll never get anywhere. You're always slipping when off road, ya want to slip cause this is HOW you 'OFF ROAD'... ya know... mud.

 

I didn't say traction control I said Limited Slip differential. I've had several 4WD's with Limited Slip and they worked fine. I've read numerous articles that say don't think you can't get stuck just because you have 4WD that you also need LSD. It was on my 87 Bronco and they even offered a FRONT LS differential as I recall. The original Explorer, I had a Navajo, had a selector switch that you could choose between 2WD and 4WD. Now if you get Control Trac it has 4wd Lo, 4WD high and 4WD "Auto" whatever that is. So maybe the question is what's the difference between "Full Time 4WD", "All Wheel Drive" and "4WD Auto" and why no LS differential on 4WD when they used to offer it?

 

My '02 XLS has Control Trac 4WD. In normal driving, it runs in 4WD Auto mode. This is to automatically engage the 4WD if it senses any slipping. There is no 2WD setting, so this is the highest setting for normal driving (it runs in 2WD, but is always ready to go into 4WD). If you know that you are going to be losing traction, then I guess you can use the 4WD High setting. To switch into 4WD Lo, I have to pull my shifter out of gear (neutral for autos, I guess), slow down a lot and then push the button. I don't have the book on hand to tell you what locks up and what doesn't. BTW, I have LSD on my rear differential and I wasn't aware that it wasn't available in the current model.

I have no experience with the AWD model, but it doesn't sound like you can hit any buttons to lock up the drivetrain if you want to. Maybe it's because it's locked up all the time?? If so, that would be very tough on tires.

For what you are needing, either AWD or 4WD sounds like it would be fine. I don't believe they offered the AWD with a 5-speed, so it wasn't an option for me.

Tim

 

There are several differences between the AWD and 4WD t-cases. The primary one is the AWD t-case doesn't have a low range. The next one is the AWD t-case doesn't have an option to lock the t-case. In essence, think of the AWD t-case as being a 4WD t-case that has been put in 4-auto and had the switch pulled out. It's not exactly right, but it's pretty close.
As for getting a limited slip rear differential, you'll have to decide on that. I've been a little dissappointed in the durability of Ford's Trac-lock differential. The clutches wear out in 20-30K miles, and then you don't have limited slip anymore. In addition, if you ever wanted to put a lunchbox locker in, that's better done into an open differential carrier, because the carrier in an open diff is stronger than the carrier in the Trac-lock diff.

 

I once rented a 4wd (02 Explorer) with the auto 4wd option to take up north for vacation. It seemed to me that in the auto function, it would wasn't very smooth at all during transition, that is going between 2 and 4 wd, especially in snow or gravel. It would sometimes feel like the front end was going to seperate from the rear when the front drive kicked in. Then I bought an AWD 99 for the wife. You would never know it was all wheel drive untill it started to rain or you get off road, then it feels like it is glued to the ground. It gets slightly worse mileage than my 2wd (about 1.5 to 2 mpg worse) but it is much safer in a slippery environment. I think it is much much better than 4wd if you don't intend to do any serious off roading.

BTW It seems to be very gentle on tires, The Michelins have been on for about 40k now and still have about 7/32 left.

 

Your rental must have had a problem. I have owned a 97 and 95. I can not tell when the system sends more power to the front. Here is how Ford says is works:

"The C-Trac transfer case (7A195) transmits torque to front wheels through an electromechanical ball ramp clutch after a predetermined delta speed between front and rear driveshafts (4602) is exceeded. These driveshaft speeds are monitored using Hall effect sensors that send signals to the new on-board Generic Electronic Module (GEM). Upon observing an exceeded delta speed, the GEM then activates the transfer case clutch coil with a varying current to minimize the delta speed."

Something else I read said the computer splits the power between 90/10 and 50/50, back/front, as needed. I know in auto, I don't spin a tire when I stomp on gas from a stop, even on a dirt road. It is like being in 4wd.

 

[QUOTE]Originally posted by 95limited
[B]Your rental must have had a problem. I have owned a 97 and 95. I can not tell when the system sends more power to the front.

It is possible that the one I rented was defective. I assumed it was ok cause it only had about 600 miles on it when I picked it up. I heard the same complaint from other people with the auto 4wd system, thats why I thought it was normal. Is that the control track system or is there yet another 4wd system Ford puts out? The one I used had a switch on the dash for 4wheel low, high and auto I believe. (its been a couple of years ago, so I'm not sure about that) But I do remember being on gravel, in auto possition in a turn and feeling the front tires lock in rather abruptly, and kind of jumping around, kind of like being in 4low on dry pavement. Maybe it was just too new, but I really like the AWD better from my experience with the 02.

 

I erred in my original question . It is not the drive system that determines the availability of the limited slip but the model. According to the 2003 brochure, the V8 is not available in the lower level XLS or XLS Sport however, the Limited Slip is not available in the XLT or XLT Sport, regardless of what engine you choose. Specs on the NBX, Eddie Bauer and Limited are listed separately and for those models, availablility of the Limited Slip is not even mentioned. As the "off road" NBX is the only Explorer not available with AWD, you'd think it would have the Limited Slip differential.
My '96 5.0 V8 was the first Explorer with AWD. The explanation I read was that after they managed to shoehorn the 5.0 liter into the Explorer, there was no room for a tranfer case so they came up with AWD whose only supposed disadvantage was lack of a 4WD Lo range. Brochures at the time said it ran normally with a 60/40 rear/front power distribution unless a wheel was slipping then that's where the power went. Mine has always run just fine and I've never gotten stuck. I think that's probably the way I will go this time. One last aside, I've looked at a lot of Explorers lately and although it costs the same as Control Trac, I don't think I've seen one with AWD.

 

My 2003 Explorer NBX V-8 does have the 3.73 limited slip. So far I'm happy with the Explorer but haven't had much of a chance to use the 4x4. But I LOVED my 1998 Mercury Mountaineer with AWD. Like someone else mentioned, that thing was glued to the road no matter what the road condition.

 

Steven, since yours is an NBX then that has to be Contol Trac. I think you hit on something I may have overlooked, that the 3.73 axle that comes with the Class III/IV tow package is also Limited Slip. That clears that up. I have my eye on a red 2003 NBX but I don't know if I like that interior as well as the XLT interiors. Maybe, I'll just go with a 2004 AWD V8. Thanks for all the help.

 

Mountaineer comes stock with a 5.0l AWD 20mpg, and tows 6450 with a weight dist hitch.

 

You have the choice between AWD and auto 4-wheel drive. With the auto 4 wheel drive, you have a option of letting the T-case transfer the power between the front & rear (which the dealer indicated it operates much like a limited slip), locking it into 4 wheel drive (equal power to the front & rear) and locking it into low range 4 wheel drive. The limited slip is available with the tow package on the non-AWD models.

The AWD model works by monitoring wheel slip and applying the brake to a wheel that looses traction. Thus giving the wheel with traction more power. That is the reason you cannot get a limited slip in the AWD model.

 

I wished they would have the options on the new ones like the 91-94... push button why every one know that you will wear out axels joints more in a 97 control trac than you will a 93 with push button from my experince I do not like control trac it has sent me in the ditch more than out of it..... simple fact I was driving 6 inches of snow in AUTO mode (first mistake ) came around a curve the back wheel fell off the snow packed pavement and slip well the front end kicked in and shot me straight across the road $2000 worth of damage I am stuck in my ways give me a t-case shifter and lock outs like the f 350's